Inside the sturdy cedar hut, the tension that had nearly resulted in Bai Yue becoming a rug via Gū Gū's walking stick had gone down into a chaotic, wholesome energy.
Yòu Lín, the little fox kit, refused to let go of Bai Yue. He was currently perched on her lap, his small, nimble fingers tangling in her hair. "Mama, your hair smells like the river," he giggled, his fox ears twitching with every laugh. "It's messy! Like a bird's nest!"
"Hey! I'll have you know this is the latest in 'post-vulture-combat' chic," Bai Yue teased, booping his nose. She felt a surge of genuine joy. In her old life, she had struggled to keep a succulent alive, and now she was successfully navigating a den of beast-children. "If you keep pulling it, I might turn into a hedgehog!"
"Mama a hedgehog!" Ruì Xuě echoed, venturing a tiny, shy laugh. He was sitting close to Bai Yue's knee, his purple eyes bright.
