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The world was still half-asleep when his tiny voice pulled her from her dreams.
It started as a noise—soft and slurred, all breath and innocence before the faint thump of paws pressed against her side. For a moment, she thought she was dreaming still, caught somewhere between the memory of loss and the warmth of something small and alive pressed close. Then came another little push, a muffled hnff, and the world came back into focus.

Her eyes fluttered open slowly, lashes heavy with sleep, and the first thing she saw was him—a small blur of tan and pale fur climbing his way up her ribs, his little body determined and wobbly. A smile tugged at the corners of her muzzle before she could even think to stop it.

Mm… what’s this? Her voice was husky with sleep, low and soft, the kind of tone that belonged to early mornings and quiet affection. The sun’s barely awake, puiule (baby).

She shifted slightly, careful not to jostle him too hard, and lowered her head to nuzzle his face. His fur still held that faint puppy-sweet smell of milk, earth, and herself. The sound of his tiny paws against her chest was the best thing she’d felt in moons. She remembered when she thought she’d never feel such a sensation like that again.

Good morning, dragul mamei (mama's darling), she murmured, slipping into Romanian without even thinking about it. She tried speaking to him in a mix of Common and Romanian, hoping to pass along some of her native Romanian to her son. Her tongue brushed over his head in a slow, warm lick, smoothing the tuft of fur between his ears that never wanted to lie flat. You’re up early today. Couldn’t let your poor mama sleep, hm?

She let out a soft chuff in half laughter and half love, and watched him with that kind of patience only a mother could manage. She watched him through the dim morning light filtering through the entrance, and her chest swelled, full of quiet gratitude and something close to peace.

Ma’s awake, she whispered against his ear, her tone full of warmth. Now tell me, little Reid, what adventure are we having today?

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