While they typically alternated who went out to hunt, more often than not Benji would take it upon herself to stalk out and return with a meal so that Häti might have more time to recover from the delivery and the incessant nursing the pups seemed to do. What darling little gluttons her children were! All was coming to settle though, as the lot of them started developing something close to sentience which allowed for them to begin the arduous process of chewing and biting... with purpose!

This didn't irritate her in any particular way, well accustomed to the nibbling of extremities like her ears due to Häti's own rendering of them, but pinpoint teeth grew easily overwhelming at times. Therefore having more flesh to tear and shake benefited all around.

Before the sun rose, she talked off with such a thought in mind.

Not too many creatures of interest roamed the dunes as they did, at least not any she thought wise to hunt currently, so eyes were on promise of a jackrabbit until the likes of a scorpion stole her focus, fat and angry and just perfect for the pups to test their mettle upon.

Häti taught her the technique of disarming them but she'd find herself stung once before tearing stinger from tail... and then she was off.

At her return, scorpion dangling ingloriously from her jaws, she's surprised to find not one but two of her daughters tussling at the mouth of the den. She lets out a low whuff to alert Häti and then a louder, much more playful woof to earn the pups' attention. "Everyone's so violent and the sun's barely awake!" She laughs as she nears and comes to plop down just outside the den's entrance. With them in her immediate view, she beckons Gavi and Zovi closer first, "My loves, come look at this."

She drops the still very much alive - but mostly harmless - scorpion between great paws. "Scorpion," she says with great focus on enunciation. Benji attempts to peer within, spots wriggling image of their other pups stirring to life, and the monochrome startle that is their littlest son. "Remember, watch out for Solda you lot. He doesn't need anyone stepping on him."