Magnolia was growing swiftly into a menace, and it was becoming even more swiftly clear that the little shit enjoyed sewing chaos. When she shoved a misplaced paw at a siblings ribs, when she stole something that wasn't hers, when in general ire was pointed the pale girls way... she conveniently fell back to flop next to Saga, and did something cute like chew on a foot or pretend she was asleep. So far, she'd been allowed to be a mischievous little shit; what was the harm in a baby being a baby, after all? She wasn't hurting anyone, not really! But there was a den full of wriggling bodies, and Magnolia was already tired of being corralled. She just wanted to have fun and play, it wasn't her fault the others (mostly Frigi) weren't up to snuff.

It even seemed she'd inherited her Mother's late-night preference. Many nights Saga laid awake in the den, she had the company of her eldest bundle of joy.

Tonight, Mum was actually asleep. She was never asleep first! Curled around her three dozing babies, she must've decided an early night was in order.... Boy, was she going to regret that. Magnolia fidgeted around the cuddle puddle for several moments, trying to settle in because she didn't really have much else to do -- thoughts were still frayed, and babyish, and one day her poor mother would look back and wish for these simple days -- before deciding.... well, she didn't want to.
She didn't want to be put to bed. She didn't want to sleep. She didn't want to cuddle with her littermates against the warm, silver pelt of their dam. Even pretending to be asleep and poking someone didn't appeal to her.

Magnolia's unstable ears flopped as she slid over Saga's flank and hit the soft edge of their mossy nest. Nobody immediately moved, and the silvery child toddled off towards Light. It was only a few steps to the wall that separated their nest from the rest of the den, but Magnolia had been here before! It was just another part of the stony den, and while it'd been great good fun to look at in awe.... it'd introduced her to the great outdoors, except she wasn't allowed out there! It was all a terrible slight, but she'd try again, now, while things were quiet. Surely, if nobody was up and doing things and busy, that meant she was free to explore! Normally, people were talking, or someone else was getting a bath, or eating, or whatever.
Not now.

The pups still baby-blue eyes were fixated on the den's entrance, but something wasn't right.... She'd seen it light, and she'd seen it dark, but this was something different. Outside was a color it'd never been, the color splashed across her family, the color of the meat Mum ate when Jaxxon brought it (which turned out pretty fuckin' good, she had a bite yesterday).

For the very first time, Magnolia stepped from the den and was bathed in the light of the blood moon, blinking widely up at the red disk hanging in the crimson sky.