The tiny pup had been toddling forward with all the confidence of a princess inspecting her kingdom when something grabbed her tail.

Her tail. The girl froze.

The offense was so great that for a moment she could only stare ahead in stunned disbelief. Then she twisted around with an undignified wobble nearly toppling over in the process, to find her sister attached to the precious appendage which was promptly followed by a tiny gasp. Mrrr?!

She quickly yanked her tail free, stumbling backwards and planting herself protectively over it as though shielding her priceless treasure from a common thief. Little rounded ears flattened and her nose wrinkled. The scandal. Anastasia was babbling something in puppy noises about snuggling, no doubt but Scarlett was far too distracted by the violation to care. And with all the dramatic indignation a young pup could muster she would huff and lift her chin.

But, after a moments consideration, she would waddle directly into her sisters side and collapsed against her. Not caring if she was now busy with the visitors.

If her sister wanted to snuggle, snuggling she would get — she supposed she could forgive her this once.

—