The den had grown quiet. At some point during the evening, all three of her pups had finally settled after a long day of wrestling, tumbling, and endless questions. Or so Melanthe had thought.

A faint rustle reached her ears, then another. Yellow-green eyes slowly opened. For a few moments she remained perfectly still, watching as one dark little shape carefully—very carefully—crept toward the den entrance.

Kailu

The corners of her muzzle twitched. The boy was trying so hard to be stealthy. Melanthe waited until he had fully stepped outside before she rose to her paws and followed after him with all the quiet grace of a hunter. She found him sitting just outside the den, his gaze fixed entirely upon the night sky.

The stars.

For a moment, she simply watched him. The sight made something soft stir inside her chest, then she stepped forward. You know, she said gently, amusement warming her voice, if you wish to escape me unnoticed, you must be much quieter than that. Melanthe could not help the soft giggle that escaped her regardless of how her son reacted. She lowered herself onto the earth beside him, her shoulder lightly brushing against his smaller form.

I heard every little pawstep.

Her tail curled around him affectionately. Following his gaze upward, she looked to the countless stars scattered across the heavens. The night sky looked different here than it had in her homeland, but it was beautiful all the same.

They are called stars, she said softly. Her eyes remained upon the sky. When I was a little older than you, I used to spend many nights looking at them.

A gentle smile touched her muzzle.

They move across the sky as the seasons change. Some disappear for a time, while others return. And if you look closely enough… She tilted her head slightly upward. They can make shapes.

She lifted one paw and pointed toward a cluster of stars.

Some become hunters. Some become rivers. Some become great beasts. Her gaze drifted back down to him. There are stories hidden among the stars, Kailu. Our ancestors used them to guide their journeys and remember old tales. A soft breeze stirred her fur.

Would you like to learn some of the special stars? Her ears perked forward. I could show you the Great Hunter, who chases darkness across the heavens. She pointed to another section of the sky. Or the Celestial River, where the spirits are said to travel. A thoughtful hum escaped her. And there is one of my favorites… Her expression softened. A group of stars your grandmother once told me represented a family, always together, no matter how far they wandered.

She lowered her head slightly to look at him.

What do you think, little one? Shall we learn the stories of the sky tonight?