Two days later.
Lord Rurik Jaeger sat in his massive leather chair, looking down at his son.
Vali sat on a stool, his feet dangling, looking defiant. He was clutching a squeaky toy that looked suspiciously like a carrot.
"Vali," Rurik rumbled, his voice deep and serious. "We need to discuss... yesterday."
Vali hugged the carrot toy tighter. "I was helping! Prim said we needed to organize the boxes!"
"Balthazar reported that you were supposed to be helping Lady Primrose with the Festival decorations," Rurik sighed, rubbing his temples. "Instead, he found you trying to stuff Clover into a crate of streamers. Why?"
"To keep her," Vali stated simply. "The Festival is big. Too many people. I needed to put her in a safe box. Like a bone."
Rurik closed his eyes. It was pure, unfiltered wolf instinct. Find precious thing. Hide precious thing. Growl at anyone who comes near.
