A/N
I know there's not an Allegiances page yet, still working it out. Will post as soon as it's done!

A collective gasp broke the heartbeat of silence that followed the elder's words. "Yes, pups. Your father, our great leader Rowan, rescued me and got us all to safety."

"It is true. I was there to witness it," spoke the elder she-otter leaning against the den wall. Her dark fur blended in the cozy, dim light.

"Were you hurt, Salmontail? I don't see scars like Petal has," wondered Marigold with a tilt of her head.

Neither do I, thought Bubble to herself. But her eyes...they are so strange...

"That is true, Marigold, but I do bear scars that no other received that day. Not of the living at least."

Bubble felt Dew shiver beside her.
"What's wrong?" she asked her friend, concern laced in her whisper. The other pups, nor the adults, noticed them speaking to one another. They were really into the elder's tale.

"H-her eyes..." was all the little boar would squeak out. Dew snuggled into the she-otter and hid his face.

Paying attention to the story once more, she caught the end of Salmontail's reply. "-can't see." Bubble was confused. "What?" she chirped out among the murmurs of the others.

She heard an impatient sigh. "Were you not listening, fish-brain?" It was River. Bubble hung her head in embarrassment.

"Mind your tongue, be nice to your friends," scolded Petal with a smack of her tail on the floor. All the pups jumped and a few let out startled squeals.

"Yes, Petal," mumbled the boar and shifted his feet.

The elder turned to Bubble. She realized the graying she-otter's eyes had an odd glint in them, like something was covering their surface. Over the top of her dark eyes was a faint, silver film.

"I'm blind."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A warm breeze played through the Holt, causing the reeds to sway gently. The shorter grass tried dancing in the wind but failed as paws, big and small, flattened it.

Bubble was with River and Dew, chasing one another as the sun started to set. The tale Petal and Salmontail told that morning played through the young she-otter's mind once again as she tagged the lighter boar, sprinting away.

"I'll get you!" shouted Dew as he raced after the she-otter, almost completely ignoring River. He had finally gotten over the fact that his grandmother's sister was blind from a vicious battle long ago. Him and Bubble requested the tale be repeated since they missed the whole thing.

The chocolate brown she-otter didn't realize how close the youngest pup was until both were rolling across the grass and shorter reeds. They stopped in a cloud of dust.

"Sorry..." murmured Dew as he lay trapped under her. Their limbs and tails were entwined and muzzles inches apart. Both felt their fur grow hot with embarrassment.

"It's my fault, my mind was somewhere else."

"Need help?"

"Oh yes please!" exclaimed Dew as he tried unsuccessfully to untangle himself.

Beyla chuckled softly as she pulled the pups apart with some difficulty. "That was quite a crash, you two. Are you okay?" She saw their nods and smiled. "Good, be more careful next time."

"We will," chorused the pups before starting their game once again.

"Wait, where did River go? He was just here."

With a shrug, Dew barked, "Probably got bored and went to play with his sisters. Come on, your turn!"

"But..." Bubble's tail sagged ever so slightly at the thought her friend abandoning her for his littermates. I'll look for him after our game, she decided and ran after Dew.