Bath time became a spectacle. Daisy licked their ears while they squirmed and squealed, paws pushing against her nose. One cub tried to lick her back, tiny tongue flicking clumsily at her fur. She froze, then leaned into it, eyes half-closed. Zachary scribbled in his notebook, his hands shaking with awe.
The cubs discovered Daisy’s tail soon enough. They pounced, tumbling in a striped heap, chewing at the wagging prize. Daisy endured until one bite pinched too hard. With a sharp bark, she spun and pinned them down gently. Their squeaks turned into purr-like rumbles, the sound vibrating in Zachary’s chest.