"Yes, I'm his mother." She pokes her head through the grass, the cougar looking up at Maeve. There's no move on her part to lunge forward. She seems content to simply sit where she is, watching. "You're very gentle with him. Thank you for that. I'm afraid he hasn't had much gentleness in his life."

Siffleur turns over and then squeaks as he spots his mother, quickly running over to her. She gives the top of his head a lick, then nudges him to go back to his playing. It's only when he looks away does she speak again. "I never cared much for children before him. But he was sweet. And you? Did you know you would enjoy being a mother, or was it something that you learned?"