Greg & Others

During their trip across town and out along the country roads, Greg and Matt had both kept shy from talking about Raimi. They'd focused instead on trading talk about the various animals they had, or in Matt's case, what kind of activities they could do. Between playing video games and hiking out in the woods, he offered a fairly lengthy list, and more than enough to keep Conan busy for a while if he wanted to join them in all their excursions.

"We'll have to feed the cubs first off." Greg announced as he pulled into the driveway, putting the car in park and shutting it off. Starlit was already sprinting around the side of the house to greet him as he stepped out, wagging her ebony tail and pinning her silken ears back as she nuzzled and licked at the boy's hand. Then she paused, her wolfish facade turning alert as she caught whiff of a familiar scent.

Conan

Not about to argue against meeting the little cubs and feeing them, Conan only nodded as he stepped out of the car, finding himself secretly a little grateful for the silence, after listening to Matt most of the way home - he'd forgotten that most guys his age talked a lot, and hadn't been prepared for so much speech in one sitting. He hadn't commented, but he looked more relaxed when he stood up out of the car and looked around. He was happily surprised to see Starlit more content and affectionate than she'd been when he was last here - when he'd stumbled into this place after running from rescuing Raimi the first tiem, it had been only a few weeks after the Lady's death, and the little hybrid had been almost comfortless - he was glad to see some of her former personality restored. He kept quiet though, until he saw the nose twitch in response to his smell. "'Ey Shhhtarlit," he murmured, only half butchering the canine's name. "Mem'er me?"

Greg & Others

Triangle ears dipped back again as she minced forward, waving her tail so hard that her backend shook with the effort. Sparing Matt a brief greeting and hand-lick, which he didn't seem to appreciate as much as Greg had, she went straight for the red-head. She pranced on her front paws for a moment, struggling for a moment against old habit, where she'd known better than to jump up on the Lady. Then she gave in and reared up, planting her wolvish paws on the boy's chest and reaching her muzzle up to lick at his face.

"I think she missed you." Greg laughed, lingering at the door as he watched the reunion, "She's got two offspring herself now; they're a little more aloof than she is, especially Buck."

Conan

Now a real smile lit Conan's face as two paws planting themselves on his chest and he found himself getting a second bath. He greeted Starlit enthusiastically, leaning forward and burying both hands in her fur, where they proceeded to stroke and scratch luxiously through the soft coat - it was almost an embrace, if such a thing existed between those of feet and those of paws. He shuffled her face gently between his two hands for a moment before he brought one hand to his side to indicate that she needed to get down. "She is... more happy. More than... last time," he told Greg, and the smile softened, but remained in place, at least - perhaps a change of scene was just the sort of thing the teen needed.

Greg & Others

You took all our hearts
With your smile,
And left a legacy untold
You conquered life and fear,
So you see there was no room for you to grow old'

Greg wasn't quite so openly expressive as his mother was about trying to comfort others, but he knew the significance of Conan's smile as much as she would have. "She's gotten back to nearly her old self now. She dotes around after Kate mostly, but I honestly haven't seen her that excited in a long while." After that, Greg stepped inside, sparing a glance towards the living room before heading into the kitchen.

Tail still a-wag, Starlit dropped back down to all fours to follow Greg into the house. Drawing up beside him and a small crate with a heatlamp attached to the side, she stuck her nose down to nudge at the four little cubs nestled inside.

'Now you are free
Free to roam in the skies
Now and then visit me
With your Starlit Eyes'

Conan

She just doesn't see me as much, Conan told himself, quickly putting aside any thought that perhaps the dog might just be really glad to see him in particular. But he answered Greg's words with a nod and followed the young man inside. He somehow wasn't surprised that Starlit was nosing over the cubs as she might pups of her own - as many fosterings of animals as had occurred in this house, she had to be an old pro by now. And Conan didn't hesitate either - the only risk cubs this young posed was getting a small bite or scratch - they wouldn't be dangerous predators for a long time. So he reached a hand in and stroked the nearest little head with a single finger, his touch light.

Greg & Others

"This is the one I'm worried about." Picking out the smallest cub of the bunch, Greg lifted a little female up, the runt of the litter, with an eye infection that was threatening to take the sight in her left eye. "We're pretty sure they're part cougar, but they're so small- and see how their ears are? It's almost lynx-like. It's the oddest thing I've seen." The little balls of fluff were stirred into animation by the hands and voices around them, leading one and then another into crying out for food. Starlit nosed over each of them, putting herself between Greg and Conan and watching what they did with the cubs. Her friendly demeanor took a drastic change when a low, guttural howl sounded from outside; her hackles shot up like thousands of little needles across her back, and to the unfortunate proximity of Greg and Conan, she returned her own piercing howl.

Conan

Instantly feeling sorry for the little female, Conan reached his fingers up to scrub gently at the soft ears, all the while nodding to indicate that he agreed with Greg. He'd spent so much time wandering on foot, and on horseback, through the wilderness around Atroe that he knew a decent amount about the wildlife about. But whatever contentness had settled briefly into Conan abandoned him instantly which Starlit showed signs of guarded protection - he shifted instinctively so that his body was mostly between the little box of cubs and the sound that had so aroused the usually gentle dog. He didn't speak, but his eyes said it anyway. What's that?

Greg & Others

A third howl started up from the other side of the house, lighter than Starlit's but just as riveting in its power. Greg froze at first, then slowly stood up as he peeked through the kitchen window, "There's some big cat that's been stalking around the place since last night. Hasn't done any damage, but they're making the dogs antsy for sure." The young man spoke, almost under his breath as he scanned in vain along the treeline. "That's Buck and Bailey howling - Starlit's offspring, by the way." Greg drew away from the window after a moment, shaking his head a little, "Just be careful when you go outside; we really haven't had any trouble with the wildlife, but there's some that are more skittish than others."

Conan

While Greg stood up to go look out the window and try to spot the cat that had been troubling them, Conan stayed where he was, one hand in the box and running gently over whatever fur met his fingers in an effort to keep the little ones content for a moment, until the danger had gone and their breakfast had been fetched. But Greg's explanation cleared up a lot for Conan - the first howl wasn't a threat, but a warning signal that Starlit had reacted to. So he relaxed just a mite, enough to ask slowly, with a gesture to the cubs, "Sure it ain't... their Ma, mebbe?" Because that could definitely lead to more drama than this little house was prepared for.

Greg & Others

Greg squatted down by the box again, taking a heated bottle of formula from Matt as the other kid was just bringing them in. "Could be. But judging by the pawprints we found this morning, their mother is closer to the size of an african lion than a lynx or cougar." The young man still couldn't understand what was going up with all the odd hybridizations going on in the valley, but they were getting some rather interesting creatures popping up lately. "Maybe we can set up observation tonight and find out. Put the cubs in a closed crate and see what happens if that cat comes back."

The earnest squalls of the cubs, at least for Greg's particular cub, quieted down as soon as he put the bottle to its mouth. Matt was handing a similar bottle to Conan, and actually taking up one himself to help in the feeding. Starlit remained wary as she paced away from the box, taking a stance by the front door with a cricked tail and upstanding ears.

Conan

Continuing to share Starlit's guarded uneasiness, Conan nevertheless scooped up a cub and plopped it gently into his lap, doing his best to position the little thing's head and front paws over his knee to provide a simulation of the kind of gentle support a mother cat might provide when feeding her young. When he was satisfied with how the cub was settled, he guided the bottle toward the little creature, waiting for it to latch on before he murmured, "I can... watch. I... sleep in the... barn... here. Mostly. Gives me a... good ve- view of the y-ard."

Greg & Others

"In the barn?" Matt was having a bit more trouble with his particular cub, with the male squalling and sputtering milk bubbles from his nose as he fought against the bottle that the kid was trying to force in his mouth. "You realize there's like... bears and dangerous shit out there, right?"

"I doubt anything will happen." Greg laughed, reaching over to adjust the kit that Matt was having trouble with, so the little creature was in a better position to take the milk, and not freaking out so much, "If those three chickens can survive for as long as they have out there, I'm sure Conan will be fine - besides, he's got the dogs."

Conan

Aside from the quiet pleasure he was taking out of feeding the little ball of fur in his lap, Conan was also glad to note that today truly was a good voice day - this was the closest thing to a real conversation he'd carried out in a long time. So he actually ventured to answer, "Slep' out there a year, nev'r 'ad tro-ouble." And better yet, when he'd slept in the hayloft, as he had when he and Aralyn had lived here, Raimi hadn't been with him - perhaps he could sleep better up there than he had last night at the house. But there - that though kind of put a damper on his improved attitude, enough where he did not join the others in their laughter, but put his concentration on feeding his cub, the larger female, who was squirming around on her belly and poking her tiny, half-formed claws into his jeans with pin-prick sticks that made him want to jump a bit. She was feeding steadily, gulping down the milk as though she'd never see another meal, but she wiggled and fretted and moved about so much that Conan was getting a little battered. He didn't seem to mind, though.

Greg & Others

"Suit yourself, bud." Matt shrugged, finding it hard to believe anyone would be 'crazy' enough to stay the night anywhere in this valley. He just wasn't a great outdoors type person; aside from the fun of ATVs, sledding, and the like, he'd prefer to stay indoors. However, feeding big cats was rather exciting, even if his current little male was still sputtering milk bubbles from his nose now and then, and pitiful sounded squeaks that were half choked out as he inhaled milk.

"Easy Matt, you're going to drown him before his stomach's ever full." Greg chastised mildly, seeing that he was having more troubles than anyone in getting their cubs to eat.

Conan

It didn't take long for his guzzling cub to eat her fill, and after that, Conan settled her more comfortably on his lap, not sure what else to do with her as he ran his fingers over the fur. She fussed a little at first, wanting to know what was touching her, but after sniffing at the fingers he put in front of her face and nibbling a little along them to slurp up the last of the milk that had dripped off onto his fingers from her messy eating, she seemed content enough. After a little while, she startled to whine a bit and feel about for her siblings, so the young man plucked her up and plopped her gently back into the box, after which she settled.