Blackened song
It had been about 3 months now. She'd let the female stay and allowed her brother to come I'f he had wanted to. The pups were now up and around. She rested outside while the pups played.
Naiche & Krush
Bright, lively blue eyes took in the landscape of the Prairie around him, a place that he'd called home for the last few months. It had been hard going here and there, but now the weather was starting to shift, and warmth was starting to return to the Valley. On this particular morning, there was no frost to cover the blades of tanned grass, and his breath didn't linger in the air. The sun beat warmly down on his ashen gray back, and as it rose higher in the sky, the beams caught and highlighted the rusty-red guard hairs that highlights his ruff and cheeks.
Krush's nose twitched and flared as he took in a new scent that had just blown his way. With wolfdog turned his muzzle further into it, analyzing the odor until he could confirm that was fellow canines on the wind. That, and pups! Something about that had the brute's tail wagging and curiosity got the better of him. Without a second thought, the gray hybrid began to lope in the direction of Blackened Song's den.
-----
At the den site, a bold Naiche was climbing the tunnel making a break for the exit. As her head peaked out, and light yellow eyes squinted at the sudden brightness of the sun, the black-pelted youngster swiveled hear muzzle about to see where her mother was. Slowly, quietly, Naiche tried to sneak completely out of the den so that she could explore...
Blue & Whiteout
~~~
Whiteout sits in the little clearing outside of the den, the mostly-white brute basking in the warmth of the early spring sun. Pale yellow eyes flutter close after a while, the urge to nap overcoming the wolf. He's a prime target for rambunctious, curiosity-driven pups to assault.
Blackened Song
Black had allowed the two young wolves to remain. She knew after all she could not raise the three by herself, especially now that they would be making their way out of the den. In fact she sensed the trio scrambling up now. Blue was out hunting while Whiteout remained with her. Which was fine.
However; the wind blew and she grew tense and her fur raised. She barked lightly to the pups to tell them to remain in the den. She let out a warning howl for who ever was approaching. She would kill them if she had to. She trusted only the two with her. She stood at the mouth of the den her tail above her back and ears back.
Naiche & Krush
None the wiser for the less than amiable greeting that faced him, the naive loner picked up his pace and pressed onward through the tall, crinkly grasses. His thoughts turned to the lovely fae, Selene, and the curious black cow that had helped him a few weeks back, and wondered if this encounter might turn out the same. Maybe they could all head to the pastures for a good sheep hunt, or go trash-can tipping for hamburgers and fries? A goofy smile spread across the hybrid's face at all the lovely possibilities!
A howl hit the air then.
'Uh oh, sounds like trouble.' Not even stopping to consider that he was the reason for the threatening warning, or that running up unannounced to another's den site might not be the wisest idea, Krush picked up his pace. And he kept running until the tall grasses suddenly gave way to a small patch of open, flattened earth where the three wolves had tamped the vegetation down in the three-months long stay in the area...
Meanwhile, little Naiche had succeeded in her plot to leave the den, only to be overwhelmed by just how big the world truly was outside the confines of her cozy nest. Feeling her bravado quickly fade, the youngster sought out the nearest friendly scent, which happened to be the mostly white-coated wolf laying nearby. Tucking her tiny tail, Naiche scrambled across the dirt and trampled grass and did her best to burrow beneath Whiteout's belly and chest.
Blue & Whiteout
As Blackened Song's call hits her ears, Blue's rapidly-moving paws manage to find a swifter pace. Body coursing over the grass, the placement of their temporary home grew closer. Heart pounding within the confines of her chest, Blue skittered into the clearing of the den from the rear, zigzagging around the clump of rocks at the mouth of the den. Blue comes to stand near Blackened Song, her fur raised. "Who goes there?" Blue barks haughtily, ears pinned back and lips tilting to display her teeth.
The brother of the duo is a bit rattled by the sudden unfolding of events. His slumber is shaken by the little presence of Naiche burrowing into his white fur. Eyes blink open as he lifts his head with alarm, glancing down to find a tiny furball securing herself under him. Whiteout purrs, but then Blackened Song's howl causes him to flinch. The male rises to a sitting position, Naiche still planted firmly underneath his legs. His aggressiveness mirrors that of his sister's body language -- pinned back ears, quivering lips. Krush had very little time to state his purpose before three pissed off adult wolves would send him on his way.
Blackened song
Blackened wasn't gonna give the approaching wolf a chance to explain. When he appeared she ran at him teeth bared she lunged for him. His approach was fast so side took him as a threat to her pups.
Naiche & Krush
A not so friendly bark was paired with the howl, and only then did Krush realize these voices were aimed in his direction. This crucial deduction came just a second too late however, as the wolfdog had just leaped through the last bit of tall grass when a black form came barrelling at him. He couldn't even squeak out a confused 'Hi?' at the blue-eyed fae next to Blackened before he was hitting the ground and rolling.
A yelp was the sound that was more or less forced from his lungs as he collided with the ground. "Iiiike!!" Out of sheer instinct, the yelp was followed with an almost squealing snarl and a flash of fangs from the startled male. The heavy scent of pups reached him at the same moment, wafting strongly from this wolfess who'd tackled him, and the reason for the assault began to dawn in his head. "H-hey! Hold up! I submit!" Krush's ruddy ears went back and he went from aiming a light snap at Blackened to drawing his muzzle down over his exposed neck and ceasing his struggles.
Blue & Whiteout
Striding forward, Blue sticks close to Blackened Song as she brings the brute to the ground. Her hair sticks up along her spine, muscles bunching to prepare to assist the fight. Krush relents, but Blue remains hostile to the side. Blue who growled savagely, her azure eyes sparkling in the springtime sunlight. A savage snarl came from her throat as Krush aimed a snap in Blackened Song's direction. While any upset wolf might've aimed a snap in the direction of his assaulter, Blue felt that it was in poor nature to test Blackened Song's already waning patience.
Whiteout remains over Naiche, gently grabbing the pup by her scruff and dragging her back several paces towards the den. Once near the mouth of the den, the brute gently scoots the pup towards the safety of the den. "Go inside, little one," Whiteout advises softly, but sternly.
Blackened Song
Black was very defensive. She has raised one other litter before this and she knew how to protect it. Just like when Blue first found her she would not stand for such stupidty. She had given the male his warnings and he had not heeded them and still charged right in so as far as black had been concerned at the time he was a threat.
She ignored blue and white out . She trusted them enough to leave them in charge of guarding the pups while she dealt with this male who at first seemed to decide to try to defend himself. She snapped at him intending on leaving marks.
It wasn't until he spoke and submitted did she relinquish her attack. She did snap at his muzzle one last time before backing off.I suggest you leave mongrelSure he had submitted, but she assumed he just realized there were three of them and one of him not that he realized she was protecting her pups.
Rephaim and Neferyt had stopped coming above as all the snarling was happening. They took heed of their mothers warnings and remained below.
Naiche & Krush
Teeth left shallow cuts across his long muzzle, drawing a well of dark crimson to stain his pale fur. Krush yelped pitifully, now pleading his innocence as the full understanding of the situation awoke in his brain. That, and the acknowledgement that his attacker was much larger at him, boasting a weight that beat his by a whopping fifty pounds. Her two companions looked decently built as well, carrying more muscle than his eighty-eight pound frame. All of this led the ignorant wolfdog to laying flat on his back, tail curled so tightly between his legs that it almost looked like part of his belly. He endured the last snap without offering one in return, having learned his lesson.
"I-I'm sorry! I smelled pups, I heard a howl and thought there was danger..." Krush trailed off. His blue eyes were squinted, just in case Blackened saw fit to deliver another bite. His sight flickered to Blue next, and he about winced again at just how formidable and angry the female looked. He saw Whiteout too, picking up a black fluff of a pup, and his curiosity flickered again. "...ummm, I promise I meant no harm. I just- is it just you three? Out here in the prairie?"
A few paces away from all this drama, Naiche curled up instinctively when Whiteout grabbed her scruff and dragged her back to the mouth of the den. She looked back up at him once, wide-eyed and uncertain, before the lure of darkness called her back into its safety. Keeping her belly to the ground, the little pup crawled back down the tunnel and piled in with Rephaim and Neferyt.
Blue & Whiteout
Blue kept tense as Blackened Song's lesson to Krush played out. There was a slight wince from the she-wolf at the soft ooze of blood from Krush. He certainly was a damned fool, jumping into their makeshift territory of Black's den. The memory of her initial encounter with Blackened Song played out in her mind, knowing that this, too, could've been the play-out of their situation had Blue not backed off quickly. Blue considers herself lucky, Blackened Song is a force to be rekconed with. Her pale eyes squint at Krush with a low growl, scoffing the wolfdog's poor actions. "I bet you'd stick your face into a beehive too because you were curious, hmm?" Blue mutters with a bitter chuckle. She believes the wolfdog's harmless intentions, but Blue isn't the one to decide the fate of Krush. He's at the paws of a very pissed off mother.
Whiteout remains pitted at the mouth of the den, a barrier between the precious pups below and the scene unfolding before them.
Blackened song
Her tail was stiff as it went side to side as she listened to him and watched him.well you were stupid or ignorant because a smart wolf does not approach anothers den at such speeds. If I wanted to I could kill you right now you ignorant fool. If you knew how to tell what a howl means then you would of known that it was directed at you. You are not part of my pack therefor logically your the threat! Do not assume that something or someone else was when its not your pack your running towards especially when it involves pups She growled not sure what she wanted, if she would let him stay or chase him out.
Naiche & Krush
An ear twitch at Blue's comments, but didn't swivel away from where he'd pasted it back against his skull. In his state of alarm and now frantically thumping heart, Krush very nearly blurted out in defense of himself about the time he'd poked around at a very curious thrumming sound that had been coming from the earth. It had been a nesting spot of ground hornets rather than bees, but the result was more or less the same, and that memory made Krush wilt a little more and realize all too painfully that he perhaps had a bad habit of rushing into things without thinking them over well enough. The look he shot at the growling Blue was an apologetically sheepish one, and he turned that same look back at Blackened Song.
"Ehhh... both, I think. In this situation." The wolfodg admit to both accounts of naivety and stupidity, willing owning up to his mistake. Faced with a trio of wolves all much larger and stronger than himself, the diminutive male didn't have much choice. "It's just, it's been so long since I've seen pups. Back when I lived in the city, actually - I just got so excited, and then with the howling I thought they were in danger or something..." The brute trailed off in a bit of a ramble before collecting his thoughts a little better, "I-if I could, is there anyway I can make this up to you? I mean like, maybe getting you some human food, or wild food? Or... maybe watching your den here? But not like right here, a little further away, I guess. Or, uh- I don't know?"
Blue & Whiteout
The she-wolf twitches a bit at the frantic account of Krush. If she wasn't so blatantly annoyed by his appearance, and hadn't already previously decided that what Black decided was law, Blue would've felt embarrassed for the fellow. Shoulders rolling, Blue straightens up from her haunching position, realizing there's no need to prepare for battle. Krush would sooner be ripped to shreds by Black alone than to need the power of two other wolves. She sighs softly, shaking her head. "Black...don't rip his ears off. He's just...thoughtless..." Blue utters to her companion. She half expects Black to ignore her request, not really caring what happens to Krush, but deciding to make a half-attempt to vouch for the brute. She leans back into a sitting position, head cocked almost with amusement at the spout of words from the wolfdog, holding back a grim chuckle. Poor thing was close to having himself scared right out of his skin.
Blackened Song
She listened to him.I don't care about your reasoning as I once told blue here perhaps you need to return to your mother to learn manners and etiquette. It don't matter how long you haven't seen a pup if there not your pups or part of your park you do not rush up to someone elses den. Your lucky im a wolf and that i am not a bear or a cougar you would of been dead the moment you showed your faceShe said. Her ear flicked to Blue but said nothing to it.i don't know you nor do I trust you so being near my den is the wrong move for you. I don't care what you do out of site and scentShe said as she turned to go back to the den.
Naiche & Krush
Eyes went wide at the mention of ripping ears off, and Krush turned those bright blue saucers to the wolfess who'd muttered the comment. He couldn't honestly tell if she was being sarcastic, or whether this mother really would do that. Later, he would realize the former to be true, but here in the presence, faced with Blackened Song's ire, the wolfdog couldn't stop the whine that trilled through his vocals at the thought of losing his big, shepherd-like ears.
"I'll be more careful next time! I mean, there won't be another next time, because I know better now.." The slight whine continued, with Krush looking and sounding something akin to a disciplined pup squirming pitifully under the harsh authority of an angry parent, and doing their best to avoid punishment. To his great relief, Blackened Song relent, perhaps seeing how little of a threat the cowed Krush was. He remained flat on his back for several moments longer, just to be safe, before slowly rolling to his side and getting his paws beneath him. As he watched her, his gaze flicked hastily between the two siblings, and he blurted out, "...um, so... does that mean you guys want me to get you some food, or..." The poor brute should have just turned tail and counted his losses, but he did feel rotten about startling the small family, and wasn't keen on leaving the trio on bad terms.
Blue & Whiteout
Blue remains stationary for a moment, blue eyes fixating themselves on Krush as he scrambles to his paws, still sputtering like a nervous pup. Finally the she-wolf rolls her eyes, relenting and retreating to a spot a few paces off of Black's den. Blue lays down, not bothering any further with the wolfdog because of her frayed nerves.
Whiteout, on the other hand, takes a few steps over towards Krush. Golden eyes blink as he studies the wolfdog, cocking his head slightly with a ficker of amusement. "Come on, brother," he speaks to Krush, his disposition relaxed and, overall, friendly. "We'll go hunting together. We got a hungry mom and," he pauses for a moment to flick his nose towards Blue, "an additional she-wolf who gets grumpy if her stomach is empty too long." He mentions the last bit in a hushed voice so that his sister can not hear his comment. Whiteout's eyes squint as a chuckle surpasses him.
Blackened song
Perhaps like blue she'd eventually let him near but as of right now she would not. Once white out took the rollo f dealing with the wolf she called to her pups.
Neferyt and rephiam finally scrambled out of the den.
Naiche & Krush
Undeterred by the vocal and physical lashing his just received, and justly so for his brazen entrance, the rust-tinged brute watched as Blue decided against any further reprimanding. His tail would have wagged a little in optimism, if it wasn't currently tucked submissively between his hunched legs. Still, he took the eye-roll as a positive sign, if only because it wasn't a flash of teeth or a snarl, and turned his attention to the approaching brother.
Whiteout's body language immediately spoke to Krush, assuaging any worry that the male of the group was going to lay into him next. He let his tail hang a little loser, and though his ears remained back, the wolfdog beamed a smile at the larger fellow. "Sure!" He lit up even more, then dropped his voice in a matching whisper, "...it's the least I could do. I suppose I didn't help with that whole 'grumpy' thing just now." Krush was at least wise enough not to glance in Blue's direction, and his stinging muzzle warned him against showing any interest in the pups that were just now clambering out of the den. "I know some pretty easy prey around where the humans live, if you want to try there?"
After hearing her mother's call, Naiche was right there with her siblings, scrambling out of the den and into the bright, sunny world above ground. Feeling emboldened by the presence of her litter mates, any linger fear in the pup was quick to dissipate. A tiny, playful growl rose from her chest, and with the awkward clumsiness that comes with being a pup, she pounced full force on Rephaim and did her best to grab his scruff.
Blue & Whiteout
The she-wolf basks in the sun, the sudden rumble of playful pups suddenly barreling out of the den filling her ears. Blue wags her tail, watching at the trio tumble into the open. A warm smile tugs at her lips as Blue watches them, chuckling softly to herself.
Whiteout chuckles at Krush, throwing a glance over at his sister with a mere shrug. The intrusion of the wolfdog hadn't helped anybody's nerves today, but Whiteout wasn't going to dwell on the issue. Krush had already martyred his integrity at the paws of the very-angry mother wolf. He spared Krush the further embarassment. "Who is to say. But let's try to feed her before she attempts cannibalize me again," Whiteout explains with a sarcastic tone. Gold eyes gleam as Whiteout takes off into the tall grass, beckoning Krush with a flick of his tail. "Lead the way," he calls, even though he's several paces ahead of Krush at that instant.
Blackened song
Black laid down now relaxing but on full alert now that the pups were out and about.
Rephaim grunted as his sister pounced on him and he made to roll over and shove at her with his legs growling.
Neferyt on the other hand was exploring.
Naiche & Krush
The musical note of laughter, even in the form of quiet chuckles, smoothed away more of that nail-biting anxiety the wolfdog felt, and a bit of the guilt too. It seems as if his grand blunder hadn't completely upset the day for this small family, and if he could help it, Krush was bound determine to make it up to them. This desire was bolstered by the kindness that Whiteout showed him, to which the bright-eyed brute merrily waved his tail and answered, "Better safe than sorry, they say!" He was quick to bound after the other, his ears now forward and his posture springing out of that submissive stance. In a few swift strides, he overtook Whiteout and led the charge to the outskirts of Atroe City's Dump.
------
Naiche barely got her brother's ear in her mouth when he shifted and kicked at her. The pudgy little pup grunted as she fell to her side, rolling like a pill bug across the dirt, her legs scrambling in vain at the air. It took a moment of riggling before she managed to get back to her paws and pull herself back up. A little growl escaped her throat and she readied herself to pounce again...
A curious sound stopped Naiche, and she cocked her head in a comic fashion. The play growl died in her throat and she turned around, looking now at Blue. A new growl started up and she charged clumsily for the wolf, her stubby little tail straight up in the air, as if she were a great hunter about to take a worthy prey!
Blue
The sister watched her brother and the stranger vanish into the thicket of the tall grass, blue eyes squinting as their thud of paws also vanished from her hearing. For a moment, Blue is lost to her own musing, when suddenly an amount of growling shakes her conscious back to reality. Tipping her head towards Naiche, she catches a glimpse of the charging pup from her peripherals. She braces her body, but doesn't move for the pup's sake. A content smile tugs at her lips, and her tail thumps as she anticipates the pup's assault. Always big in the heart for the younger ones, Blue relishes that she has become part of their playful plot.
Rephaim
Rephaim himself gets up shaking his little body out of some dirt and then follows his sister .
Neferyt on the other hand keeps exploring.
Naiche
Naiche quickly finds her footing as she bounces over the ground, target locked in sight. She doesn't even notice Rephaim is tailing her now, so intent is her little mind and the goal at hand. She sees Blue tilt her head, but in Naiche's mind, the wolfess surely hasn't seen her yet! No, otherwise she would be up and running away, right? Her confidence growing, the spunky little pup picks up speed, getting closer and closer...
Upon reaching Blue, Naiche fumbles to a halt, growling mightily and holding her tail up, trying to figure out the best angle for assault. Seeing the fae's tail thump against the ground, Naiche makes a lunge that - in her mind - is quite epic, but in reality has her clearing less than a few inches of vertical space before she all but face plants into the fluffy appendage and tries to shake the life out of it.
Blue
The two streaking bundles of fur come right to her before Blue even takes a breath. Keen eyes turn as Naiche comes to a skidding halt, amusement flickering through the adult she-wolf. Before she can make another move, Naiche strikes for her tail. Blue shuffles her front paws so that she's in a sitting position. A playful growl rattles her chest as Blue darts forward with her muzzle, aiming to knock the ground-striken pup and flip her onto her belly. All in the meanwhile, Blue has completely missed the presence of Rephaim trailing behind his sister.
Rephaim
Rephaim followed his sister and if Naichi failed he would of gone for Blue tail aiming to bite on to it with a small puppy growl accompanining it.
Naiche
Naiche was just too focused on that tail to noticed the coming assault. Just as she was picking herself up and readying for a victory bite at the tail, a muzzle sweeps in and catches her side, sending the youngster tumbling over with a squeak of surprise. With the playful growl from Blue ringing in her ears, Naiche rumbles right back and scrambles to her feet to declare the that this fight was on!
With her brother going for the tail, Naiche took the bold strategy of attacking Blue's muzzle, trying not only to jump up and gnaw on it, but to wrap her front paws around either side of the fae's jowls so that she could wrestle Blue to the ground.
Blue
Little teeth latch onto her tail as Rephaim gets a mouthful of her fur. Blue gives a yip of both surprise and amusement, the she wolf scooting her rear end back in hopes to detach the brute from her tail. A purr-like growl rises from Blue's chest as she kicks one leg out gently to try and further disrupt Rephaim's hold. All in the meantime, Blue had been ignoring Naiche's advances. The next thing the she-wolf knew, the squirming Naiche is assaulting her face. Blue jerks her head up out of Naiche's reach, gazing down with a devilish glimmer in her azure eyes. She smirks, butting her head down to knock Naiche off balance. "You need to be quicker," She advises Naiche, "Or you'll never catch your prey."
Rephaim
His tail wagged as he got her tail but soon was dislodged from it. Giving a puppy growl he attempts to get it again.
Naiche
For a single moment, Naiche feels success at the edge of her grasp, paws ready to clasp either side of her target's face, and puppy teeth eager and waiting to clamp onto a wet nose. But victory is snatched away at the last second, with Blue's face turning a devilish grin as it jolts back, just out of her grasp. And though a valiant attempt is made to leap up and reclaim her win, Naiche falls short, and then is knocked to the ground when her prey fights back. With a short "Ooof!" The youngster learns a lesson that every wolf must endure; hunting ends far more often in failure than success.
Naiche is undaunted though, and picks herself up from the ground with determination glimmering in her eyes, "I am quicker than Reph!" Whether that was true or not was up to debate, of course. "See?" And, as if it would catch Blue off guard, Naiche suddenly bouncing forward again and dives for the fae's front paw, growling as loudly as she could muster.
Blue
The she-wolf laughs with amusement as, once again, both pups do not relent. Reph clings to her tail, while Naiche takes ahold of her paw. Azure eyes dance as she twists to glance at Reph, cocking her head at Naiche's words. "You hear that, little one? Your sister has declared herself over you," Blue instigates in an attempt to momentarily turn the pups against one another. If she can get at least one pup off of her skin, maybe then Blue stood a fighting chance at bringing both spirited pups down.
Rephaim
Reph heard his sister and growled at through his clamped mouth and even before blue spoke he released his hold an ran to tackle his sister.
Neferyt was now chasing arat.
Naiche
Naiche's little tail wags when she succeeds in capturing the paw. She promptly begins to chew on the appendage, not realizing that her milk teeth aren't exactly the bluntest of things, and that this game probably isn't as fun for Blue as it is for her. She does hear her brother's growl though, and spots him from the corner of her eye as he comes rushing at her.
She releases her prize and turns to face him, but isn't quite a match for his momentum and larger size. With a second "Ooof!" Naiche tumbles into her side, with Reph on top. Growling up a storm and wiggling about to free herself, the little pup mock bites at his neck, "Uugh, you're heavy!"
Blue
There's a devilish laugh from the she-wolf as she watches Reph slam his weight on top of his sister. For a moment, Blue's mind tracks back to her own puppish exploits with her own siblings. Too often did she and Whiteout find themselves tossing and turning in the dust to declare dominance. She observes them for a fleeting second longer, before reaching forward to grab Naiche's little tail. Blue attempts to tug the female from the clutches of her brother, a heroic deed with a selfish, devious plot at the base of it.
Rephaim
He kept his weight on her..Good serve you righthe said Whether or not Blue had been succesful he had gotten.Im the best of ushe said now prancing away.
Naiche
She kept trying to chew at her brother's neck, all the while flailing about and trying to get her paws back beneath her. "Pshh, I'll show you Reph!" Her grown was sharp and pitched, far from the deep and frightening rumble it would one day become. But then, her anger wasn't true, and her wagging tail showed that this was all in play, even if she was irked about getting pinned. Her wiggling appendage soon stopped when careful teeth closed around it, and a moment later Naiche grunted as she was tugged backwards and away from Rephaim, freed from her predicament.
"Ha, see! I got out!" Little Naiche boasted to her prancing brother, even if her freedom had not been won by her own paws. "I am stronger!"
Blue
Chuckling at the audacity of either pup, Blue gazes down at the proud pup at her paws. Reph takes his leave, if perhaps only for a moment, and Blue smirks slightly. Still with her teeth around the limb of Naiche, Blue gives another tug to remind the egotistical pup the predicament she still resides in. "If you're so strong, then perhaps your next challenge is me," Blue challenges with a devilish grin. Releasing Naiche's leg, Blue uses her muzzle to push at Naiche's side, trying to flip the pup over and dizzy her. The moment Naiche tries to resist, Blue would knock her back onto her side or over again. It was a maneuver Blue had been dizzied into as a pup herself, futilely resisting and knocked back into the dirt.
Rephaim
He laughed at her but didnt respond as he and neferyt both went to their mother for a drink.
Crucifix had taken his leave of the scar and had traveled here following a familiar scent. He knew to be cautious and gave a howl to let her know of his approach. He saw them as he got closer and smiled as his sister had approached himIt is good to see you tohe said calmly to his sister.
Blackened song had been dozing till two of her pups drank. However; that howl. She howled back and was up within seconds her tail wagging for the first time at an approach of another and she ran to her younger brother and licked the bottom of his muzzle.Crucifix!She said.
Neferyt and rephaim moved to blue warily watching the new commers.
Naiche
Though Rephaim was the clear victor in their little tussle, Naiche stubbornly clung to the belief that she was the winner. With her little chest puffed out and her dark head held high, she snorted at her brother as he 'retreated' from her, to grab a midday snack from their mom. It was a slight tug at her leg that knocked the boastful pup down a peg, as she stumbled and immediately lost that over-the-top display of confidence.
To Naiche's credit, she was able to dodge aside the first swing of the muzzle, but her coordination was still in the works, and she couldn't quite get her legs to move quick enough to evade the second strike. With ease, Blue had the youngster turned to the ground with a new, playful growl emerging. "Ha ha, I can- oooof!" Down she went a second time, "-I can beat you.. aack! Hey!" And down for a third. The little pup continued to struggle, sometimes nipping or pawing at Blue, and other times attempting to bolt in one direction or another. But always, the elder wolf would have her down for the count, until at last Naiche's pride had to be set aside as the world went topsy-turvy on her. "Okay, okay! I give!"
At just about that time, as the ebony and white coated pup was turning her ears back and adopting the instinctive pose of submission, Blackened's howl startled her. Not realizing this was one of her uncles, Naiche immediately went quiet and now sought Blue as a protector rather than a playful adversary.
Taiya & Blue
In the last few days, Taiya's put a lot of mileage on her paws. Breaking out of the muddy, rotting terrain of the bog, the prairie and its openness is welcoming for her. The sun feels warm as it beats down on her ebony pelt, and the feeling of the tall grass tickling against her belly as she follows Crucifix brings content to the coywolf. Sure enough to her mother's suggestion, Crucifix finds a member of his long-lost family.
The coywolf allows for the two to reunite, standing a few paces back with her tail gently wagging. She observes the other she-wolf, as well as three rambunctious pups. Blinking her brown eyes, Taiya approaches Crucifix's side and tilts her head in the direction of Blackened Song. "Hello...I'm Taiya, I'm a friend of Crucifix," She introduces herself, eyes also casting over to Blue and the pups with a wag of her tail.
~~
The adult wolf grins down at Naiche, eyes sparkling as an amused chuckle ripples through her frame. She stops her onslaught, leaning down to gently lick the pup's ear to extend a peace treaty amongst the two. Naiche is dizzy and her pride a bit shot, but Blue takes a moment to reassure the fiery-spirited wolf pup. "Keep practicing," Blue advises her with a light voice, smiling, "I'm sure one day you'll be bigger than me. Then I'll have to watch my tail!"
The she-wolf flinches as Blackened Song's howls takes to the air. Ears flit down until she realizes the friendliness in her tone, and the way in which Blackened rushes to meet the approaching Crucifix. Blue blinks, dipping a respectful nod in greeting to the two new wolves in their presence.
Blackened Song
Black was excited to know that some of her family was still alive. At least on her mothers side. Her tail wagged as she finally sat up and called to her pups. i have been alright, the two leggers had me...She glanced at her mixxed breed pups.Come meet your uncleShe says . She looks to taiya.i am blackened songShe said.
Rephaim and Neferyt has both moved to blue as well, even though her mom was greeting this male with friendliness. When she spoke it was Neferyt who responded first and moved toward him.Im NeferytShe said.
Rephaim watched his sister and then finally moved forward.RephaimHe said.
Crucifix was elated that his sister was alive and well. Perhaps he could find the others.Where is chili and her pups?he then asked and then f rowned.The two leggers still have them? Well get them backhe said calmly.I want you and your little pack to come join me at Parnassian meadowshe said calmly.
Taiya & Blue
Taiya takes a few steps towards the pups, glancing between Blackened Song and Blue as she lowers her nose towards them. Her tail wags eagerly. "And what a strong bunch you three look," Taiya compliments the pups, attempting to feed their egos and gain favor. Her brown eyes dance as she smiles at them. The coywolf, only sixty-pounds at her adulthood, will only be larger than these pups for only a while longer. On that thought, she mentions, "I bet you all will be larger than me before you even turn a year old!"
Crucifix mentions bringing Blackened Song home to Parnassian Meadows, a thought that causes Taiya's tail to wag and she turns back to Blackened Song with an eager gaze. Not only had they found part of Crucifix's family, but additional friends as well. The road to building their family began rather simply and quickly.
~~
Blue remains relatively quiet, staying steadfast with the pups as Blackened Song brings Crucifix and Taiya over to meet the pups. The pups introduce themselves, bold and confident like their mother. "I-I'm Blue...Call me the pup-sitter, if you may," She gently jokes. Her mind travels to her absent brother, and their newfound companion in Krush. "You guys just missed our other two companions, they're out scavenging for food."
Naiche
A future rematch with Blue was certainly on Naiche's agenda, but these newcomers held her immediate attention. Her wide, yellow eyes, set so boldly against the backdrop of black fur that encircled them, intently watched the interaction between these strangers and her mother. Slowly, her hunched position loosened as curiosity began to outweigh alarm. It wasn't long before she picked herself up altogether and took a cautious step past the immediate security of Blue. Once Neferyt padded by her, Naiche found the rest of her courage and followed boldly after, towards her mother and uncle.
"I'm Naiche." Despite herself, the youngster's tail begins to wag as she sees the same gesture from the white-coated wolf that was now approaching them. This stranger was all smiles and friendliness too, and that chased away any lasting hesitation from young Naiche. It also hadn't hurt that Taiya did a fine job at boosting their egos, and it worked beautifully towards gaining immediate trust from this pup, "Who are you?"
Crucifix
Crucifix smiled as his sister accepted then looked to the pups.Its a pleasure to meet you, I am Crucifix your uncleHe said calmly.
Rephaim nipped at Naiche as she came up then looked ot his uncle and the she wolf with him.Is it a big place? are there other pups?He asked.
Neferyt spoke not.
Taiya & Blue
The she-wolf smiles broadly at the questions from the pups, tail continuously wagging. Although she had yet to be a mother herself, the desire sat back in the far recesses of her mind, ignited by the presence of the trio of rambunctious and delightful pups. "I'm Taiya," she introduces herself to the pups, reaching her muzzle forward to touch noses with any of the pups. Now that their mother and their caretaker had accepted Taiya's presence, alongside Crucifix, the coywolf made advances to extend further acquittance. To Rephaim's question, she replies, "No...no other pups. But it's really, really big! If you guys come with us and it's okay with your mother, maybe I can take you on a few adventures there!" A broad smile steals away on her face as she glances over at Crucifix, a passing waver of excitement filling her flesh. Pups. Realizing the look of sheer elation she gives Crucifix, Taiya suddenly flicks her ears and glances away, a heat creeping along her skin. She hadn't known Crucifix for very long...but she trusted him wholly, and their strange bond ignited quickly over the short span of time. Maybe pups weren't on the immediate agenda, but the thought lodges itself in the rear of Taiya's mind. Eventually.
~~
Blue smiles at the eagerness of Taiya and the pups, quietly allowing the other adults to converse about Crucifix's home. Blue had been born into the rogue, loner lifestyle, minus her mother and siblings. While she had always had Whiteout, Blue herself had never had a place to call home. Blue couldn't find fault in the black brute's proposal.
Naiche
Having no real world experience past her den and the tall grasses surrounding it, Naiche couldn't even fathom all the grand new places that she'd soon be encountering, but her mind still went wild with possibilities. Her wide eyes reflected this growing wonder, and she eagerly extended her muzzle forward to touch noses with this Taiya who'd offered them adventures. "Adventures, really? Can we, mama?"
As she was glancing back hopefully at Blackened, a set of tiny teeth were clipping her side, and a growl instantly formed in her furry throat. "Hey!" Naiche's face twisted into a look of faux anger and she nipped back at Raphaim, and gave him a paw-swipe to the shoulder for good measure.
Blackened Song
She was glad to accept her brothers offer. Especially because she feared that human would come looking for her and the pups. She couldnt loose them, she'd lost chili and her pups already, as she hadn't been able to find them in her escape. of course but you'll stay close to Taiya when you doShe said.
Crucifix wa glad it all seemed to be working out.Shall we go?He askes.
Rephaim bounded a few steps away from her before she could get a rebuke in. His little tail above his back.
Neferyt was silent.
Taiya & Blue
A broad smile covers Taiya's face as she watches Rephaim and Naiche scuffle for a moment. Topped with Blackened Song's accepting their offer, Taiya couldn't help but wag her tail furiously. She prances a bit on her paws, excited to show these new friends their home. It had been ages since she'd been part of a large family, and while these wolves weren't direct blood or one's she'd been raised with, a wash of elation mixed with relief fills the she-wolf.
~~
Blue nods softly as if to respond to Crucifix, when suddenly the she-wolf remembers two missing factors: her brother and the wolfdog, Krush. She clears her throat, uttering, "Whiteout and Krush were out looking for food..." Her brow furrows as she glances in the direction that they vanished. "Perhaps I should go find them. I'll follow your scent to the new territory and bring them there." She doubts Whiteout would protest the new home, Krush on the other hand was not a determined entity. Whether he was going to stick around in the first place was questionable, but Blue figured it was best to extend inclusion for the wolfdog. She rises to her paws, taking a few strides in the direction the duo left. "We'll meet you there," She says, before slipping past the tall, golden grass of the prairie.
Naiche
"Really?!" Naiche was a beacon of excitement upon being granted permission to explore with Taiya. All previous wariness and concern for these strangers was thrown out the window, and this wolfess may as well been a long-time friend for how completely and utterly the youngster now trusted her. She might have started mimicking the fae's merry prancing too, if not for her brother boasting a tail above his back and bouncing away before she could tag him. The cheerful attitude was dropped for a more vengeful one, and she raised her own little banner high above her back before charging at Rephaim.
Crucifix
He watched the pups lost in a daze but then snapped out of it.we shall leave you a distinct trail to followHe replied back. Shall we go?He asks.
Blackened song looked to her pupsEnough, lets head outShe said.
Taiya & Blue
Taiya wags her tail as she turns towards Crucifix, a broad smile marring her face. "Let's!" She yips.
Blue dips her head towards Crucifix, dashing off in the direction her brother and Krush vanished off to.