Tayzeka

Tayzekaa had vanished into a den for two months only coming out to drink. However; her reambuctious two month olds needed more space so she picked up Scorponock and led the way above ground. She did not go far from the den. She put him down and gave a call to announce their presence.

HUlia den wasnt far off. Her pups were now a healthy 4 months old and integrated nicely into the pack.

Raven and Eagle followed their mother over to greet their younger cousins.

Blackout was hesitant at first as he came out of the den.

Scorponock stayed close to his mother when she put him down.

Starscream & Others

If Cortinarri were still alive, she would have been proud of her son's behavior this time around. In his twilight years, the alpha had finally started showing accountability for his offspring and loyalty to his mate, without so much turning a curious ear to any she-wolves he might hear howling in the distance. Perhaps he was just too old to give chase, or perhaps his mother's word had finally sunk in. Either way, Starscream had doted on Tayzeka, and brought Darling in to help keep watch of the den when she wasn't occupied with helping out Hulia and Crow.

He was at the den when Tay decided to bring the youngsters up, and couldn't help but marvel at the little replicas of himself and his mate as they emerged one by one from the well-used den. "Don't worry, you'll get use to the light." He chuckled, watching as Stormrunner blinked and squinted at the brightness around him. He managed to run into the back of his mother's leg at one point, while Piper was a bit more cautious and took his time.

Crow arrived on the scene with his mate, and smiled broadly at the four little pups that scattered out around Tayzeka and Starscream. Shrike was the first to bounce forward and sniff at his new cousins, while Shrike and Hawk were a bit slower to approach, but each one had a tail wagging merrily behind them.

Darling and Starwhisper were a little later to arrive, having been patrolling the boarder and reestablishing scent markers. Darling immediately melted at the sight of the pups, and padded closer to the four new Aspen Grove members, eager to get to know each one.

Last to make it to the den site was Arora, who'd been somewhat standoffish towards Tayzeka and her father in the past few months. Seeing the pups though, some of the wolf's aggression dissipated, and she even offered a half-smile to Tay and Starscream, "Eh, they're kinda adorable."

Tayzeka

Tayzeka laid down next to star as the pack came to meet their new members. She nuzzles each of her siblings as they come to greet the pups who she names off once everyone was present.

Eagle and Raven played bowed toward the pups remembering their mother warning about how much bigger they were.

Scorponock played bow back and nnipped at his cousin.

Blackout meanwhile was exploring.

Starscream & Others

Settling down beside his mate, Starscream basked in the peace and joy of the moment, savoring this bit of heaven. There had been a lot of hardships and struggles in his life, and he'd eventually learned to savor times like these, when all was well with the world, and his pack was merry and content.

Starwhisper grinned at Megatron and Fiera, "Four new brothers. Fiera, we're outnumbered now." Brown eyes shifted back to her younger brothers and her tail waved enthusiastically behind her. Darling had plopped herself down and patted at the ground with one paw, trying to entice one of the pups her way. Piper eventually took the bait and bounced towards his elder half-sister.

Stormrunner was equally unbothered by the size of all the adults around him, nor intimidated by so much attention. His wide eyes roved over the many faces peering down at him before he gave a playful growl and charged at Raven.

Raven

Tayzeka rested her head on Starscreams back. She was happy that peace for now seemed to roam over the valley.

hulia laid with crow.

Megatron watched his younger siblings. Curious.

Fiera tail wagged. oh what will we do?She said.

Ravengrowled playfully at stormrunner and spun around ran a little ways.

The others all played or explored

Starscream & Others

Starscream let his eyes close for a moment, so that he could better enjoy the sound of the youngsters romping and feel the soft breath of his mate as she lay her head across him. After a moment, he raised his sleepy lids and spoke in a quiet murmur, "I think our pack is in a good place now, at long last." A contented sigh rattled through his lungs, "And I'm grateful to have you as a mate; forever, this time." And it was an honest remark from the wolf, admitting to his faults in the past and committing to do right by her from now on.

Crow was just as happy curled up with his Hulia, though he didn't let his green eyes close for a second. Though there were plenty of adults around to help watch the pups, the silver-furred father was keen on keeping them in his sights too.

Starwhisper was chuckling now, "Unless mother and father have another litter, I think we'll be forever outnumbered. But hey, at least for a few months, they'll all be small enough that we can keep them in line. Maybe teach them a thing or two."

Somewhere in the pile of youngsters, Stormrunner was learning how to use his legs as he ran after his cousin as fast as his little paws could take him. She could easily outpace him of course, but that didn't stop the younger pup from trying!

Raven

Tayzeka relaxed as she listened to all the pups around them and everything else. One Ear flicked to star as he spoke and she licked his muzzle. it is in a very good placeShe says calmly.

Hulia had her eyes shut but she could easily tell where her pups were by their sounds.

Raven leaped around and ran figuring chase was the best game to play with hte pups.

The others played.

Fira laughed.Indeed,but dad getting a little oldShe said.

Starscream & Others

While the adults enjoyed the happy times, and a few like Darling actively romped about with the pups, Hawk broke away from the group as a curious smell caught his nose. The youngster struck off with his nose to the wind. A keen eyed Arora caught sight of this and quickly intercepted, "Not too far, Hawk. Stay within sight of us."

The pup turned his golden eyes up to the wolfess, "But don't you smell that? What is it?" He queried, then turned his muzzle back in the direction of the alluring odor.

Piper's sense of smell was not yet developed enough to notice this, and besides, he had a cousin to catch! Putting every bit of tiny strength he had into his legs, the pup dashed after Raven. He ended up tripping and rolling several times, making it absurdly easy for her to get away from him, but that didn't stop him from trying.

Starwhisper had held back a chuckle to her sister, "You said it, not me." She looked with mild curiosity in Arora's direction, but didn't think to much of what they were up to. "But you're probably right, I can't imagine he'll have any more. That is going to be strong going into winter - the pups will be a bit young, but should be strong enough to hunt with us. We could bring down some pretty big game with these numbers."

Hulia

Hulia heard the going on and got up and moved to her pup.And what smell is that?She said stepping in the way of her pup. Her head low to sniff at him.

Megatron stretche and got up making to head out on patrol

Tayzeka fell asleep feeling comfortable enough with the amount of adults here to do so.

Raven slowled down after awhile to let them catch up.

Fira laughed and then turned serious.yes we should be fineShe said.

Starscream & Others

Hawk tried to push past his mother and Arora, but both adults had blocked him now. "That smell! I don't know... it's, it's.." As he tried to come up with words to describe what he smelled, Arora caught it clearly now, and Hulia would soon as well, if she brought her muzzle low enough to the ground.

"I'm not sure what that is? It... could be food?" With a hesitant but curious look to Hulia, Arora began to follow the scent into the trees. It was a quarter-mile trek into the forests before the wolf came across the source of the strange odor, where a young fox was pawing and licking at the ground, unaware of the wolves headed in her direction.

Back at the densite, Piper hadn't noticed his aunt get up and walk away, and was more excited to have finally caught up with his cousin. As soon as he reached her, he plowed into Raven and growled triumphantly.

Crow had sat up immediately when his mate left. Starwhisper noticed this too and paused in her conversation with her sister. Neither of them had caught the scent, but something was clearly up.

Hulia

Hulia did catch it soon.You stay here with the othersShe said before following Arora to the source. She growled at the fox.who are you fox? and what are you doing?She said as she stopped and stared at it.

Tay woke up when she heard other adults go quiet and watched her sister and Arora follow something. Her ears were forward ready to corral the pups.

The pups kept playing.

Starscream & Others

"Awww, but moooom." Hawk lamented dramatically, throwing his head back when Hulia told him to stay behind. The youngster initially plopped himself down on his haunches to watch his mother and Arora disappear into the trees, but after a few moments curiosity got the better of him, and he sprung back up and snuck after the pair.

Arora stuck close to Hulia as the continued forward towards the strange smell. When they came across the fox, the wolf let her hackles rise as she bared her fangs, "You're dangerously close to a wolf den, you daft creature."

The fox stopped immediately and whirled about to face the wolves, having been so utterly absorbed in the scent that she didn't hear them coming until Hulia had growled. The little red vixen bared her fangs but flattened her ears and scooted back against the tree, trying to make herself look as tiny as possible, "B-back off! I just caught a strange smell, but there was no food." Her butter-yellow eyes switched quickly to Arora, "And I wouldn't be stupid enough to take a wolf cub."

Arora narrowed her eyes, contemplating taking the fox anyway, just to give the pups an extra snack. But her keen eyes had caught something on the tree, just a few inches above where the vixen was crouched against the bark. She initially mistook it for some strange brown growth on the tree, but there was a shiny black center to it, a perfect circle of a shape that didn't look like anything she'd seen before. The wolfess growled uncertainly and nodded to Hulia, "What is that thing?" Whatever it was, the brown 'thing' was roughly the size of a wolf's head, but had a boxy shape to it that looked more and more unnatural the further Arora studied it.

Hulia

Hulia growled at the fox.leave foxBut her eyes were focused on the thing on the tree. She moved slowly toward it pausing every now and then. Herears forward and on it as she approached it. She sniffed at it unsure of what it was. I don't knowShe said back..

Tayzeka saw her nephew making a bolt after his mother and got up and made to pick him up by the scruff.You heard your motherShe said.

Starscream & Others

The fox could see the hunger in Arora's eyes and she snarled sharply at the wolf. She pressed further against the tree until her bronzy red fur was entwined with the rough bark of the trunk. Hulia gave a growl and an order that offered the little vixen enough of a distraction to turn suddenly and bolt away from the tree, escaping a half-hearted snap from Arora before disappearing into the brush.

With the fox gone, Arora's attention was back on the strange box-thing on the tree. She stepped cautiously forward, until her twitching nose was a few mere inches from it. "It almost looks like an eye in the center." The wolfess remarked, staring into that dark circle that faintly reflected her image, like the surface of a calm lake.

Hawk hadn't gotten far before strong jaws closed around his scruff and held him fast. The youngster flattened his ears and looked back, his shoulders slumping in defeat, "But I smelled it first! I should be able to check it out too." Not far from them, Shrike had stopped romping with the younger pups and whispered to Eagle "I wonder what's going on."

Hulia

Hulia sniffed the contraption and then tried biting it. I don't like it, It seems like a human objectShe growled at it.

Tayzeka brought him back.you are too young to investigate something that could be dangerousShe said putting him down between her paws warily watching where her sister and Arora went off to.

Megatron got upill go check on themhe said padding in the direction the two wolfesses went off in.

Starscream & Others

Arora tried a cautious test bite herself, only to find her teeth clattering against a material that was much harder than tree bark. It almost felt like stone, but... not as rough, and not quite as dense? The wolfess wasn't sure. Puzzled, she pawed at the box next and focused on that strange round part in the center, "It's not moving... think it might be some strange kind of turtle? That looks like an eye, kind of."

Starscream had woken up at this point, sitting up with a look of confusion on his face. "Listen to your aunt." He rumbled at Hawk, while glancing in Megatron's direction as his son padded off through the trees. His amber gaze shifted to his mate quizzically, "What's going on?" He hadn't yet caught the scent that Hawk had, but he didn't like the sound of 'that could be dangerous.'

The youngster huffed and hung his head down, but wasn't about to argue against his alphas. "Oookayyy."

Tayzeka

She released him once she was back by her mate. Hawk picked up the scent of a fox, Hulia and Arora went to check it out to make sure it not a threatShe said calmly knowing what the scent was. The fox really wasn't much of a threat to begin with but then again you never knew.

Hulia pawed at it.Nah its not breathing and look there some kinda strap holding it to the treeShe said walking around the tree.

Megatron finally arrived .thought there was a foxHe said moving up to the contraption and making to sniff and bite it himself.

Starscream & Others

Hearing it was just a fox, Starscream immediately relaxed, "A fox is only a threat to pups who wander too far from their pack." His eyes fell pointedly on Hawk as he said this, warning the youngster to be more cautious next time and listen when his elders tell him to stay back.

Arora crouched down and turned her head until it was nearly sideways just to get a different view of the weird boxy thing. "So it's not part of the tree either? Huh..." She tried again to bite it, this time putting more force into it. Her teeth clanked against the material, but the object didn't react, nor show any signs of damage. Stumped, Arora gave the 'eye' a lick, half expecting it to blink. When Megatron arrived, she stepped back and pointed her muzzle at the box, "Ever seen anything like this? It doen't taste like anything, and it doesn't seem to be alive. I can't hear any noises coming from it either."

Megatron

Megatron shook his head as he scratched at it. Nope its new to me, it wasn't there yesterday as I was sleeping right here he said.

Hulia didn't like this. Her ears were back. Maybe we sould go backShe said.

Tayzeka began to groom Hawk.

Starscream & Others

Disappointed though he was, Hawk finally settled down to let his aunt groom him.

Back in the forest, Arora circled around the tree to inspect the strap that Hulia spoke of. "If it wasn't here yesterday, how did it get here now? It's so strange looking... I think it must be alive. Maybe some kind of tree turtle? Maybe it's inside its shell." Having never seen a camera trap, the young wolfess was analyzing the situation with what knowledge she had, and 'turtle' seemed to be the best fit for this hard-shelled contraption.

When Hulia suggested going back, Arora nodded slowly, her mind still spinning with ideas. "...yeah, I think you're right. Lets let the others know, and keep the pups away from here. But I'll come back to check it out in a few hours, to see if it's moved any."

Hulia

Hulian finally gave up leaving the thing alone.Don't come aloneShe said as she moved back toward the pack.

Megatron was the last to leave it.

Tazyeka groomed him.

Starscream & Others

Arora lingered for only a moment longer before giving her head a shake and huffing under her breath in frustration at it all. "A good idea, Hulia. I'll grab you or Megs next time." With a final look at the bizarre box, the wolfess turned tail and loped after Hulia to rejoin the pack and tell them of what they'd found.