Starscream, Darling, Arora, & Stormrunner

A howl rang out across the the cadre, rising high into a sharp note that could only come from Starscream. The alpha of the Aspen Grove was calling for a pack hunt, and this time the yearlings would be helping out.

Darling and Arora weren't far off when their father called, and soon joined the graying old wolf. Darling was quick to nuzzle her father, licking his chin in a show of affection and submission, while the amber-eyed Arora was a little lax on showing submission to her sire. She didn't go so far as to raise her tail high, but it was miles above the nearly tucked appendage of Darling, and her head was kept well above shoulder level.

Stormrunner came galloping in next, tail thrashing from side to side and he bumped into Arora first, flattening his ears and offering her a friendly whimper. Starscream and Darling were next, each getting boisterous licks and tail-thumps from the eager youngster.

Crow & Hawk

Crow strolled in with a tongue lolling from his mouth, trying to combat the growing heat in the Valley as summer took full hold. Hawk was right beside him, tongue also hanging from his mouth as he panted to beat the rising temperatures. "Are we going for a real hunt?" The adolescent asked, shooting his cousin an excitable look, then directing it curiously to Starscream for confirmation.

Starscream, Darling, Arora, & Stormrunner

"We are, and both of you will be helping." The alpha answered, all while enduring the affection from his children with far more ease and calmness than he had in earlier years. If advancing age had any benefit for Star, it was a mellowing of some of his harsher personality traits; at least when it came to his family. "Just remember, you follow our orders and don't stray far. We hunt as a unit, and if either of you goofs around or doesn't listen, it could very well cost us our dinner today. Or worse." He leveled Hawk and Stormrunner with a raised-brow look, and let it linger long enough to send the message home. "We'll be checking the marsh today." The alpha nodded to the others, then kicked into a lope, heading out of the territory.

Arora filed in line slightly behind and to the side of her father, ears up and tail held high.

Darling dropped back behind Stormrunner and Crow, willing to be the nanny on this excursion. If the adolescents got worn out or strayed too far, she'd be the one to step in and help with them.

Exhaustion didn't seem to be a problem for Storm, at least not right now. His tail was still wagging a mile a minute, after a brief freeze when his father shot him that look of warning. As soon as Starscream looked away though, he was prancing his paws and bouncing after his family.

Crow & Hawk

Much like his cousin, Hawk was quick to pin his ears and look a little cowed for the stern lecture Starscream gave them, especially with thoughts of their missing siblings in mind. That disastrous outing had lost them four littermates last winter, and had been the primary reason that Hawk never strayed far from the adults.

Hawk fell in line shortly behind Stormrunner, leaving Crow to fall further back and stay nearer to Darling, where he could help his aunt keep an eye on the two younglings.