Stormrunner, Darling, Agarian, & Lakona

A joyous howl sang through land, bringing with it word of new life. Stormrunner had become a father late yesterday, and after giving his mate time to rest through the night, was eager to announce the new additions to the pack. The bright eyed wolf clambered down from the boulder he'd been on and hustled back to the entrance of the den, tail a-wag and heart thrumming with excitement. "How are you doing, Iopa?" He called while down on his elbows, peering into the darkness of the tunnel that extended beyond the roots of the ancient cedar tree above it.

In the darkness, little Agarian and Lakona squirmed against each other as they fought for prime access to their mother and the food she provided. Their father's voice was merely a muffled distraction to them right now, as all they wanted was milk and their dam's warmth.

Darling was at the den in moments, having already anticipated Iopa's whelping during the night. "Congratulations, Storm. How many?" She greeted him, tail swishing furiously as she peered at what she could see of the den past Storm's haunches.

The alpha scooted back from the tunnel and stood, pride carrying his words as he answered his sibling, "Four; a male and three females." He looked past Darling, half-expecting to see at least one of his parents, but so far neither had shown up.

Blackout

Blackout had been out patrolling. He had come across his parents tracks and scent leaving the territory toward the canyon but.... they never returned. His ears heard the howl. But he wanted to go find his parents. He sent up his own howl.

Crow, Hawk, Iopa, Icara, & Firelight

Crow and Hawk soon appeared, with the elder wolf dipping his head to Stormrunner, "Congratulations. How's Iopa doing?" There was contained excitement in the old wolf's eyes, for pups were always a reason to celebrate. But there was caution too; the last two litters born of the Aspen Grove had met disaster, with only three of original nine youngsters surviving their first year, as far as the pack was aware.

Hawk gave his cousin a animated nuzzle, with his tail waving with just as much gusto. "I can't wait to meet them! Did I hear you say there were four?" Bright eyes danced between Stormrunner to the den entrance, which he dared not go down, even if he were excited to meet the little ones.

Down in the chamber, Iopa could hear the muffled voices above her. She smiled in the darkness and let her head rest against the cool earth as the pups squabbled and nursed. Icara and Firelight were just as energetic as their two siblings, squirming about in blindness between drinking their share of milk and resting their new little bodies.

Stormrunner, Darling, Agarian, & Lakona

"Thank you, she's doing good." Storm smiled back to Crow, then fielded his cousin's query, "That's right, four. We've named the boy Agarian, and one is Lakona, in homage of Iopa's mother." Unlike the elder wolf, Stormrunner's memories of his early years weren't as vividly painted in his mind. Sure, he remembered the ill-fated adventure they took, but none of those memories rose to his mind now. He was still beaming with joy as the pack flocked around the den site, tail a-wag and heart singing as they approached one by one to share in the celebration.

And then he heard Blackout's call.

There was concern in his brother's voice, and Storm was reminded that his parents had yet to show up. They shouldn't have been that far away, not when Starscream usually napped at the nearby rendezvous site in the morning... they should have been here by now. Worry began to encroach in his thoughts, leading the alpha to lower his voice and turn to Hawk, "Hawk, can you do me a favor? Stay by the den, while I go check on my parents?"

Blackout

He paced the line trying to find a returning scent but nothing he waited

Crow, Hawk, Iopa, Icara, & Firelight

Crow tuned an ear to the beta's call, and his mind went to the same place. He'd noted the absence of the ex-leaders last night, but with Iopa so close to pupping, he'd decided to stay nearer to the den instead of heading out on patrol. Now, the silvered wolf was wondering if he'd made the wrong decision. It also got him to searching the treeline around them, wanting to make sure his own mate was alright.

"Yeah, of course." Hawk sat back on his haunches and turned a questioning look to his cousin, but didn't outright ask what was the matter. He'd heard Blackout's howl, and he was aware that the old alphas weren't here yet, but didn't put two and two together yet.

Iopa was slowly drifting asleep in the blanket of darkness of the den chamber. A near-silent yawn stretched her jaws before she curled her muzzle down to meet the end of her tail, creating a little barrier around her pups.

Stormrunner

"Thanks, Hawk." Said Stormrunner, and after catching that querying look from the other, tacked on with a dismissive smile, "Don't worry, I'm just checking in on things. Alpha duties never end." And then he was gone, sprinting from the den site to the outer edges of the packlands to catch up with Blackout.

Approaching his brother, Storm slowed, "You're worried about them too?" He asked, finding his sibling at the faint scent trail that had been their parents leaving the territory yesterday. "Did they say anything to you, or have you found a new trail? This isn't like mom or dad to be gone for long."

Blackout

He paced. No they said nothing and there no reentery trail. Megatron missing so I assumed maybe they went ot try to find him but I would of thought they'd come back by now found him or nothe said.

Stormrunner

He glanced back in the direction of the den, then out across the borders of their land where the cooling scent trail of his parents hung faintly to the ground. The rest of the pack was back with his mate and pups; they'd be safe if he took a short trip to search for the missing trio. "Would you travel with me to find them, Black? Two noses will be better than one." He forced a smile and sashay of his tail, even if a cloud of doubt began to overshadow his heart. Something about this didn't sit well with the young alpha.

Black

He nodded to him before moving off to follow their faint old trail out

Stormrunner

Stormrunner cast a look back in the direction of the den site, his thoughts lingering for a moment on his mate and children. Then he turned and followed after his trusted second-in-command, letting his thoughts flow back to worry for his parents and elder brother.