Whitestone Monadnock rain falls from you

Cyril was not sure how he felt about the wet stuff falling from the sky. It was difficult to observe, as when he craned his neck back to study the dark clouds and the strange phenomenon, the water trickled into his eyes and nose. He snorted to expel the water from his nose, his brows narrowing sharply as he hovered at the entrance of his den. It was foolish to allow the rain disturb his adventuring, even if it meant his soft fur would be damp for a few hours. His lips tightening in determination the boy stepped forward into the clearing, flinching as the first drops of water pelted him from above. He grunted to show his irritation but pressed forward, seeking out the large boulder he had dubbed as his own.

Once he managed to clamber his way to the top of the rock (after slipping multiple times due to its slick surface) he flopped down onto his stomach with a soft oof. His baby blues scanned his surroundings quickly and he could not help but wonder how long it would take for one of the adult wolves to find him. They were always keen on interrupting his excursions… except for the blue-eyed agouti… she had taken him on an adventure. He hoped that she was lurking nearby so she could take him on another. His tail twitched at the thought, his dark lips curling upward.

The rain began to dissipate the longer he remained on the rock. He lay with his chin resting neatly atop his oversized paws, his ears pinned forward to listen for any approaching packmates. Cyril watched as the clouds parted above him, dark gray melting into dove white as blue poked through, signalling that the rain had ended. As he gave his dark fur a gentle shake to eliminate the water something caught his attention. His mouth fell open in a soft O shape, eyes widening. An array of colour streaked across the sky in not one but two places. He scrambled into a sitting position, his baby blues focused on the strange sight. What did it mean?!

Not for the first time, Wraith wondered how his own father had done it. How had he not only lead the pack for so many years, but raise a family as well? Perhaps it was simply that the black brute did not know how to 'let go' of the reins a little and allow his subordinates to do the patrols or scouting for prey or keeping the pack boundaries well marked. It wasn't that he didn't trust them. Roosemooth and Rowan had proven their worth time and time again and Cheedo was well on her way to shaping into a great scout while Saradathia was already solid in her role. Perhaps it was high time he allowed them to do such things without him checking behind them or simply doing it himself.

With the intent of doing just that, Wraith set off in search of his wayward son. The times that @Cyril stayed still could be counted only in the times he had been a sleeping nursing infant with no knowledge of the outside world. He would take advantage of it soon, he promised himself. Take him out on an early morning patrol so he could learn exactly what it meant to be part of a pack. It would be what he was sure would feel like ages yet to the boy until he could do any of it without supervision, but it was never too soon to start.

Blinking away the last dredges of rain, Wraith spotted the lad astride a rock from on top the Monadnock. Sending a silent thank you to the heavens above for the pup being easy to find, the brute descended and approached his son from behind.

"The Gods above are welcoming a hero home," he rumbled to the boy in a deep baritone voice, appreciating the very same banners in the sky that held Cyril's attention. "They paint the sky to let everyone know of their arrival." Smiling, the Alpha lay beside the stone, letting the boy have his seat to himself. "Only the most noble and selfless are allowed such a gift."

His milky gaze did not waver from the strange colours in the sky. The longer he stared at them the more enthralled he became. Where was an adult when he needed them to do some explaining?! The one time he actually wanted an adult to rain on his parade and there was not one within chirping distance. He grumbled, annoyed with his present situation, but he did not move. No, the rock was his, and he would seek his answers sooner or later. He just needed to patient. Which was not easy when he had the attention span of a rock. Or tree. Or a Cyril.

It seemed, however, that the boy’s wish was being granted. His nostrils flared as the scent of his father filled the still damp air and his plump body wriggled with excitement. As the dark alpha approached he spoke, his deep voice stealing away the little Kael’s attention as his denim blues focused on the large wolf. His eyes widened in awe as Wraith spoke, speaking of a hero and some mumbo jumbo that only filled the boy’s head with more questions. Was he a hero? Or a noble? Were the Gods welcoming his father home, because he was certainly both of those. “Da,” he offered in his shrill puppy-voice, his head tilting to the side. “Heeee-ruuuu?” What was a hero?! It sounded good; no, it sounded marvellous. His father had to be one—mother too!!

Wraith's smile was patient as always as his son questioned him on the meaning of the foreign word. The brute's patience had a long streak as it was, but it was practically infinite for pups unless a situation called for haste. He reached up to lick affectionately along his son's snout before turning his head back towards the rainbows.

He was quiet for a moment, pondering how best to explain. Perhaps @Cyril was a bit young for it yet, but it would certainly not be the last he heard of it. The Old Code was something his father had raised him on and it seemed only fitting to pass it on to his son in turn. His voice took on a timbre of something revered and aged. "A knight is sworn to valor. His heart knows only virtue. His tooth defends the helpless. His might upholds the weak. His word speaks only truth. His wrath undoes the wicked." It was a hefty quote for anyone, and certainly for a pup of just one moon. He knew of some adults that still struggled with the concept and some who would not comprehend it at all.

Looking back to Cyril, Wraith tilted his head as he explained. "A knight is one aspect of a hero. It is his sworn duty to protect the helpless and defend the truth. His temper is meant only for those who have done wrong." The Alpha snorted and shook his head. "But a hero is not only someone who fights with tooth and nail for others. A hero can also be someone who is kind and reaches out to a stranger in a gentle way. Someone who brings light to lives in darkness."

This lesson was most assuredly getting out of hand and Wraith chuckled at himself. "You'll understand more as you get older," he promised. He would make sure of that.

His stumpy tail curled tight around his small body as finally tore his baby blues away from the twin lights in the sky and redirected his focus to his ebony father. A loud giggle escaped him as Wraith pressed a quick lick atop his snout. He clumsily dismissed the act of affection with a wave of his paw despite the wide grin that tugged at his lips.

As his father spoke the boy grew somber, his denim pools filling with wonder as his brows arched high into his forehead. He was too young to understand what they meant but he enjoyed the array of sounds that dripped off his father’s tongue. Once he grew older and was able to comprehend such stories—and commit them to memory—he would pry once more. Before the stories of knights and heroes no longer interested him. Before he grew old and boring. He liked the words, nonetheless, and wanted to hear more. An excited chirp escaped him as he stamped his forepaws, encouraging Wraith to continue.

More words stained the air between them—more words he did not understand. Cyril did not mind. He liked his father’s voice and the strange things he talked about. “Kneeeee-it!!!” He repeated enthusiastically, a proud grin collapsing onto his dark lips as he puffed his chest forward. He liked the sound of a knight. It was much harsher than hero; sharper. It suited Wraith.

Would he be a knight too?

It wasn't unusual for her to split from Cyril if only for a small bit before returning to him. She was lucky to usually have @Cheedo's watchful eye around in case her son got into anything hectic. Of course, she was always eager to return back to her growing boy. It seemed he was as much of a handful as she had predicted he would be but she never minded. In all honesty, chasing him about or trying to herd him away from dangerous places was much better than being cooped up inside their den.

As she eagerly returned back to where she assumed (and hoped) he would be her heart grew warm. The bulky form of her mate was there alone with her son. She caught the tail end of Wraith's words which left her to assume he had been teaching their son something. Her eyes looked up and noticed the double rainbow reaching across the sky. It was a welcomed sign and she could only guess that perhaps that was what they had been discussing. Or more so what Wraith was discussing.

Piety closed the distance between her and the two Kael wolves. First, she nudged Cyril's rump before planting a kiss on his crown. "I missed you." She whispered to her dark son. It was after she adored her son did she let her loving gaze fall to Wraith. He was given a nose running over his own head as she briefly buried her face into his nape, a gentle rumble of affection coming up from her chest. "My love. I indeed missed you too." Her tail wagged behind her comfortably. Funny to think she couldn't easily give Wraith such affectionate names not too long ago.

The mother took a seat, brown eyes glancing between her son and husband. "Quite the view isn't it?" Her brown gaze looked up to admire the rainbow once again.

His heart warmed at the way @Cyril hung onto every word he said despite the lack of understanding. That such a complicated matter could hold his interest now only gave Wraith even more hope for his future. A wayward adventurer his son may be, but his heart was as golden as his gaze. The father's deep laughter mingled with the boy's repetition of the word and the way his young tongue mangled it adorably.

As @Piety arrived, Wraith turned to admire her with that same laughter in his eyes. Each time he looked at her, he was struck by her amazonian beauty. The scars on her face only added to it rather than detract as she might once have feared. All in all, it was a lovely moment. Any time where the three of them came together in such harmony was precious and Wraith had yet to underestimate their value in his life.

The black brute feigned hurt - with a conspirator's wink towards their son - when Piety greeted the pup first. "I should hope so," he remarked, keeping up with the teasing game, though it was unconvincing thanks to the wide grin he wore. "Acushla," he breathed gently into her fur as she did the same. "Each moment without you is an eternity," he said dramatically, though not without truth. Looking to Cyril again, he beamed. So many grew without this love as an example. Wraith was grateful Cyril would never have to know a world without it.

Looking back to the rainbows she was admiring, Wraith shook his head. "They pale in comparison to you, darling." The leader leaned until his head is braced against her shoulder and sighed contentedly. He remained for a long moment before standing swiftly and using a paw to gently bop his son on the head. The male's tail wagged wildly in clear invitation for play.

"Let's see how fast you've gotten, my boy." The wolf bounded a few paces away and waited for his son to join in on the sudden game.

“Knee-it,” he repeated a second time, his tone much softer than it had been before. His lips curled as his plump rump wagged enthusiastically behind him, denim blues fixated on the dark shape of his father. He wanted to hear more, even if he did not understand the flurry of words that expelled from Wraith’s mouth, but they were interrupted.

The little Kael jumped to his paws as the scarred dove approached, an excited squeal escaping his body as he greeted her with a wide, toothy grin. I missed you. He wiggled beneath her touch as he pressed frantic kisses to her chin. She had not been gone very long but just enough for Cyril to miss her as well. He watched as his parents greeted each other, his nose wrinkling at the display of affection. He snorted loudly, hoping to disturb the pair, as he stuck out his tongue. Gross!!!

As his mother spoke the smudge followed her brown gaze, his baby blues returning to the twin lights in the sky. He still did not really understand what they were or how they had gotten so high up in the sky but it didn’t matter. Not with mother here.

A loud squeak escaped him as Wraith bopped him on the top of his head. His brows narrowed as he bared his needle-like teeth, the corners of his eyes crinkling in amusement. It was at Wraith’s invitation that he propelled himself off the rock, his little legs scrambling to catch up to his father’s large frame. At first he tripped, his over-sized paws getting the better of him, but he quickly regained his footing and made a dash for the ebony alpha.

She appreciated the whines and kisses from her son. The mother could never stop the smile that took over when she received such a pure greeting. Of course, @Wraith always made her heart melt with his dear greetings and charming words. The man had gone from getting lost with her in foreign places to being the person closest to her. She couldn't have asked for a better person to be next to. "Good thing we will be forever then." She knew they as wolves would perish but surely this love would be forever.

Her gush of love for the handsome dark male was interrupted by Cyril's obvious distaste for it. Piety simply chuckled and shook her head. She should have expected it but it was better he saw large displays of love instead of hate.

The pale leader could feel her cheeks heat at her mate's compliment. She couldn't agree with such a statement but she wouldn't say a thing. Piety knew that Wraith could easily ramble about his admiration for her until his last breath. So instead she leaned back into him and whispered a soft "Thank you, love." before he got up. Her brown eyes followed his movements as she invited their son to play. She was rather content to watch the two dark Kael's romp while she relaxed. It would be a nice relaxing moment while she also enjoyed the company of family. Piety could have never seen herself here just months ago but this was exactly where she wanted to be now and she didn't want to be anywhere else.