Whitestone Monadnock rain falls from you

Forgive the wait, darlings. Muse was struggling for a bit and real life was a bit hectic. @Piety @Cyril

Wraith laughed outright as Cyril made a face as he showed Piety affection. Delighted, he stalked forward to smother his son in exaggerated kisses, nudging him over on his back to nuzzle his belly for tickles. "Got something to say, do you boy-o?" he play-growled as the tickles continued. "What's that? I can't hear you over the sound of some squealing tickle bug!"

In no time at all, the pair were off playing as Piety watched on. Wraith kicked up his heels high to avoid Cyril's pursuing paws and needle like teeth. "Oh, no!" he shouted with feigned horror. "Those teeth! They're gonna bleed me dry!" Challenging the pup further, Wraith picked up speed a little and kept just out of Cyril's reach as he dashed back around Piety and ducked down as if to hide behind her. "He won't find me here," he told his mate in a stage whisper that was no whisper at all. "Don't tell him!" The whole while, Wraith's eyes danced with delight. He never had the chance to play with Kara and Odin in such a way. His time with them, while play had been present, was limited when they were at their youngest. They had spent much of their development time learning with Craw and Morganna while Wraith had been left with teaching the basics of hunting and scouting.

For Cyril, Wraith intended to be even more involved. He would be there for his boy. Always. Even if he did something stupid as a pup, the black Kael knew he would be there to pick him up and help him rise above anything in his way.

<3 <3 <3 real life is always more important and your post was definitely worth the wait!
@Wraith @Piety

The tickle bug.

Cyril’s nemesis.

He was incapable of defending himself against the ferocious tickle bug and had to succumb to its advances. A squeal escaped him as Wraith plummeted the young boy with tickles, his forepaws attempting to fend off the monster with a few clumsy slaps, but nothing connected. There was no defeating the tickle bug… not yet, anyway. He was far too small and uncoordinated.

As he attempted to sink his teeth into his father’s tail Cyril collapsed onto the dirt once more. Instead of feeling defeated the boy sprung forward, a wide grin perched effortlessly across his dark lips as he scrambled after the larger Kael. He was not as fast as his father but he was still determined. The only way he would get faster was by practicing and Cyril was not about to give up just yet…

He watched as his father ducked down behind Piety in a feeble attempt to use her pale frame as a shield. Rolling his eyes the boy lowered his front half to the ground and kept his rump raised to the sky as his tail wagged frantically behind him. “See!! See!!!!” The boy shrieked as he shuffled closer, using his elbows to drag him forward. A low, playful growl erupted from his chest as he arced around the scarred dove to lunge at his father. His needle-like teeth reached for his father’s thick scruff, his forepaws extended forward to cushion his landing once he (hopefully) connected with fur...

She couldn't stop the laughter that rolled forward as she became a faulty shield for her mate from their child. Of course, between Wraith's purposeful bad hiding and their son's eagerness to play she lost the role of shield quickly. This was only solidified by her son's calling of See!! See!!!!"

The pale mother dodged out of the way of their tussle giving a soft bark to the dark Kael males. "Oh, Wraith! He is far too strong! What will we do?" Her tail happily wagged behind her. She was content to be the 'damsel in distress' on the sidelines of them playing. It was important that Cyril got as much time with his father as he did with his mother. There were simply some things that Piety couldn't give Cyril that Wraith could.

She settled back down on the cool earth, rolling to her side as muddy eyes examined the scene. The pale Kael female felt at peace right now. She believed that nothing could go wrong in this moment. Piety would cherish it as long as it would last too. It wasn't every day that the Monadnock wolf's had a rather uplifting day (or even moment in this case).

# C W T

Wraith's attempt at hiding was feeble indeed. As soon as he heard his son shrieking his discovery, he was laughing uncontrollably and fell onto his back. His chest rose and fell heavily as the male's deep voice filled the air with joy, each breath fuel for the next bout of laughter. The brute was breathless by the time his mate abandoned her post and left him to the big, bad wolf who lunged for his neck like a true hunter.

Cyril's teeth were far too short to cut through the length of Wraith's scruff which was lucky for him, for he wasn't protecting the area at all as he carried on laughing, legs kicking in the air. Having his son go for his throat only encouraged more of the breathlessness until he was forced to abandon laughter and instead focus on breathing. When finally he had some of his breath back, calmer chuckles left him as he flopped onto his side and tucked his neck, squishing Cyril's head between his chin and neck.

"The vicious beast has felled me!" Wraith proclaimed dramatically. He lifted his head once, dragging the still-clinging Cyril with him, before letting it fall back to the ground with finality. His tongue he let loll into the dirt as he gave one last, loud gasping sigh. The mighty alpha of Whitestone Monadnock was dead! What cruel fate to be killed by his own son! Strange, however, for a dead wolf to be fighting off a smile.

The boy barked triumphantly: he was strong, wasn’t he? He flashed his mother a wide, proud smile, his tail swaying enthusiastically behind him. Not as strong as his father, of course, but he would be some day. Stronger, even. Oh, he hoped so.

A loud (excited) squeak escaped from the smudge as he tumbled down with his father, followed quickly by a flurry of giggles as he buried his face into his father’s neck. Vicious beast! What a fitting name for the needle-teethed cub! He made a lacklustre attempt at a mean growl, but it came out as more of a squeal. But Cyril did not mind—he had taken down his father, the mighty Wraith Kael! “Ma see!!” He chirped, his denim gaze turning to his pale mother as he attempted to squirm out of his father’s grasp, his paws dancing proudly on Wraith’s still body. “Cee-ril strong!!!”

However, when his father did not move, the boy started to get worried. His blue gaze softened as he turned to the large male, his brows pinched in concern. ”Hmmmmm,” he hummed as he poked the Kael with an over-sized paw, his head tipping to the side.  “Da?” This had to be a trap. It absolutely, positively had to be a trap. But his naivety took over and Cyril couldn’t help but let his guard down. He hadn’t hurt his father, had he?