Nova had been showing @Nalda the wonders of their home that day. The curiosities of the small animals that flitted through the trees or between fallen logs that littered the ground, or the swirling waters that she cautioned to keep a wide berth. Simple things, but a fair enough excuse to leave the somewhat cramped confines of their little den. Hastily excavated within a brief jog from Iopah's and Zia's, it wasn't too bad, but paled in comparison to the spacious abode they left behind in the pitch pine forest. Even then, she much preferred the safety they had in numbers with the pack to having a nicer den.

The mother and daughter pair had not gone too far from their den, taking the scenic route so to speak. Iopah's howl, followed Koda's, met her ears and brought her to attention. Iopah's voice held a pleasant tone, and so Nova was not worried but knew she couldn't leave the woman waiting. Nova gently nosed Nalda, brushing a wide pink tongue over the girl's rosy ears. "Let's go, sweet-pea." She said softly. "Iopah's called a meeting, we don't want to be late!" Nova kept her leggy stride measured, making sure Nalda was able to keep up but not leaving time for side-trips or distractions.

As they entered the open ground around Iopah's den Nova protectively nudged Nalda into the empty space between her barreled chest and lanky limbs. Excited whimpers left her broad muzzle as Nova approached her leaders with her head ducked down. Tail swaying low and batty ears folded she first stopped at Iopah, licking at the superior female's chin before giving Koda the same greeting. Rounding about, she eyed the inky black male with a curious tilt of her head. She smiled at him none-the-less, before taking her seat a few meters away. The Zamora woman did not sit still, instead craning her head about as she looked for @Camio.

Half-lidded bluebell eyes had watched as the creamy pelt of Mother receded from the den earlier that morning. Those same bluebell eyes were wide and dazzled in the early sunlight only a few minutes later. Ember was eager to get to exploring right away today. She had found a big black feather that shined in iridescent greens and purples in a dream that night, and the pale pup was determined to go find that very marvel somewhere among the broken pines of home now that she was awake.

Ember explored far enough away from the den to almost not remember the way back when Mother's general call and Father's reply finally found her ears. The thought of ending her adventure was unpleasant, but the thought of being scolded for not coming was worse, so the young princess turned around and began trotting toward the source of the summons. Not far had the retiring explorer walked before a vicious beast began clawing at Ember's creamy fur and dragging her into its lair! She thrashed in resistance, swiping with the gleaming daggers that adorned the ends of her able paws! It was a mighty effort, but Ember finally defeated the villain, though not without a battle-scar. Try as she might, Ember couldn't work the thorny twig out of the fur on her neck, so she gave up the effort and continued on her way, leaving behind her the half-broken remains of the offending shrub.

Ember was almost home when a nightmare beast swooped by, narrowly missing her blunt puppy-muzzle! The shining knight watched it land on a stalk of grass and silently stalked toward it with lips curled back and pointed swords bravely bared. A pounce and a bite and the creature was vanquished. "Ha ha! I'm bettering!" the young hero exclaimed. This was the first time she had caught her prey in a single pounce. Ember picked up the punctured carcass in her jaws and strutted the final distance to the gathering with a fiercely wagging tail. The princess was fabulously late, but as she approached her parents, she had pride in her step, an enormous grasshopper between her jaws, and a stubborn leafy twig sticking up from the back of her head like a sort of radiant crown.

It was a perfect, peaceful morning... right up until Bracken finally climbed to the top of the fallen tree.

She scrambled upwards, sinking tiny toes into the soft bark and biting onto the protruding dead branches to boost herself along. The ground underneath was littered with scraps of bark and scuffed up from her earlier attempts to jump high enough to get the climb started. This was a long (for a puppy, at least) time coming. When Bracken finally scaled the sides of the fallen cedar and plopped her puppy-butt down, she immediately threw back her head and yapped delightedly. She did it! The girl caught her breath and launched into another series of puppy barks. The lack of audience curbed some of her excitement. With a sigh the girl looked around, impressed with how high she had gotten.

It seemed the moment Bracken found more entertainment in the form of a large many-legged bug, her mother called. It was a quiet and soft no-hurry sort of call. Bracken looked down at the bug, extending a large paw over top to smack it unexpectedly. Her mother called again and the girl immediately lost interest in her bug. That was mothers important tone of voice. That meant it was time to go. She went down much the same way she went up, only much more slowly and even less gracefully. Studded with bits of cedar bark and smudged with dirt from the last few inches of the drop, Bracken romped through the underbrush.

She arrived at the meeting and stopped dead. So many strangers! Slate-blue eyes were wide as they traveled the clearing. So many play-mates! She stared for a minute, tail vibrating furiously, before Iopah beckoned her daughter with a low chuff. Bracken scrambled over, flouncing to the ground between her father and mother with a sigh. She continued to watch all the strangers, lifting her head hopefully whenever they happened to glance in her direction.