It had been just shy of an entire month since the birth of her two newest children, Ismena and Lunette, and the two were much more rambunctious than their predecessors, that much the mother was certain of. With that, it was also becoming clear who the more dominant of them was. Ismena was the most daring, the most vocal, and the most curious. She was already known for leading her sibling into unknown troubles, leaving Namid to herd them back into safer zones or, if they somehow managed to escape her sight, leave the duty up to the ever present other members of the pack. Still, if trouble really was brewing she found she could count on the both of them to come sprinting back with terror in their eyes searching for the comfort of her embrace, which she happily gave.

The pale queen was busy cleaning out the dirty bedding from the den, hauling off the soiled debris far enough away that she wouldn’t have to worry about the pair finding it and making a rather gross game out of it, then replacing it with the cleaner parts. This was something she tried to do at least twice a week now, though it had been more like every other day when they had first been born. But, now that they were into their toddling phase it was easier to get them to go outside and do their business. They would learn officially soon enough as their little brains soaked in the information they’d learn like a sponge. The rapid rate of puppy development was truly a mystery to the woman.

Trodding back to the den, soft shrubbery dragging from her maw she began to feel a light patter of rain on her pelt. Pausing to look at the sky, it seemed they would be caught in a pop up though likely not as harsh as the night that the twins had come into the world. Still, she picked up her pace to get back. She didn’t want the girls to get caught in it and get sick. Then, her auds slammed forward as Ismena’s unmistakable wailing came along with a clap of thunder. Dropping the shrubbery she bolted, tail up and mismatched gaze narrowed as protective instinct came into play. The mother burst into their little clearing, doing a 360 to ensure that there were no threats before moving to her shaking little girl who was caught in the sudden downpour. “Shhh, it is okay love. Momma is here, everything is fine. It is just a little rain. Rain is good, rain will not hurt you. But, let us go into the den yes? Get you dried off,” she murmured soothingly, nudging the girl gently with her maw in the direction she wanted her to go.

The look of complete relief that washed over her daughter’s face amused the woman enough to make her chuckle, a smile splitting her maw. Oh how dramatic she was, not at all unlike her older sister Neha. Then, suddenly she wasn’t the one leading but instead being led by gentle pulls and prods by the young girl. “Alright, alright,” she said, moving along complacently. Auds swiveled to catch Ismena’s insistence that the liquid falling from the sky was, in fact, a very bad thing. Thinking on it, she supposed she might have reacted the same way seeing rain for the first time at her child’s age. If one didn’t know what it was, it likely seemed like the world was ending with the loud sounds that came with thunder. Still, by now she felt that the princess had to know that Namid wouldn’t allow her to be in any danger.

Ducking her head slightly as they finally entered the den, the queen of the lake settling down in a corner on the soft bedding. Waiting for Ismena to join her, she began the process of grooming her and warming her up with her tongue and shared body heat. “Why do you think rain is bad?” she asked calmly between licks, brows raising in poised question.

Ismena forced her to pause her bathing, turning to fix her puppy blue gaze on Namid with the most serious and exasperated look it seemed she could muster. "Rain bad b'cuz.. It cold.. N' wet! N'.. n' It gon' eat us!" she insisted, wholly believing she was correct. Lordy, if the child thought rain was bad she would likely think the lake was the spawn of satan when it came time for that little introduction. Still, Namid knew it would do no good to laugh at her daughter when she was in this mood. A serious look found its way onto the mother’s face as well and she gave a firm nod, “Of course. You are right, darling. I am very sorry, we will be more careful next time will we not?” she said, pressing her nose to her daughter’s ear affectionately.

The birthing den was lit up in a brilliant display, and the air parted and came together with a serious ‘boom’ that seemed to shake the earth itself. The Lake princess pressed herself back into her mother’s side, all seriousness gone as a whimper instead replaced her vibrato. "Momma! Don' let it eat me!!" the girl cried, and Namid bent down and cocooned her child between her skull and her belly. “Shhh, Ismena. Would you like to hear a story? Momma has a good story to tell you. Maybe the storm will become interested too and be quiet and listen with you?” she suggested gently.

It didn’t surprise her one bit when Ismena began to settle at the promise of a story. All the Vuesain children had grown up with her stories, all of them the ones she had been told by her own father growing up. Her mother had given her and her siblings herbs and tribal ancestral faith, and their father had given them knowledge of nature and of their surroundings and tribal stories passed down for generations. Namid had never taken as strongly in the faith as Veho had, and Ooljee, even as protective of his family as he had been, hadn’t taken to it at all. The pale queen was stuck in some strange in between, not quite as into it but not a non-believer either. Her first litter hadn’t shown a lot of interest in her faith, but if any of them had questions she would be happy to inform them and educate them.

Settling herself, her characteristic soft smile etched onto her maw, the woman reached down and nuzzled her daughter softly. “Alright. There once were two sisters name Terra and Aella. Terra lived on the earth, while Aella lived in the clouds. Terra had a pelt made of rich browns and creams, looking much like we do in fact! Her eyes were a beautiful shade of green. Aella’s pelt was colored a pure, light cream allowing her to blend in beautifully with her clouds, with eyes the as crystal blue as the lake. They had made a pact in their youth that Aella would give Terra water from her clouds in the sky to keep her beloved plants growing if Terra promised to give it back in return. This arrangement lasted peacefully for many years, as Terra and Aella never grew old. Aella would guide her clouds over to wherever Terra said needed water and then let loose, and in return, after everything was watered, Terra would raise the temperature of the land a little bit, causing the water to evaporate and return to Aella for cleaning and storing.

One day, Terra forgot to return the water when she had promised to do so. Her sister grew very angry, flying over Terra and calling down to her “Sister, you have not kept your word! We had an agreement, why do you betray me?” Terra, having forgotten, instantly felt guild for her actions and apologized. “I am sorry, Aella, please forgive me. It will not happen again,” and because it had not happened before it was forgiven and Terra returned the water. After the next rainfall, Terra had once again forgotten to return her water. Again, her sister flew over to her angrier than before. “Sister, you have done it again! Return my water to me at once, thief!” she accused. Terra was shocked and felt guilty once again, not an angry soul but a loving one that tended to plant life on earth. “Sister, I apologize. I did indeed forget again, but please forgive me. I shall not do it again,” and because it had only happened one other time, Aella forgave her and went about her business. But, when it came around the third time Aella was done forgiving. Her anger was so palatable that it heated the air around her, her teeth bared at her sibling. “Terra, no more of this! I am done forgiving your empty words! I will not take your water away, but to ensure you remember our agreement I will send down many bolts of great crackling lightning. Their booms will remind you, and they may occasionally leave destruction in their wake if I feel you are not taking heed.” and with her words a great bolt of lightning crashed to the earth, shaking the air around it. Terra was terrified and upset by  the new rule, but knew there was nothing she could do about it. So, now almost every time it rains the great booms of thunder are Aella reminding her sibling of their agreement.”