"Are you ready to go out?"

Rihael met his mother's nudge with a blatant look of wide-eyed surprise, and it took a full few seconds for him to realize what was going on – not because he was a stupid puppy, but because he couldn't believe it was finally time. Over and over again he'd watched his mother disappear through the white shape of light. At first, in the earliest days he could remember, he had whimpered in disapproval of her warm, soft touch and sweet scent leaving him, comforted only by the gentle whimper of others around him. A black blur would merge with the nearby white blur for a moment, and then she'd be missing from his world for a time that seemed like it would never end. But she always came back– and day by day, Rihael began to wonder what was actually going on. She was leaving through that white light for some reason, and as his eyesight slowly began to improve, he confirmed it in his mind: something was out there.

He knew there was another wolf like his mother, big like her, though he never came close enough for Rihael to know what he felt like. He only knew him by the faint, blurry outline of his shape and the distinct smell that came into the den whenever he was near. Hael knew he was safe around the other big wolf, but–

Today was the day. The day! His little heart pounded as he waddled closer to the mouth of the den, finding the slope only a slight challenge. He could hardly believe it that right now, he too could finally go out into the white light, just like his mother! And were Kisla and Fenru coming, too? The little ball of fluff turned around for just a second, just to make sure they were following him, and then faced the white light again, head-on. It was really, really bright out there, and he squinted, being acquainted insofar only with darkness... and now, he could see that everything out there wasn't just white, but other colors, too, ones he'd never even imagined!

At the sight of all the color, Rihael Tainn didn't need any coaxing. He boldly stepped into the light for the first time, eyes plinking shut tightly as he thrust himself out into the world.

His eyes flew open. Still squinting, he took a sweeping, enchanted look around him. There were things much, much bigger than he was, and also things much smaller. A rainbow of color and light flooded his senses, along with the fresh, cool scents of earth, air, and foliage. What fascinated him the most was the light; everything was so easy to see! This– this was amazing! Fenru and Kisla had to get out here right away!

"AAA–DA–DA–DA!" Rihael exclaimed in typical baby fashion, ears and tail held high as he jumped to face the black hole in the ground. "MA–MA–DA–DA! Mamamamamama?" True, he had a little bit of vocabulary to learn, but what Hael's babbled, thrilled yells were trying to communicate was you have to come see this! With the warmth of the sun on his back, he continued to gaze in wonder at the world around him.

Fenru's ears perked at the sound of his mother's voice and he opened one blue eye slowly before opening the other. He watched Corinna step out of the den and out of sight. "Come on loves," she coaxed. "There are some people I want you to meet." In seemingly no time, Rihael was up and about, following after her. The younger Tainn lifted his head and looked over at his sister before getting up onto his feet. If his brother was going somewhere, then he wanted to go too...

For the past few weeks, Fenru had acquired several curiosities for things, such as: where 'mommy' went when she left, who or what was the curious orange-eyed creature who kept watch from outside, and what exactly was beyond the darkness that he and his siblings called home. "WooOOo?" he sounded out quietly, wondering if anyone would reply as he edged toward the gently sloping tunnel. He whimpered when no one answered, but it wasn't long until Rihael peered back inside. Fen jumped in surprise but merely tilted his head as his brother babbled.

"Mamama?" he echoed, rather unsure of what he meant. Judging the situation by his excitement, Fenru cautiously crept up to where Rihael stood, squinting and blinking uncomfortably. The light filtering down into the den and illuminating the dark walls had been fine, but out here... Yikes... The small, mousy brown pup whined nervously. Everything here was so... glaringly bright. As the seconds passed with nothing too terrible happening to him, he quieted down as his eyes gradually adjusted to take in dark browns, vivid greens, and everything in-between.

He teetered out of the den opening and unsteadily toddled to the side to sit down and collect himself. His ears twisted back as he glanced around. "Outside," he started to realize, was wide open space... with large towering things and lots of stuff like these thin, green things that were coming out of the ground where he sat. He had been so absorbed in observing the grass and its earthy aroma that when he finally realized that Corinna had been waiting for them a few feet away, he sprung up and scrambled into her shadow. Pressing and nuzzling his head into one of her forelegs, he looked up at her inquisitively. Well... as long as mom was here, he decided, he was going to be alright.

Soft strokes of light flashed against the dancing leaves above him. It was a nice day, things were green, things were warm, and he was upon his back staring at the world's bright, blue ceiling. He often felt lazy in the nearing summer, and greatly wanted to change that. Right now, he was still young, and a day of nothing, well he could afford one of those once in awhile. The clouds were lazy too, passing by so slowly. The huge, white wisps hardly seemed to be passing him by, he wondered the taste, and texture of them. Triell doubted he would have that answer. Chuckling aloud, he made sure to stow the question away for Zera. Maybe she would know what a cloud felt like, and if it could be eaten. The cool ground beneath him, he rested his eyes for a time wondering perhaps what everyone was doing, and really just enjoying the pleasant day.

The breeze blew the leaves gently, like a different rushing tune. Large ears perked up to them, the rustling drawing his interest. There was something about it, that soothed him. Before he could much think into that a female note, one he knew, sang out that the puppies were coming out today. Today? Instantly like a black blur he shifted to his paws, his tail waving in huge motions behind him. He had long waited to meet them, and the day was here. Triell knew where they were, and straight away chose the quickest path to the den site. He was a little wary, Cori might not want him to close despite the welcoming call. The ink toned lad had learned, all mother's were fierce, and Cori was no exception. Hopeful of coarse, and instantly in a good mood he'd least see if he could take a glance, hear their names. It would make his day. Unlike Indru he had not met any puppies, and he was excited for this first time thing.

Quickly he reached the stone cropping. Right away, he decided to take things slow. Rather respectfully his cran lowered, and his tail tucked in with his hind legs. He approached at a casual walk, a meek face to test Cori's mood. The last thing he wanted to do was upset her, and he was definately not a great guesser, or scholar of female anything. Each step took him closer to the new mother, and topaz eyes skimmed around for his brother's offspring. He spotted one at his mother's paws, and the other simply staring in wonder at the world around him. It was than a grin slipped upon his lips. He remembered that feeling.

A soft whine, he halted outside an invisible line looking to Cori for clues as to if he may approach, or if he was too close already.

Her world was simple; sleep and nursing took up the majority of her days and spare hours here and there would be spent in the rough form of play. At the tender age of three weeks, the whelp did not recall the time when her eyes had not been open, nor when she could not hear. All she knew was the gentle softness of her mother, and the warmth her brothers emitted when her tiny frame curled up amongst them during their naps. Kisla was also quite intrigued by the bright light that signified mystery to the girl. Strange and tantalizing scents would drift through the den entrance, and while the little girl had been anxious to explore where her mother disappeared to from time to time, Corinna had always quickly and assertively pushed her back to the safety of the den’s depths.


Every so often Kisla would catch glimpse of her father – a large and powerful figure that would usually render the girl to awed silence. He was a guardian to them as well, that much she knew, but even as intent as he seemed to watch over her and her siblings, Corinna was careful to only allow him so close.


Today seemed like nothing special. Kisla’s tiny jaws were about to wrap around Fenru’s quick and sweeping tail when Corinna rose from her spot. With her tiny figure flat to the warm den floor, the tawny babe regarded her mother as she spoke, enticing them toward the white light that she had always kept them clear from. Shifting uneasily as Corinna swept from view to the unknown, a low whimper escaped the jaws of the girl as she felt a flutter of nerves in her belly. Wide blue eyes watched as Rihael was first to follow his mother’s foot falls, and with uncertainty, Kisla glanced to her brother Fenru to see what his reaction was. Of course, the youngest of the litter was no longer there, and a disgruntled ‘hmph’ escaped the only girl as her other brother disappeared in to the light.


Wiggling her pudgy form, the girl shifted slightly closer to the den entrance, another low whine escaping her jaws. Only when she heard Corinna coax her once more did the little girl lift herself to wobbly paws, and with great hesitance, Kisla finally walked through the light she had always been teased by. Blinking, the bright light hurt her eyes at first, and it took moments to adjust. A chuff escaped her jaws, and when her eyes finally found the positions of her brothers, Kisla soon looked upon an unfamiliar and dark wolf. Shrinking back slightly, Kisla pressed to her mother’s pale leg now, her eyes shyly and nervously blinking up to the stranger that was introduced as uncle Triell.

"Rihael, come here please."

Even though he heard his mother's call, his attention was magnetically glued to the large, dark stranger as soon as he arrived. Despite the overwhelming brightness and color everywhere around him, Rihael's wide puppy-blue eyes were transfixed on the new big wolf, even as his mother called him over to where Kisla and Fenru stood at her ankles. He was so... big! And he was a boy! He wasn't the same big wolf who always stood outside the den; he smelled too different. But Rihael was still fascinated with him, and he waddled over with a wide grin, tongue lolling and tail wagging excitedly.

"Da!" Hael happily said in greeting to the big wolf. Uncle Triell. What was an uncle? Maybe that was his name. Uncle Triell! Rihael toddled right over to him, barely stopping at his mother's side, and took to sniffing every part of Uncle Triell that he could reach: ankles, toes, you name it. His little, quick breaths turned to delighted yips. Inspection complete, the tawny, chubby pup then settled in front of his new friend, then turned back to his mother to signify his approval. "Daaaaaaa!" As soon as his behind had hit the ground, he was back on all fours again, and made his way back to Kisla and Fenru. He nosed and licked both of their faces, basically exploding with happy.

Corinna gently nudged him with her nose and Fenru merely replied to her soothing words with a "Mmmmummm" that sounded smoothly from his jowls and sweetly curled up a few notes at the end of it. As she beckoned to his sister, the small boy turned his attention to the shuffling of earth and grass and whatever was making those sounds. With widened eyes his gaze sized up a tall, dark, orange-eyed wolf. WhoawhoawhoawhoaWHOAAAAA. He shrunk back for a moment as his downy fur began to stick up in places around his shoulders. Falling back onto rump and twisting around he nearly head-butted Kisla when he turned to duck behind her. Her being there had almost caused him to lose his footing.

"Ummummumm!" he trilled as he peered over his tawny sibling. Whoever this was, he was not the same orange-eyed man who kept watch over the den when mom was away. Though... something about his eyes was vaguely familiar and as Rihael enthusiastically greeted this "Unk-ull Tree-yell," Fenru couldn't help but to tilt his head. Hmmm. Half of his muzzle wrinkled and he stepped out from behind Kisla just as his older brother lapped at his face. He gently pawed him away, subtly pushing him to his side where their sister sat at Corina's paw. Letting his nose lead him closer to Triell, he stared up in awe at the youth's lustrous black fur. He cautiously raised a forepaw and put it on two of Triell's clawed digits before lifting it and immediately glancing back up to gauge his reaction. His short tail wagged slowly, bracing himself for whatever the giant was about to do in response.

when i look at the stars i feel like myself