She'd snuck off, slipped away the moment the adults were looking the other way. Staying by the den was so boring, she could only spend so much time fighting with Cináed, if she was to insistent they'd stop her. Stupid, boring adults always getting in way of the fun. But today she had enough, and she wouldn't let them control her any longer, she had escaped and she was free!

Loping awkwardly with her spindly legs and oversized paws, the fiery pup bumbled through the thicket, out on her very first adventure. She wanted to see everything, to dig up every root and sniff out every animal in the entire land. The only problem was where to start, with so much to do how could you figure out where to begin? So for now she was just running, untrained lungs gasping for air, but that didn't slow her down. What did, eventually, was a particularly sneaky bramble branch, snaking across her path. In her rush she missed it completely, but it wasn't so cautious, snagging one of her back paws, tripping her up.

With a loud thud, the russet pup fell flat, slamming into the thicket floor with limbs sprawled in all directions. It didn't hurt too bad, leaf litter from several autumns softening the blow, but the air was knocked from her lungs and she gasped, shaking her head lightly to try and clear it. Then a snarl erupted from her throat, head spinning to look for who had knocked her down, they were going to pay!

Word count: 258

”Speech”

Rose had been missing for weeks and still there had been no sign of her. Ash was starting to worry. He had hoped that she was just going through the same phase that Nineva had gone through and that she would eventually return. Rose was old enough to venture out on her own and do new things but his heart told him that something horrible happened. Bitterly he trekked around the territory, acknowledging the fact that, one by one, his family was disappearing and leaving him. There was still no word from Narime or Yuka and it had been about a year since he last saw them. He felt as though enough was enough from his sister. It was about time he got answers from someone within the pack about what was going on. The Hervok had been pliant enough and it was becoming quite clear to him that whatever mission Nina had intended to send him family on was not progressing as she hoped. The russet hued man wanted his family back now and the sight of the new pups brought a longing for his mate especially. They should have been together, creating a family of their own within the Caverns, thriving. Instead, they were ripped apart by some twisted part of fate that seemed to want to make Ash unhappy at every turn in his life.

Often, Ash found his bitterness settled back towards Nina but he knew she didn't deserve that. The brute already cost her so much and bringing his family into her home could have jeopardized the haven she created for herself, one Ash had almost destroyed once. A rustling in the territory disturbed his thoughts. Mossy green eyes snapped towards where it came from, crouching low, mouth watering at the idea that prey was nearby. There were no Woodlands wolves that could not walk stealthily through their terrain. However, what came stalking through the bushes caused a smile to twitch on the tips of his lips. One the of the pups waddled her way through the dense area, her pace quick, uncalculated and her breaths coming in short pants. Silently, the Hervok man watched in amusement, mossy green eyes shining with appreciation for the child. She certainly did remind him of Rose. Her exploration was cut short when she tripped over a bramble and just as Ash was about to jump up from his spot to investigate for injury, the pup whirled around, eyes blazing. The snarl that erupted from her lips is what finished him.

A chuckle erupted from his lips. He was quick to reveal his location, towering over the child easily. Of course, perhaps one day that would not be the case, taking into consideration the size of her father. His chest rumbled with laughter when he spoke, voice light, "You're quite the feisty one, aren't you?" He peered down at her, easily picking her out among her siblings. Flair. Seems her name fits her personality. It wasn't hard to guess at what she was doing, his own children had their own wanderlust, at least his daughter did. His voice was smooth when she spoke, "What exactly were you planning on doing with that bramble?" His mouth twitched with amusement, trying his best to keep his laugh contained. Even if she did do anything to the poor thing, it would't do anything back to her.

ALP-Stock @DA, Della-Stock @DA & Dawnthieves.de

She was surprised to see no one behind her, nothing but the tight knit bushes and trees she had just passed. Tiny russet brows knitted tight, mouth still twisted in dismay, teeth visible in a silent snarl. She wanted to punish someone!

The stillness of the thicket was broken by low, rumbling laughter, a somewhat familiar sound that made tiny ears twitch. When Flair turned to look, she didn't find the familiar dark form of her Da, but rather a somewhat smaller, deep brown wolf. She knew him, as well as she did most of the older males, the two blacks who weren't quite as big as her father, and this brute, all of whom kept back more than the females and youngsters. He was pack though, family, as her parents had taught her. Was he the one? Had he made her fall? It didn't really make sense to her, but she was eager for someone to blame for the tumble.

Her head tilted, eyes still narrowed into somewhat of a glare as she looked up at the adult, trying to make sense as his laughter switched to words. Speech was still new to her, though everyone was eager to speak with the pups it was only some of the words they actually understood. "Fa-i-s..?" She repeated slowly, crossing her eyes a bit as she searched her mind for the meaning; "Fe-ight? Fight!" The child's expression switched from frustration to excitement as she felt she'd solved the speech. Fighting was something she understood, nothing pleased the pup more than a good brawl. She understood Ash's next words somewhat better, and nodded her head enthusiastically, proudly announcing again: "Fight!" She'd show the bramble not to mess with her!

Word count: 287

”Speech”