Whitestone Monadnock I like your style

As always Kára was bored. While she was only about two months old and had been rewarded with many new exciting lessons and privileges she was already used to them. She could go for walks with Mum and the other bigs and sometimes they even let her go swimming and her and O could play unsupervised as long as they stayed near the den. But she wanted to go play far from the den, she wanted to go for walks without a big, she wanted to be a big already. Seriously how long did it take to grow that much? Another week, maybe a month? She couldn't wait that long!

Still she had already learned her lesson about what happened when she broke the rules and Kára didn't like being in trouble with Mum. The fiery pup had pleaded @Odin to come out with her and find a big to take them but he was more interested in napping than walking right now. So she had left the den on her own in search of the nearest big that she could find hoping that they would take her out adventuring.

And all of this is how she had wound up crouched down with her butt in the air wiggling about as she hid in the long grass. Uncle Greer was a few feet away and with any luck she will surprise him in one - two - three JUMP! Leaping from her hiding place with a playful growl the pup fell in a tumble at the man's feet, she would need to work on her landings.

While he was pleased with his decision to leave the willows behind and join his sister and co. to the north, Greer’s paws still itched with wanderlust. The shadow wanted to explore as much as the nearby territories as he could — and thoroughly. Luckily, the role he was considering to pursue would allow him to explore even more without getting reprimanded for it. He just needed to make the decision whether or not it was something he wanted to do… especially since the role would require conversing with strangers. The thought immediately caused a grimace to roll onto his lips, tugging at his features. At least the pale addition to the monadnock was also in pursuit of becoming a scout — which meant that she could do all the talking and he could be the reinforcement. That idea sounded much more appealing.

When his niece launched her attack he had been perched neatly on the stone, his mercury gaze fixated on the tundra below. He was plotting where he wanted to venture to today, his features smoothening out as he allowed his gaze to scan the surrounding land. Greer wondered if he would be able to convince @Celandine to join him — if she was not already out and about. The former princess was a peculiar creature, but he did not completely dislike her. She was a mix of both his sister and himself; fiery and brash, but only speaking as she deemed necessary and being selective with her words. The pale girl was nothing like his scarlet friend in the Bend, despite their connection to the disbanded wolves of the plateau. It was difficult for Greer to imagine them as friends, or even acquaintances.

Although the attack was unexpected, Greer could sense his niece’s presence before she tumbled at his feet. Her milky scent weighed heavily in the air and his suspicions were confirmed a playful growl pulled him away from his thoughts. As she landed he stared at her with a raised brow, his head tilted slightly to the side. His stomach remained pressed to the cold stone as he stretched a forepaw out to ‘boop’ the girl on her little nose. “Try good,” he offered with a soft, lop-sided grin. Once she grasped the concept of surprise her attacks would be much more effective. The little Archer had much to learn still.

Somehow Kára had landed upside down and belly up. Blinking her silvery-blue eyes up at him with her tongue lolling out of her mouth she righted herself quickly. Recently the eyes had begun changing from their puppy blue to somewhere in between where they would end as a stormy grey. Sitting proudly before her uncle and grinned at him as he booped her and told her that her try was good. She liked her Uncle Greer, he talked funny kind of like her and O talked.

Settling herself beside him the girl made sure to match his exact posture, laying on the rock overlooking the tundra. Looking back and forth between the two of them Kára made minute adjustments, mostly wiggling until she was sure it was perfect. Then the pup looked back out over the lands below like Greer was doing, expectant smile beaming on her maw. It only took a few very short moments for this expression to falter.

What were they looking at?

Maybe she just wasn't looking in the right spot. Chewing on her lip she looked back to Greer and very slowly with purpose looked back out towards the world. Still nothing. She tried squinting her eyes, nope. Tilting her head slightly back and forth and squinting. Nada. Huffing impatiently she climbed to her paws and threw herself dramatically over her uncle's feet as if this was the worst thing that had ever happened and she was dying. "Why sit here? What see?"

The shadow watched her with an amused expression as she folded against the ground to mimic his posture. His lips curled into a rare smile as he observed Kara’s frantic movements to get her position just right, her denim blue gaze switching between his statuesque figure and the tundra. However, she did not seem to understand why he was sitting the way he was. The little Archer’s amused expression dissipated quickly as she struggled to figure to exactly what he was looking at.

Within moments the girl was at his feet, her small body flung across his paws with an exasperated huff. She voiced her concerns, asking why they were sitting here and what it was they were looking at. His smile only widened as he booped her a second time, his mercury pools fixated on her scarlet frame. “See everything,” he explained as he motioned to the tundra, his coyote-like ears pinned forward. “Best seat.” From his perch he was able to see most of the land that surrounded the monadnock; which meant he could spy possible intruders from miles away. It was also the perfect spot to plan out potential scouting routes — and find the least travelled areas so he could slip by undetected. The little Archer would learn in time. “What K see?” He asked, head falling to the side as he motioned toward the tundra with his nose.

The pup didn't know how rare Greer's smiles were but she still returned it full force, beaming up at him especially once she got her positioning right. No matter how perfect her position was though it didn't make any sense as to why they were sitting there and that's how she ended up over his dark paws. His smile grew down towards her and she was booped, an action that was rewarded with a series of giggles and playful growls as she bat at his chin.

Chewing on her bottom Kára considered his words carefully as she looked back out towards the tundra. She liked the idea of being able to see everything but still found the landscape very boring when nothing was moving. Squinting she tried harder to concentrate and find something to look at. After all if Greer could see everything she should be able to find at least one thing to look at, she just had to try harder. Suddenly he asked what she could find and her disappointment she hadn't found anything to focus on yet, "Um....rocks." It was boring to look at but it was something that she could see.

Oh maybe she could make this a game! Everything was better if it was a game. Beaming she looked around until her changing eyes focused onto a tree in the distance and she giggled, "Okay, okay!" She hadn't ever told Greer that they were going to play a game but she just assumed that he would know, "Okay, guess what K see! K see something tall." Red rump wiggled excitedly as Kára awaited his answer, oh she hoped he didn't get it right away and had to guess a few times!

The shadow’s smile widened at her response, his brows raised in amusement. The little ember still had much to learn — she was lucky her uncle was patient when it came to family. It was the wolves who did not share the Archer bloodline that Greer paid little attention to. Aside from Craw and Celandine, of course. Craw because he had to, and Celandine because she was his scouting partner. He did not want to have a bad relationship with the wolf he spent most of his time with. Communication between them was already at a minimal — he did not want it to be nonexistent.

She spoke again, this time sounding more determined as her denim blues focused on the terrain below them once more. This time she claimed to see something tall — but what? Perplexed, his mouth fell into a soft frown as he studied the tundra through narrowed brows. There were trees aplenty, which stood tall above the barren landscape, but it couldn’t be that obvious, could it? What was the little Archer speaking of? His silver eyes fell to the little flame, head falling to the side as he watched her little body wriggle in excitement. “K see…” he started, his frown deepening as he glanced once more at the lowlands. “big rock?” Good guess, Greer, he sneered, mentally, at himself.

The longer that Greer stared out over the landscape, seemingly in concentration the more excited that Kára became. Her attention had turned from the tree that she had been spying on and was focusing solely on her uncle. The whole body of the pup was practically vibrating in anticipation as to what he would guess and whether he would answer it correctly. Cream lined paws stamped in the dirt below her as the Archer girl danced in place at the beginning of his sentence. Every inch of her strained forward when he paused once more, what would his guess be?

Much to her pleasure Greer did not guess the tree, she was winning! A wide grin spread across her face and Kára's head shook enthusiastically with glee. Climbing over his large paws again the pup did her best to lick at the older man's chin to comfort him for not guessing correctly, "Try again!" After all she didn't want Uncle Greer to give up just because he had guessed wrong one time, Mum always told her when she fell to get back up. Besides she had decided that she liked this game, maybe she would bring Odin back out here and show it to him and make him guess. Once more bright eyes looked up at her uncle in wait for his next answer.

Perhaps it was as obvious as he had initially thought — but he did not want to answer just yet. His little sister seemed to enjoy this game and Greer did not want to end her fun so soon. A few more incorrect guesses, perhaps, then he would give the answer he believed was right.

Once more the shadow looked to the lowlands, his brows pinched together as he studied the vacant landscape. It really was quite different from the forest he was born into. Some days he missed the welcoming canopy of branches overhead, and others he quite enjoyed the sparse landscape surrounding the monadnock. It was a change — a drastic one — and it was precisely what he had needed. He had grown tired of the frequent arguments and broken promises that had the ridge in a vice grip; the scenery had grown dull and so had the company.

His lips twisted into another small, crooked smile as his mercury gaze focused on the little flame. “K see…” he repeated before pausing for dramatic effect: “Greer!” Greer was tall… that was a good guess, right?!

Thankfully her uncle did not seem very upset by the fact that he was losing the game and Kára ceased the relentless licking her had released upon his chin. Settling down slightly in between his paws the excitement was still apparent by how her tail thumped against the dirt. While the few seconds went by with the man thinking about what she possibly could have been seeing the pup was already scanning the horizon looking for her next target. No wonder Greer like it up here so much! Though it must have been very boring for him before she came along, he was lucky that she had found him.

Wriggling about in the dramatic pause Kára held her breath, waiting to see what his next guess would be. The air escaped in a loud giggle, "Nuh-uh un-kel Greer! Not Greer!" Though she supposed that the dark big was rather tall, a lot taller than she was anyways. Would she ever grow to be that tall or would she be shorter than him like Mum was? She would have to ask Mum when she got back, after-all Mum knew everything and must know how tall Kára would grow to be.

Snuggling into Greer's dark fur at his chest affectionately a yawn parted her lips, the lack of afternoon nap now seen in her blinking eyelids. Sleepily she demanded, "Guess again," but the words were softer than they might have been if her changing eyes hadn't already began to close. Settling her head onto the man's forearm and her body tucked against his chest Kára let out a sigh, maybe she would just nap here.