Momma had said to stay here with Kyros and they would get something sweet. The idea was enough for the little lady to remain in the safety of the den. While outside made her nose burn in a faint sense, her toes dance and her tail wiggle she wasn't so sure about it. Especially now.... Daddy, he had kissed them good bye. Why the young girl was still trying to figure out what that meant Hypatia didn't have to wonder if he would come back. They always came back, and her mind was protected from scary things to fret about the what ifs.


While she was a little groggy when her mother had left, when the light had grew outside she found herself restless. An open mouth she slobbered on her brother's ears, nudging at the base a couple times. A whine was added, after her third try, but nothing happened. Blond face crumpled in her disappointment, but she felt her chest puff, her eyes narrowed looking for him to be pretending. He was rather still, and she decided to leave him alone if he wanted to sleep that bad. Tip toeing, eyes sweeping the den, she scooted closer to the mouth of their den, their sanctuary. So carefully her nose stretched past the dirt, the top of her head rising with folded ears, and wide eyes. Eyes that were changing, now more green with the hints of gold and orange soon to come. Hyp didn't know that, she was staring at the blue sky, thinking it reminded her of Kyros eyes, and the silver lady she had met not long ago. Tilting her head, her body shuddered from the cool breeze. The little girl was about to tuck inside when a yelp pierced the quiet morning. Afraid, she flattens to her stomach...waiting.

One..two..three. One..two..three.

Nothing happened, and her forehead creased in concern. "Momma?" Timidly the word breaks from her lips. She feels her legs shoot together, and she raises up cautiously on her tip toes. "Momma?" She tries more loud, but not sure if she dare leave her sanctuary. Hyp suddenly decides if that was Momma she is going to see. With Phineas gone someone had to look after her. Sucking up bit of sunshine to feed her heart, she places one paw then two, and down the small incline. Dark nose is struck with so many scents, she feels her eyes water, and her tail twitch. Momma's she knows, and begins to trail it without thinking of the complications.

Little steps, blond paws gingerly touching the ground, she tries to keep her balance. What if the trail fades? Anxiously, she begins to pick up the pace, her body swaying from one chubby limb to the other. One, two, and crash! Haunches met the ground, and she lets out a tiny grunt. Ouch! Glaring at the ground, with bewilderment etching across her light face, she decides to try again. This time a little more carefully. Teetering again, but going slower she starts again to track Momma. Little nose to the ground, she wonders were the other family is, thinking they would be much more better at this. Hypatia has no idea what howling is quite yet or she would have tried that. The blond girl continues, working her way behind the den, often her pale eyes glancing up for a sight of cream, and soft yellow eyes. Nothing greets her but the green foliage, the huge branches that raise from the ground. Briefly, she stops staring at them wondering why they were so, ginormous. Did everything have to be big?

Shaking her head, she let out a little huff, and continued thinking this was a lot of work. Momma had said to stay here, and she didn't like the idea Kyros was alone. That merely reminded her without finding Borlla she was too, and a little whine began to build in her throat, that could have turned to a cry. Suddenly, she could hear her name, her mother's voice! "Momma!" Loudly the young one calls, desperate, and terribly happy. Then swiftly she added,"I here!"

Little ears told her it sounded like Borlla was back where she had come from, and deciding it was worth the chance she made a wide turn, toddling on back. She really did not want to be in trouble. Staying in the den all the time was not her cup of tea, despite how she was quite fond of her safe haven. With mindful steps she traced around the den, coming about face to face with her parent. Light colored tail gave five quick wags, and her ears crumple back, giving a tiny kiss to the cream chin. Hyp remembered that bad sound, and sat herself down. "What ouch?" She inquired with a word her mother would have used for her own little injuries.

Better late than never?

Hypatia's nudging sent him crashing back to reality, but he longed for the comforts in his dream. Within his trance like state he'd felt what it was like to have all four legs working under him, and the young cub wasn't ready to let it go so easily. Forcing himself still he ignored the prodding in favor of feeling whole again. Kyros succeed in allowing waves of sleep to drift over him once more, but this time it was different. He found himself not in his previous dream but in a nightmare. The ground underneath of him was shaky, making it even more difficult for the three-legged cub to stand. Hypatia appeared, but worry was written all over her face. Suddenly she bolted in the opposite direction, begging him to follow. He ran as hard as he could, but to no avail. His sister disappeared into the horizon, and he was alone. Resolving to find her, the ashen male pushed on. The ordeal was slowly proving to be a wild goose chase when a yelp filtered it's way into the seams of his subconscious. The cry however, did not come from his sister like he thought, but rather his mother. Panic immediately set in, and he ran for her. Unfortunately the harder he tried to run, the slower he went.

His sister's voice rubbed against his ears, shooting him awake. She called out for their mother, and bolted out of the den before Kyros even had a chance to ask what was going on. He replayed the yelp from his dream, and couldn't help but wonder if it actually happened. He felt his pelt ruffling with fear until a familiar scent engulfed him. Moments later a comforting face peered into the den, and relief poured over him in buckets. Thus far he had thought of his parents as being invincible. Nothing could touch them, and the realization that something might have was a terrible thing for the growing cub. If something could get his mother and father, then could something ever get him?

Pushing the residuum of his thoughts aside, he made to stand. There were more important matters to attend to. Rolling across the den floor he counted his way to a standing position; still seven. He could hear voices just outside the den, and his mother asking his Hypatia for help. Hoping that he could do something to alleviate whatever ailed his mother, the ashen male hobbled forward out of the den. Finding the pair just outside. His little voice peaked, filled with concern. "Whats wron' Mumma?"

Everything seemed alright, showered by Mother's warm licks, given the usual gentle prodding that made the shortest giggle leave her tiny frame. It was silenced, her blond ears crimping to the sides of her skull, while she held her head in shame. This wasn't the first time she had hear those words, and she wanted it to be the last. So the child didn't argue, but bobbed her head. Hoping to assure her, while she didn't know how her search had scared Borlla, she would try not to do it again. How well Hypatia would keep her promise was unseen..

Wide eyes gently peered up, slowly searching the cream face for forgiveness or small indication she wasn't going to make her go back to the den. Wasn't it safe now, outside with her? The golden pup suppressed a whine that wanted to creep into her throat. A tilt to her head, a smile edged onto her muzzle uncertain if it should be there.

"A thorn?" She paused to ask, locking her sight to the large paw, skimming it over till she found the nasty sticker. It made her own toes hurt, and she scowled at the dreadful thing. This sounded like a job for dad. The thorn would be crushed by his huge jaws, but again Hypatia knew that wasn't the answer today. Again her changing eyes found the bright yellow of her mom's. "Yes, I help," she answered, her voice determined. Scooting closer, her dark nose crinkled she could see it, and very slowly worked her way to grab it. Which after snapping on empty air, she managed to get the tip. A gentle tug she felt it move, but lost her grip in the same pull. Frowning, she did not notice Kyros until his voice reached her ears. Halfheartedly her tail gave a flick, but she was thinking.

"Kyros help?"

Kyros closed the gap between himself an his kin, taking note of the strange way his mother held her paw. There didn't seem to be anything visibly wrong with it, but he knew his mother wouldn't lie to them. Brilliant blue eyes watched as his Hypatia moved in close, seeming to nip at something, but apparently to no avail. His mother's soft voice played upon his ears as she praised his sister, before both wolves turned to him. For the very first time he felt the spotlight touching him, and to say the least it was awkward. He wasn't sure how to use it, or function with it's bright rays settled upon him. So rather than saying anything he simply nodded.

One small paw hopped forward, and the rest followed. His mother's tail beating on the ground gave him the courage to press forward, but he was afraid. If he couldn't pull the thorn out of his mother's paw, would it render him a failure? His whole life thus far he wanted a chance to be the hero. He wanted everyone to ask him for help, and now that the time was here, could he do it? The ashen male wasn't sure, but he had to at least try. If he couldn't even do this, then he knew that he might never have another chance to prove himself. In the greater outlook of things, even to his family, this moment might not have seemed like a big deal. It might be overlooked, or forgotten, but whatever the outcome, he was sure that he would hold it with him. This one trivial thing meant more to him than anything.

Finally reaching her paw he could inspect the damage. It seemed as though the thorn was really lodged in there. Carefully his muzzle reached out to the imperfection closing still-new puppy teeth around the end of it. Once he was sure that he had a good grip he began to pull. At first he tugged lightly, too afraid of hurting his mother, but when the offending item didn't come out he had to try again. This time he pulled harder, throwing all of his weight into it and wrenching it away from her paw. The sight left behind was horrifying, as he had never seen blood before. He stumbled backwards, dropping the thorn from his mouth. "I.. I sorry. I not mean to!" He didn't mean to hurt his mother, but he must have. Why else would there be blood? Would he be rejected now, forced to live as a waif?

The child continued to frown, wishing she could have pulled it all the way out. The patient look on the cream face of Borlla's, the familiar smile brought her own lips upward, and she gave a wisp of a grin. Blond tail beating in a more easy, happy fashion she found herself filled with an ounce of pride. Even if the thorn wasn't completely out, she was helping to solve a delima, and hat seemed rather large and important in her eyes.


Expectantly, the girl looks to her brother, half beaming at him to help encourage him to try as well. It was up to them to help momma after all. Hyp figured she shouldn't say that aloud, and so she didn't. Kyros quietly bobbed his more pale head, seeming to take a moment to see what he could do. Hyp did realize he had a harder time getting around she never thought anything of it. She had yet to realize how uncommon it was. Until then, she scooted to the side of him. Watching his attempt with no idea how much it seemed to weigh upon him.

Leaning close, Hypatia was all for watching her big brother save momma from the wicked thing. He seemed to lose his grip as she had, instead of stopping he had another go. Tugging quite hard, Hypatia made a deliberate step to the side. Suddenly, when he pulled back there was icky red water! Light brows scunched together, was something else in there?


"Momma?" Worriedly, she asked, scooting over to Kyros for his support and hers.