Willow Ridge Nutty Pests

RE: Willow Ridge, there seems to be an infestation of squirrels. They are everywhere, dropping things and chattering angrily! Mid-morning. All welcome!

Rays of light, that same light which she had since grown accustomed to, filtered into the den. Her tiny muzzle tucked under slowly growing baby paws crinkled as she was disturbed from her sleep, the sun hitting her eyelids. With a classical puppy-like groan, Freyja drearily lifted her head, blinking her eyes open. Ever since the move from her birthing den, she was still getting used to sleeping with so many other wolves around. Sure, she was thrilled to have two new wolves her own size to gnaw on, tussle and play with. But she would always prefer the company of her twin, Ragnar first.

It was he who she had been cuddled up with, her side resting comfortably on his back. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light in the depths of the earthen den, they fell on the sleeping form of her litter mate. Somewhere close by, she reasoned that @Avella and @Scully were also dozing. She was growing more and more mobile by the day, more curious of the outside world. She seized each chance she could to bolt outside and explore, but was never allowed more than a few yards from the perimeter of the den. There was always an adult close by to keep an eye on her, or any of her other adopted siblings to make sure they didn't stray.

Something was...different today. As she toddled forwards to the daylight, a peculiar sound reached her ears. High pitched chattering and squeaking, accompanied by a soft rustling noise. What could be making it? Her mother never made such a sound, nor did her siblings or any other visitors. Perplexed, she poked her tiny head with slowly lightening fur outside. Too young to associate the squirrels with their affinity for trees, she didn't think to look up. Yet the chattering was everywhere, all around her! Seeing no reason for alarm and determined to solve this little puzzle, the girl fully emerged. She stumbled once on her ever growing legs, but quickly regained her footing. She hadn't taken but a few steps when a reddish-brown blur of something scurried past and to the left, making a mad dash for a willow tree. Startled, she flinched, frozen in place with surprise, unsure of what to do. Then from above, shaken loose from the spindly branches of a tree, came a small bombardment of acorns. Unfortunately for her, she was right under the line of fire, and one knocked her squarely on the head. With a startled yip she scrambled back for the cover of the den. Dark, thin lips tightened in a line as she whimpered, tears beginning to pool at the corners of her baby blues.

Ragnar could not imagine how fast he was growing, though his mother had mentioned it a time or two. It was hard remembering puppyhood, though the thoughts of the darkness and warmth of the birthing den could not be forgotten, not the licks of his mother or the distant rolling of thunder and pitter-patter or rain outside the den. For weeks the land of Relic Lore had been raging with thunderstorms and Ragnar has literally grown to enjoy it.

Now the sun creeped into the Pack's den, touching his eyelids, causing them to squint with discomfort. The light was something he would get used to but he still grumbled as he remained half asleep none the less. He could feel Freyja shifting at his side, usually always present. Now she lifted however and away, causing the boy to stir, puppy blue eyes opening. In the dim lighting, he watched her curiously approach the Pack den's large opening.

Usually the pups slept underground, in a hole at the back of the den's rock face, called something he couldn't pronounce. They were safe from the lighting down there but today they had stayed up with the group, getting to know there pack mates as they quickly grew up. Ragnar would have been content to sleep a bit longer but not without his sister at his side. So he lifted up into a lazy sit, yawning as he struggled to gain his footing and focus the gaze of his puppy blues.

That is, until he heard the little 'yip' of his sister which caused his little ears to perk and he quickly stumbled to his chubby legs and towards the den opening. By them his sister was rushing back into the mouth of the den and he moved to press to her side, nosing her with a concern and whine before taking a few solid steps outside of the den, offering a most vicious snarl and high pitched bark to whatever it was that hurt his sister.

(This post was last modified: Jul 07, 2018, 06:52 PM by Ragnar.)

The squirrels were no longer the only ones making a racket, and his age-mates' varied sounds were far swifter in rousing Scully back into consciousness. Rag's high-pitched growls drew him in first, but the boy didn't think to wonder why his near-sibling was making such a fuss. Instead, he let the noise rile his swiftly-developing instincts, and once he was on his paws there was no stopping him, like a missile mid-launch. With nary a sound of warning he flung himself at the other boy, tackling him heartily with all of his lanky weight.

It was only after his body hit the ground once again that he registered Freyja's sniffling, and his attitude immediately shifted from playful to concerned.

"What hap Frey?"

(This post was last modified: Jun 09, 2018, 03:23 AM by Scully.)

She was warm snuggled up against her brother and the other puppies that her mother had brought her and Scully to be with. She liked it, curled up with her nose buried in her brother's silver fur. The truth was she hadn't quite gotten used to the others yet but she liked the warmth they provided when mother was away. She wouldn't have minded staying like that the rest of the day. She wouldn't be so lucky, one by one they started to leave her.

First it was the other girl and then the boy, Avella could hear the chatter of the squirrels only she didn't know that was what was making that sound. Her brother Scully was soon leaving her by herself in the den. The warmth was gone and she whined got it to come back. When it didn't she pulled herself up on her stubby legs before following the others.

She came out of the den just in time to hear her brother asked the other girl what had happened to her. Avella came up beside Scully pressing her side against hers. The chattering could still be heard and the tawny pup noticed the acorns laying on the ground around them. She looked between the other puppies and saw that Freyja looked like she was crying. Avella moved from her brothers side to Freyja's, “Frey okay?” She managed to get out before another acorn hit the ground right beside her.

(This post was last modified: Jun 11, 2018, 11:10 PM by Avella.)

Bravely, she held back the tears that nearly pooled down her cheeks. But no...she wouldn't give in. She was a big, strong lass and she most certainly wouldn't let a bump to the head start a show of water works. As she gathered up her nerve, still sniffling, her twin brother emerged to investigate, none too pleased that something had upset his sister. Tenderly she planted her chin on his shoulder, but was torn in grabbing an ear with her jaw to hold him back. She didn't want him getting bopped too!

Out came crashing Scully, tackling Ragnar to the ground, unaware of the serious assault that was taking place just outside the den. He was followed by Avella, the both of them soon noticing the moisture pooled around her eyes. Her adopted sister seemed quicker to notice the acorns strewn about. "Mah head hewrt." She mumbled dejectedly, reminded of the incident by the dull throb still lingering on her little crown. "From up...bad." She gave a growl, batting the offending acorn away. The chattering of the squirrels grew louder, now that four young wolf pups were gathered underneath what they thought to be their tree. She peered up, brows knitted. "You do? Baddies...baddies go 'way!"

After his growl and bark, he was steopped in his tracks from pushing forward to avenge his sister when she tugged at his ear as though to hold him back from the fray. Then, affter just a split second while he was distracted, it was Scully which came up from behind him, tackling him to the ground. Ragnar grumbled, mouthing at the other pups paws until he stopped, realizing the situation that something was up with Freyja. Both Scully and Avella were questioning Freyja then what had happened and Ragnar used this moment to try and scramble himself up and away from his silver and black colored brother - or whom at this age he assumed to be his brother. Mother always called Freyja his 'twin sister' and Ragnar just assumed a twin and a sibling was a bit different.

'From up' she had said, 'bad'. Ragnar, ever silent, perked his ears and tilted up his head to the skies, to the trees. Another acorn dropped near Avella's side and he grumbled. "There!" He did then speak, seeing the little creatures scurrying in the trees out of their reach. He didn't know what to do, didn't know how to get them to stop or come down. So he barked.