well it's the story of the two, always on the move

they got nothin' left to lose 'cept their guns and their wounds

Subterritory Name: Sweetheart Hideaway
Parent Territory: Shroud of the Lost
Coordinates: (-11.43696, -4.13086)
Picture: https://unsplash.com/photos/B-g9ZO_l940
Description: The story of this landmark redwood is incredibly long. It started its life over a thousand years ago, and at its prime it towered over other trees in the Shroud, contended with only by its own kind. Over time, disease and parasites alike took their toll, wearing it down year over year until the storms were able to pick it apart, each taking a piece until that once strong trunk gave completely. It left behind a stump with a diameter of 16 feet, upon which nature continued to feed. Now it stands hollowed, a near perfect shelter with a view of the canopy which sometimes lets through glimpses of sky. It's most recent stories remark upon the shape of its 'roof,' a near perfect (anatomically incorrect) heart. Many a romantic moment have been had here because of it.

@Brielle's first thread! Heads up to @Adelard, @Adora, @Apolline and @Augustin if you guys wanna join. <3

Into the world had come yet another perfect, blameless child. Woya doted on her just as she had her previous litter, if not more, given there were no other newborns with which to share. The only times she left Brielle was to tend to physical needs and attempt to check in on the children still with them, now teenagers and very much acting it. Their mother couldn't help but adore them no matter the state they were in each time she found them, moody or rebellious, needing or shunning her. Still, she disdained having to split her time at all in this way, missed when their family had been all together. Especially on the nights Lard couldn't be with her.

She had woken Brielle and fed her, then set about bathing her paling furs. Today would be her first outside of the their chosen densite, spacious and with a skylight but still not the same as outside. Woya ensured the tiny girl looked and felt her best before rising and exiting the hollowed-out redwood from a wide split in the wood. She would turn and chuff, beckoning her daughter to follow, giving her the chance to do so of her own accord.

"Bri-bee~"

(This post was last modified: Jun 26, 2023, 01:27 AM by Woya.)

The warmth and comfort of her mother was all the girl had ever known. Truthfully, it was all that she could ever want either. There was safety, and security, and love as her mother doted upon her. She was never wanting for attention, for food, for any kind of nourishment or sweet words to wind up coming her way even if she did not understand them. All that mattered was that she knew it was good. She knew it was meant to be positive. Truthfully, what more than that could really matter? Bri-bee~ Her head turned slowly towards her mother, seeing the etches of light creeping towards the edge of the den with a frown, a hint of a whine as she refused to follow her for a moment. The light was different… and in some ways, that meant it was to be scary as well. She wasn’t sure how she’d like it, or if she should follow after the mother as the light outside of the den swallowed her up. She had seen it consume the blob that was her father several times. The whine would be met with a stubborn planting of her butt in the back of the den, refusing to emerge as her ears pressed flat against her skull, a frown following it’s way onto her features all the same. No. ”Speech"

Jeni-Sue @DA, iMouritsa @DA & yellowicous-stock @DA

Brielle made her reluctance clear, and Woya smiled softly as she poked her head back into that hollowed-out stump. If her daughter needed patience, she would have it. The petite wolf lowered herself to the ground, and stretched, head, shoulders and forelimbs reaching into the den. There was no concern about safety, not with family around, and so she could fully relax, even resting a pale cheek against the earth.

She pawed at the air, tapped at the ground, trying to playfully get her daughter to come closer. Woya wouldn't rush her, but maybe if she was close enough to the light, maybe if someone else came into the clearing, just out of Brielle's sight, her curiosity would pull her out of the den completely.

"Bee-bee~" she cooed again, giving a goofy grin. All fun and games, nothing scary here!

Once again her mother would coo, and she would find herself annoyed with the fact that she kept cooing and asking for attention. Her nose wrinkled as she shook her head once more in a stubborn pout. No, it was not something she wanted to do! And yet as the goofy grin found her mother’s features she found herself concerned. What if mother was in danger? She wasn’t sure why that was the thought that entered her head, but it was enough to make her whine. She timidly moved in to look at whatever it was that was devouring her mother and obviously causing her some kind of harm. Otherwise why would mother ever make her do something outside of her comfort zone? No, that had to be the reason. She was stubbornly determined that it was. The bright light that came from outside the den caused her eyes to squint as her nose wrinkled and she plopped her butt on the ground, tucking her head against her mother to avert from the disruptive and assaulting light that was filtering through the irises of her puppy eyes. ”Speech"

Jeni-Sue @DA, iMouritsa @DA & yellowicous-stock @DA

The monthling continued to prove stubborn, a trait she had exhibited since birth. Begrudgingly she approached her mother, and Woya tried not to let her amusement at Bri's trepidation show too much. The girl was old enough to start catching on to things like the difference between being laughed with and being laughed at.

She didn't mind the girl huddling against her, having no intention on forcing her out into the open. Woya gave her paling crown a few comforting licks, then batted lightly at her small shoulders with one paw, trying to initiate play. They could chill out just inside of the den for a while, distract themselves with fun, if that was what Brielle needed to gather her courage.

The stubbornness remained, unaware of her mother’s amusement which she no doubt would have found some disdain for if she ever found out, for she would be unable to tell the difference between with and at when it came to any form of perceived humiliation. The comforting licks would only reinforce the behavior in her as she attempted to tuck even more, her limbs wrapping loosely around her mother’s leg in the hopes that soon this ‘fun’ would be over and she could return to the den. Even as her mother initiated play, she would find herself stubbornly refusing to participate. She didn’t understand why her mother kept pushing her for this! Her nose would wrinkle again as she let out a whine and finally managed to speak. “Icky!” It was not her idea of a good time, not in the slightest. ”Speech"

Jeni-Sue @DA, iMouritsa @DA & yellowicous-stock @DA

(This post was last modified: Jul 03, 2023, 03:23 AM by Brielle.)

The girl might not be facing the outer world, but she still had her fuzzy form doused in sunlight and fresh air all the same. Woya supposed that was enough of a win for now, since Brielle was so insistent in her dislike. Of course she couldn't be hidden all her life, but... well... what was one afternoon more?

"Alright, alright," she spoke softly, nose now nudging at the pup's other flank to encourage her back into the shadows. After all, it wasn't like anyone was around right now.

Woya missed her other children, dearly. It seemed her pregnancy had been a final wedge between herself and her remaining yearlings, and she couldn't fault them for it, but... well, this certainly wasn't what she'd imagined her life looking like at this point.

But she still had Bri, and she had her husband. Even on his own, @Adelard would always be enough.

"How about a story, then?"

Relief flooded through her as she was guided back inside, safe from the unknown realities of the redwoods outside, and safe back into the shelter of her mother’s home… the home that she had known her whole life… a safety she had come to appreciate without truly knowing the excitement or dangers of the outside world. Her mother’s words sated her, and she nestled against her mother with an adoration and respect for the woman who had given her life, who continued to feed her and give her the milk necessary for her survival… She would nestle, and even find herself latching to begin to suckle, still clearly shaken from the horrific events of trying to be shown the outside world. Soon, she would be weaned… and that would be it’s own traumatizing time. At the mention of a story she would headbutt against her mother’s stomach, nestling in more to provide her near-silent answer, apart from a few gentle mews of contentment, asking for a story without saying the words that were still difficult to form. Yes, a story was the perfect way to distract herself. ”Speech"

Jeni-Sue @DA, iMouritsa @DA & yellowicous-stock @DA