Drooping Willows cut the cord

Of course, Niles & Isolde will need to be accepted and if they cannot make it, feel free to assume. After all, it is due. :3

It had been exactly three weeks since her three little children were born into the world. To much surprise to their parents, two little girls had been born in this litter, a message which likely had been sent throughout the pack, their names given though never to be seen. The mother coddled her children, each one very special - the two girls because of their rarity and the son because he was the only boy of the litter, certainly to grow up quite protective of his 'girls'. Elettra's straying had been to the outskirts of the den and this only, stretching her legs, interacting with her other children, sister, brother, before slumping back into the corridors of the birthing den where if not cleaning or telling stories to her children, was resting. Today then, with them having already grown so quickly to her dismay, the children now moving about on their own were ready.

"Easy now Niles - Ravenna...!" The mother gently lectures as her pale daughter stumbles onto her face trying to rush past her brother. Isolde however, willingly wobbling on her delicate limbs at her mother's side. Nudging them along, Elettra found herself agog at who all would be in the area to see them, perhaps @Angier had rounded up a special few this day. As her children crawled up into the opening of the pack den, there was a fleeting thought of Skoll's children. How many were there? Boys, girls? Had any not made it? Their names? Elettra could not help the curiosity of wondering of her grandchildren, though knew the threat of what they possessed. She had punished Skoll by breaking pack law and commanded them that if they wished to be parents so early then they would endure the hardship of being parents, though did this mean they would consider themselves exiles? What then was the point of even having them in her ranks, if not for the children alone?

Clearing her throat, she coos to her three children, pushing them to move out to the opening of the pack den and into the open air, with the sun for the very first time to greet, the grass on their toes and the wind on their fur. "This is your home. Willow Ridge." Her words were far more soft then they were to any other, savor her youth and even still her words would soften to those that had grown. If she was lucky, even @Greer and @Castiel would arrive this day, though she did hope @Morganna would be excited to finally have sisters.

(This post was last modified: May 31, 2015, 09:58 PM by Elettra.)

don't need reason

Morganna Archer

don't need rhyme

Word had spread like wildfire about @Elettra's latest litter and it had put her in an uncharacteristic good mood. She had sisters! She often lurked about the birthing den entrance when she should have been doing responsible things, like hunting or patrolling the borders, and while she always managed to pull herself away and do what needed to be done, she often found herself making excuses to drop off something for her mother to eat (although Angier often beat her with his offerings she was of the mind that her mother could do with the extra food to keep her strength up and rarely hesitated to offer a snap to any who thought to pilfer her offerings).

In counterbalance to her excitement, since the pack meeting she had been making an effort to find @Piety at every opportunity. If it wasn’t a threatening charge that pulled up short, she at least made the effort to throw the girl a disapproving stare and offer her a growl. There was no questioning her stance on the matter of the subordinates pregnancy - even if it did rarely leave her with a small pang of guilt that was quickly brushed away with the excitement of her mothers impending birth.

Since Piety had given birth to @Sven she had left the girl alone, content in the thought that she was no doubt suffering for her foolishness enough without her input. She had ventured close enough to spy the pale child through the entrance of his mothers den when she ducked out for a drink (or something) on one occasion, and had even gone so far as to roll a small pinecone towards the child to give him something to keep himself amused. This in turn led to a momentary panic - what if it got stuck in his mouth and he choked?! But it was quickly evident the toy was far too large and the pup far too small for it to cause any damage.

It was a similar gift she carried in her jaws today, this one all the way from Riddle Heights - bringing with it the scent of stone and mountain grass. She placed the oversized seed pod between her paws as she took a seat, her tail thumping the ground much in the way a nervous sibling might knock on the nursery door. Her neck craned as she willed for just a peek of the newest additions to the family.

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Already restless from the prospects of what the new day could bring, Niles was up and about. Several instances over, he stumbled over his sisters' legs, trying to untangle himself from them in his excitement. He scrambled onto his four unsteady legs, as Elettra lightly chided him, easily gamboling into the main part of the den. Where any typical cub would have barked for their mother and siblings to 'hurry up' and 'go,' he stood in the center of the enclosed space. Even if his newborn cries had gradually faded into huffs and whines and other wordless sounds over the past three weeks, his whip of a tail was already wagging in a sign of undeniable eagerness his mother began to usher both Ravenna and Isolde to the entrance of the den. His tongue lolled from the side of his mouth as he audibly panted, a gentle nudge of Elettra's nose encouraging him to finally exit the den.

In the sun, his newly adjusted eyes squinted in the bright light. He wasn't sure he liked it and immediately try to nuzzle his forehead to the dark Leader's forearm. Now, he might have stayed there, so persistent in keeping his face pressed to his mother's limb, if it weren't for the sudden realization that they - the only family, his mother and sisters, he had known until now - were not alone. A large triangular ear perked and upon noticing the large dark wolf who sat nearby, he took several steps back, taking to Elettra's tail for cover.

A pale blue-gray eye peered around to regard the older woman's towering form, staring at her face as she, in turn, regarded him and his sisters. His little nose twitched; something told him that she was familiar, someone to be trusted since her scent had commonly wafted into the den on occasion but, boy, was she... scary looking! Even if a little something about her did remind him of Elettra.

His mouth opened as if to form his very first word, but no sound came from him. Instead, he closed his jaws with a small click, staring up at his mother for some sort of cue as to what was appropriate for a meeting like this. Clearly, she did not approve of her son frolicking about - rushing and provoking his sisters in turn - and surely she would not like him to go rushing towards this other wolf in such a hurry.

(This post was last modified: Jun 04, 2015, 08:42 PM by Angier.)

we can say goodbye, just head home, but if we're going to be alone
Chimera is currently traveling with Niles and may hop into this IC thread!

There is a moose carcass that has been scavenged by coyotes nearby. +15 Health

The world outside the pack's birthing den was so very large, so bright and overwhelming. Even going from the dark, dirt hole in the ground out into the pack's much more open communal area, Ravenna could not comprehend the size, though she willingly followed her mother's footsteps in order to be introduced to 'outside', her eyes narrowing to the brightness, her nose sneezing to the scents to the point that it sent her falling on her rump once more. It took her much time to focus, blinking hard and rapid with puppy blue eyes. There was so much green, brown, gray, and she lifted her head to a sky of blue, all concepts which she had yet to understand. Finally, she notices the other wolf (a large one that was definitely not her mother) quite a bit after Isolde and Niles had. She squeaks a bit in sudden knowledge to this, wanting very much to hide behind her mother but finds herself instead moving to shift closer to Isolde to comfort her and yet secretly comfort herself as well. Who was this? She smelt familiar though she was not father and she was not that darkness (@Greer) which she had witnessed pass the den many a time before. "Muh...." the first slips of the word 'mother' come from her lips, a questioning to the large woman she loved so very dearly. It was much like the word 'Fah' which she had used before when addressing Angier. Was this other wolf safe? After a few moments, she takes what she feels is a few 'strong steps' towards the other woman, wondering what she might do and testing the grounds herself.

PUPPIESSSS

Ever since the birth of his new siblings, Greer had kept to himself. It was not out of jealousy or spite – he was actually rather excited to have some younger siblings – but out of respect to his hard-working (and exhausted) mother. She had been confined to the family den since their birth, which Greer knew drove his mother nuts as she liked to be as active as possible in the Ridge. Greer acted as a wallflower; he was always present and always watching, lurking in the shadows, observing. It was what he was good at and took great pride in it. He thought of seeking out the role of scout within the pack, but quickly realize that would involve him having to be more social – a task that the shadow prince struggled with.

The long-legged yearling had picked a good day to see his mother and his new siblings; they were about to venture outside the den for the first time. Greer could vaguely remember how excited he had been to escape the darkness that engulfed the den and explore the strange land filled with light and an array of scents. As he approached the densite, Greer dipped his head in greeting to his mother as he padded slowly toward the little creatures that fumbled around her feet. His half-sister, Morganna, was also present – and clearly excited about the addition of female Archer-Lyall’s in the pack. A faint, foreign smile fell onto his lips as he settled down on his hindquarters, his silver orbs dancing from pup to pup as he identified their individual scents to pair them with their names. For the first time in quite a long time, a warm feeling filled the normally cold and distant boy. 

There was less around the pack den site then she had expected there to be and yet did not find herself disappointed. Their Leader had not specifically called out for her pack mates attention and the close few (her newest children's older siblings) that had arrived was plenty when first starting out with the pups viewing the world. It was surely a lot to take it. The sounds, the smell, and mostly the sights was more then enough to overwhelm them without being crowded by a larger number of wolves like the outcome had been the year prior. Surely @Angier was doing doubles (as well as Morganna picking up the pace) with Elettra being den ridden, Skoll and Peity were expected not to come as Skoll was likely both sulking and scheming over his new position and @Piety never bothered to act like a true member before, why start now? Her other four members were all expected to be working hard at guarding or hunting though a certain someone did peak in her mind - @Castiel. She had heard his call at the borders a time ago, had called out to him, though had not a chance to come face-to-face with her agouti colored son just yet. 

Smiling ever so delicately, she dips her head down to touch it over the crowns of each of her three little ones before further touching at Ravenna's cheek due to her small question. She was a bit less vocal then Isolde (who loved to puppy sing to her mother) but more bold and curious. "That is your eldest sister, Morganna. She is the only other one you have besides Isolde." She speaks to her but so that all could hear, uncertain if they would pick up everything she was saying or that they would fully remember. "And this..." She speaks as she lifts her muzzle to point it into Greer's direction. "..Is your older brother Greer." She moves her head then with tilt, urging him to come a bit closer.

don't need reason

Morganna Archer

don't need rhyme

As the first pup made its way out of the den she lowered herself down until her chest rested firmly against the packed earth, her gift resting between her paws. Her whole body shook with barely contained excitement. Greer’s arrival was met with a brief smile but her eyes quickly turned back to the tiny bundles of fur at her mothers feet. Surely she and her siblings had never been so small! At her mother’s beckoning she used her nose to roll the pinecone across the open space, laughing as she realised it was perhaps almost half their size. She shuffled forward on elbows and knees, her tummy dragging in the dirt as she inched closer, pausing momentarily to see how the children would react. When half the distance was closed she stopped. Bringing her chin to rest on her paws. Her tail continued to sweep in an arch behind her as she waited to see what would happen next.

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His initial impression of his older sister Morganna was retracted as Elettra introduced her and she excitedly shuffled forward with a gift. He was about to make a run for it and follow Ravenna's lead when someone else was brought to his attention. Greer. His older brother. Niles' dark, mousy head fully peered out from behind his mother's hind leg at first. Then came a small step forward and another... and another... Before long, he was standing before the other dark-furred identity, peering up into a pair of silver eyes.

Niles' ears pointed skyward, obviously intrigued. A number of sisters and a brother. While he had yet to fully understand what that truly meant (in regards to hierarchy and line of succession, all the little prince could understand for now was that this male here could possibly be one of the most awesome members of his family. His burly torso dipped down into a small bow with his 'twig' of a tail sticking straight up in the air in the spirit of play.

The hint of a wildflower pink tongue poked out from between his lips, morphing the expression on his face from a curious one into a more playful dare. Abruptly, he sat back up and, in trying to sit up straight with his forepaws tucked to his chest in attempt to look as tall and intimidating as his sibling, toppled over onto his side and rolled over to go belly up. He stuck out his tongue again, further this time as to blow a raspberry up into his brother's face.

we can say goodbye, just head home, but if we're going to be alone
Chimera is currently traveling with Niles and may hop into this IC thread!

Finally here comes Isolde!

Standing at the mouth of the den Isolde sniffed the air, electric with possibility; this was not just another day. Her limbs, though one day would they be long, were just as chunky and clunky as the rest of them. Inner grace was unfaithfully betrayed by them, planting one fat paw into the soft earth after another, shifting her weight haphazardly from side to side as she wobbled alongside her family from the gentle darkness of the den into something brighter, harsher, and so much more exciting.

As she crossed the line into the light the darkness lifted over her like a veil, introducing the youngest princess to an overwhelming world of sounds and smell and color. Everything she'd seen or heard from the comfort of their den but now a thousandfold. Her ears fell against her head for a moment, turning her head over her shoulder to search. Mother was a welcome sight, black and silver furs each coated with the most familiar and comforting of scents. And she seemed to be entirely unfazed with it all, prompting Isolde to believe there wasn't anything at all to fear.

Lacking in fine motor skills, Isolde turned her head fully to peer at the wolf who had been waiting at the den. She kind of looked like mother, but in a weird way, and she had some sort of pine-cone colored growth in her mouth. A shadow descended upon them next, shaped like a wolf but with no discernible color. Her siblings' jaws fell open, but hers only clamped shut, questions in her soft blue stare unable to be voice.

Mother's voice stole her attention, announcing the identities of these others. Morganna, sister. Greer, brother. She was confused. Ravenna was her sister. Niles was her brother. They were in the den with her. They were small, like her. But these giants, apparently, were also brother and sister. Mother said so, and she was always right.

Isolde stopped her wobble abruptly, determined to assess the situation before she knew what to make of these giant siblings. She watched her litter-mates; Niles approached Greer and Ravenna took on Morganna. Her stubby toes pinched at the dirt, a curious urgency warming her gut like milk. How did she possibly watch them both at once? She had two eyes, but they always seemed to look the same way each time. With a huff and a mixture of frustration and determination the tawny pup fell to the ground, her chin angled between the pairs, and attempted her very best to look two directions at once.