Round Stone Crest a little bit tired of listening to the sound of my tears

For @Kova @Marianna @Kino @Draven to talk about Tokino

August 12, Mid Morning, Patchy Rain Nearby, 68F/20C

Minka had been putting this off for far too long already, at first she had reasoned that the pups needed to be old enough to understand but now they were at that point. The mother had told them about their real father before but had always skimmed over why he wasn't here, just saying he would be if he could. The children had not grown up without a male figure of course, Gent had stepped readily and easily into that role. The alpha had mixed feelings about how this had all occurred but overall she was just happy that her newest litter seemed content with the life they had. They had a mother and a father figure, an older brother and a strong pack around them, there was no shortage of love when it came to the children that was certain.

Still, they needed to know about Tokino. Who he had been, how he had loved them, why he couldn't be here to love them in a physical state. Minka had grappled with this, knowing that the platinum man was still with them, she could feel him in the late summer thunder storms and the wind that sung through the trees. How could she explain this to the pups and have them understand? Surely all they would see was that he wasn't with them now and Gent is. Despite her reservations the alpha lifted her muzzle to the sky and called for her children, her voice surrounded the forest that they had claimed as their own with ease. They had chosen their home wisely this time and there was no need to fear, even if the move had cost them their patriarch.

Draven started out of a very nice nap at the sound of his mother's call. He hadn't wandered far from the den yet - he had only been awake for a little while before, and only wandered out at all because it was morning and morning meant it was time to explore more things... at least until he found a new spot that sheltered him from the short drizzle that had damped his fur for a moment. After that napping became the more important priority again. Now Minka was calling, though, so the pup stumbled onto his paws and gave his dark fur a shake, sending a few stray droplets of water scattering every which way. She didn't sound like she was upset, but that didn't mean he should keep her waiting, either. Obviously she wouldn't call if she didn't want him and his siblings with her right now. He was the first one to make his way over to her once he found her, though. Maybe Ari and Kino were off playing farther away than he had been. Hopefully they had at least heard Minka and were making their way to her, too - between tussles and new things being found and whatever other fun things they were probably getting up to without him. But at least he would get Minka all to himself for a little bit. Little tail - and entire rump, by extension - waggling happily, Draven made his way over to Minka and sat down next to her, close enough that his side and hers were squished together. His tail didn't slow its wagging even a little bit as he looked up and asked, "What is it, Momma?"

(This post was last modified: Aug 13, 2015, 10:56 PM by Draven.)

@Draven might have been asleep, but his sister was wide awake, perched behind a boulder as she stalked a grasshopper. Every time she wiggled closer, the creature flung itself away. With a cackle of glee, the child hurled herself after it gracelessly, snapping her jaws in delight. She'd only just caught her prize when her mother's call went up. Two legs still sticking out from the side of her mouth, Ari lifted her head as her ears twitched. After a moment, she chomped down on her squirming bug, only to decide she didn't much care for it. Tongue out, she wiped the remains along a rock while complaining under her breath.

Only once the flavor was gone did she turn to heed the alpha's request, jogging easily to the site. It was with surprise she realized that her youngest brother had beat @Kino out here, and her ears flicked backwards for a moment before she joined the pair of them. If she was feeling particularly aggressive, she might have tried to squeeze between the pair – but the child was feeling slightly hospitable and opted to sit on Minka's front paws instead. Glancing up, she grinned, tongue lolling out to the side as she stared upwards at her favorite mother.

"Hi momma," she greeted the queen happily, her tail wagging behind her rump as she nosed into her. After a moment, she tipped her head, giving Draven a once over. "Hello, Drae. Where's Kino? He still sleeping, or something? Hah. Slowpoke."

 

A wild dissertation appears!

As was to be expected, Kino had decided to go out and about. It was rare to see him cooped up unless he was sleeping, and that day was no exception despite the rains that were a hit and miss. He could look back on the day when he found out what a storm was, when the thunder had awoken him from his sleep and Minka had taken him outside to play in the waters while Ari and Draven had been slumbering. It was a fond memory for him, even then, and it had given him more of an understanding of the world. He knew that storms couldn’t hurt him, even the loud sounds that came crashing down from the heavens. In fact, he had even grown to enjoy them. They had become something soothing to him, hearing the patter of the droplets hitting the ground around him and feeling cocooned in its presence. Though the rain was perhaps a bit chilly, for he’d noticed the weather starting to get a bit cooler, he didn’t mind much. His pelt kept him warm, and the rain kept him from getting too warm so he could go farther without having to take a break because he was hot.

He had been sniffing at a strange hole in the ground when his mother’s call went up, head jumping and causing him to hit it on the roof of the den. He grunted, backing out and dipping his head to rub at it with a paw grumbling. He stood, shaking out his platinum coat to try and get some of the dirt off but the brief rains had made it soggy and he now wore a crown of sorts of mud. A sigh came from his maw, but he chose to ignore it. Turning, he picked himself up to a run as he made his way toward his mother’s call. What could she want, he wondered. He would only have to see.

Arriving there after a roughly 10 minute jog, his topaz gaze fell to see both of his siblings had arrived before him. That was certainly a rarity, and his auds swiveled forward to catch the end of Ari’s sentence. “Not sleeping or slow, just busy,” he grumbled. “Hi Mom,” he said, turning his attention up to his true sole parent. After this utterance, he promptly flopped down and turned to attempting to rub the mud from his head.

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Kova was rather far off when the call sounded. He listened for a moment to the names being called, and realized that his mother must have wanted to tell his younger siblings something. Or maybe she just needed him to keep an eye on them, which he had no problem doing. Though his little adventure towards the fields would have to wait. He began running back over the rocks and bushes that covered the mountain. He deftly dodged the thick trees he had learned to love while living in this territory. When Kova came across Kino's scent he slowed to a fast walk and trailed it back to where the others were waiting. Kova didn't quite catch up to Kino, but he did also hear the tag end words that Ari had spoken. He couldn't help but chuckle, however as Kova stepped into the meeting place he grinned at Marianna while wagging his tail.  “If anyone's a slowpoke it's me. I let you three beat me here.” Then he purposely, but gently, tried to sit on Kino while his tail wagged non stop. His gaze went to Minka and the look in her features, one that only a child or someone close to her would recognize, made the playfulness drain from his body. Now serious he slipped sideways off of Kino (should he had actually been able to have sat on the boy) and then closed his eyes to take a deep breath.

“So mom what's going on?” He asked gently somewhat guessing at what she had in mind. Some sort of important topic was about to be breached, and he wasn't sure if he was going to like it. Opening his eyes again Kova's gaze fell on Draven, a pup who he avoided mostly because the kid looked a hell of a lot like his sister Noble. Naturally Kova felt bad about doing this to Draven who was a perfect little brother, but for some reason Kova couldn't look at him for too long without feeling angry at himself. Equally Kino's platinum coat gave him the shivers. It was a bit different than his coat in that Kino had acquired the black guard hairs that his father had. Kova didn't get those dark guard hairs, instead taking more of his mothers coat pattern but silver shaded. With Kino though Kova had gotten over how the boy probably would look like their father when he grew, maybe because he too might look a bit like his father. It was somehow easier to be at peace with Kino than it was for him to be around Draven.

Marianna on the other paw Kova had no trouble being around. Though he didn't see her often with the both of them adventuring all over the place. Easily both Kova an Ari had the bulk of the adventurous spirit in the family.