Whitestone Monadnock the warmest of hues

For @Cyril (but obvi @Wraith is welcome to pop in <3) || Morning, Sunny, 58 ° F, 14 ° C

She slept rather well with her dark son tucked against her side. He was growing with each day it seemed and he was beginning to explore more. Luckily no trouble had happened on any of his mini-explorations and it was all faces she trusted to greet him. Of course, she wished for him to meet other faces that were no longer around. Mainly Morganna. She wondered if the peach eyed Archer would have enjoyed having her own children romp about with Cyril.

As the morning light lit the entrance of the den, brown eyes softly opened. The Kael boy still there which was always a relief. With a soft yawn, she nudged his head and planted a soft kiss. "Good morning, Cyril." Piety greeted him warmly as she got up to stretch her legs. Her body bowing down before rising to shake out her coat. Warmer weather was among them now. It was openly welcomed compared to what things had been like just weeks ago.

As the morning sun peeked across the lowlands she basked in its glow. Her body slowly settling to lay down again and admire the land. Perhaps if she was outside her son would wish to come out too.

# C W T

The den was a nice place to close his eyes and succumb to the drowsiness that often plagued him. However, since he had experienced the wonders of the outside world the rounded dirt walls of the old coyote den had grown dull. Curling up against his mother’s pale fur was definitely still the place to be, but he was already well-acquainted with it. He wanted to see more, more, more!

His sleep had been restless and dreamless as his over-sized paws itched for adventure, his denim blues staring listlessly at the dark ceiling overhead for the better half of the night. The little Kael had just managed to catch a few hours of sleep when the morning light crept into the den, reaching hungrily for the pale mother and her ebony son. He grumbled in defeat as Piety stirred next to him, embracing the warmth that came with the sun. His brows narrowed softly as he sought out her pale figure, ears pinned forward as he sprawled across the dirt-covered stone.

It was not until she left the den that Cyril sprung forward, his energy immediately returning.

Naturally the smudge tripped over his own paws and somersaulted past his mother, a toothy grin tugging at his lips. The den was no longer appealing with adventure on the forecast. Sleep could wait… until the afternoon, maybe. 

As the mother enjoyed the morning light she quickly noticed her son tumbling past her. Her lips tugged up as she offered a small chuckle. The pale leader was positive he would get the hang of walking soon enough, he was already getting fairly good otherwise she assumed his adventures might not go so smoothly.

Her dark nose reached out to nudge at his side. They certainly both needed to stretch their legs so perhaps a little play session was needed. Her front legs carefully reached forward towards her son before she pulled them back quickly. Piety couldn't contain her own small laugh. How silly she would look to any passerby but she simply didn't care. The Kael boy needed interaction, play time, and certainly exposure to new things. Playing with him outside of the den offered pretty much all of those things.

"Try and get me, Cyril." She rolled over to her side for a moment before fully rolling onto her back. The mother didn't intend on making the small game a hard one. Perhaps as the game went on she would make it a bit more difficult but then again she may not. All she wanted when it boiled down to it was quality time with her son.

# C W T

As he flopped onto his stomach Cyril felt a nudge at his stomach, a bubbly growl forming in his chest as he scrambled to his paws. Stretching his fore paws toward his mother the little Kael’s rump wagged excitedly behind him, baby blues focused on her pale figure. He lunged toward her paws as she reached forward, only for his stomach to meet with stone as she retracted them, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. Cyril, however, did not share the same excitement. His brows narrowed as a small frown appeared on his dark lips and he exhaled sharply out of his nose.

Try and get me, Cyril. He snorted again, his ears pinned forward as he resumed his previous position, his back arched as he prepped himself for attack. She wasn’t going to be able to stop him this time! Without warning he propelled himself at his mother, aiming for the silky smooth fur of her stomach, a warrior yell (chirp) escaping him. He knew nothing of strategy or stalking, only instinct. As he grew older, and bigger, he would be a force to be reckoned with. He hoped. Then he would have a better chance against mother, for was much more agile than he was.

Cyril was still struggling to get the hang of walking and talking. His mother was an expert in both fields, and he hoped he would be when he was all grown up.

She did not miss her son's frown and soft sound but he did not seem genuinely hurt. Nor did he seem to be lacking determination due to her sly little move. It was a relief, truthfully.

Brown eyes tried their best to watch her growing son as she laid on her back. Piety purposely left her belly exposed for Cyril. No one else (except her mate, Wraith) would see her in such a way or get her in such a way. She had an image to uphold and on her back was not where she would manage to maintain it. But for her husband and son that didn't matter because she loved them and they seemed to respect her. Cyril was only a child, though. He still had much to learn about the workings of the world but now wasn't the time.

The pale leader felt the weight of her son on her stomach suddenly. It seemed as if he would put pressure on her both inside and outside of the womb. She merely giggled though and moved a pale paw to gently tap at his back before she would roll with every intent to take him with. Piety wouldn't roll on top of him, of course, she would merely roll him with her onto the warming ground below.

# C W T

A young deer has been separated from the rest of its herd. Hunt Opportunity

The smudge collided with her pale stomach as a triumphant shriek escaped him, his baby blues wide with excitement. With his mouth agape in a wide, goofy smile, the boy turned to his golden-eyed mother, his tail wagging so frantically behind him that the possibility of becoming airborne was very real. Since he was without siblings, or other age-mates to play with, his mother would have to do. But he did not mind. It just meant he could focus on growing up faster, as he was surrounded by adults. And while he enjoyed being small, adorable, and able to get away with everything, the little Kael also could not wait to get big and strong—just like his mother and father!

His needle-sharp teeth lunged for her white paw as she tapped his back, brows furrowed in determination before realizing he was rolling with her. Instead of fleeing Cyril remained where he was, his features still painted with excitement as he flopped down onto the ground next to her. Once he felt the warm stone against his dark fur the smudge lurched backward, his rump raised high as he lowered himself into a playful bow. His denim blues remained focused on his mother’s scarred face before he lunged at her tail in an attempt to capture it between his oversized paws. 

the beat of my heart, the beat of the drum

Piety Kael

The Kael child was certainly energetic. Piety didn't mind it one bit. It was a sign he was healthy and growing. A giggle escaping her as his small teeth went for her paw before they rolled. "Little Chomper aren't you." Her muddy eyes watched as he got up and into a play bow. A large grin spread out on her scarred face as her dark son leaped for her tail. The mother wagged it about to keep him bother entertained and out of pure instinct. Where was the fun if he could win everything right away?

Something in her heart seized as she thought about her early moments with Sven. He had done the same thing, convinced her tail was a beast that needed slaying. Here was Cyril doing the same thing. Was it instinct in the children? Was it simply coincidence? She didn't know but she had to quickly wipe the thought from her mind. A soft whisper was given to her son. "Get it, Cyril." The mother gave her tail a few more good wags before she let it settle onto the warm stone ground below them. If her son wished to pounce than she was now giving him the perfect chance.

# C W T

Chomper. Was that him? Was he Chomper? No. He was Cyril… Cyril Kael. Didn’t momma know that? Didn’t she know who he was? A coy grin weaselled its way onto his dark features as he stuck out his little tongue at her, a line forming between his brows as they narrowed.

The tip of her tail had escaped him, causing him to snort disapprovingly. Another low growl started in his chest, but it was not as ferocious as he hoped it was. It was going to take a few more months—maybe even years—until Cyril would sound even slightly scary. If that was even a possibility.

He hoped so. The smudge wanted to become big and scary, just like his father… but as calm and sharp-tongued as his mother. One day. When he finally grew into his oversized paws and his eyes shifted from denim to whatever colour they were supposed to be.

The scarred dove wagged her tail once more, this time encouraging her son to leap forward. His expression was no longer playful, but determined, as he lowered himself to the ground. His plush belly fur brushed against the stone as he examined the distance between himself and his mother in hopes that this time he would be successful with his attack. Get it, Cyril. She did not have to tell him twice. After a pregnant pause the little Kael propelled himself at her plume, his sharp talons reaching for fur. 

the beat of my heart, the beat of the drum

Piety Kael

His attempts at growls warmed her heart. He'd be big one day, she hoped, like his father. It was unsure if Cyril would be able to carry such a fury as Wraith could (one that she had only witnessed once with Mittani's removal) but surely he'd be able to at least make a thunderous growl. Would he be a warrior or a peace keeper? Both? She didn't know and frankly, she didn't care too much. As long as little Cyril was happy and healthy in the end.

That wide smile lingered on her face as she tried her best to watch her son. His expression seemed to determined and thoughtful. Piety had every last bit of faith in him. Especially mentioning she had ceased the waving of her tail. After what seemed like a long freeze in time her dark son launched and she felt his claws in the fur of her tail. "You did it, Cyril!" She joyously cheered to the Kael boy.

The mother gently shifted herself to be sitting upright. "Come here." She spread her paws as she intended for him to come closer to her chest. Truthfully she wanted to coddle him and groom him for a few moments before letting him play in the sun some more.

# C W T