Sunrise Ridge Taking on the Big Bad World

@Orionis time to exit the den and have some mommy son time. It's mid morning, sunny, and warm. Don't feel you have to match length Inna got a little carried away. So excited for this.

you fill my head with pieces

of a song i can't get out

Lyra had been laid to rest next to her parents just as Inna had wanted and now Kisla and Maksim could look after their granddaughter. Inna hoped that one day she would see her daughter again but not for a while because she had Lyra’s brother and sister to think of. One day she'd return to the ethos to visit her but for now it wasn't safe. After the Coyote attack on the day she'd given birth to her most recent litter Laike had brought her to the Fjord. She'd hoped that there she and Orionis would be safe from the Coyotes. Inna had thought often of how Laike and Rissy had come to the rescue of herself and her newborn son. She promised herself that she would seek them both out and thank them as soon as she was able.

She couldn't help but feel the universe was trying to take both of her children from her. Inna refused to let that happen without a fight so she'd done everything she could think of to protect her and her son. She'd managed to find an old coyote den that thankfully didn't smell like the horrible creatures that had forced her from Hearthwood. There she’d made a home for the two of them. The Raven rested for a few days to recover from all that had happened before she started stockpiling food hoping the scavengers would take more of an interest I'm that then her and Ori. She gathered plants she might need so they would be close by. When she had to leave her son alone in the den she tried to mask his scent the best she could so that no one would find him.

Three weeks had passed since she had come to the fjord and it was now time for little Ori to exit the den. To say she was nervous about it was an understatement. She worried the coyotes would show up and ruin this day like they had his birth. She knew it had to happen though, she couldn't keep him in the den forever as much as she wanted to.

So she prepared for the day going out and hunting early while he still slept. She wouldn't have to hunt the rest of the day and could spend it with her son while he explored the outside world. The Raven wanted to be able to give him as much time as he needed. Maybe if he was ready he could get his first taste of meat. She'd found a nice plump rabbit for just such an occasion. Inna wanted him to try the freshest meat if he chose to do so.

She returned to the den mid morning hoping to find her son awake. “Ori,” she called softly as she entered the den, “Are you awake? Mommy's got a surprise for you.”

Not much had happened in his first weeks of life. At least, nothing that he could remember. The first few weeks of life had involved a lot of moving and darkness. And his mom. He couldn’t really see her, but he knew she was there. Carrying him. Keeping him warm. Providing him with food. Mom things. Despite his eyes opening a week earlier everything was still dark and gloomy. Safe, but not at all like the bright orb at the mouth of the den. He had inched toward the entrance a number of times, curiosity getting the better of him as the days passed, but his mother would never allow him to get very far. Bad things were out there. Things that could hurt him if he wasn’t with mom. Knowing that didn’t make him any less grumpy about not going outside, but it made him more okay with the idea of staying inside the den. For now, anyway.

Today, however, was a different story.

The boy squirmed as his mother’s voice filled the den, his denim blues blinking open as his brows pinched together in confusion. Mommy’s got a surprise for you. He was definitely awake now. He rolled onto his stomach and pushed himself into a clumsy stand before shuffling toward the entrance of the den, an excited whine escaping his small jowls. He didn’t know, or understand, what a surprise was, but it sounded good. Mom sounded excited, which meant it was good… right? Right.

you fill my head with pieces

of a song i can't get out

Inna had done everything she could so protect her son from the coyotes and other wolves that might want to hurt him. There was one last thing she wanted to do though, move back toward Driftwood. Ori would need to meet his sister and for a few weeks they could take Lachesis up on his offer. At least until her son could travel short distances to start. She believed learning to he a loner was important for his development in case he ever had to he one for an extended period of time. The second time mother had come to understand that children grew and there was nothing to stop it. She also came to the realization that he would one day leave her. All she could do was make sure he knew she loved him and teach him all that she could.

The first steps in his learning were happening, she was happy for her son but sad at the same time. His first steps in the world meant he was that much closer but at the same time she had seen how eager he'd seemed to find his way out of the den. He wanted to find out what was out there. When she entered the den she was greeted with puppy blue eyes that brought a smile to her face. “There's my baby boy,” she crooned her smile growing as he rolled over and stood up. He was ready she was sure of that. “Come with me Ori it's right out here.” She said giving his cheek a lick at the sound if his whine. “You get to see your world today.” That wasn't all of course but baby steps.

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Despite his initial excitement the little magpie was still a little apprehensive. It was bright out there… and filled with unfamiliar blurry blobs. He blinked, his nose continuing to twitch as he tried to make sense of the array of different scents that begun to bombard him. They were far too complicated for him to make sense of, and made his head spin as he struggled to differentiate them. The one that stuck out to him the most was the scent of mom, which he was most familiar with. She gave him an encouraging lick to his cheek in an attempt to lure him away from the den. A squeak escaped him as he shuffled forward, but not before sucking in a big breath of air as he tried to muster up even just an ounce of courage.

He moved with slow, clumsy steps as he made his way to the entrance of the den, his little sonars still pressed firmly against the back of his head. His eyes narrowed into slits as he was greeted by an abundance of light, his brows furrowing as an unfamiliar pain filled his little skull. Fortunately it did not last long, as his eyes began to adjust to the change of light. It was difficult, however, for him to make out the different shapes that surrounded him. A lot of them were the same colour—bright and fresh looking—which made it even harder to differentiate them. But it was welcoming; inviting. It made him forget about how nervous he had been.

He continued forward, one carelessly placed step at a time, and left the comfort of the den behind.

The scent of a large band of coyotes is on the breeze.

you fill my head with pieces

of a song i can't get out

Inna didn't really remember when she had left the den for the first time it had been so long ago. She was patient with her son though and allowed him the time he needed to be ready. Though she provided him with encouragement this something he had to do on his own. She wanted her son to be strong and independent like she was and Oksana had grown to be. She was proud of her daughter just a she knew she would be with Ori.

As her son came toward the den entrance Inna smiled at his clumsy steps. She backed a little out of the den to give him room but didn't take her fiery gaze from him. “It will get better,” she promised as she saw his eyes close to slits. She did remember that part, the bright light and the way it hurt her eyes. She backed completely out so that he could then follow her once his eyes had adjusted. That was when she smelled it, the scent of coyote's. The fur along her back bristled as she looked around for any sign that they might be close.

She turned her attention back to her son as he made it out of the den. When he started to move forward she didn't stop him but stayed with him. “Your surprise is close by my love but if you want to explore a little first we can,” she whispered conspiritorally into his ear not knowing if he understood her or not. As she waited to see if he did her eyes once again scanned the forest for the scavengers.

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He didn’t realize understand most of the words that tumbled off his mother’s tongue, but they were good sounding. Encouraging. His lips were still pulled tight into a soft frown as he continued shuffling away from the safety of the den, his little sonars pressed tight against his skull. His mother scooted out of the way, giving him space to move forward into the open. An unfamiliar warmth hit his fur, cocooning him as he stumbled into the little clearing, his navy irises examining the blurry figures in the distance. None of them made sense, but that was okay. Eventually they would. Hopefully.

His mother spoke once more, more soft words filling his ears as he continued marching forward. Excitement fuelled his stubby legs as he embraced the light, his little chin lifting to the bright orb in the sky. The brightness still hurt his eyes but he was becoming more accustom to it now. An excited yip escaped him as he struggled to match his mother’s long strides, his pudgy body wriggling back and forth. The outside world wasn’t so bad… just different.

(This post was last modified: Jun 04, 2018, 12:53 AM by Orionis.)

you fill my head with pieces

of a song i can't get out

Inna was nervous about the scent on the wind making her want to pick her son up right then and leave this place. She couldn't though, he wasn't ready and she wasn't going to force him to do something he wasn't ready. It was why she allowed him to exit the den at his own pace. She offered encouraging words. She was sure he didn't quite understand them having been through this before with Oksana but it wasn't exactly about that, it was the tone she used. Eventually her son did exit the den and she sat by watching him and giving him the time to get used to his new surroundings. When he stumbled she wanted to help but she didn't, he would need to learn to stand on his own four paws and have the strength that her father had once possessed.

Already she could see as he took his first steps into the clearing in front if the den he was taking things in stride. It made her smile proudly at Ori, she could see her hopes for him coming to pass. She lead him around the clearing so he could get used to his legs and the world around him. Eventually she led him to where she'd left the rabbit. Whether he ate any or not wasn't the point though she hoped he did. It was time he started learning the things he would need to know. With the threat of the coyotes she wanted to prepare him as best she could as soon as she could. Seeing and smelling prey for the first time was important, “Ori my love, this is your surprise,” she told him as she nosed the rabbit toward him.

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His body swayed as he took short, hesitant steps away from the entrance of the den. His brows pinched together as he glanced around, nervously, his navy blues struggling to make sense of the abstract world surrounding him. There was all sorts of smells and noises… more than his little head could comprehend… but it intrigued him… lured him away from the den. Excitement still fuelled his steps despite the hesitance he felt. Momma was out here all the time so it couldn’t be that bad… why else would she bring him outside?

He struggled to keep up and often tripped over his uncoordinated paws, his little snout nosediving into the soft ground. But it didn’t stop him. The boy followed dutifully after his mother, curious as to what she was planning on showing him. His nose, however, began to twitch as a new scent entered his spectrum. His mouth began to water instinctively as he flung himself at the thing his mother nudged in front of him. But the boy did not try to eat it. No—instead he decided to roll all over the freshly killed rabbit, his plump body wriggling over his present.

you fill my head with pieces

of a song i can't get out

The actual act of giving birth was something Inna could do without. It was what happened after that she cherished. Watching as her son took his first steps out of the den, it had been the same with Oksana. What was going through his mind and what had gone through hers on her first day outside. Everything was so new to them, things they hadn't ever seen. It had to be overwhelming but exciting all at the same time. She stayed with him in case he needed her but also allowing him his freedom.

When it was time to show him what she'd brought for him Inna left him to where she'd left the rabbit. A close eye was kept on him but as he stumbled she didn't coddle him and instead let him find his feet on his own. He would need these lessons one day whether he understood that now or not. Her Orionis would grow to be a strong man. After nudging the rabbit toward him she sat by and watched him as he rolled all over it. A laugh, the first in a long time erupted from her. She knew it was much too soon for him to try and eat the prey she'd brought but one day he would understand that this was something to eat and he would remember the scent.

The Raven lowered herself to her stomach and crawled toward her son. Giving him a gentle nudge in his stomach with her nose she said, “I will take that as you really like your present.” She then leaned in and licked his cheek affectionately.

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