Vigils Keep helena beat

For @Ellery. Please DM me if you want to join.

They had just abandoned the natal den that morning, Ellery finally joining the pack officially in the much larger expanse of the communal cave. Nineva was glad to have made the transition, proud that her daughter was growing so quickly and happy that she would be able to socialize even more with her pack mates, but she also possessed a certain measure of sadness that she kept well-hidden. Before Elias had proved himself, Nineva's plans for the future had been set on single motherhood. A sense of just the two of them, inseparable no matter what the world through at them, had been idealized within her head. It was still that way, in a matter of speaking, but their private moments would be so much fewer now, and Ellery would grow to rely on so many other wolves besides Nineva.

Wolves that were likely to break her heart over and over again.

Nineva watched her daughter play as she lay upon the scarce grass that grew yards away from the pack's den. For now, it was just the two of them, the others resting within the dark cave or gone working throughout the forest. The fireflies were out in force and the moon was hidden, allowing their glow to shine its brightest. She remembered convincing Rose to sneak out and chase down a fallen star, her favorite memory of her sister, and one she was reminded of every time she took a moment to watch the curious insects float.

"Ellery," she called, as her daughter began to slip a bit too far away. Nineva didn't like to let the girl out of her sight, and didn't feel like chasing after her tonight.

she smiles like a georgia summer

Ellery, nearing nine weeks old, had finally been moved to the pack den. It had been a surprise to her, to wake up one morning then suddenly be told she’d be staying with the rest of the pack. Still, she had been excited for it. The pack den was much busier, and she was much more likely to run into someone else than she had been in the nursery.

It was also good they’d moved when they had, for it was becoming increasingly clear with each passing day that the Hervok was going to be a girl of large proportions. Already she looked to be weeks older than what she was, this only being further accentuated by her rapid intellectual growth. Growing up around adults had done wonders for her mental stimulation, Nineva no doubt a large contribution to that. The woman had always talked to her like she was no less than her and answered all of her questions honestly. This created a closer bond between the pair, equaling out her attachment to both of her parents. When she wanted to have some fun, lazy playtime she would go to her father, but when she wanted to know something or to explore and learn she leaned toward the silver leader.

Despite the fact that the moon had risen into the sky, Ellery was still up and about. This was a rarity, because just like her mother the girl was an early bird. Perhaps it could be said that this was because she had adapted to the woman’s sleep schedule from a pup, but it was likely just in her nature. She was busy chasing what her mother called ‘fireflies’, leaping into the air at them with snapping jaws. It was just meant for fun, she didn’t actually mean to catch any, but every so often an unlucky one would fall between her teeth with a crunch. She’d spit it out, tongue sticking from between her eye-teeth with a sour expression. Bugs didn’t taste good at all.

She’d been busy pouncing after another when her mother had called, the girl stopping in her tracks before quickly turning around and returning to the silver woman’s side. “Sorry, mother,” she apologized with a small smile, plopping her butt down next to her. She watched the fireflies flutter around, the lights flickering to life then extinguishing just as quickly. “Why do they light up?” she inquired.

she laughs like the sound of thunder