Dead Empress Backwater I think this has worked

Pack meeting to introduce the pack to all of the pups! Viorel would consider this mandatory so if you don't post in at least one round (not all of them, just one) he will be unhappy and there may be IC consequences. Next Round will be posted June 30th (in 10 days).

Mid-morning, Overcast, 23C/73F

It was earlier than Viorel preferred to be awake, normally he would have snoozed for another hour or two. But, since the birth of both of his litters it seemed like his morning portion of sleep was becoming shorter and shorter as they began to discover the world. Despite being cloudy, the day was already beginning to get warm, and the leader wanted to gather everyone before the weather became absolutely sweltering. After speaking with both Clover and Vanadis, the decision was made that it was time for the pack to formally meet the next generation. Not only that, but to introduce the children to their safe gathering place, a small clearing marked by a tall empress stump, the top of the tree long dead and broken off. The beauty of this location was that it was well within the border, and almost equal distance between the two nursing dens.

Sweeping the area in one last search for any dangers, the father was satisfied that this area was as safe as they had all thought. Rolling his shoulders in anticipation for the potential chaos they were about to unleash on the Backwater, Viorel grinned warily. May the ocean goddess look after them, even if they were far away from her salty gaze. Lifting his muzzle to the sky he called for everyone to join them, including his children and younger sister.

Sharlee stared up at the growing cloud cover wondering if it might rain. The temperature was already rising for the day. She hoped that it wouldn't rise any higher but with it being early morning it didn't look good. She almost hoped for rain do that it might cool things down. What she was certain about was that there wouldn't be any sunbathing for the advisor that day. Instead she thought she might find a cool spot near one of the uprooted trees. She wasn't really in the mood for much else.

Her ears turned toward the call of her cousin as he called for the pack to join him. The young Valle woman was glad he hadn't waited until later on the day. With a sigh up at the clouds she turned and trotted off in the direction of the meeting place. She soon found Viorel there who she greeted with a smile and dip of her head. Then she found a place off to his right to wait for the others to arrive.

Vanadis was settled outside of the den when Viorel's call came pouring over the horizon. It was time for the children to be introduced to their packmates, for them to meet their half siblings. Releasing a sigh, the pale wolf lifted herself off the ground, called for her children to follow, and made her way towards the chosen location.

Though she knew that Sharlee and Viorel would have done so already, Vanadis couldn't help but give the clearing a second glance. Once she was satisfied that there were no strangers or stray turtles roaming about, she sat, motioning to her children to do the same.

Modesto had still not been quite settled with her new home. Perhaps even, she never would. Though Modesto was used to living among forestry, it was never without the smell of salty air on the breeze. She was never far from the sound of the tide in the distance. She missed going out at early nightfall in her youth, running down the long flat stretches of beach as the sky lit with twilight, kicking up sand. And, of course, the taste of salty meat.

No, maybe not 100% settled and it left a bitterness in Modesto and jealousy she had not once held much in the estuary. There, she had been an ever more prideful, confident wolf.

So as she rises from her densite at the call of her cousin it was not without a grumble followed by a sigh. It seemed like one thing after another. Sickness. Flooding. Now what?

As she arrives, she is pleasantly surprised in what she thinks to be a happy event. Her niece and nephew was here along with Vanadis and her litter. As of yet the only pup which she had been able to spy on was her sister's. Modesto and the rest of the pack being able to see the rest was good news however, it also meant the pups would be able to get into trouble much easier now.

what i really need now is a double shot of crown

Vayko had been focusing on his recovery. Things were easier, even if his paw was not quite back to the state it needed to be in. He heard the call and immediately answered. He had shifted to doing herb collection and herd tracking since he was not yet at his best. He wanted to be at his best before he took more upon him. He arrived, dipping his head to others as he took his spot at the helm beside his cousin. It was one of the nicer perks that came with the responsibility of leading the pack.

They had been through many trials, and he had to hope that the triumphs were to follow, that they had surely been through enough this season to warrant a bit of good will from the gods and goddesses that might exist and rule over them. Vayko had never particularly believed in fairytales, but if believing brought good fortune, then he would surely find religion.

Archer had been lounging with his mother, idly thinking about different things he wanted to try and maybe some things he didn't want to try but thought he could get @Eros to try instead. His ears pricked up when he heard Daa's voice, and then Maa was getting up and calling for her two boys to follow her. Archer scrunched his nose but followed, calling back to encourage his brother to join them as well.

When he saw his Daa, Archer scrambled forward to greet him, excitedly bumping into his legs until Maa instructed him to follow her example and sit. The young boy did, mildly embarrassed for his lack of decorum; but already he idolized his Daa and was glad to see him.

Archer watched with fascination as others as big as Maa and Daa joined them. He hadn't met them yet. He wondered who they were and if they would be any fun to talk to. His mind began racing with the possibilities.

Archer is very haggard and thin; it is obvious he is not doing well.

Margo had been playing a game that puppies have loved to play since the dawn of time. It was a simple game with simple rules, really, and has probably had many names throughout the generations.  Marguerite liked to call it "How for can I push before momma yells at me?" as that name was pretty self-explanatory and thus required no further explanation. Today the game was played in the way of distance. How far could her pudgy little paws take her before her mother decided she was too far from the den? And at first she was careful and calculating with her movements, but that all flew out the theoretical window when she heard the sound of her father calling not too far away. "Dada!!" the child giggled, turning her slow steps further from the den into a rampant romp. Momma was definitely going to yell at her this time around.

After some time she found herself in a clearing surrounded by other big wolves and little wolves too, and she actually didn't like the sight of it not even a bit. Marguerite wondered if it was too late to turn tail and get back to her momma. Suddenly overwhelmed, the little Valle began to sob loudly and dramatically. Dada would just have to get rid of these new friends of his.

(This post was last modified: Jun 29, 2021, 08:11 AM by Marguerite.)

Her adventures brought her further and further from the den, so much so that sometimes Hazey had trouble finding her way back, but that was no matter because the den was stuffy and boring and the young pup had little interest in returning to it. Perhaps there would come a day when she would no longer be restricted by it's proximity, but from where the youth was standing, that day seemed far, far away.

When a call beckoned her forth, she responded, heaving her rounded belly towards it's source. The reason for the summons was obviously lost on her, but one did not ignore a call that loud.

Coming upon the scene, Hazelnut couldn't help but crinkle her brow. There were big wolves, sure, but there were small ones too. Ones her size! She'd never considered that before. Huh.

She had woken up early, already having learned that her children were old enough to leave the den and go exploring with or without her, and she would much rather prefer to go with them, or at least keep a wary eye out. Her morning consisted of lazing near the den entrance, gaze idly flicking between her three children, taking care to keep more focus on young Margo who seemed to be testing her luck with moving further and further away from the den. It was amusing at first, and she occasionally sent playful warning huffs towards her daughter, but when Viorel's howl sounded out and Margo went running in his direction she could only respond with a shocked "Margo!".

Clover was frantic to say the least, worried that Margo would get lost or injure herself, but also being unable to go chasing after her without leaving @Oleander and @Violet behind. Clover hurriedly began herding the two remaining pups, attempting to convince them to quickly follow her with promises that they would get to do something really fun later that day. It took longer than she would have liked but they finally arrived at the clearing, and she darted straight for Margo who had begun to cry, seemingly overwhelmed by all the strange wolves around. She attempted to console her daughter with soft hushes and a couple licks to her face, sending a quick apologetic glance to Viorel. "It's alright Margo, these are momma and dada's friends," she said softly, hoping to quickly soothe her daughter's worry before it got too out of hand.

(This post was last modified: Jun 29, 2021, 12:37 PM by Clover.)

It had started as a normal enough day, the toddling pup oblivious to how much his world would change by the end of it. When his father's summons soared through the air, Eros had been halfway between cover and Archer's back. Head low and every step carefully chosen, he had been fully intent on jumping his brother and wrestling him. He'd been getting feisty as of late, wanting to tussle and play and find out more about what this body of his could do. Even if he tired kind of quickly, being a little weighty for his age and all.

Eros plopped his butt on the ground, and frowned. Ma was gonna leave now, wasn't she? He hated her being gone. To his surprise and delight, however, Vanadis beckoned the brothers to follow. A broad grin blossomed across his tiny muzzle as he bounded after her and Archer, enthusiastically racing to keep up with her casual gait.

When they arrived, he saw familiar familiar faces; of course Da was there, but so were Va and Sha. A woman that looked kind of like Viorel was present as well, and Eros could only assume that this was more family. So when another pup, just his size and dark in color, popped into the clearing, the boy's jaw dropped.

There were more kids?!

A pale girl and what was assumed to be her pale mother also entered, others trailing behind them even. While he didn't have the concept of family 'sides' down yet, his little brain still did what it could and erroneously assumed that while Va and Sha were close to Da, this must be the family close to Ma given the similar appearances.

The dark girl began to cry, and Eros didn't hesitate to waddle away from his mother and Bra to check her out with big snuffling breaths and tentative licks. It was okay! Nothing bad happened when mom and dad were around! A few kisses were given to Clover as well as she too interacted with the other pup.

(This post was last modified: Jun 30, 2021, 04:12 AM by Eros.)