Sanguine Cove the devil's in the next room

@Nash @Monatalia @Magg @Matos

They were already growing so fast. She had thought Kateri had grown up too fast too, but it seemed like time had flown between their birth and now, as the mother stretched out just outside the den to bask in the warmth. She was thankful that there was still water in the lake, or else she don’t know what she would have done. She watched the children with pride in her eyes, a wide smile on her features. Already there were things that concerned her. It appeared her children didn’t all get along… perhaps she was foolish to think they would.

Kateri had been an only child after the loss of Peyter… it had certainly made things easier in regards to sibling relationship. She tried to share her attention between all of them. It was a struggle and truthfully she was still learning. She was grateful for them… but the veteran mother felt out of her depth all over again. Instead, she kept a close eye on them and waited for them to come to her if they needed her, watching how they interacted with one another carefully in the meantime.

Aquene Slayer

Today was a very important day. Today was the day his children would be able to leave the den for the first time. They'd been making overtures, growing quickly and more curious, but he and Aquene wanted to wait a touch longer.

But today was the day, all too soon. His little bundles of fluff were slightly bigger bundles of fluff and they couldn't justify keeping them locked away any longer. He stuck close to the den, lounging at his wife's side as they watched their litter explore for the first time. He hoped @Kateri would come and meet her sisters and brother. He hoped she might be a good influence on the trio.

"They're growing so fast," he murmured into Aquene's ear as he groomed her head, enjoying simply spending this time together. "Was it like this with Kateri?" he'd been there for her first excursion from the den, but he'd hung back then. The guardian found himself grateful his wife had experience as a mother already; she seemed so steady, so sure. He was having to learn fast.

(This post was last modified: May 23, 2022, 06:18 PM by Nash.)

The world was a blur, and Magg kind of liked it that way. She fumbled about, happily bumping into siblings and walls with abandon. Things felt so fast, every stumble a ride rather than hurtful. Normally her wild antics were contained, but today...

With one toss of her body she was out of the dark and into the light. Magg flopped onto her back as though paralyzed by all she suddenly saw and felt, revealed by dazzling daylight; a green canopy, the grass poking into her skin, breezes combing through her fur, the uniqie warmth of a Spring sun.... The girl practically vibrated with excitement, and was back on her paws in an instant.

The world felt so open, as though nothing would ever stop her again. Magg began to run as fast as her legs would take her, and with nothing but air before her, she reached new speeds and felt as though she were flying. She was going, going, gone!

(This post was last modified: May 23, 2022, 06:17 PM by Magg.)

Monatalia grumbled and made as many displeasing noises as she could learn, anytime her siblings got too close to her. Especially Magg, the wild energy of her sister was not frequently returned by the grouchier girl. Mona wanted all the attention, and such a high energy sibling meant she felt as if she were competing. Which meant she didn't really like Magg. Not one bit, and she showed it every chance she got.

However, exiting the den was not as easy of an event for Mona. She'd wanted to go first, and whined audibly when Magg exited before her. Shaking herself out, she stumbled forwards until the bright light assaulted her vision.

Little paws pressed over eyes as she dove to the ground, covering her face as if that might make the sun go away. But as her eyes adjusted, it hurt less and less to look around. As she sat upright, shaking herself out once more, she stood up. The world around her felt too big... too much. And some small part of her wanted to go back into the den, with Matos, but the larger, more vain part of her couldn't allow that. Magg couldn't be the center of attention. And yet, Monatalia couldn't convince her paws to move. She stood, frozen in place, trembling.

And before the first whimper left her mouth, she bolted for her parents, burying herself between them, as if that would fix the fact the world was so much bigger than she.

(This post was last modified: May 23, 2022, 09:22 PM by Monatalia.)

Im so excited for this! <3

The world was small to the tiny boy. It consisted of him, his mother - who was easily his favorite - his two sisters and father. His mini coal nose told him there were others beyond the bright light but he didnt care. He was perfectly happily within the safety of their den. Though he did have to admit the outside quip his interest every now and again, but he did nothing more than sniff near its entrance, spooking at every sound from beyond it.

Once again his parents went beyond the veil, leaving the triplets to occupy themselves. Matos let out a squeak in protest when they left but it didn't convince them to come back. In a puppish pout the boy laid down facing the entrance, content to wait for them to return. Magg and Mona had different ideas, both quickly disappearing beyond the light leaving Mat all alone for the first time in his short life. The sudden aloneness was too much for the boy to bare as he let out nice "loud" whine as he toddled after his sisters. Matos stopped short of the light nervous and cautious about the unknown beyond. Tiny ears pressed forward as he strained to hear what was going on out in the great beyond.

Taking a deep breath the dark boy braved the invisible barrier from the world he's known into the great unknown. Puppy blue eyes were clamped shut behind dark lids as Matos moved into the light. One, two, three...three small steps were enough. Slowly the eldest of the triplets appeared in the mouth of the den, slowly blinking to adjust to the brightness and newness of the expanded world.

(This post was last modified: May 24, 2022, 02:28 AM by Aquene. Edit Reason: Fixed code )

I think I need help, cuz I'm drowning in myself

The cove had been blessed with seven little ones. Three little Eastfall-Slayers and four little Vuesian-Baranski's. The Eastfall elder was overjoyed by all the new lives they had been blessed with, but also worried greatly due to the state of their precious lake. All she could do was make sure that both mothers had enough to eat and drink, something that they all were trying to ensure. Today a squirrel swung from her salt and pepper maw as she brought @Aquene some breakfast. The inky woman had dropped of one to @Oksana already, checking in on her and the quadruplets before heading to see her own extended brood. An assortment of sounds reached the grandmother as she approached the clearing. A fond smile pulled at her inky lips exposing more of the squirrel as the forms of her youngest son and new daughter in law came into view. The werent the only ones enjoying the weather, as Moon came to the clearing, she saw that her three newest grandchildren out and about.

Moonshadow placed the squirrel near Aquene giving the woman and affectionate nudge to her cheek before giving @Nash the same loving greeting. The elderly woman settled near the new parents, content to watch the triplets explore their new surroundings.

Word Count: 211

Despite the trials that had surely risen, the notable tension her two daughters seemed to hold for each other… Aquene found peace. Nash was cuddled up next to her and she leaned on him lightly, occasionally offering him light nuzzles or other displays of affection. It wasn’t until Monatalia came bolting at them and wiggled her way under one of Aquene’s hind legs that her attention was drawn back, a sympathetic smile on her features. Magg was taking off and she frowned. “Magg, stay within sight of the den!” She wasn’t even sure that the girl understood her calls but in that moment her attention was split between the two girls and she would get up to fetch Magg if she needed to.

Slowly, their eldest was appearing as well and her head briefly turned to see him. Her family… well, almost. She hadn’t seen Kateri, at least not recently though she herself had been preoccupied with the younger ones to notice too much about the comings and goings of others and napped whenever she was not tending to the newest brood. She smiled softly as her mother-in-law made her way over, placing a squirrel nearby. She returned the affectionate nudge to her cheek. “How are Oksana and her kids?”

Aquene Slayer

Nash enjoyed this, lounging in the warm sun with his wife and children. It was made all the better by his mother's arrival. The only ones missing were Chan and Kateri - who he thought of as family even if she wasn't his child.

Magg of course, being the most energetic of the bunch, immediately took off. Aquene called after her, but was quickly distracted by their middle child burrowing between them. "I'll get her," he said, hauling himself to his feet. He returned his mother's greeting and padded after Magg, lifting her by the scruff to return to the den mouth. "Don't to far," he said gently before dropping back beside his wife and poking Mona with his nose. "Wouldn't you like to explore with your sister?" he asked, hoping now that they were free of the den his daughters might get along better.

The Slayer girl had spent a lot of her morning tracking a rabbit. She'd been practicing her tracking while allowing the strength in her leg build up. Finally the day had come that she thought she could put it to the test. Months had passed since her injury and she was ready to move on from it. Start her life again after having to be so careful. She wanted to be able to run and hunt and maybe even travel a little.

Sure she loved her pack and her family but all she really knew was the cove. She wanted to see more.

Kateri had tracked that rabbit a long ways but after a short chase she'd caught it. Her leg didn't even hurt a bit which made her quite happy. So much so she wanted to take her prize back and show her mother.

With her prey dangling from her mouth she headed for the medical den. That was bittersweet for her since she missed sharing it with her mother, just the two of them. Those days were over which was just one sign that it was time for her to move on.

When she reached the area of the den she could hear her mother and Nash's voice. Slowly she approached peering through the trees. When she was close enough she could see the pups and her mother with Nash outside the den. She even took note of Moonshadow's presence. Suddenly she felt very left out. Seeing them all together happy was just another sign that her mother didn't really need her sticking around.

Kateri turned from the scene and started back the way she had come.

(Exit unless stopped)

Magg understood that she was being spoken to, but that was the limit of what she knew when the adults rumbled their words at them. As such, she did not heed her mother's warning one bit, continuing on as quickly as her puppy legs could manage without skipping a beat. Even when her father scooped her up they still windmilled through the air, as though she could work them fast enough to escape his grasp.

He placed her back at the starting line, and his voice filled the air. Magg paused for a moment, watching the bleary shape that was her dad return to those which were her mom and another big. When he briefly stilled, she was off again, direction randomly chosen and sprinting just as swiftly.

(This post was last modified: Jun 09, 2022, 04:09 AM by Magg.)