Dead Empress Backwater Hey Cinderella, what’s the story all about?

@Isla @Nix and tagging @Sephrina too, if you have time to join <3 Bonding time with grandpa!

The pale man gazed longingly at the sky, a deep furrow between his silvered brows. Above him, dark clouds had been churning all day, yet there had been no sign of the rain they so desperately needed. With a sigh he bowed his head, giving his coat a quick shake before returning his attention to the fresh kill at his paws. Vasco was rather proud of his success, a nice, fat woodchuck that hadn’t been able to outrun him – quite a feat considering the state he had been in at this time last year. Finally, the Halex felt fully like himself again.   And what a time for it! With the draught still raging, every able hunter was needed to track down even small pray, enough to feed the whole pack, as well as the little ones. And that was his aim now, bringing the groundhog to the den were the pups usually slept. There, he called softly, a murmuring woof that told any of the kids around that he’d brought food. And as he waited for them to come out, he bent down and started to tear into the meat, finding the softest and fattiest parts and preparing them for the teeth and stomachs of weaning puppies.   He wished he could have brought them fish, as he had their father at that age – the fresh roe was a perfect starter for youngsters moving to solid food, mild and sweet, but full of protein. Alas, this far from the coast, and with the waterways mostly dried up, there was no way of catching fish. “This will have to do.” . Thoughts ”Speech”

Lakela @DA

Nix had been fighting sleep for like the last half hour. His head would fall slightly but as soon as he felt the fur of his sister tickle his nose he was wide awake again. At least until his eyes grew heavy and his head started to droop again. It had been a big morning for him playing outside the den. He'd caught his stubby tail at least two times. Nix was supposed to be taking a nap but he was against the idea. Someone had to stay awake amd look after things and since he was the only boy that responsibility fell on him.

At least until he heard a call from outside the den. He hadn't learned the voices of everyone yet but he would. His curiosity was piqued so he had to go and find out who was calling to them and why they were calling into the den. Nix got up onto his stout little legs and made his way out into the light.

As always it took his eyes a moment to adjust but when they did he saw the man standing there. At his feet was a big furry thing. He looked at his at first then up at the man. Well he wasn't going to be afraid so he took the few extra steps it took to be close enough to touch the animal. He stretched his neck a little so that he could sniff it. Looking back up to the man he spoke, "Wha it?"

Hope you don't mind me hopping Sephrina in here! Just a note for me: she's about 6 weeks old here.

Almost six short weeks ago the newest litter of Valles had made their way into the dried up world of the Lore. Now they were old enough to follow the adults around the territory, and sometimes when they were very lucky they got to go for a short walk past the borders. The rest of the pack was stressed about water and staying hydrated, but this was all that little Sephrina had known. Someday there would be water again, and the pups would have no idea about what water safety really meant.

Snorting awake when her brother exited the den, Sephrina squinted after him. It was still light out, but not as bright as when the sun was up which meant she couldn’t quite make out what was happening. Well, only one way to find out. Hauling herself up and out of the exit she was surprised to hear her brother asking Wha it? That was when she realized that grandpa had something at his paws. Something that smelled good.

Shoving past Nix she announced boldly, ”It's mine!” It was not hers, but she was not used to hearing the word no either. They would give her what she asked for.

First out of the den was the boy pup, Nix, his cautious approach earning a smile from his grandfather. In the end his curiosity outweighed his fear, as it often was with pups. He carefully inspected the groundhog before turning his attention upwards, demanding further explanation.   But before Vasco could answer, they were joined by another pup, shooting from the depths of the den. She was at his feet, practically throwing herself over the carcass before Vasco recognized her, chuckling to himself at her possessive nature.   Finishing the bit of meat he’d been chewing, the pale man bowed his head to offer it to Nix. “It’s food,” he answered the boy in a soft voice, allowing him plenty of time to investigate the meat and make his decision. Then he turned to Sephrina, winking as he added: “And there’s plenty for all of you.” . Thoughts ”Speech”

Lakela @DA

Nix was still learning the voices that belonged to the wolves that weren't mother and father. Exiting the den he realized that the voice that had beckoned them out of the den belonged to their grandpa. In his six short weeks Nix hadn't spent much time with the man but he had grown to recognize him easily. The dark pup also noticed he had something with him but what which led to his investigating the furry thing. He'd only just spoken when one of his sister's came from the den.

She moved so fast toward the new thing that Nix hadn't had the chance to see which sister. When she spoke claiming the thing for herself he knew it qas Seph and thus made him frown. Grandpa told them both that it was meat and that there was plenty for everyone. He even placed some of the meat in front of Nix which he decided was okay since his grandpa gave it to him.

As he chewed he looked over at his sister, "Granpa said share Seph," he told her sternly after swallowing his piece of meat.

The pup came in so hot that she almost ended up on top of the groundhog rather than just in front of it. Getting a face full of fur, Sephrina let out the type of deep chested sneeze that only children can really achieve. It was so forceful she stumbled back a step, just long enough that grandpa was able to take some of the meat to share with Nix.

Turning to give him a somewhat dirty look when her brother tried to lecture her about sharing she pouted. Backing up closer the the groundhog, which she was so busy getting possessive of that she had yet to have a bite of, she shook her head violently from side to side. She didn’t like sharing, and she didn’t want to. Taking a deep breath, she shouted, ”NO! I. DON’T. SHARE.” He should know that by now, he had spent the last six weeks growing up beside her.

What she had not factored into this was that there was an adult present who could very easily intervene into this moment of selfish puppyhood. In this moment in Sephrina’s head it was just her and her brother. And the groundhog of course.

Nix was by far the most polite of the two, with two sisters, he probably didn’t get much room to act up. Sephrina on the other paw, was determined to claim the entire woodchuck for herself, a sudden sneeze seemingly the only thing stopping her from snatching the meet right out of her brother’s mouth.   Some rivalry between siblings was to be expected, and, in Vasco’s opinion, it was usually best to let them work it out on their own. Nix certainly hurried to snap back at his sister, the self-righteous tone making the grandfather smile even wider. However the response seemed a bit over the line to him, Sephrina was practically spitting with fury, doing her absolute best to keep her sibling away from the carcass.   Frowning, Vasco decided to intervene, unsettled by the extremely possessive behavior. Placing a paw between the pups, slowly inching it towards the girl, to gently scoot her pack from the groundhog, he waited for her to look up, expecting her to turn her anger on him. “Sephrina,” he lectured sternly, trying to meet her cloudy eyes; “Share with your siblings! There is more than enough for all of you.” Once the reprimand was done, he tried a smile to diffuse the situation, adding in a warmer tone: “Now back up and I’ll get you a piece too.” . Thoughts ”Speech”

Lakela @DA

Grandpa had brought them something interesting. Nix was certain that it was not only some kind of animal but it was also something for them to eat. It had a different smell than some of the other things that had been brought to them. Underneath it all though was still that smell that told the young Valle that it was in fact something to eat. Nix wanted his chance to try it but his sister seemed very opposed to the idea.

Now he loved his sister, would do anything for her. He would protect her with everything he had. However, right then in that moment he wanted to bite her real hard and let her know she was being selfish. He growled at her proclamation that she wasn't going to share. Just as he was about to pounce on her grandpa stepped in. Nix smiled in a satisfied manner that she'd gotten reprimanded.

His dark head turned up admiringly to his grandfather for helping him out his sister. A wide smile was spread across his lips too for his grandpa. His blue gaze went back to Seph, "Told ya," he said to her. Then stepped back to give grandpa some room.

The salt and pepper Valle girl was pleased with the way that she had stood up for herself against her brother. So pleased with herself in fact, that she had forgotten their grandfather was watching over them until he stepped a paw down in between them. Dejectedly Sephrina allowed herself to be shooed to the side without any protest, other than a lip quivering in overwhelming disappointment. Being so young she had no way to regulate her emotions yet, at least not very well, and being scolded like this felt like the end of the world.

Sephrina may have been able to pull it all together, had Nix not turned to her to rub it in that he told her. Tears started to flow, and not in a crocodile look at me kind of way, but an angry, frustrated, so embarrassing because she didn't want to be crying right now way. Sniffing once loudly, she swiped the tears away quickly, hoping that their grandpa would not see her crying.

She wanted to yell, she wanted to scream, she wanted to tell her brother to shove it! But she couldn’t do any of that with the adult there. As soon as Vasco turned to get her some, Sephrina took off back into the den. She wanted to be left alone.

Sephrina exit!

(This post was last modified: Oct 08, 2022, 08:10 PM by Sephrina.)