Sanguine Cove It's a big wide world out there

For @Leo <3 Figured the RE would be fun for them! Matos, you come upon a spot where lightning has struck a patch of sandy earth, creating a very peculiarly shaped stone.

The world was getting bigger and bigger by the day. The inky boy tried to go explore every chance he got. Sometimes he was stopped by his parent, sometimes by his sisters, but sometimes when the stars aligned just right he was able to get away. Today seemed like the alignment was just right. Small chubby limbs carried him out of sight from his birthplace as his tiny coal nose was pressed to the ground. Everything from the blades of grass to fallen leaves and twigs and much more. The tiny Eastfall-Slayer boy happened upon a sandy patch, void of grass or anything else that the pup had encountered before. There was however, a very odd shaped stone almost directly in the center. Now whether this was truly odd shaped or just odd to the boy was yet to be determined.

<3 it's perfect!

The yearling’s mind was glum as he trotted along the border, mechanically going through the motions of a patrol, which had long since become routine. With so many pups now old enough to wander about, keeping their parents preoccupied, the pack was in need of all the extra protection it could get. Leo mostly didn’t mind, it was the least he could do to take some of the pressure off the adults; Especially with dad…   That was what filled the boy’s thoughts as he worked, guilt swirling in his chest as he repeatedly blamed himself for not being there to help his father. He was supposed to be grown up and responsible, and help protect his new siblings, but he had failed, and Aleister had been hurt because of it.   These dark thoughts might have continued to spiral, had something else not caught his attention. A small, dark shape, way too far from where it was supposed to be and seemingly all alone. Eyes wide, Leo rushed over, almost stumbling over his own, big paws as he looked around frantically, hoping to spot a parent somewhere nearby; But there was none.   The yearling came to a stop in front of the pup, looking down at him with mild panic on his face. He recognized it as one of Nash and Aquene’s, the boy, though he couldn’t remember the name. Hesitantly, not knowing what else to do, Leo bend his elbows to get on eye level with the boy, looking at him with a mixture of terror and reverence; “Uhm H-hey… What’re you doing out here?” Thoughts ”Speech”

Lakela @DA

The boy's short attention span was easily torn away from the oddity at his feet when the noise of someone approaching reached his still slightly floppy ears. Puppy blues spotted a funny colored big stumbling towards him. The big ran almost like his sisters did when they ran. It was curious to the child. Every other big he saw didnt run that way, why was this one?

The funny big stopped in front of tiny Matos looking down at him. The worry Leo held went right over the child's head. When the agouti yearling bent down to the pup's level he was met with tiny puppy kisses to his chin. It was the same manner in which Matos greeted every other big, this one would be no different.

Leo began to speak, causing the dark Eastfall-Slayer boy to step back and cock his head to the side in confusion. There was only a few words he sort of knew. "What're you doing?" Took a moment to sink in before he understood what was being asked of him. "'Spores!" Little Matos chirped happily explaining himself while hopping between his front paws in a wolfish dance. It was his favorite activity after all.

The boy seemed completely unbothered by the situation, stepping forwards to greet Leo in a most unexpected manner. The yearling startled at the wet touch and had to fight an instinct to pull away, not wanting to scare the pup. Apparently, the kid considered Leo the same as his parents or the other adults – it was an odd thought to the Vuesain, who still saw himself as a kid, but something about it felt nice too. This little one at least, didn’t doubt his pack-cousin’s ability to protect him.   The answer he gave wasn’t exactly enlightening though. Leo raised himself up a little, so he could look down on the pup, mirroring his tilted head. “I-is that right?” He answered, tone light despite his confusion. The dark boy was obviously excited about his adventure, and Leo couldn’t help but smile a little at his enthusiasm. It wasn’t so strange that he should want to explore? On his own a little, Leo had wanted the same at that age. But now he still worried that the pup might have straight a little too far for his parents’ comfort; “Does your mom know you’re out here? Or your dad?” Thoughts ”Speech”

Lakela @DA

The boy's little dance continued on for a few more moments until he remembered that stone he was looking at before the funny big found him. A small gasp came from his tiny dark maw as her spun around to find his treasure. Leo's worry still went right over the child's head, and he didn't respond to the question if his parents knew where he was. All that was important in that moment was his new discovery.

"Wut dis?" Matos asked having refound his prize. The rock was long and skinny, much like a tree branch. Though, unlike a tree branch the shoot was spikier, much like coral found in the ocean. But completely unknown to the Eastfall-Slayer boy, which made it exciting. He pawed at the rock before trying to pick it up with his milk teeth. His attempts were unsuccessful as the rock was much too big for his jaws, but that didnt keep him from trying. He was determined to grab hold of his new treasure.

Pups, he was starting to learn, didn’t concentrate very well. The dark boy’s attention suddenly wavered, and just like that everything up to that point seemed forgotten, Leo’s question going unanswered as something on the ground became the new focus.   It took the yearling a moment to catch up with the sudden question, eyes narrowing as he examined the strange object. “I… I don’t know,” he answered, lowering himself back down to get a closer look. Leo’s own curiosity stirred, nostrils flaring as he tried to glean any information he could about the thing. “It doesn’t look like a stone…” He mused, more to himself than the pup, ignoring the little ones failed attempts at grabbing the shiny thing; “More like ice.” Except it wasn’t cold. Most certainly an interesting find. Thoughts ”Speech”

Lakela @DA

His new treasure was an elusive one, easily slipping from between his tiny jaws. A small growl of frustration came from the welp as he struggled to accomplish his goal. Most of Leo's words were heard but not understood or even paid attention to, in one ear out the other, until the very end. The word ice caught Matos' attention for some reason. The way the word sounded was funny to the boy. "Ssseee" he repeated missing the mark on its pronunciation but liking the sensation it caused on his tongue.

Giving up his futile attempts of picking up his spikey treasure, the inky Eastfall-Slayer boy opted to swat at it instead. The odd rock was large but not so large that the boy's puppy strength could not move it. So, his swatting began to resemble that of a cat playing with a toy mouse. This success delighted the child as he found an almost pure happiness in swatting his treasure while chanting his new favorite word.

Leo’s attempts at examining the shiny object were made considerably harder by the dark pups continued struggle, the tiny growl drawing his cousin’s attention momentarily. The kid seemed determined to make off with his prize and was none too happy that his little teeth kept slipping on the smooth surface. His frustration might have seemed cute or funny to any other observer, but Leo instead felt an odd kinship with the boy, remembering his own childhood discoveries. He considered picking the stone-cicle up himself but wasn’t sure if the little one would appreciate the help. Luckily the boy’s anger was as short lived as his general attention span, diffused as soon as he caught on to something new – this being the hissing sound of him, presumably, attempting to pronounce ice. The yearling nodded encouragement, happy to continue this attempt at conversation: “Yes, ice, that’s right!” He tried to catch the pup’s eyes, but already, his attention was back on the stone-cicle, now batting playfully at it. At a loss for what to do, and frankly fearing that the kid might suddenly spot something in the bushes and run off, Leo tried again to mention his parents: “Uhm… Maybe your mom would like to see the, uhm… Ice? Do you think?” He honestly didn’t know if the boy understood any of it, though the word mom, at least, should ring a bell. Thoughts ”Speech”

Lakela @DA

The encouragement was all the child needed to continue on chanting the new favorite word. He wanted the world to hear it! It was the best ever! His new big-friend suggested they took their find to his mom, which excited him further. "Shows mama?" the inky child parroted. "Yas!" he exclaimed happily. His mother surely would love the treasure! He couldn't pick it up though, how were they going to get the novelty to her? He once again began to gnaw at it, trying to gain any purchase with his small milk teeth. Why was it so slippery? He liked the word ice, but not the "actual" thing.

Finally, that seemed to truly grab the little one’s attention, his excited shout making the yearling smile despite his worry. Still though, the pup struggled with his prize, unable to pick it up and actually bring it to his mama.   Leo watched as he gnawed away at the rock, his head titling and brows furrowing. His own, adult teeth and larger mouth could probably get a decent grip on the thing, but he wasn’t sure how the kid would react to that. Slowly lowering his snout back down to the little one’s level, he poked at the stone-cicle to grab his attention, then asked: “Mind if I give it a try?” To help the pup understand, Leo gently closed his teeth around one end, keeping still as he sought to meet the child’s eyes, waiting for permission. He wouldn’t want the kid to think he was trying to take the find away from him. Thoughts ”Speech”

Lakela @DA