Paradise Falls New Experiences

OOC: Indigo getting ready to leave the den @Hazelnut @Ryder

Indigo's first few weeks were spent crawling blindly around her birth den, frequently bumping into her mother. When her eyes opened, she went from blindly exploring to stumbling. When the rounded dirt walls became familiar, the young girl moved to that bright circle that her mother would sometimes disappear into. From it came smells unfamiliar to her, and sounds that made her want to poke her head out. Sometimes she even saw shadows cross the entrance, large enough to send her skittering back across the floor and bury her head into her mother's belly.

Now she was straining with curiosity. She had not been given permission to leave the den just yet. Her mother came back smelling of the outside and that drove her closer and closer to the entrance. She was positively wiggly just thinking about being able to go roll in all those interesting smells.

Indigo sat only a few steps from the yawning mouth of the den. If she craned her head, her nose might pop out into the strange, fresh air. Her tail wagged behind her.

Indie's curiosity was evident in her proximity to the edge of the world, or her world, at least. Hazelnut imagined it must have been a lonely thing to wait at the mouth of the den, to wonder where her mother had gone, to have no on else to cuddle up to or play with. Of course, those days were early enough that Hazey did not remember them herself, but the thought of it was enough to sway her to pull Indie from the den as early as she could.

The day came quickly. The perfect day. One that was not too hot or too cold. Not too sunny or cloudy. She debated on whether or not she would call for her child's father, whether she wanted to keep these precious moments to herself, but in the end, she extended the olive branch and let loose a howl.

"Come, my little one." She cooed in hopes that it might coax the girl from the den. Come and see the sun. Come and be a little less lonely here.Perhaps it wasn't just Indie's loneliness that had her feeling this way.

Ryder visited each and every day to spend time with his daughter. When Hazelnut was not already resting within, he'd crawl inside the den to curl up with Indigo and when her mother was, he'd rest right on that threshold, forelimbs and head just inside so he could at least marvel at her. Be with her. Play with her even, sometimes. There was only so much he could really manage with her being still so small, with her world being limited so. With he and Hazel lacking affection.

Visiting now, Ryder heard the woman beckoning and his spirits lifted with hope. Was it finally time? His eyes were bright as he neared, hoping to see the tiny girl toddle on out any second. They would flit away only now and then to Hazelnut's face, the quickest of glances to gauge; was she excited too?

Indigo wriggled at her mother’s voice and began to walk toward it. She hesitated with her head peeking out of the den and saw her father as well. Their pale faces formed a warm welcome for the pup and she hopped the last paces until she was fully in the open.

The entrance of their den had provided an odd, framed view of the space surrounding, and seeing everything now in its entirety made her gawk. The blue above was so big, the stone and trickling water so much louder now. She could hear things squeaking, chirping, tittering in the wide space around her. She went still, mesmerized by the greatness of it all.

Indigo broke into a run. She was still clumsy as she bounded forward out under the sky. Her nose twitched eagerly, and she slowed some to lower herself to the ground and sniff the myriad of scents that gathered in the dirt. Many were unrecognizable, but there were two that stood out-- her mother and father. Indigo remembered them next to her and turned toward them to roll over. She grinned up at them, eyes sparkling.

Ryder's arrival, as always, dredged up a flood of conflicting feelings. Hazelnut was willing to share these moment with him, of course, knowing that he was entitled to them as Indigo's father, but every time he appeared she was left feeling empty and anxious with an insatiable longing. She'd imagined moments like these long before the two of them had met and long before Indigo was even an idea. She had hoped to actually share these experiences, to look at her partner with soft eyes and have them look at her just the same, to know that they had gotten here together. She had wanted love, and affection, and for her child to have a family that was whole. But here they were, on opposite sides, raising a child as they lived lives independent of one another.

He was a good father, so Hazey supposed she should be thankful. He was attentive with Indie, willing to care for her whenever he could. He made it a point to see the girl every day, to spend time with her. It was more than a lot of people could have asked for, the woman's own mother included, but his love for their child did nothing to quash the yearning in her soul.

Hazelnut held her breath as Indigo emerged, trying her best to look at peace with the day's activities. Perhaps it was selfish to wish that she could have kept her in the den a little longer, could have saved all the sweet moments for herself. In allowing her out into the world, Indigo was gaining independence and experience, but there was so much Hazelnut would be losing.