White Fir Notch Spider and the Fly

It was hard to believe that his children were already two months of age when it felt like they were only born a short time ago. Often he wondered if his mother:d had the same feelings as he did in regards to him when he was a pup. There were many times when he would watch his children as they played outside the den, all the little moments as they discovered this or that for the first time. He didn't want to miss any of their firsts but being the leader kept him away from them too often for his taste. To make up for it he tried to make a point to spend time with each of them. It was his way of making sure they knew he was there for them and loved them.

As always he took care of his morning duties and hoped that he would not be needed the rest of the day. He had planned the previous evening as he watched his cubs sleep that he would spend the afternoon with his son. He had high hopes for both of his children and he hoped that one of them would take after him and become a healer. He felt that would be Elyan and Arwyn would take after her mother. Despite his hopes he wouldn't push either of them into something they didn't want to do.

He weaved his way through the damp forest in his way back to the den to find his son. With him now a little older and and little bigger he thought it would be fun for the boy to learn a little about hunting. When he reached the den he entered and nudged his sleeping boy to waking him from his slumber. There would be time for sleep later, “Elyan, come on son. We are going to have some father son time,” told with a chuckle as he stepped back to allow the grey child some room to get himself up.

His tiny chest rose and fell with each slow breath as he slumbered inside the cave unaware if the plans his father had for him. He'd been so busy that morning pouncing on the blades if grass and chasing the butterfly that had happened upon him that he'd not noticed how tired he had become until he couldn't keep his eyes open any longer. His too large paws had carried him back to the den,he wasn't really sure how. There he'd curled up for a mid morning nap where he dreamt so vividly that it had woken him only once. After yawning once he felt back to sleep with his head on his paws.

So deep in his slumber Elyan had become that he had not heard the approach of the large white man, his father. He didn't see him as much as he would like and didn't understand why his father couldn't be around all the time like his mother. He loved what time he did get to have with the patriarch.

The nudge in his side didn't wake him fully, it wasn't until he heard his father's voice that he finally opened his eyes with another yawn. The words that were spoken to him weren't completely understood. What he did understand was that his father wanted him to come with him. The pups mismatched gaze met the pale blue one of his father and with a smile he rose to stand in his too large paws. His father assured him he would grow into them one day. “Where?” The pup asked wanting to know where they were going.

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While the pale leader wanted the outing with his son to be fun for the boy he also knew how important it was he start learning skills now. Emrys could remember when his mother had first started teaching him the things he needed to know. He knew he hadn't made it easy for her as he sought to have fun more than he'd wanted to learn. Eventually he'd stopped fighting her and learned what she had to teach but it had taken some time for him to get into it. He didn't expect any less from Elyan and Arwyn as she would get her day too when he would take her out to learn to hunt.

Having no idea what his son had been up to that morning he was only half expecting him to be napping. With the new found freedom the child had Emrys thought his son would be out on some grand adventure. The pale healer didn't mind that Elyan was fast asleep when he found him in the den as it was probably best he get his energy back before their little trip.

After gently nudging his son awake he patently waited for the boy to get himself up and was not surprised when he was asked where they would be going. “Well I thought we’d go down by the spring,” he told, “I do not believe you have explored there,” Of course Emrys had to wonder how much of what he said his son actually understood of what he said. It didn't matter because he believed that the children would learn faster if spoken to as if they did understand every word.

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It had taken the gray boy a few moments to get his bearings after his father woke him. He didn't mind for he would have the chance to spend time with his father which could at times be a rare event. A yawn left the boy as he raised his head to look up at the pale figure of his father only to see him smiling down at him. The pup always liked it when his father and mother were smiling as it meant he wasn't in trouble, not that he was in trouble often. Slowly he rose to his feet to join his father on their outing with a single question about where they were going. The gray boy wondered if it would be a place that he would like.

Once on his feet the gray pup gave his pelt a shake to rearrange his fur after laying on the den floor. His father answered his question though Elyan didn't understand all of the words he did know the word spring. He had yet to see a spring so he had no idea what to expect though it seemed something to be excited about. He felt that his father seemed to be very excited about it which caused the boys short tail to wave back and forth behind him.

Elyan was ready for whatever his father had planned for them, “Us go?” He asked if the pale man. He didn't want to waste any more time talking about it when there was so much to do and see. At least his imagination told him that there was, he wouldn't be sure until they got there. Not waiting for his father Elyan bounded out of the den only to be hit with a moment of sunshine a moment later causing him to whimper and stop. He forgot he had to let his eyes adjust to the bright light before leaving the den in his excitement.

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The excitement his son showed at the prospect of going to the spring pleased the new father. However, as he watched his boy rise to his feet and ask if the could go his thoughts went to his other son Milon. These times seemed to come less and less but it was always there in the back of the pale leaders mind. He wouldn't ever get to take his lost son on his first hunting trip or teach him of the plants and herbs like he planned to do with both Arwyn and Elyan. It was something he wasn't sure he would ever accept as it was a loss that had taken a harder toll on him then he would ever let on.

A sigh left him as he watched his son bound out if the den and a vow to visit his lost son later was made as his large white paws carried him from the den. When he reached the outside he heard the whimper and realized what had happened, a silent chuckle shook him. He brushed his muzzle along Elyans side to both comfort him and get him moving. “We have a long walk ahead of us do we better get started,” he commented.

That said he gave the boy a few more moments to let his eyes adjust before moving to the edge of the clearing. Looking back he gave a bark to signal to the boy they were starting their adventure. If truth be told her couldn't wait to see the look on his son's face when he saw the spring for the first time. Once Elyan was following him he moved through the forest in the direction he knew the spring to be. “I hope your ready Elyan for your first hunting lesson. I think we will try for something small to start.” Perhaps a mouse or shrew maybe, either would give a good challenge to the boy but a better chance for him to catch them due to their small size. Or maybe not as he watched his son move clumsily along the path.

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The light seemed brighter than usual when he bounded out into it causing his eyes to close to block it out.  Elyan felt his father's muzzle against his side as he blinked a few times to get his eyes adjusted. Then he was ready to follow his father down to the spring.  He'd been right when he guess that the gray boy had not explored there as it was outside the boundaries of where he was allowed. With Emrys with he could go anywhere he wanted and he intended to make the most of his exploring while his father was taking him.

Emrys had given a bark bringing Elyans large ears forward as he bounded to the edge of the clearing to join the pale leader. His father soon led him through the forest on what seemed a well worn narrow path.  The child wondered if this was one that his father and the others took often.  He was aware of others in the pack but he hadn't yet had a chance to meet them, he hoped to in day.

With his shorter legs compared to his father it was difficult for Elyan to keep up but he did his best.  During their journey his father told him what they would be doing at the spring, “Hunting?” The boy repeated searching his brain for the meaning of the word. He knew it was how he got his food but other than that he was completely clueless about it.  This was something new for him to learn like his mother had taught him about turtles.  He was eager to learn whatever his father was willing to teach him. “Want to know all,” he told his father catching up to him for the tenth time at least.

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As a child Elyan’s age his mother had kept him in a small fox den, it was a little cramped but big enough for the two of them. He would often have the same difficulty with the light his boy was having in that moment. All he could do was wait and give some time. When it was clear that Elyan was ready he led him off into the forward toward the spring. He felt that they could hunt first and then he would accompany him in an exploring venture. All in all he was looking forward to the day and time spent with his son. Everyday he couldn't believe he had been given the gift of children so soon. He and Jynx both thought it would be much longer before they were in a position to have children or have their own pack.

He led his son down the familiar path that he knew led to another which would take them to the spring. They would hunt rabbits in the area for a time. Emrys didn't expect his son to catch anything that day as it was his first time out but he could get the idea. That was important as it would allow him to practice later on mice and maybe squirrels.

“I'm going to show you so that one day you will be able to help the pack and be able to catch your own food,” he explained after his son seemed to question about hunting. He wanted the concept to be clear so the lesson would click better in his mind. They soon reached the spring and Emrys went to it for a quick drink before sitting back on his haunches and waited for his son to do the same.

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Hunting. Elyan wasn't sure what to expect with it but he hoped that he was good at it. The part thing he wanted was to disappoint his father. He looked up to the pale leader and wanted to be just like him like when he had made Hawthorne feel better. He didn't know how his father always knew but he wanted to always know too. He had told his father he wanted to know everything and he did.

In the process of following his father Elyan thought about all the things they might hunt, burdses or turtles, he wondered if there were any others and what they were called. All of that was put in hold as the spring came into view causing the pup to stop in his tracks. He had seen smaller puddles after the rain but nothing like what he was looking at. He looked to his father for reassurance about it.

The pale leader had moved to it's edge and lowered his head to it. Elyan watched all of this with his head canted to the side, his father had been safe around it. That must mean he would be too but the gray boy still approached cautiously reaching out with his little black nose trying to catch the scent of the water. His approach was slow but he reached the edge and copied his father's actions. He took his first drink from the spring and was surprised by the taste of the water. When he finished he went to where his father was sitting and waited for what was next.

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It was expected that his son would be cautious about the water, it was the largest body of water he had seen yet. This also gave the pale leader the thought he would have to take his son to the lake sometime. He also wanted to take Elyan and Arwyn to meet his friend in Hearthwood in day but that would haven't wait until they were bigger. For now he was satisfied with a hunting lesson and exploring, it was time with his son and that was all that mattered to the healer.

He waited for his boy to get his drink before he started the lesson by sitting near the water. Elyan caught on quickly and was soon lapping at the water. Within moments the agouti child had joined him with an eager going in his eye. Emrys wore a smile across his own maw, he'd never taught anyone to hunt but he supposed it wasn't much different than teaching about the healing arts.

“Very well, I think we are ready to start,” He said with a nod, “First we will start by finding the prey we are looking for so you will have to learn the scent and then we will track it. Once we have actually laid eyes on it we will make a plan to catch it.” He laid the plan out for Elyan though he didn't expect his son to grasp everything until they were actually in the process of hunting. “Do you have any questions?” He asked his son as he wanted to make sure they were all answered before they actually set out.

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After doing as his father had Elyan went to sit in front of him wondering what was going to happen next. He didn't have to wait long as Emrys explained how everything was going to work. He of course didn't understand really anything his father said to him, he couldn't help but be a little frustrated at this. He wanted to be able to understand everything the adults said to him already. He did however understand when his father asked about questions,the boy shook his head hoping his father would clear everything up for him.

He did know what catching and hunting meant so he did have a very vague idea of things. He hoped by the end of the day he would have a much better understanding of what hunting and catching was. There was the first part that his dad had talked about finding like he had found a stick like his friend Hawthornes. He knew pretty was what his mother and father brought him to eat.

“When start?” He asked with some impatience in his tone. He was done with not understanding and wanted his father to show him. He wanted to get started learning how to hunt.

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