Paradise Falls return

Speaking of... Atara was trying to get Addison to play with her when the songs began to take flight, filling the sky with music. She leapt up onto all four paws and looked eagerly around her as the others echoed the news; her dad was back! The pup didn't see him, and knew better than to just take off, but man it was hard waiting. Throwing back her head, she did her best to howl loud and far- welcome home dad!

There was another short call, this one from Chan. Whilst the dark leader heard it, his attention was elsewhere. Finley had noticed the way her son had skirted them, too. He could only shrug in response to the questioning look. It still didn’t feel like he was any closer to figuring out the reason for Ryder’s aversion than he had been months ago.

Finley took the opportunity to venture after him though, but not before offering Jet a suggestion of her own. At least Atara’d be happy to see him. But that wasn’t enough to completely wipe out the pain.

Thankfully, finding the girl was easy as she sent up her own call. Pushing the hurt aside, Jethro set off to find her, opting to embrace the joy as much as he could.

When he saw the girl, it wasn’t hard. His tail waved ecstatically, and his smile broadened by the second as trotted up to the girl and lowered his crown to greet her with a gentle head-bump.

”There y’are! Lookit you, gettin’ all big!” And she had grown, in the almost month he’d been gone. Never again would he go that long without seeing his family, he told himself. Not if he could help it.


--@Atara fade or continue for a couple more?

It seemed to take forever waiting for him to show up. She heard heavy paw steps and practically writhed with excitement, constantly bumping into her agemates and occasionally stepping on Chan's paws. When his dark face appeared, Atara launched forward, sending dead leavings twirling through the air in her wake.

"DAD!!" she hollered, practically leaping to meet his greeting with her own hard little skull. She hit with enough force to make herself stagger back a step, but shook the feeling away and managed to maintain her wide grin.

"I sound different too! Do ya hear it? AAAAbaaaaaaAAAA."

Losing the pitch of puppiness to her voice, slow but noticeable all the same.

What had been intended as a gentle head-bump turned into almost a full-on collision. It didn’t hurt so much as it came as a surprise, but after a quick once over of Atara, she was still all smiles. Jet couldn’t help but to laugh, settling down before his child as she demonstrated her new voice.

”Ya sure do,” the dark one agreed, practically beaming with pride and adoration. There was a stab of sadness there, too, though, which Jet kept masked He’d have liked to have been able to openly express such sentiments with Ryder too.

”Promise I won’t leave you again. Next time, you’re comin’ with me. If you want.” Jet certainly didn’t intend to depart again in the near future. Maybe, next spring, though.. they could make a trip to the cove.

Atara continued to beam, thrilled to be validated. It felt good getting bigger, seeing more of their little world, and... Once more she was practically wriggling with joy at what he went on to say. Not leaving again until she could go along with? Uh, perfect!

"Yeah of course!" she rushed to answer, tapping her front paws excitedly at the thought of getting to go scouting with her dad and brother. Maybe Mom would go then too! A family scouting trip! Where was that guy, anyway? Ryder was supposed to be back now too, wasn't he? Whatever, she'd track him down after she was caught up with Dad.

"So what'd ya see, what's out there?!"

good to archive at any point <3 we can do a follow-up thread too if ya want