Sunshine, Lizards, and Swollen Tongues(open)

[Bellona]

Sunshine spread through the open grassy field, where technically the tiny puppy supposed she wasn’t supposed to be, as Bellona hadn’t told her mother she was even going to leave the den. “Mama‘s gonna be mad…” but a butterfly distracted her, letting all thoughts of her mother fly away with it. She tried to catch the tiny blue and black bug, but her little legs didn’t quite work well enough to keep up with it, let alone jump up to grab it. After one last attempt she fell back on her rear and looked scornfully at the beautiful being. She probably should’ve told her mama or papa, but they wouldn’t’ve let her go, or they would’ve went with her, and she couldn’t explore like she wanted to. But she did wish she’d asked her sisters or her brother to come, it was boring without anyone else there.

The grass was taller than she was and she had to clumsily hop her way through it, falling all over herself more than getting anywhere actually. There was a quiet rustle in the grass a few feet from her. Bella froze, then contracted her muscles, pulling herself into a crouch. She was still in pack territory, but… her ears shot forward. It was a big, fat, juicy, yummy-looking lizard. She’d only recently started eating meat, and she had trouble chewing it, but found it yummier than milk. She crept forward, and sprang onto the thing, grabbing it in her mouth. Then she realized she didn’t want to kill it. It had just been sitting sunning itself. Why did she have to come up and catch it? What had it done to her? Before she had much of a chance to decide if she wanted to, the lizard, which had been wriggling around, trying to escape from the confines of her jaws, figured out how to turn enough that it was able to clamp its little jaws around her tongue.

“OOOWWIE!” Bella jumped high into the air in shock. The fat lizard didn’t wanna let go. The more she shook her head, the tighter it clamped on. She pawed at it, rolled around in the dirt, and figured that wouldn’t help after about three minutes. So she decided to hold perfectly still, muzzle open and pointing down. This had to be the most embarrassing moment of her entire short life. It would be just her luck if one of her pack members came up and found her like this. Not only would she get in trouble, she’d get laughed at. Beautiful…

[Draeg]

The sunny field and soft grass made for an adequate place to rest, not to mention take a quick snooze, as a certain amber furred figure was currently finding out. Summer had come, bringing with it all the blistering warmth and heat the season promised each year. For Draeg this was both a blessing and a curse for while the summer season always herald the prospect of better game for both he and his fluctuation pack of hunters and warriors the amber dragga himself was ill equipped to deal with the growing heat the next few months would undoubtedly provide. His thick pelt more suited to the cold mountain range of the Swiss Alps and frozen north of his homeland in Norway, but in the blistering heat of the Transylvanian wilderness it was almost more than he could bear to keep from passing out from exposure.

Today things were at least more tolerable than most days, a pleasant warmth radiating down from the glowing god Fenris upon the windswept fields below. Draeg snoozed peacefully upon a patch of soft grass, having taken advantage of the favorable weather to nap out in the open fields after performing a nearly three day patrol of Ge-Rad. A cool breeze swept through the meadow, carrying with it the sent of flowers and ruffling the fur along his face in an all too familiar way so that he stirred. “Cwen?” Roused from his slumber he lifted his head from between his paws with a hopeful sniff, ears drooping as he looked around the surrounding area only to find himself alone. Another dream. Cursing he shook his head wearily, muzzle splitting open in a massive yawn as he rose to his feet. He thought that the dreams had finally stopped but it seemed from his latest episode that they never would, and while at times it was comforting to feel his mate’s presence watching over him from beyond the Red Meadow it mostly served to remind him of what had been taken from his so cruelly. Sighing he began the long trek back toward the communal den, tonight he would seek out Firefly, it had been far too long since had last spent any time alone together. He missed her terribly and craved her companionship now more than ever to help remind him of what he still had.

“OOOWWIE!”

Practically jumping at the pained sound Draeg immediately became alert, previous thoughts abandoned as, paws bouncing along the soft grass, he broke into an easy lope. Cresting the dune and peering through the sea of grass he found himself staring down at a tiny, but familiar monochromatic form standing rigidly amidst a cluster of recently flattened grass. “Bellanoa? What in the seven suns are you doing out here by yourself?” Descending down upon the tiny pup he examined her attentively, eyes immediately finding the source of her distress and recent outburst. Maw cracking into a smile he chuckled, shaking with silent mirth at the comical sight before him. “I think he likes you.” Settling himself down on his haunches he proceeded to flick his tail across the lizards tiny belly until it released it’s hold of his granddaughter’s tongue and flopped helplessly to the ground where it quickly scuttled away into the brush.

[Firefly]

The summer sunshine shined brightly through the Ge-rad trees. Bathing everything in a warm light. Lera all around grew in choruses of summer life. Everything was in place.

Firefly lifted herself from a bed of leaf litter. Eyes blinking away the nap that she had just taken as she gazed around her surroundings. She frowned, noticing that her small nap had outgrew her expectations. Yawning she shook out her fur coat, vegetation that stuck to it fell with every shake.

Tan figure padded forward. Her fur took in the warmth readily, her coat was not as thick as a full blooded wolfs' but still thick enough for her to survive out in the wilderness. And now Firefly ended up here in Ge-rad and a Drappa of sorts. She frowned, eyes closing to curtain away bright cyan eyes. I'll never be the drappa Draeg wants me to be.. I'll never be another Cwen Firefly's eyes slowly opened. Her thoughts raided her mind like unforgiving haunters. Many times she had thought of running away from the pressure. She would never be the wolf everyone thought she could... and she wouldnt. she was only half wolf. But she couldn't live without Draeg. No matter what he was the reason she was here now. Without him she would have given up years ago. It didn't matter to her if she had to always be second to Cwen, or if others mocked her or chided her. She always knew Draeg had loved Cwen far more than he did the hybrid. But she didn't mind... as long as she still had him.

Ketama shook her head. Her thoughts had blinded her vision of motion and she found herself ending up at the edge of the pond. Cwens pond. Ears dropped as she peered over the still water and saw her reflection. Not a dog...not a wolf. Fly grimaced, she could almost imagine her reflection turning into the cackling and snarling vision of Cwen. Spellbound Firefly turned away devastated and shivered, her paws broke into a run. She knew if she had given Cwen a chance, that she would have killed her. Forever she would be plagued by this feeling of devastation, she knew it. Ever since she had first heard of Cwen she knew what she was in for. But it was her secret. She would not share with the anyone her troubles. She didn't know where she was headed but her paws were slowly bringing her toward the meadow.

OOOOOWIEEE

The shout rang through the trees and Fly stopped. the sound breaking her away from her thoughts. It was the shout of a pup. That couldn't be right... at this time the pups should be sleeping at the meeting place...unless...Eyes widened as she turned and began running blindly toward the sound.

Paws pounding when she saw a figure, gasping Fly braked abruptly. There stood the handsome Dragga and by his feet Bella.

Fly slowly watching as the Dragga interacted. Admiration came flooding in for the dragga and she suddenly found herself flushed with shyness.

But she sighed knowing the young pup was in safe hands. Dappled sunlight fell as she tanned fae stepped out from the shadows, the sunlight hitting her to illuminate her light colored coat.

"Hi Draeg... she begun. she sounded nervous. why should she be nervous. Not knowing what else to say she simply smiled before looking toward Bella. Perhaps it was only to hide her shyness from her mate for the moment "don't you think your mother would be worried sick about you little dear? She barked, curled tail giving a slight swish.

[Ayasha]

Paws fell lightly on the surface of the terra she called home. This place held as many scars as it held fond memories for the black femme. She had seen so many come and go like life was only a passing moment. She herself had seemed to flow through like a spirit at times; barely remembering what she had really come to see. Her life, like her pelt was scarred with pain but it was also healed with the love that she never expected. Now though, her life had a slightly different purpose. Her mate, Kaemon, had been missing for what seemed months; after her own extended period of depression that held her up in her whelping den while the world continued around her, she had finally decided it was time to heal. As she followed the small pawprints that were embedded in the soft earth her mind was swiftly going through possible explanations to Draeg why she had well..been the way she had been.
Ayasha couldn’t put any sort of excuse on her absence any more, she couldn’t keep hiding from the difficult things that seemed to crop up in her life. After all, she had it pretty damn good. Ge-rad, her birth place and the place that she had given birth to her own litter. Now that litter was older and more independent, but no independence could teach them what being a varg meant, and more importantly…the pups would have to know sooner or later. Wouldn’t they? There are some that look unkindly on half-breeds. Her pups were only 25 percent dog, but their features were dominant enough that it might come up. But Ayasha wanted Kaemon to be there, so she would postpone that from their knowledge until he had returned. For now though, she could at least teach them the ways of the varg.
Ayasha’s auds perked forward to catch the squeal of one of her pups. Though it was probably nothing harmful the instincts of motherhood could not be fought. And so Ayasha lept forward into a gallop and cleared the distance between herself and her pup in what seemed like an impossible five strides. She managed to slow down and let a somewhat mothering smile spread across her maw as she trotted up to her pup Bellona. Both Draeg and Firefly, alphas of the pack were present and it reassured Ayasha that her pup was in good hands.
“Learning about things that bite, I see?” Ayasha smiled. “I hope this isn’t a lesson that Draeg is teaching.” She laughed playfully and greeted both alphas with a dipped head. “Firefly, it’s been so long.” Ayasha sat down and watched her pup for a moment. “Bellona, m’dear. Is that really something you should be playing with?” She watched the lizard for a moment. Her attention went back to Draeg though her gaze remained on her daughter. “Draeg, I must apologize for my absence. I have no excuse, only my own weakness. Though I have decided that I can no longer live in my den…” She looked to Draeg. “I’ve actually decided that my pups..whenever they decide to show their faces, should learn the ways of the varg.” She smiled. “Firefly, how have you been?” She looked back to her daughter and waited. "Bellona, would you like to learn about the ways of the varg?

[Bellona]

The sun’s fiery rays beat down on her two-toned coat, leaving Bella rather uncomfortable. She tried to keep from panting, as the lizards weight made it slightly painful, and there was an itch on her nose. But she was determined to hold perfectly still. It was a sort of battle of the wills. There was a loud crash as a large figure burst in to the clearing of flattened grass. She cowered for a second, snarling and baring her tiny teeth in a frightened way, the stopped mid-growl when the familiar amber-gold dragga spoke. Her tail went down and her ears drooped in shame. Her grandfather flickered his tail across the now evil lizards tummy and, amazingly, it let go! She looked up and saw another familiar figure, Firefly, slowly walking up towards them. How many more vargs were going to know about this?! ‘Oh, dear… what’ve I done?’ Her siblings were not going to let her hear the end of this…

She looked at Draeg, expecting him to be mad, but instead, he looked like he was trying not to laugh. She tried a sheepish smile, and said “I don’t think he liked me too much, Papaw, cause that hurted. Bad” Her smile dropped when Firefly asked her about her mother knowing about this. “Idunno…” She was swiping her front paw on the ground, quietly avoiding their eyes, when her mothers voice sounded behind her. She jumped about a foot in the air, and whirled around, expecting to get told off and sent back to the den, but, just like with her grandfather, she seemed amused. Then she laughed at her! It wasn’t really that funny! ”Well, I was, I wanted to, I tried to…” she was stuttering out what she’d been doing, but then she realized she didn’t even know what she’d been trying to do.

The attention shifted from her, thankfully, when her mother started talking about something adults talked about to her papaw. She didn’t realize her mother was still watching her, and she started to make her way back in the direction of the den, and realized she had no idea where she was going. She stopped, did a 360, and was contemplating as seriously as any 4 month old pup could if she should go left, right, or straight. What she wasn’t going to do was ask for directions. Her small amount of pride and dignity had been injured enough as it was, an she was going to make it out of the maze of grass by herself, and she… well what she was going to do next was forgotten, when she heard her mother call out her name, and she turned so fast she tripped over her too-large feet.

All dignity gone, she blushed, but when what her mother was saying hit her, she couldn’t care less about the events so far that day, even the lizard seemed far in the past. “You mean like hunting, and doin’ growed-up stuff? Cause that what I was trying to do to the lizard, but it bit me! Can Raine, Midian, and Vera come to?” She danced in circles around a pivot, chasing her own tail in the exited way some pups do. Then she remembered herself and sat perfectly still gazing at her mother with all the attention she could handle, but failed as the butterfly returned and darted around her head.

[Draeg]

Oh to be a pup again. To wander away from the ever watchful eye of ones parents and siblings to have your own little adventure only to have ones Dragga find them in an awkward position, it was one of the worse things that could happen to a pup. No doubt Bellona would be remembering her little adventure today for a long time to come. Eyes shining with mirth Draeg examined the pup closely, maw brushing against hers affectionately as he inspected her. “Well that’s what happens when you grab strange lera with your mouth, sometimes they grab back.” he chided good naturedly. “Well you’re fine, just steer clear of anymore lizards for the time being.” Giving her ear a soft nip he inspected her one last time, warm smile radiating from his maw as he settled himself down beside the embarrassed pup.

The faint pounding of lithe paws caught his attention and found him calmly standing over Bellona with the pup wedge firmly between his paws as he rose to face any potential threat that might be intruding upon the pair. As he had many times before Draeg found himself captivated by the beautiful fae standing before him. In the shimmering sunlight her tan fur was like the color of fresh honey with eyes like shimmering sapphires, her voice was like the coo of a dove, soft and sweet. “Hi Ketama…” he breathed, catching his breath. Moving without a sound he brought himself over to his beloved mate, tail wagging in delight as he buried his head into her thick , rich tan fur in a furious show of affection. “I’ve missed you.” he cooed, pressing his nose loving to hers and meeting her nervous gaze with a slow lick; not caring if they had an audience let alone one that mind find their actions repellent.

Turning to address his granddaughter Draeg smiled as he caught sight of the pup’s mother, pleased with her sudden yet expected arrival to claim her daughter. “I find it funny that you should mention that Ayasha, I seem to recall her father having a strong fondness for biting tails.” Draeg countered. “Of course you would know all about that now wouldn’t you daughter?” Gaze settling on the young mother he let out a wistful sigh, leaning into his mate’s side and fondly recalling their own litter. “Ayasha, you had pups to wean. I would hardly call that a weakness.” Attention cementing on Ayasha with an approving look. “I know what it’s like to raise a family, however you decide to do from here I’m sure you’ll make the right call.”

Draeg had to laugh at Bellona’s antics, recalling when he himself had acted in a similar manner. His own pups had exhibited the same behavior, particularly Trile who lived for the hunt and had excelled at it. “What you do is entirely up to your mother, you’re still a little too young to be hunting but I don’t see the harm in showing you the basics. Provided your mother is okay with it of course.”

[Firefly]

At the young pup's silly sight Firefly couldn't help but let out a small laugh. Oh how it was to be a child again. Though Fly's childhood had been filled with much different scenery than a wolf's was.

Cyan orbs lifted to see the beautiful form of Ayasha. Smiling the tan furred femme nodded in greeting. "I have been good, though with your whelping I must say I haven't had the chance to talk much with you either. Ahh pups to take up all your time" Firefly chuckled heartfully. She knew how much work it was to keep in check so many pups, and with Ayasha it was not one or two she was after. Firefly smiled.

no sooner did she feel her heart clench. Looking up she found her eyes locked with an amber varg. "I've missed you too The fae breathed, as she savoured the feeling of warmth touching her body, but alas leaving all too soon. Though it was replaced as she felt warm licks. She could feel herself growing hot, flushed with bashfullness. If she could Firefly would have been pink with blush. In a delicate movement she return the butterfly kisses with ones of her own. Pink tongue running along the amber Dragga's strong muzzle. "Come on Draeg, you know little kids and adult kisses" Firefly cooed with a teasing smile as her cyan eyes peered over to Bellona.

The talk of the pups growing up made Firefly swell with pride for Ayasha. It was her first litter and with what Ge-rad hoped, would be one of many to come. Tail wagged though she couldn't help but feel a pang of longing. She had so wished she could have experienced what it was like to be a wolf pup and have their first hunt. Oh the excitement.

"I agree this does sound splendid! What does your mum have in mind" She smiled looking to the black femme as she leaned in pressing herself against her mate's warm fur.

[I'm sorry I took so long! I hope this post didn't suck too much]

[Ayasha]

Ayasha smiled as her daughter seemed to come back to attention at the mention of learning to be a varg. After all it was a very important thing to learn. It was a sort of right of passage that any varg wished to go through. Ayasha her self had never really been given one. There had been no time for such silly things like that when her family was slowly falling apart. But now it was Ayasha's family and she was going to teach the pups. She just hoped that Kaemon would return home soon, she wanted him to be involved. "If we can find your brother and sisters they can come along too. But they seem to be so busy growing up." Ayasha smiled and gently licked the top of her daughter's head. "I'm sure you're uncle Draeg can tell you all about how important it is to become a varg." Ayasha smiled as she looked to Draeg. She then turned to Firefly and grinned.

"Actually, I'm not entirely sure what I have in mind. I've never done this before and I was never given the opportunity. But...." She paused for a second. "I was actually hoping that the two of you might help me? Three heads is better than one..right?" the black femme tossed her head back in a laugh. She could see the three of them trying to explain to little Bella how to be a varg. But she was serious in her question. Without Kaemon around she wasn't sure how exactly to go about teaching them. She knew that at some point in time they had to learn of their lineage..but she wanted to put that off. For now she needed some help thinking of what all to teach her daughter.

"Bella, what do you think? What would you like to learn?" Ayasha smiled at her daughter. She knew that she had to give her pups choices of their own or they would never grow. She didn't want there to be any room for resentment. This family wasn't going down that road. Ayasha would do everything to keep it from going down that road. No matter what, this family was going to be strong and add to Ge-rad what it needed. "I'll teach you how to hunt, and to fish. How to pounce....though you seem to have that skill down pretty well. Are you curious as to what it means to be a varg?" Ayasha pondered that question while she waited for her daughter to speak. Come to think of it, what did it mean? Ayasha was proud of her heritage, but she was proud of her pups' heritage. Everyone in Ge-rad was someone that mattered. There wasn't room or desire for singling anyone out for lineage. At least that was what Ayasha was hoping for her pups.