Blackfeather Woods one bite at a time

any adults wanna hang out? bro @Vaati? @Astrid? @Cassiopeia? Even @Cicero?(!) AW!

The little girl was a beam of light in the dark forest. Her white pelt a gift from her maternal grandfather; her bicolored eyes from her father-uncle. She was disfigured, with a twisted forepaw that would forever prevent a normal gait, but not as badly as neckless Ramsay, nor the two pups that had died. She was otherwise perfect: a snowy goddess like her mother, with a sharp mind.

But Maegi knew none of this. She knew she was alive and well, and that was enough.

It was a lonely existence. Adults came and went, bringing food, but no one had taken the time to bond with the freakish litter. And Potema, who should have been there for them night and day, had nursed them--and that had been the extent of her involvement. The woman was glassy-eyed, listless, paying no heed to the mental and emotional needs of her second group of children.

Now, Maegi knew there was something wrong with that, but not why. She yearned for attention from someone other than Euron & Ramsay, though she loved them both dearly. Someone at least to play with, or to cuddle up next to. The forest was cozy enough, sheltered by the trees, but it still grew quite cold and was getting chillier as winter came on.

So here she sat in Spiderlings Glen, watching the waterfall, the rushing sound of it a gentle music to her ears. Maegi was torn between snoozing and observing; she opted for the latter, for she had done enough snoozing in the first month of her time on earth to last her a lifetime.

She had stayed away from the pups for the most part, doubting her presence would be well received. She knew that their mother was absent, hardly ever seeing the healer, and perhaps this was what drew her closer to the den, passing it every so often in her daily movements. Today was different, she paused as she drew near to see a single pale spot against the dark, almost like fresh snow. She'd never seen a winter, mind you, but had come across her first snowfall days before, though it was long-faded now. 

The girl's paws took her down into the glen, skidding on the rock as she approached the girl warily, gaze on the den's entrance. She doubted the mother would care for her children, though was wary still as she finally reached the girl and sat silently before her, canting her head as she admired the tiny thing. "hello."  She said softly, wondering at the diminutive size of the girl, the perfect smallness of her.

Movement nearby caught her attention, rapt as it was on the waterfall, and she looked up to find one of her adult packmates looking down at her, having offered a greeting. Without the words to say it back, Maegi's mouth twitched silently before nodding at the woman, shuffling her paws in sudden shyness.

She was very beautiful, her coloring the polar opposite of Potema's. Her green eyes were luminous in the darkness of Blackfeather Woods. She also looked kind, and Maegi leapt at the opportunity to socialize, with a smile, albeit a shaky one, at her new companion.

Shuffling away for a moment, she found a stick she had her packmates had been tussling with just a few days prior and picked it up in her tiny jaws, looking positively ungainly as she stumbled back over to the woman, slightly off-balance from the added weight. Maegi held it before her and stretched her forepaws out in a half-bow, wondering if she would accept the invitation to play.

Cassiopeia's heart skipped a beat when she realized the girl was not as perfect as she seemed. Hobbling away from her now, she could see the limp in her step, the forepaw twisted backwards. Yet again, she wondered at what had gone so horribly wrong to produce children like these, but she hid her thoughts quickly when the girl twisted back around with a stick in her jaws.

When she dipped into a play bow, Cassiopeia tried for a smile and did the same, tail wagging behind her with a lightness she was unable to feel. She booped the girl on the snout with a paw, unsure of how one played with pups but willing to learn, for she doubted that the girl's mother was ever willing to play with her offspring.

One large black paw came suddenly at her nose, and she backed away and dropped the stick, surprised by the touch. No one but her siblings had touched her beyond necessity. With a couple of blinks, she was silent for a beat, then let out a squeal of a giggle, wagging her tail. It appeared that this wolf, with the smile on her face, was attempting to play after all.

Picking the twig back up, Maegi wiggled it in front of the woman's nose, begging her to bite it. She wished Ramsay or Euron were here to demonstrate better. Nevertheless, she shook her head back and forth and pulled her neck backward, eyes glimmering with mirth.

Tug-of-war? her gaze silently asked.

She drew her paw back hastily after the pup backed away, tensing. She relaxed only after the girl let out a shrill giggle, smiling warily. She blinked at the stick being waved before her nose, before grasping one end lightly and understanding quickly. With a little snort, she pulled back, testing the amount of force needed to make the game fun for the girl, while also ensuring that she didn't yank her off her feet.

cameo, unless they notice him and engage :)

Cicero watched from the shadows the dark forest provided. This child was his, he knew, but he had stayed his distance and waited his time so far, knowing that his sister would not allow him too near them; did not want him near her. Dazed by the poisons he had taken earlier he watched as the former captive played with the little white ball that was his daughter; perfect aside from the marred leg. Mismatched eyes gazed out into the world as he stayed leaned against a tree, his stomach cramping with the pain that he had put onto himself, eyes squinted in silent pain and pleasure both.

Her eyes lit up at the realization that the dark female had, finally, understood her game. Her newfound friend tugged gently, and Maegi tugged right back, lips curled in a playful snarl, little tail thumping against the ground as she threw down her full weight onto her haunches.

Perhaps the woman had tried not to overpower the pup, but she ended up doing it to herself, lurching backwards in a mighty yank that sent her somersaulting a few yards back. Wobbling a little, she lifted herself to her feet again and raced back to the stick, shaking out her downy white pelt.

Maegi thought she saw movement at the edge of the trees, but her absorption in the game and poor eyesight led her to ignore it, focusing instead on the task at hand.

 
She, too, missed the movement to her rear, focused on the pup which quite suddenly rolled backwards in a mess of fur and legs. Dropping the stick in concern, her ears flicked forward; but she needn't have worried, for the girl picked herself right back up and charged back towards the stick, shaking out her downy pelt. Relief that she hadn't accidentally hurt the girl washed over her as she quickly picked up the stick, dancing backwards and enticing the girl to chase her.

The woman danced again in front of her, dangling the stick from her jaws in an inviting manner. With a tiny little growl, Maegi leapt forward and seized the object in her mouth once more, tugging and tugging to her heart's delight. The older wolf was not budging, though, and Maegi found herself tumbling backwards once more.

This time, as she rose to her feet, she let out a tremendous yawn, eyelids fluttering. The play had worn her tiny body out, and she felt sleepy again. Giving the woman a weak little series of nods, she padded over and butted her head against her dark legs, curling her still roly-poly body up against the she-wolf's heat.

I trust you, she thought, smiling against the black fur. I like you.

i'm gonna fade this here :)

The girl tired out quickly, and Cassiopeia stood shock-still as the girl curled up against her forelimbs, gaze one of trust and adoration. Her heart felt a bit off, a warmth in her chest as carefully she sank to her knees, then her side, curling up alongside the girl. She rested her head on her paws and stared at the perfect girl, sighing softly and getting quickly to the business of watching out for her as she slept, her own green gaze unable to quite slip into slumber.