Neverwinter Forest we'll be counting stars

Kneading his paws against his mother’s abdomen, Cypress nursed for the pure pleasure of doing so. He and Rannoch had breakfasted upon regurgitated meat earlier in the day, but the little soot sprite was still quite dependent upon his mother and turned to her for comfort and familiarity. He, like Rannoch, turned at the sound of their names — he knew now that he was “Cypress” and his brother was “Rannoch” but he was just as likely, at this point in his life, to answer to his brother’s name. Privacy was not yet a part of the boys’ lives, and if someone called for one Neverwinter prince, they would almost certainly be greeted by two. Gathering his paws carefully beneath him, Cypress pranced forward with his downy fur fluffed into a disarray of defensive hackles. “Hey!” bespoke the brightness of his eyes, and he bounded forward with as much speed and accuracy as he could muster.

Like Rannoch, Cypress found himself confused by the female’s eyes — but more than that, he recognized that her fur was the same color as his own. It did not trouble him to be of a different hue than his mother, father, and brother, but it fascinated him that this female was painted in the colors of shadow and ink. “No, no,” he disagreed staunchly. This was not their father. Nor was it the red wolf who had come calling. He barked sharply, his entire body bouncing with the force of it: “State your business!” was the feisty little message, but Cypress’ ears were thrown forward in eagerness and not tucked against his skull with fear. Like Rannoch, Cypress welcomed visitors — but not before he had his say about it!

The soot sprite watched as his dust bunny brother clamped his baby teeth on the gift that was proffered, but was more interested presently in the girl who held it than the antler itself. This would change, naturally, once Rannoch had it fully in his possession — for anything that Rannoch had, Cypress wanted. Still, he found himself enchanted by the similarly-pelted female — and he bumbled forward without hesitation, placing his tiny paws upon her shoulder and balancing precariously upon his haunches to look more closely at her face. Breathing deeply of her scent — it bore both familiarity and newness — he stretched up his blunt puppy muzzle with an entreating stare. Only by chewing on her face could he unlock the mysteries of the universe.