Silvertip Mountain The world around me

For anyone allowed in the den. Tagging you all. @Mason @Ryuu @Bindi @Raissa

At fourteen days old, June was on the verge of being a late developer. She had yet to open her eyes - a feat that usually occurred shortly after the twelve day mark. She didn't know whether her brother had reached this milestone yet. How would she? All she knew was that one day she woke up and felt instinctual eyelid opening. 

As her baby blues opened the world was dosed in her tears. They protected her vulnerable eyes as the light reached her cornea for the first time ever and it responded just short of pain. Instinct, the thing that had failed her in the first few days, was at the top of its game now and encouraged her to blink regularly. The world corrected itself. She might not have any idea of what it was she was perceiving but it was a big place.

The den dimmed as FitzDutiful entered the den and remarked something. His words created friendly vibrations that she had grown accustomed to. June couldn't make out too much, all she knew was that this blurry vision - that only really identified light - was something that seemed natural to her. It was comforting.

Ironically, this miraculous changed had happened when he was asleep... and his deep blue eyes were actually therefore closed, when they first opened. And rather than eyes, it was actually eye.
 
In this his sister was ahead of him, because she had roused before he had. Whilst she was taking her first glimpses of the world, Mason snored softly. It was the entrance of his father's graceful form, blocking the sunlight temporarily from those tender lids, that kick-started his firstborn son awake. Mason stirred, his breath harrumphing from his lips in a massive sigh, and wiggled from his side to his belly. Without thinking, he opened that single eye we mentioned earlier.
 
Mason squealed with fright. A mass of blurred shapes raced across his lens, sending confused images to his brain, as he tried to comprehend what he was seeing. A mass of tears emerged, and threatened to engulf his sight once more, but he blinked them away. Suddenly he deciphered a small pale form in front of him.
 
Mason lifted his small form up on four paws, and walked a pace or two. His head lilted to the left, as it was only his left eye that had opened, and his newfound vision seemed to be pulling him to that side. He had almost reached his pale sister when he tilted his noggin too far and lost his balance, tumbling sideways with a soft thump. From his place on the floor his tail became a windmill and he gazed up at June with a single blue iris.
 
I see you.

Bindi carried two hares in her mouth as she started heading towards the alpha's den. Bindi would keep providing food to Raissa until the pups could eat meat - until Raissa was gone. The limp hares swayed back in forth as Bindi continued towards the den. It had been around two weeks since the pups were born, and Bindi couldn't wait for them to be able to walk. She would take them on adventures, and show them how to hunt.

When the midnight wolfess finally arrived at the den, she dropped the hares outside the entrance and began to walk away. However she stopped and turned around now facing the den entrance. Slowly the obsidian girl crept forward and tried to listen for any sound the pups made. She stuck her head in the den, blocking some of the light.

Her focus was on the pups not paying attention to whoever else was in the den. She smiled when she saw two small, fragile bodies. One male, and the other a tiny female. They were precious. They were perfect. 

June wasn't able to control her limbs yet. Whereas Mason was toddling around, June was still dragging herself. How different two wolves could be? FitzDutiful was watching the two of them with amusement in his eyes. He realised that this was the first time they had opened their eyes (or eye) but didn't recognise it for the achievement it was right now. Bindi soon blocked the light from the den and FitzDutiful welcomed here to come inside.

June, being unable to see much other than the light, welcomed the darkness that Bindi cast upon the entrance. Mason fell near to her and she turned to the vibration - sound had yet to pierce her ears. The pale blue eye wasn't recognised from her current position. She still cast a small smile though before turning back to the illuminated figure. Feeling a want to explore, for the first time in her life, she pushed her body along the floor towards Bindi. Finally a tiny bit of control. FitzDutiful smiled openly to see June move by herself.

Raissa was asleep like Mason when she sensed the movement around her. She opened her eyes instinctively looked down at the pups. Mason was still snoring softly, but June was up. And her eyes were open! Raissa blinked quickly to make sure she was seeing clearly, and sure enough, her little babies eyes were blinking quickly, taking in the world through a blurred haze.

She looked up to smile happily at Fitz, only then realizing Bindi was in the den as well. Feeling nothing but happiness, the only thing she could do was grin and the midnight girl before gazing back at the tiny wriggling forms. She watched with slight amusement as Mason too woke up and blinked, squealing in surprise at the suddenness of the awakened sense. They were nothing short of beautiful. 

There was a wolf standing outside the entrance to the den where Raissa and her pups were. Ryuu walked up slowly behind the wolf with her ears back and her body lowered. It was going to be her job to help raise the pups and learn to be a Caretaker, but she was still nervous about being around the new pack. "Um... ex...excuse me," she stuttered softly. "Ca-can I see the pups?" She also wanted to talk with the mother of the pups, Raissa and see what all she had to do exactly. Not to mention she wanted to get to know the mother since she hadn't had the chance. Ryuu had seen her at the gathering, but she didn't get to ask any questions like she had wanted. What would the pups be like? She tried to see around the wolf standing in her way, but could only see the shadows of the cave. 

She smiled at him, and everything in that moment fell into place. This was the she he had known for the entire time he had been born. However, rather than keep her beautiful eyes on his squinting face, his sister turned away.
 
A dark figure appeared to steal the limelight. Mason hesitated, a thread of doubt pawing at his insides, but he dutifully picked himself up and tottered after June. Within a breath he was at her side, and he hunkered along her length for a second or two, mottled grey fur melding into the purest white. With a mother behind and a father alongside, they were inherently safe. Despite this Mason stood once more, ensured he towered to his full miniscule height, and let out a small purling growl as yet another wolf descended onto the scene - he could only just see her from her distance.
 
Ryuu was a different colour to Bindi, and she was... whole, for want of a better word. Bindi's white-fronted chest was one of the few things about her that wasn't battle-scarred. Mason watched Bindi inquisitively, keeping his defensive posture alongside his little sister who had not yet learned to stand.

Bindi watched as both tiny pups started crawling near her. A smile slowly spread across the midnight female's face, however she this smile was not to return Raissa's but was for the pups. Both of the tiny pups lay side by side and Bindi took a deep breath in, before she lowered her muzzle to the den floor. She placed her muzzle directly infront of the two pups, and was only an inch away from touching them. She held her her breath as long as she could, since she didn't want to breath on them. Soon a voice was heard outside the den, and Bindi glanced at Fitz. The midnight girl moved herself Over the pups, and inside the den completely so she wouldn't block the entrance. The den was about to be extremely crowded if one more person came inside.

Bindi turned her focus back on the pups, and stuck a paw out towards June who was the first one to come crawling towards her. She held the paw beside the little girl and compared her size with her Bini's paw. The obsidian girl wasn't exactly sure what to do with the little pups and so she set her paw on the ground, and slid it towards Mason. He seemed to be the stronger one of the two and so Bindi would bring the paw forward and touch the young boy, before pulling it away and repeating this over and over again. Maybe he would try and fight her paw or maybe he would chase it. All Bindi wanted was for them to do something.

Didn't realise it was my turn, sorry for holding this up, post order is June, Raissa, Ryuu, Mason, Bindi 

This moving thing was tough. Bit by bit she pushed herself along though the effort tired her out and she had to take break after each movement. Her four legs moved while her body was on the floor, then she would lift and push her body forward before she toppled back down. She couldn't grasp it yet but it would come to her in time. When her brain made the other connections she would understand the concept of one leg at the time but, for the moment, it was all of them or none.

Some things, so innate, were hard for others to learn. Mason seemed to pick up the walking at ease and tottered around - though unsteady - for her it was hard to make the limbs work independently of each other. It was something she would take time investing in. More vibrations echoed through the den as Ryuu asked to see the pups and FitzDutiful granted it. The light was blocked once again before it returned. 

The light was her goal.

Raissa watched with weary eyes as Bindi reached for both her pups, their tiny figures squirming about, trying to figure the world out. She still wasn't comfortable with the black she-wolf around her babies, but since Fitz had let her in, she had to allow it. Sure, her goal was to eventually make up with Bindi, but while the pups were still so small and she was vulnerable, having her so close made her worry a bit.

But she pushed it all away and just watched calmly as the little pups tried out their limited senses. She didn't remember much of her puphood, but she wanted these little baby's lives to be the best they could possibly be.

Ryuu watched the pups in wonder and awe. They were wiggly little things and cute as could be. The expression on her face changed to one of love instantly. She was to be their caretaker and she would make sure that they were well loved and looked after. But she was also nervous. They were so small and seemed so fragile. What if she accidently hurt them? What if they hurt each other? What would she do. Worry creased the lines around her eyes, but they softened as she pushed back her worry to concentrate on them now. "They're beautiful."

Can probably start winding this up?


 

Bindi immediately put him at ease – she prostrated herself on the floor in front of both himself and June, bringing her sleek black body to their level. Mason watched her with wide-set blue eyes, and his attention was caught by a black paw swooping in towards him. With delayed reaction, the toddler stumbled a step back, but even before he had done so, the paw retreated. Curious his ears tipped forwards. Once more, it swooped in, he stumbled back, but it had already retreated. Determination spread across his sharp features.

 

The midnight paw came again and Mason was ready for it this time. With a yip of excitement he bounced forwards and snapped – but his teeth snagged only the close air of the den and they made a loud Clack!

This game continued for some time, until exhausted Mason remembered his belly, and he nudged June back towards their mother, ensuring she got her fair share. There was plenty to go around, being there was only two of them, and there was no reason for Mason to be selfish even if he had been the type.

Maybe if @Ryuu wants to post one last time so everyone has three posts, then we can all use this for exp

While June turned away and began squirming towards the den exit, Bindi turned her full attention to Mason. The boy seemed frightened at first when she began sticking her paw out at him, but eventually he got that it was a game. The playing continued for awhile until it seemed Mason was all tired out and needed a break.

A wide smile grew on the midnight wolfess's face as he pushed his sister towards their mother. It seemed like already Mason was becoming a caring brother, and Bindi wished she could have had at least one sibling like him. As the two pups wiggled back to Raissa, Bindi thanked both parents for allowing her to see their children and left the den in one silent swift moment.

The black wolf who had played with one of the pups thanked the parents and left. Ryuu watched the pups for a few more minutes before doing the same. As she made her way across the clearing, she thought about if she ever wanted pups. But doubt colored her mind and quickly dismissed the idea. She had to fix herself before attempting to bring little ones into the world. If she had pups, they would need a strong mother. Ryuu was a coward. Her ears drooped a little as she sighed. At least she would be able to help with FitzDutiful's pups. They were darling too.