Tomahawk had been protective of them. She had shielded them away from the world, disallowing them access to the outside. Sure, they were able to escape from time-to-time, but never with her permission. Today, though, Layaffi decided it was time. So she gathered the three children that belonged to Rakharo and nosed them toward the opening of the den. She would not allow them to go far, of course, but she would allow them the freedom to explore their immediate surroundings. For now, she observed, ready to redirect anybody who wandered off any further than a dozen feet from the den.
Regipre followed her mother out of the den, blinking in the bright sunlight but otherwise showing no trepidation whatsoever about stepping outdoors for the first time. Her fuzzy little head turned as she squinted at her surroundings. Her expression remained blank as she took a few steps, then dropped her tiny snout to begin sniffing around. She didn't even bother sticking close to Tomahawk, though she did not try to make a run for it. She just circled the area within roughly two yards of the den mouth, cataloging its every feature and more or less ignoring her mother and siblings as she did so.
She'd had no desire to escape. The confines of her home den were warm and comfortable. She liked nestling next to the bodies of her siblings and maintaining the relative peace that somewhat surrounded them. Somewhat. Her sister had a knack for exploring and squirming, something Sart didn't share with her, but she appreciated the times when they all curled into a puppy pile and shared a few z's.
Today was different. Today the coyote known as mother was herding them towards the large bright opening in their tiny world. The last time she'd poked her nose in that direction, she'd been pelted by rain and had made her best effort to avoid that area. Today, the world was lighter, brighter and she was being ushered towards it.
Sart squeaked in protest as she was nudged outside. Her sister instantly took to exploring and Sart lingered beneath her mother's feet, shying towards them as she used her mother as a shield from this outside world. Her eyes were narrowed, tiny slits of her eyes trying to adjust to the brightness of the sun as she lingered within her mother's shadow.
He had found for her a rabbit this time, and was returning with it when he caught movement at the mouth of the den. He slipped into a clop of tall grass, his light agouti coat disappearing in the swaying blades. It was habit to conceal himself like this, but he did not remain hidden for long. He watched as she herded her pups from the den out into the world, and after a moment or two slowly, quietly approached them, drawing to her side and dropping the rabbit at her paws, eyes on the pups. They were growing fast.
Soon he could act.
Soon.
Continuing this with a little help from
@Sart. I'ma power play the others a bit. :)
She went right on ignoring Tomahawk, Sart and Papref. But when Devil appeared, a fat rabbit tucked in his maw, Regipre paid attention. She grew still, head up and tail down as she gazed at the food in his mouth. When he dropped it, so did her pale blue eyes. Slowly, she began to sniff her way toward the carcass, made curious by the scent of blood. The pups' mother had begun the weaning process and milk was still their primary source of nourishment, yet like any red-blooded predator, the stench of meat called to her.
When she reached the rabbit, she craned her neck to look up at Devil, her face blank. She then began to mouth the nearest part: a long hind foot. The fur tickled her gums and felt strange and soft on her tongue. Nonetheless, she continued to nibble it, exploring the tastes and textures with her inexperienced mouth.
Her eyes squinted against the brightness. The shadow of her mother's form helped with that but the way the grasses reflected the sun was almost blindingly painful for the coy-pup who'd spent her entire life up to this point within the darkness of the den. She was hesitant and not overly eager to explore the world. Strange things were strange. Gathering up the courage to make those strange things normal things was not something she desired for quite yet.
Lost in her own little world of discomfort, she was torn away from her self cringing at the scent of blood. Another stranger, one she was certain she'd seen looking at them here and there, arrived with a rabbit. The metallic tint upon the air tickled her instincts. She yipped to her sister who examined the corpse. Was it safe? What was it? Would it eat them? She didn't know. Sart continued to linger within the tangle of her mother's legs, cautious.
Although Devil continued to loom, he didn't seem perturbed by the pup's exploration of the kill. Reggie tested this theory by tugging gently on it, dragging the dead body a few inches. She froze, waiting to see if the large male would reclaim his prize. He just continued watching her. Regipre met his gaze briefly, then went a bit cross-eyed as she continued pulling the dead rabbit away from his paws.
With great effort and plenty of grunting, Regipre towed the carcass toward her mother and siblings. She let go of it with a weary sigh, then blinked at her family members. Her mother and sister were close by and Papref was behind them, popping a squat. Reggie's blue eyes sought Sart's gaze in particular. When she caught it, she motioned toward the hare as of to say, Look what I have.
Sart peered out from behind her mother's leg as Regipre began to move the rabbit. Frozen in place, her eyes too darted up to peer at the other coyote who seemed unfazed. With wide eyes she watched as Regipre pulled the rabbit towards them. Her sister was so brave. So strong too. Sart didn't think she'd ever be able to do anything like that. She was too little and too scared.
Eventually, the rabbit corpse made it over and Regi looked back to them. Sart turned her own head, looking behind her to see if there might have been someone else she'd been looking at. Papref, maybe, but he was doing his own thing, so that left only her remaining. Realization dawned on her. Me? Oh. Their mother nudged her, stepping out from over top of her so Sart was suddenly very, very exposed.
She squinted, looking back helplessly at their mother as she crouched. Ears flat, it took her a moment to realize she couldn't stay were she was forever. With a hesitant step forward, Sart took a couple steps forward to close the distance between her and the rabbit. She reached out with a cautious paw and tapped the rabbit, before retreating a few steps just incase it got angry. It didn't move. She looked back to Regi with wide eyes. What is it?
Sart only moved forward when nudged by their mother. Regipre's jaw tightened with impatience, though she said nothing as she waited for her sister to move closer. Finally, Sart came within easy reach of the carcass. She tapped it, then retreated as if fearing it might hurt her. Although her face remained a stony mask, Reggie rolled her eyes inwardly.
Having had enough of this little foray, Regipre once more snatched the rabbit's foot and began to drag it again. She towed it toward the den. She paused to take a breath in the doorway, then glanced backward at her small family. Using her little forepaws now, Reggie shoved the dead rabbit inside the den, then followed after it.
After stashing it near the wall, she circled a few times and then lay down with a sigh, facing outward. Her expression was rather uninterested as she continued watching the others mill about just outside the den. After a time, a bored Reggie's chin sank to her paws and she began to softly snore.
Her sister didn't answer. Ignored, Sart simply watched as Regi dragged the rabbit back into the den and disappeared into the darkness. It occurred to her that she suddenly didn't have anything at her back. Exposed and vulnerable, she retreated back to the shadows of their mother and kept her eyes trained on the den. Would the rabbit come bounding back out? She didn't know.
She watched and she waited for a long while. When neither her sister not the rabbit exited the den, she decided she was brave enough to check it out. With hesitant steps forward, she entered the cubby and found the rabbit off to one side and Regi sleeping in another. Okay then! If her sister was sleeping that meant she could too.
Sart stepped forward now that she knew the rabbit was also still sleeping and she descended further into the darkness. Content now, she curled up into a little ball and decided nap time sounded like a good time.
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