Steady took a deep breath, standing outside the den that held his nieces and nephews. He had lost track of how long he had been standing there. He had met them, sure, but this time was different. He had a new role to play in their lives- a more important one that just the fun Uncle that would always protect them. They would come to know him, hopefully, as a father figure. It was such a bittersweet moment, and his heart was having a hard time coming to grips with it. Fitz may have been gone in the physical sense, but Steady would never allow his memory to dwindle. He would make sure these pups grew up knowing exactly who he was. His face contorted as his heart skipped a beat. He always said he wanted babies. But, never like this.
He sighed, and took his first steps into the den, his eyes adjusting quickly. They were all cuddled up with each other, using their body heat to keep warm. Steady sniffed each one, counting the four. All accounted for. He laid down beside them, his head next to the growing pups.
A new body was in the den. Solemn did not sense him until he had already entered and taken in each of their scents. The boy wiggled in his spot as he woke up, letting out a huge puppy yawn and looking towards the new wolf. He was browny looking, but let fuzzy than usual. The child stared at him with interest and confusion, wondering where the usual white-furred male was. She-beast was nowhere to be found, but his siblings emitted enough heat and therefore he did not mind. Maybe She-beast had exchanged the white one for him? Solemn stared at him with blue-green eyes and wonder.
Who was this guy?
Odette woke up to someone sniffing her, which caused her bright puppy blue eyes at slowly blink open, still with the drowsiness of sleep hanging on. Her head slowly turned and her eyes surveyed the room to find a big head very close to her. Surprised, the pup let out a startled whimper and her eyes widened. Odie shied away a little nervously, standing up, she moved behind Solemn. Then she slunk back down again, watching her Uncle with wide and uncertain eyes. He hadn’t in truth done anything wrong, but Odette had just been a little more skittish lately... and so much more quiet.
There was a reason for this of course, yet through time Odette would probably forget why. That strangled sounding noise, the first wolf noise that she had ever heard. The sound of her Father’s death. It had scared the pup in many ways, what thing could make such a sad depressing sound? Although on a happier thought, she found that she could conjure up a faint image that seemed to have happened so long ago of a white and black wolf smiling at her Mother. She still didn’t understand that gesture, yet it made her feel comforted to bring up that faded memory. It just made her feel... more safe.
He did not understand this guy who kept interrupting him all the time. Stoic was with Solemn, as usual. He boy took a liking towards his twin, although said twin was awfly uninteresting. He did not want to go out to investigate the beyond, nor took much of an interest when Stoic chewed on his ears. Nevertheless, he found his brother much more tolerable than the others. And with time, be began to voice his options, which were mostly shreiks of displeasure or gurgling noises to express his boredom and/or annoyance.
But looking back up at the dark male, he did not understand. This was not father. He did not understand death, nor frankly knew his father well enough to miss him. But he did not like this stranger towering over them. He tried to growl, though it came out quite unimpressive. Hmph. Who did this person think he was? Stoic was the leader, unlike Adeline refused to believe. He turned away, not bothering to deal with the stranger anymore. Something about him seemed familiar, but how would he know? Best just check to see if his rocks had moved yet.
The first pup to wake didn't seem put off by his presence, for which he was glad. He just yawned and looked at Steady curiously, and Steady couldn't help but wag his tail a bit and smile.
The next however, who he would come to know as Odette, was frightened. She whined and tried to scurry away. Steady flattened his ears and lowered his head again, trying to appear smaller, but that was an almost impossible feat for the large male. After a moment or two, he stretched his neck out towards her, extending his tongue in an attempt to lick her face and make her feel at ease.
At that moment, he noticed the boy who had easily dismissed Steady and was hobbling away. Steady moved his head in his direction and tried to nudge his butt to get his attention.
Unfortunately, the siblings seemed to flock around Solemn today. Not that he minded their warmth or company, but sometimes they got too rowdy and expected him to join. He would not join, he did not understand. They grew too excited and often too rough-- even for such small babies they were too rough. Not that Zaria ever stopped them, or really noticed. Oh well.
Odie fell behind him, and he let out a soft whine to let his sister know that it was probably OK. He nudged himself against her and continued to stare at the black male, his head still tilted to the side. He wondered if Stoic would try to communicate with this man, as Stoic and Adeline were often the most vocal. Stoic seemed rather put off by the presence of this guy, but then he moved to leave. !!!! thought Solemn with so much excitement. He must be checking the rocks! Ignoring poor Odie and her fear of the stranger, he nudged past her and wiggled over towards Stoic, pausing only when the man nudged Stoic's rump. Solemn let out a quick yip and turned around, shocked such an action was made.
The lick from the male calmed her down a little and made her feel a little bit safer. Still she stayed were she was though, nice and peaceful next to Solemn... until her Brother decided to ditch her for Stoic. Odie let out a whimper of protest, but decided that nothing could be done as of this moment. So slowly and cautiously, she stood up and made her way towards the black furred male, ignoring her Brother’s yip of surprise entirely. She didn’t feel like giving him her attention right now anyways.
Upon reaching the black furred male she attempted to give him a shoulder nudge to announce her presence, if she hadn’t been noticed already, and to apologize in her own way. Then she proceeded to try to lay down next to the bigger wolf. With Solemn’s warmth suddenly gone she found that she was a little cold.
After a moment of curiosity, he soon got bored. Solemn was more active today, even going so far as giving him a nudge. His brother had not yet spoken, as Adeline did shortly after he did. Stoic felt that he was to speak for his siblings since they couldn't, decding that Adeline was not yet good enough to do so. It was an art, to speak, one that he had crafted overnight. Soon, he would howl like Mother. He blinked at his brother, his curiosity regaining. A yip! Now, that was interesting. Was Solemn interested in his rocks too? They could explore together! He opened his mouth to speak, but Oddie had taken a spot beside the large male. No! How did she know he was safe? He had to be sure before letting his little sister snuggle up beside a strange male.
He yiped to Solemn, he would need a partner. And he began the climb, pushing his front legs up to clamber on top the strange male. It was easy since the male had squashed himself down to the ground. Stoic located the ear and gave a good tug, one of the first tests of compatibility. "Gerrrr," The ear was okay, but it did not fit in his mouth, to his disappointment. Climbing over the male was hard, because the male was so big! He looked up to see if his brother was joining him, as he hoped. "Foon!" It was fun, and he was unaware that perhaps to his uncle, it was not.
I'm so sorry for the wait! I thought it was someone else's turn >_<
Solemn gave a quick yelp when Steady nudged his brother's rump. Had that upset him? Steady moved his head towards Solemn, his tongue snaking out in an attempt to sooth the pup and assure him Steady meant no harm. His attention was turned to Odette when he felt her bump against him. His tail wagged in excitement, happy that she had been brave enough to approach him, and then to snuggle up against him.
Stoic yipped, and Steady's ear turned in his direction, but Steady kept his head turned to Odette, almost in awe by her snuggles. But Stoic was not to be ignored, and he got Steady's attention when the pup began to climb up the black wolf's shoulder. Suddenly, tiny sharp teeth grabbed onto his ear, though were not big enough to pierce his skin. Stoic let out a holler of a word, but Steady had no idea what he meant to say. Gently, Steady shifted his body just a bit, attempting to give Stoic a lesson in balance, hoping he would react quickly and steady himself.
Solemn sniffed at the tongue that was flickering out in his direction, touching it with his own teeny-tiny one. He then spat, deciding that was a terrible idea, and stared at this black wolf with awe. He then decided that this was not a terrible intruder and was not to be forced out, but Stoic appeared the think differently. His pitiful growls filled the den, and Solemn plopped onto his stomach to watch. His little head fell to the side and his tail whumped against the ground with excitment. His family was kind of annoying, he thought, but his all the same.
Stoic was annoying.
Odette was just happily snuggling up against the black furred wolf, beginning to fall asleep, when Stoic let out his own version of a growl and then said "Foon!" Sure, she admired her Brother's ability to speak, but not when it disturbed her sleep. Odette let out an angry growl of her own before snuggling up closer to the black furred male.
For a few seconds she began to wonder a little frettfully about how Stoic would react to her growl. Would he chew on her ear again? Sit on her like Adeline did? Do something even worse? Odette hoped not. Maybe this black furred wolf would protect her if Stoic tried anything. Comforted by the thought Odette snuggled up even closer to the wolf.
Stoic was unprepared for what happened next. Oddie, his little, tame, lovable sister... GROWLED. He jumped back in shock, tummbling off of Steady's back and onto the cold ground. He stayed like that for a good minute or two before picking himself back up. Oddie could growl.. better than he could. Life wasn't fair. He blanked, cowering away in the farthest corner of the den by himself. He felt guilt, this strange emotiong he had not felt before. Why did Sister growl at him? The only time he heard such a noise was from Mother when he was bad. Was he bad?
He looked to Steady, frowing as he did so. Oddie was mean, he silently begged with his eyes hoping the man would set this whole thing straight. A case of downright bullying, it was! The by didn't look to his Brother, knowing the lookalike was probably fast asleep or busy trying to convince everyone else he was. Stoic had a weird family, he decided. Very odd indeed.
Solemn was open at first to returning Steady's lick, but immediately seemed to detest as their tongues touched. Steady chuckled, and turned his head to see Odette snuggle in more to him after growling at her brother, who looked shocked that she would do such a thing. He smiled softly, almost in awe that such young pups would trust the big, black wolf so quickly. He was happy for it, though.
He sensed Stoic's eyes on him, and turned his gaze on his nephew. The shock hadn't worn off. Sorry, bud. You're not the only one who can growl anymore, he said softly, attempting to nose his nephew softly.
Solemn remained silent in his corner, his head tilting and his tail thumping against the ground. This was crazy, he thought, for he too was shocked that his sweet sister had growled. His tongue poked out of his gums-- his tiny teeth barely stopping it-- and he stared at the situation at hand. So strange-- so intriguing.
Odette felt rather proud of herself. She had successfully stood up to Stoic and had not let her usual timid character get in the way. Everything had pretty much worked out good for her and no one was invading her nice spot up next to the black furred male. Perfect.
Odie however did not think that she would growl at her brother again. Although everything had worked out as planned, her softer side was starting toco,e out again, so if there was anymore rebellion, Odette probably wouldn't do anything. It was just most simply in her nature. So all she did, was snuggle up even closer to the dark colored wolf and enjoy his warmth.
Hope it's okay to put a quick ending on this!
Steady would look over the pups for a while longer, playing mediator if need be. He rather enjoyed watching them interact, with both themselves and himself, and knew he was already coming to love them. Eventually, when they were all tuckered out and sleeping, Steady left the den to sit at its entrance, and continued to watch over the area.