and this is for anyone! Family still welcome <3
For late spring, the day was turning rather warm, and the noon hours found the Beta male sprawled near the family's place, keeping an eye on things to give Osprey a rare break to stretch her legs. The pups protested, of course, but then again everything seemed an ordeal when you are that young and small.
Amused and enthralled, he scooted closer, beginning to hum softly to himself. Despite the stress of the month and the ones that would follow, he was rather content. It was a nice feeling, this.
sorry dear! <3
Aria was in luck since Dante was in far too peaceful a mood to turn accusatory. He had indeed been busy and calling her out, if he had happened to notice, would have been hypocritical at best. All were struggling to get by, after all.
The food she carried was an extremely welcome sight, and he let out a sound of appreciative greeting as she approached, rising to meet her properly.
"Aria, hey." One ear was on the den behind, the other on his packmate.
"Are you here to meet them?" He asked with no hesitation - she and Lasher were surely free to visit, though he liked to keep an eye on any visitors and knew Osprey likely felt the same. Parental instinct was hard to kick, even among friends. They were small yet, after all, if rambunctious as well.
Dante is calm, and speaks to her in a kind voice. Her tense muscles relax slightly and her tail wags a little faster. She nods and speaks through the furry vole in a clear voice. "Yes, I am, I heard that you have quite a handful," she says, although that isn't necessarily true. She's heard that they have pups-- and that's as extensive as her knowledge goes.
"I brought food," she says, pointing out the obvious. She steps towards the new father and drops the limp corpse at his feet, glancing back up at him.
"You haven't heard wrong," he replied with a chuckle, easing his way out and turning to fondly glance back at the family pile. "Thanks. I appreciate it." It was heartfelt, and he picked up the prey to set aside for when Osprey was ready to eat. He would hold off until later; he wasn't eating for four.
Then he slipped in, gesturing back to invite her for a closer peek. The pups were resting quietly at the moment, so he didn't move to disturb them.
Right away her rump begins to wiggle along with her long tail. The man had graciously accepted her gift, and now he beckons her closer to see the newest additions to Donnelaith's proud family. She smiles at Dante, thrilled that she would get to see the babies. She follows him inside-- only barely-- and lowers herself humbly before all four of them. Seeing that they were resting, she makes no noise, but has thousands of questions to ask. Have they named them? Who is the first born? Could she help out? Oh she longed to speak-- but knew better than to wake sleeping children. Instead she just stares gleefully at each tiny body, watching as their stomachs-- surprisingly plump from their mothers milk-- rise and fall as they breathe peacefully.
She nudges Dante's leg from below, a silent congratulations to him, her tail still wagging slowly behind her.
He smiled at her congratulatory nudge, a loving pride filling him as he showed off his little family. He let her look on them a while, knowing how the sight of pups could delight, but after a bit motioned her back out. Like she, he had no wish to disturb them.
"They are a lot, but I don't think even I could have anticipated how worth it it all is," he confessed to her.
Aria steps back with Dante, her tail wagging happily behind her. "Oh I bet," she says, almost purring with excitement. "This... This is your first litter right?" she then asks, her head cocking to the side. She sits down, a little ways away from the den so Dante can be closer and so their voices do not disturb the pups. "Are you nervous?"