Shi and her sisters are fourteen days old now! That means its about time for her eyes to open >:)
In darkness she had dwelt, a deep, red, comfortable dark. She had not known shape or color, only form. She knew the smaller bodies of her sisters and the goliath shapes of her parents, but did not know them as anything but their feel. She had blind forever, and so she thought she would remain. Yet one day, appropos of nothing, she found her eyelids slipping open.
The world expanded instantly.
Even in the dim of the den she found herself overwhelmed by this new sense, and
cried out. She was shocked to see the play of lines and loose shapes across the scene she saw before her, not inhibiting her vision but enhancing it, adding life to the dim sights.
Buhbuhbuh,
she gurgled, curious, and
shrieked in delight.
Dreams had come and gone, quickly forgotten by the child who could not see nor hear. That was about to change however, as the girl was now two weeks old. Her ears were slowly beginning to pop open, but the muffled sounds had done little do disturb her slumber. She awoke from her respite, noticing a subtle change in the air. Airi yawned, and blinked sleepily.
She blinked?
This was new.
Like her sister, the girl cooed with delight at the strange new shapes and colors that warped in front of her, wobbling unsteadily towards one dark one, only broken by a flash of white. Unbeknowest to her, this was one of the sisters that she fought with so frequently.
Across the floor of the den, she’d stretched herself out. Every now and again she’d rise up and walk a short ways outside of the space, but the idea of staying out for long intervals of time wasn’t one that she’d ever had. Her children needed her, and so she’d always returned shortly after having left. Today, however, she’d ventured a bit farther. One of the many streams had drawn her away, and it was along it that she’d trailed. The lake was never reached, for she’d turned around before that and went back in the direction that she’d come from. It was without urgency that she’d moved at first, but once she’d gotten near enough to hear the sounds from within the den, her pace had picked up slightly.
Two of the hatchlings had awoken in her absence, and were very vocal; she knew there to be two because, even with them being so young, their voices were still distinct to her ears. When she peeked in, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. It was only after she’d carefully entered the den and settled down that something new was seen: their eyes were open! For the time being, she did not interfere with what they were doing, but held back instead and observed their actions. She knew that their vision couldn’t be that great at the moment, but it was still something new and she wanted to see what they might do with the sense.
technically it's a little early for them to start standing/walking, but they were late bloomers with their eyes opening so...
Now that Shiori's eyes had opened, she never wanted to close them. She held them wide, wider than was comfortable until reflex took over and she blinked. Black, for just a moment, and then the world opened up again. This time she began to blink ferociously, then gurgled happily.
[b]Buhbuhbuh,[/q] she bubbled, tottering forth unsteadily. Yet she found that crawling as she had been was dissatisfying in some deep, instinctual way. She put all of her miniscule strength into surging up, up, up onto her legs. However, as she began to stand, she overbalanced and tumbled ass over teakettle right in front of her sister. For a moment she paused, blinking, before beginning to cry out again in shock at what had just occurred.
Airi's head swivelled, taking in all she saw in the den. It was dark, but to the pup seeing for the first time, it was extremely bright. Airi's mouth was agape as she saw the large mound of black fur where the milk scent came from. So that was what she looked like!
Another, smaller black blob collapsed in front of her. Airi blinked at the sight, then her mouth opened. She laughed. It was telling that the first time she laughed was at someone else's misery.
The dragoness was silent whilst observing the duo, up until the point at which Shiori had tumbled forward. Jolting upwards, she’d moved herself forward and began running her nose along the child’s back, assuring her that everything was alright. She had fallen, but no real damage had been done in the process. She was okay this time, and Asterr wished for her to know that.
At the sound of laughter, she’d paused and then pulled her muzzle away from the last to be born. It was towards her eldest daughter that she’d directed her attention, silver gaze gluing itself to her form. There was a flicker of an unreadable emotion within her eyes, right before a look of recognition had taken its place. The girl was not physically corrected, but she had been regarded with an intense stare. “We do not laugh at the misfortune of others,” stated the Draconid. At that point, she’d doubted that she would be heard, but was almost certain that someone else would hear her.
Her face bumped the ground as she stumbled, and though she was unhurt, it was uncomfortable and surprising. Wide eyed, she looked to her mother, whose outline had become clearer after she blinked a few times. The laughter struck her, though. Shame and embarrassmnet flooded her, though she knew no name for either. The sudden rush of emotions overwhelmed her, and she began to cry in earnest.
She continued her laugh, until a reprimanding tone came from her mother. She looked towards the large black blob, curious but not uncowed. She remained silent, until she saw the tears coming from her sister's eyes. She tried not to laugh, but the chuckles shook her body until she began giggling in earnest again, her laughter filling the den.
Shiori hadn’t appeared to be hurt—if anything, she’d seemed stunned—but still had the tears started to fall from her eyes. Unfamiliar with those that wept, she’d paused and observed the girl whilst searching through her mind for an answer. When none were found, she had done as her maternal instincts urged her to do and pulled the girl close. Lowering her head, she nosed the child’s cheek, attempting to stop her cries. Before she’d the opportunity to see if she’d succeeded, however, her attention was pulled towards her eldest. Asterr frowned at the girl, then moved forward in order to pick her up by the scruff. She would then be relocated, carried away from her sister and placed back down onto the ground. “You will stay here until you have learned to listen,” the dragoness told her, then returned to the side of her other daughter; the youngest of the trio would receive as many nudges and licks as it took until she stopped crying.
Fortunately for Asterr, Shiori required little comforting beyond the initial attention paid to her. She babbled unhappily when her mother rose, but besides some remaining sniffles, her tantrum had subsided. She watched, confused, as Asterr relocated Airi, though when her mother returned to her side she felt vindicated.
She laughed until Airi was lifted upwards, making the girl gasp with surprise. She squealed in protest until she was placed in the corner. The girl screamed, her tantrum beginning. She tore the dirt beneath her, throwing whatever was in her way.
With the settling of one child, there had come a tantrum from the other. Against her head had her ears flattened themselves, seeking relief from the piercing screams but finding none. For as strong of a front as she’d tried to put on, it’d not lasted. It was not out of selfishness that she’d retrieved the eldest child, but because she’d not been able to handle knowing that she’d caused such a great upset. They were naught more than children, thus excusing them, for now, from true punishments. Still, though, had she said, “Behave this time,” as Airi was set down and pulled close to her chest. Following her had been Shiori as a place against the mother’s chest was reserved for her, too, where she hoped the sisters would get along for the time being. Squabbling within litters was inevitable, of course, but that would not prevent her from trying her damnedest to prevent and correct such unruly antics.
For a moment, Shiori grew jealous. Her mother was supposed to be paying attention to her, not Airi! She was quick to settle, though, when she was once again shifted, now to rest against her mother's chest. This was perfect! The hatchling had already forgotten whatever had upset her, and now she could simply enjoy the proximity of her family.