This is primarily for some time with
@Tigerlily but any of Aspen's brood is welcome to hop in.
Perhaps the child would be awake and in the same adventurous state of mind, and hopefully Aspen was too groggy to fight the request.
Tigerlily crawled around the den walking circles around her mom and siblings. She was impatient and waiting for someone to wake up so she could have some fun. She couldn't understand why she was always the first one up and the last to go to sleep. Everyone was so lame. The past few weeks she had been growing more and more and getting more steady on her paws. Also she noticed her hearing and eye sight were getting better by the day especially now after her ears had perked up more instead of being all floppy.
Tigerlily stopped mid step though as the sight of a silver wolf she had come to recognize stood near the entrance of the den. Tigerlily let out a small and friendly yip of sorts and gave Eden her signature smile. Tigerlily could still not yet speak but she had tried a few times though this time only managing "Ka!" she wasn't sure what that word meant. Or even if it was a word but still. It had come out so she sat waiting to see if this wolf would take her somewhere again.
Obviously Eden wasn't alone in her time of restlessness. She smiled at the child yet shushed her through a giggle. Wanna go for a walk?
she whispered, motioning for the girl to follow. As she walked, she wondered what exactly the child thought ka to mean, but her mind didn't linger on tge thought for too long.
Eden turned back to see whether or not the child was following her, for the entrance to the tunnels was drawing near and she would hate to have lost her little companion along the way.
Tigerlily listened as the wolf spoke. "Wanna go for a walk?" the voice spoke and then the wolf turned and began to walk away. Tigerlily assumed that it was okay to follow her based on the fact that there was a signal inviting her too. Tigerlily couldn't wait. She was going on another adventure! She waddled happily behind Eden as they made their way to the den entrace looking quite determined not to fall anymore but she quickly smiled as Eden turned to check on her.
One paw in front of the other the two made their way to the entrance and out into the great big world. Much like the last time Lily was drawn to the various plants that grew around the entrance. She took her self back to the plant that fascinated her the prrevious time and hoped that Eden would explain what it was now that Lily could hear better. Despite the fact there was also a slightly different plant now growing near it. The smell of the lovely purple ish pink ish plant kept her focus.
Eden gave an ecstatic smile to the tiny girl. It pleased her to see how interested Lily was in the world around her; these were the stepping stones Eden herself waddled upon in her youth. The child was mesmerised by the hues of the Lilac's petals, so Eden leaned forward just as she had before and whispered just loud enough for them both to hear. Li-lac. Li-lac. Can you say it?
Just as she had before, Eden encouraged the child to speak, though she knew that it might still be a bit too early for such high hopes. Even a sound from the child would be nice, just to let her know that she was heard...
This time, Eden felt comfortable with giving Lily more leeway than shd had before, so she lounged quietly behind her and watched as she babbled at the plants.
Tigerlily listened her ears twitching as Eden said a word twice she presumed was the name of the plant followed by can you say it and Tigerlily gave a wag of her tail before scrunching up her face and trying to form the word in her mouth. She managed the ending of the word. "Ack!" she smiled happily and wagging her tail. She was determind to make something that sounded closer than that though and so she tried again. "Li" she squeaked and she repeated the inital word she had said "Ack!" She shouted as she joined the two together to make a word that was fairly close though she paused between the two sounds. "Li-ack" she said before sitting and looking quite proud of herself.
Though her sitting still didn't last long as she bounded over to eden and pounced on her tail. She had turned quite playful now that she felt she had mastered the plant but something else caught her eye. A yellow flower to which she trotted over happily.Then looked back at eden as if to say what about this one?
It didn't taks more than a wag of Lily's tail to get the waterworks going, let alone hearing her repeat the tiny word. Before Eden could even praise her for being such a fast learner (and an adorable one, too), the girl was bounding over her tail and toward a small bunch of Canna buds. As Eden watched the girl turn around, she struggled her way up into a sitting position and leaned down to the child's level.
Can-na. How about that one, doe eyes? Can-na.
She gave an encouraging tap to the child's head, her tongue just touching Lily's soft fur. The moment was beautiful, and Eden wasn't ready for it to end.
Tigerlily smiled softly as Eden spoke more words asking her to repeat it. Tigerlily wasn't sure she could form the sound needed for the first little sound yet but she tried anyways, stubborn as she was. "An - na?" she said with a head tilt that matched the one her mother had when she asked questions.
Tiger's eyes sparkled with fascination as she took periodic glaces between Eden and the plant. She was happy right now, happy that she was on this adventure and not cooped up in the den all the time.
Good job, sweetheart! You're learning so fast
, Eden laughed. She watched the child's curious demeanor and admired the innocence of youth. For now, Lily was enjoying herself as was Eden, and that was all that mattered. She leaned in and grabbed a small bell from the plant before tucking it into the crease just behind Lily's ear. And now you really look like a princess. The Earth is your throne, but I don't expect you to know what that means yet. I'm just a blabbering old lady, huh?
Eden smiled both at her own gibberish and at the innocent look on the infant's face. She was more grateful to Lily than the girl would ever know.
Tigerlily just smiled happily as eden spoke she didn't full understand what all the words meant but Eden sounded happy. She wished that she knew her name she wanted to try and say it but it didn't matter. Some other day she would get to know this female by name and would learn how to say her own name. For now they would just have to remain unknown.
Tigerlilys ear twitched slightly and the flower fell and she frowned slightly looking up at eden with eyes that said can you put it back? After Eden replaced the flower Tiger proceeded to dance around happily though remaining careful not to let the flower fall from her fur again.
Eden was happy to see just how much Lily was enjoying herself. The child's joyous dance made Eden tap her own tail to the imaginary beat. Soon they would have to retreat back into their dens -- the wind was getting colder so they couldn't spend too much time outside anymore -- thus Eden let the child enjoy herself for a moment more, before lifting her by her scruff. She was careful to avoid hitting the tiny flower on their way back in as she could see just how much the girl enjoyed having the accessory.
As they entered the Alpha's den, Eden gently put Lily down and nudged her into the small room. I'll be back tomorrow, okay?
Eden sat and watched to make sure the little girl safely waddled her way inside, though she planned on leaving just as soon as she was no longer needed.
Tigerlily danced and played for a few moments longer before her paws left the ground much like the last time. She let out a squel in protest but didn't fight much this time feeling slightly cold and a bit tired. The smile didn't leave her face though as Eden carried her down the tunnels and into her mothers den. She was excited to tell Aspen what she had learned and to show her the new flower accessory but to her dissapointment everyone was still sleeping.
She frowned slightly and turned around to watch eden walk out of the den thankful she got to go on the adventure she did. Eden spoke saying she would be back tomorrow and though Tiger didn't understand all the words it didn't sound like a bad thing. Tigerlily then turned and padded gently to her mothers side and curled up against Rose and lay her head down as she began to doze off and into the land of dreams she went.