Wolf RPG

Full Version: Hopping down the bunny trail
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Today was the day she decided to explore much farther than before. Except she didn't really decide so much as accidentally chase a bunny too far. If asked she would definitely own the bad deed as her own choice instead of an accident that now left her confused. She could smell too many things, nothing looked familiar and while she could definitely smell Maman and Papa and Momma she couldn't get a good whiff without also smelling so many other wolves too! So she decided to just explore. She sniffed and then walked a few inches, sniffed and repeat. She had no idea so many smells could exist! She had no idea so many wolves could exist! It was an eye opening experience to say the least.
You can imagine Kavik's panic at scenting his daughter far too close to the borders on his usual patrol. The children were growing fast and becoming more curious, so it wasn't exactly like he was surprised, but that did nothing to staunch the flow of terrible thoughts proposing all the awful things that could happen to such a young pup so close to the edge of their territory.

Quickly, he followed her scent, fear pooling in his stomach with every second he couldn't see her. She had wandered far, but the alpha eventually caught up to her, releasing a low, authoritative chuff as he came up behind her. Lainie, he said, some of his panic seeping into the word. It's too dangerous for you to be here by yourself, Kavik continued. What are you doing?
Oh man she nearly cried when Papa showed up but she was too prideful and instead she playfully rolled her eyes "no daddy" she said and puffed up her chest, smiling at him broadly "I careful" she said soothingly with the cocky patient tone of a child who thought that daddy was being silly. She cringed a bit though when he said it was dangerous and asked what she was doing. Was she in trouble? Was papa mad? "I was 'Splorin. Dinnt mean to go far" she said softly and then an idea came to her. If it was dangerous he could keep her safe while she explored!

She did a small dance of excitement and ran up to him, placing her paws on his chest and licking at his chin "Walk wit me daddy? No one messes wit you!" She asked excited at the idea of walking somewhere new and dangerous with her father.
He sighed, fighting back the smile that threatened to curve his lips at her 'no daddy.' She promised that she was being careful, but how could she when she had no idea what kind of dangers lurked beyond his borders? The thought was a little sobering, and he was about to reprimand her further, but then she said she hadn't meant to wander so far, the softness of her voice extinguishing his anger immediately. Then she bounded over excitedly, jumping up to lick him, and he kissed her back on both of her cheeks, never able to resist being affectionate with his children.

Alright, he said with another sigh. You can patrol with me, but don't let me find you here alone again, he said sternly, his serious gaze finding her face. She wouldn't be able to sweet talk him out of getting in trouble next time.

He began to walk, careful to keep his pace slower than normal to accommodate for her small legs. He glanced down at his daughter after a few steps to make sure she was following, his face softening as he gave her an encouraging smile.
She gasped with excitement and nodded fervently "Yes papa!" she promised and followed behind him. She sniffed around smelling various wolves and repeating the question "Who dat?" at every marking of a wolf she didn't know which was most of them. Then ahead of her she spotted something white and brown sticking out of a bush, the creature lifting it's head and peering around, long ears swiveling. She paused and then tensed up, a tiny growl leaving her maw before she yapped loudly and unable to contain herself, leaped after it. Of course she was too slow and the rabbit bolted away, leaving her standing and barking her body quivering with excitement. "What dat?!" she asked turning to her father.
Anger quickly forgotten with his daughter's promise to follow the rules, he soon became absorbed in the task of keeping up with her incredible curiosity. He inspected every scent she did, informing her which packmate they belonged to. We all mark the borders with our scent to keep out wolves that aren't pack members, he explained.

Her attention was suddenly drawn to a rabbit bounding out of a bush. He followed after her as she chased the creature, smiling down at her when she asked him what it was. That's a rabbit, he answered. We hunt and eat them. I've brought you one to eat a few times. He had never explained exactly what it was or how he had obtained it, though. He motioned for her to follow him as he returned to their patrol; the rabbit was long gone by now anyway.
Lainie would one day respect her father's serious nature, a day when her inability to be serious caused her some trouble. Now however she felt it was funny and that he should just take a breather and let loose! So in her best intentionally mocking but still playful voice she mimiced everything he said in a overly acted deep (to her) ultra serious tone though sounded ridiculous "I'm daddy, I am a adult, I know everything! Boring!" she turned around and waggled her tail play bowing "Play?" she said not understanding that a patrol was serious business.
He froze when he heard her mocking everything he said, a smile slowly forming on his face. And, even though she was, in no way, learning what he wanted her to know, there was just no way he could be mad at her. He turned, one eyebrow raised as he playfully glared at his daughter. Okay, brat, you better start running, he said, lowering his own front half into a play bow. Then with a teasing growl, he lunged forward, aiming to gently tackle her unless she managed to get away from him before he got there.
She blinked for a moment thinking he was super mad at her before he got into a play stance. Her ears shot up and she squealed whirling around and attempting to run away as she sensed his pounce. Unfortunately her body moved to fast for her legs and she ended up stumbling and then rolling a few feet in front of where Kavik landed. She rolled upright and looked at him with a dazed, open mouthed look seeming uncertain of whether or not she was about to scream. In the next moment she sprang up and grinned, her tail shooting up as she hopped around his paws growling and nipping at him "You missed" she growled with a nip to his chin "Say sorry for calling me brat, daddy!" she tried to be serious about it but ended up cracking up in a heap of giggles at his paws.
Kavik watched her with concern, their game momentarily forgotten as she fell and rolled over herself. He was about to switch back into serious dad mode as she stared up at him with an uncertain look, but then she jumped back up and nipped playfully at him a few times. Sure that she seemed okay, he grinned and gently mouthed her back. Okay, okay, you got me, he said dramatically as he dropped to the ground in front of her. I'm sorry for calling you a brat. He couldn't help but laugh in response to her delighted giggles, and he reached over and playfully nipped at her ear. Soon, they would return to training, but for now, he was happy to indulge her.
It was extremely satisfying to watch her father fall from her attacks, her young mind didn't get it was fake and she hadn't really overwhelmed him. She squealed and squirmed closer, sliding under his chin and into his chest where she sat for a moment to feel and hear his heartbeat "It's okay papa, I am a brat" she said gently though she sounded pleased by the fact.
He laughed at her declaration that she was a brat, lowering his head to nuzzle her. Alright, enough playing, he said, laughter still present in his voice. He stood, careful not to jostle her or knock her over and added: Let's get back to our patrol; there's still much that I want to show you. Kavik began to walk back towards the borders, stopping to look back and check that Laine was following and to offer her a reassuring smile.
She pouted clearly not pleased by the idea that there could ever be enough playing though at his statement that he had things to show her she brightened, ears perking and tail wagging quickly behind her.  She moved after him her first few steps jaunty and wobbly before she got her balance and kept at his hind paws. She smiled back at him, eager to explore their home with her Daddy, the strongest and most amazing person she knew besides herself. "Deres a lot of smells" she commented, the smells of the other adult wolves catching her attention again.
He thought he might receive more push back than just some brief pouting but was pleased to see the prospect of learning things from him quickly distracted her. He nodded when she pointed out that there were many scents. Yes, there are, Kavik answered encouragingly. It was easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of unique scents, but with practice she could learn to tell them all apart, as well as tell how old they were. He walked over to a tree the stood tall on the edge of their border and, lowering his head, drew in the scents at the base of the trunk. The first long intake of breath brought many scents. There were deer, rabbits, and rodents, as well as his own recent marking. A second inhale, and he could scent Aditya and Alessia, both fairly recent. A few more fainter scents were noted upon further inspection, one of which belonged to Rosalie; he wasn't happy to find out that being pregnant hadn't stopped her from patrolling or whatever she had been doing near the edge of the territory. It wasn't safe for her to be out here, but he doubted she would listen to him if he suggested that she stay towards the deeper parts of the territory. He was probably being overprotective as usual, but that didn't change the spike of anxiety he felt imagining all the horrible things that could happen; he felt the same way today when he found Lainie so close to the borders. 

Refocusing on his task, he turned to his daughter. Come smell the base of this tree and tell me what scents you can pick out. It would be a good way to teach her how to use her nose, and repeating the activity would, over time, help strengthen that sense for her.
Obediently she marched over and sniffed at the tree, not the procedural long sniffs of an adult but the quick short snuffling sniffs of an excited kid. They didn't bring much except a cluster of scents to her untrained and insensitive nose but after a few minutes of really snorting up the air she perked up "You...Momma...um....there's some other wolves and they smell familiar but I don't know them" she said slowly and then lowered her nose, focusing hard to decipher the different scents that lay beneath those fresher ones. One didn't smell like wolf, it smelled yummier and so she focused on it but found she couldn't identify the scent by name "Food?" she said uncertainly, gazing up at him and praying she was at least correct there.
Kavik smiled at his daughter. Very good, he said proudly. Of course these things would come naturally to her—she was his daughter. The other scents are from your Maman and your packmate, Aditya, he explained, hoping it would help her be better able to identify them in the future. 

He lowered his head and drew in the air from around the base of the tree once more. Deer was the most prevalent of the prey scents, so he looked to Lainie again and instructed: Take in the scents again; the prey is something you're very familiar with. You had some for dinner last night. Try to remember how it smelled.
Lainie beamed at his praise and listened as he gave the names of the other smells she couldn't recognize. Maman... she took another sniff curiously and after a moment of concentration and some deep inhales she realised all at once which scent it was. The unfamiliar but vaguely recognizable name she passed off as Aditiya, she couldn't remember much except a vague impression that she had seen him maybe once. Her father then asked her to smell again and try to place the scent, giving her a hint and she sniffed at that too her tail wagging wildly as she found herself enjoying this game and wanting to impress her dad so he played again with her. Dinner....she thought back and then grinned "Deer!" she said excitedly and sniffed at it again "Deer is yummy" 
Very good, Lainie, he replied, proudly. There is a herd of deer that often moves through our territory. He began to walk again. Come on, he said, lifting his head. I'll show you my patrol route. It would be good for her to see it.

The rest of the afternoon was spent discussing patrols and what to do when there was an intruder. Kavik was sure Lainie would make a great guardian some day.