germanicus was not well-versed with the development of children. but the den he shared with ruenna had become rather crowded now that their brood was moving about.
today the imperator sat with his back to the doorway, facing inward. he had the pups before him and was attempting to line them into a shoddy line. this proved to be difficult.
he sat back upon his haunches with a soft chuckle. "one day you will be ready to join me as soldiers."
INTERIOR DEN. MIDDAY.
He was a flat blob of gray between his siblings. His hind legs were tucked neatly against his belly but the same could not be said for his reaching forelegs, one which cantilevered towards his father while the other dabbed near his face.
When Germanicus speaks the vibrations spur some movement from the child, who awkwardly windmills his forelegs one way and his hindquarters opposite, trying to roll off of his back, but only succeeding in hip-checking one sibling and swatting the other.
cornelius rose to his father's voice. already he wore the eagle's pelt. the boy waved small legs in the air and struck against his siblings. germanicus reached out to carefully scoop his son closer, away from the other three.
"a good enough gambit, but it leaves you vulnerable to attack," the imperator intoned gravely, lowering his muzzle to whuff air over the boy's face and chest.
playing had never much occurred to him, not until these moments.
The unfortunate thing, though, was Aquillius had been struck.
And he didn’t appreciate it.
He had been trying to line himself up with what Germanicus wanted, but he was merely a potato, and potatoes weren’t known for standing on their end. Thankfully, he was bottom heavy enough to flop back and generally stare at Cornelius, gobsmacked at the audacity it took to strike at him
Why, the nerve.
And then! And then!
Father! Betrayed him!
Aquillius let out a complaint, trying to stumble forward to get at his brother for the strike. This was unacceptable!
The sensation of warm air puffing along his clavicle, then rounding along his belly, stilled Cornelius for a very short time. He did not hear the words his father spoke but he did feel the rumble of the voice; it felt big like an earthquake and destabilized something within Cornelius.
He began to wriggle more insistently—but still without the fine motor control that would come later in life—and ended up in a swatting match with his brother Aquillius. As the dark boy stumbled, he was met with a series of slaps by wilding paws.
It wasn't quite the level of, 'float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,' but the effort was there.
aquilius struck for cornelius. the latter aimed back. germanicus did not stop them. he chuckled rather loudly, amused to have the boys warring almost on top of one another.
eventually however he separated the two. "enough for now. you will have great amounts of time to spar with one another in the arena."
the imperator kissed both their heads.