sorana was gone, and with her oldest's disappearance, teya slid into a bleakness from which she could not escape. she devoted each hour to the simple focus of feeding her children, while tears dazzled often upon her face and she looked desperately toward the borders as if she wished to be over them.
the beauty of their birth was marred by the absence of sorana. there was no reason to suspect something had happened to her, only that she had left, but of course teya could not know that. as often as she was able, she bundled herself out of the den, calling along the borderlands for her daughter.
returning with nothing, she slid among the pups and offered them another meal, eyes fixed unseeingly upon the den as she thought only of where sorana might have gone.
He’d been sleeping in a comfy pile of fluff when he heard his mother return to the den. Like an excited Guinea pig, he became restless and uttered a few soft squeaks as she drew near. Her tiredness and grief went unnoticed by the hungry pup who ambled to her side and began to nurse the moment he could latch on.
His belly filled as he drank rapidly, before he pulled back smacking his lips appreciatively. Unaware of his mother’s sorrow he beamed up at her and smiled. ”Aaaaaabababababa.” he babbled, his wet lips bubbling with milky spittle.
oh, her baby son. "ponyboy," teya crooned with no small measure of relief to be distracted; she took him into her arms, drawing him toward the daytime air. but not so far.
she offered milk again to him, but watched to see what he would make of the skies, the green grass, the stones just beyond the denmouth. they walked fast. she would acclimate him now.
Hoards all the family threads. <3
Bronte had just awoken from another cushy little nap. It was bliss, cuddled up with her brothers like this. Her new eyes opened just in time to see the sunny form of her mother returning. Greeted happily by Ponyboy. Excitedly, she wriggled herself free of the pile. Her tiny tail spinning like a miniature propeller as she toddled over.
Helping herself to a quick drink, she did not have nearly as much as her brother. The outside world, the light that beckoned, compelled her. She hung back, as if to see if she too, would be invited closer to this little curiosity.
"Arahahaaa?" She peeped, doing an adorable head tilt.
He was pulled forward, comfortably, to find himself clutched to his mother’s chest where he could hear her heart beating. The air here was even more fresh, and the scent of it caused him to wriggle in her arms so he could poke his nose toward the light and sniff with short breaths.
He did not receive her offer well, and made an indignant squeal when he was gently guided back to a nipple. He was full- he wanted no more milk, he wanted fresh air and light! He heard Bronte’s remark, and quickly joined in. ”Bbbbbbbbbaaammammamamaaa,”
"come on," teya urged her little ones, motioning to the fall of light outside. "we just look." bronte was there also, nursing briefly and then babbling.
teya grinned, in spite of her heart's ache for sorana, in spite of her own self-loathing.
here there was love, and she must accept it.
She needed no further encouragement once their mother said they could have a peek. Her tiny tail fanned a mile a minute, and she grinned broadly. "Mmmmbaabaa!" She chirruped, treading fearlessly towards the light.
But of course, she would not leave Ponyboy hanging in the dust. She waited for him. Waited, so together, two golden crowned heads could peep outside. The light was dazzling, causing her to scrunch her eyes shut from the initial brightness. Even behind her eyelids, the sense of light lingered. Slowly, she opened them again, letting her sight adjust. Testing her limits, she leaned forward to get a real good view of the outside world. Wondering how much Teya would let her get away with at her young age.
Encouragement sparked interest- and Ponyboy tilted his head and glanced toward the light. He moved forward, at first ambling alongside his sister and squinting into the brightness. It kept him at bay-
-for all of a couple moments.
The world outside was bright and colourful- and he wanted to take it all in, and be a part of it all. So with a squeal, he tossed his head and pounced- breaking out into the sunlight and bounding in tight circles until he was dizzied enough to fall over at his mother’s feet.
out, out, out, though teya moved with them and did not yet allow the cubs to pass far over the threshold. just enough to feel the light, the breeze, to hear the birdsong, to be assailed delightfully by a thousand smells.
this the caldera, their world, brecheliant.
"home," teya crooned to them both.