Three weeks had passed since Mother [
@New Snow] had given birth.
Moon Runner sang to the night sky and the stars with Father [
@Mountain Boulder]. She hunted in the dell. She roamed the borders with Sister and Wealda [
@Saturdays Sunrise @Redd] and danced in the melting snow with Vulture [
@Carrion].
Tall Shadow [
@Mulherin] began to roam, and Moon Runner could not understand it.
Today she had killed and devoured several rodents. After they had digested for some time, Moon Runner found herself compelled to visit Mother’s den. With a fiercely protective parent, the yearling knew she must tread carefully.
She made appeasing noises and tip-toed close to the mouth of the burrow, body slung low.
After welcoming the newcomer, Redd approached the den with the fox once more dangling from her jaws. It was not the finest of catches, but it held meat to share and could provide entertainment to the pups as they found their senses (and later, teeth).
Moon Runner was outside lingering. Redd moved to greet her first, though without dropping the catch, Redd could smell nothing but fox. She would set it aside if need be, to be taken in later. Redd had spent more of her focus on the borders than the den, allowing the family their own presence here.
can be a cameo depending on number of joiners!
two thumps of tail reverberated, welcoming moon runner and wealda.
mountain boulder did not stir from his protective place just outside the den, but neither did he lift his head from his paws. moon runner was submissive and gentle in her approach. blood star was an adult and knew how to be around infants.
he sighed contentedly, taking a moment to doze while other protective eyes watched the densite.
Hope the babies don’t mind some light PP!!
Father played the role of sentinel outside the den. Moon Runner greeted him with a nibble upon his jawline.
Then, Wealda arrived carrying the carcass of a fox: brilliantly red and beautiful.
Happy to be surrounded by those she respected most in the pack, Moon Runner’s body curved into a c-shape as her tail wagged low between her hocks. She licked the air below Wealda’s chin as she wiggled her body merrily. Wealda had proven herself a good leader for the Rise, and Moon Runner trusted her.
Suddenly, three pale little balls of fur waddled out from the burrow! They moved quickly for being so pudgy and began to cry out for food.
Moon Runner’s body acted on its own and she spontaneously regurgitated all the food she had eaten earlier for the cubs.
Mmm… rodent stew.
Redd delivered the fox to a space near the side, then stepped back to observe, maintaining a distance from older and younger siblings. It struck familiarity, bringing with it a sudden feeling of loss. The scene was a reminder of both Avicus and Masquerade.
She had not been there when her mother had whelped, had never experienced children at this age. The instinct perhaps lay there, but it was buried beneath hesitance and awkward discontent. Even as Wealda she feared to overstep.
She would not linger long.
This is gonna be my last post. Thanks for the shorty! :D
The three bearns rushed to devour the meat soup Moon Runner had provided. As they gobbled it down, their elder sister inspected each puppy with gentle bumps of her snout. They were all quickly growing, especially the palest whom Moon Runner’s spirit had nicknamed Little Paw.
Wealda hung back. At first, Moon Runner assumed she wanted to avoid their tiny needle-teeth. She glanced up at her leader and realized the red woman appeared a bit forlorn. Hoping to ease her in some way, Moon Runner stepped away from the dinner table to buffet her head beneath Wealda’s jaw. Then, she picked up the fox and began to drag it around, hoping to inspire play between them all.