A new body was in the den. Solemn did not sense him until he had already entered and taken in each of their scents. The boy wiggled in his spot as he woke up, letting out a huge puppy yawn and looking towards the new wolf. He was browny looking, but let fuzzy than usual. The child stared at him with interest and confusion, wondering where the usual white-furred male was. She-beast was nowhere to be found, but his siblings emitted enough heat and therefore he did not mind. Maybe She-beast had exchanged the white one for him? Solemn stared at him with blue-green eyes and wonder.

Who was this guy?

Odette woke up to someone sniffing her, which caused her bright puppy blue eyes at slowly blink open, still with the drowsiness of sleep hanging on.  Her head slowly turned and her eyes surveyed the room to find a big head very close to her.  Surprised, the pup let out a startled whimper and her eyes widened.  Odie shied away a little nervously, standing up, she moved behind Solemn.  Then she slunk back down again, watching her Uncle with wide and uncertain eyes.  He hadn’t in truth done anything wrong, but Odette had just been a little more skittish lately... and so much more quiet.

There was a reason for this of course, yet through time Odette would probably forget why.  That strangled sounding noise,  the first wolf noise that she had ever heard.  The sound of her Father’s death.  It had scared the pup in many ways, what thing could make such a sad depressing sound?  Although on a happier thought, she found that she could conjure up a faint image that seemed to have happened so long ago of a white and black wolf smiling at her Mother.  She still didn’t understand that gesture, yet it made her feel comforted to bring up that faded memory.  It just made her feel... more safe.

Unfortunately, the siblings seemed to flock around Solemn today. Not that he minded their warmth or company, but sometimes they got too rowdy and expected him to join. He would not join, he did not understand. They grew too excited and often too rough-- even for such small babies they were too rough. Not that Zaria ever stopped them, or really noticed. Oh well.

Odie fell behind him, and he let out a soft whine to let his sister know that it was probably OK. He nudged himself against her and continued to stare at the black male, his head still tilted to the side. He wondered if Stoic would try to communicate with this man, as Stoic and Adeline were often the most vocal. Stoic seemed rather put off by the presence of this guy, but then he moved to leave. !!!! thought Solemn with so much excitement. He must be checking the rocks! Ignoring poor Odie and her fear of the stranger, he nudged past her and wiggled over towards Stoic, pausing only when the man nudged Stoic's rump. Solemn let out a quick yip and turned around, shocked such an action was made.

The lick from the male calmed her down a little and made her feel a little bit safer.  Still she stayed were she was though, nice and peaceful next to Solemn... until her Brother decided to ditch her for Stoic.  Odie let out a whimper of protest, but decided that nothing could be done as of this moment.  So slowly and cautiously, she stood up and made her way towards the black furred male, ignoring her Brother’s yip of surprise entirely.  She didn’t feel like giving him her attention right now anyways.

Upon reaching the black furred male she attempted to give him a shoulder nudge to announce her presence, if she hadn’t been noticed already, and to apologize in her own way.  Then she proceeded to try to lay down next to the bigger wolf.  With Solemn’s warmth suddenly gone she found that she was a little cold.

Solemn sniffed at the tongue that was flickering out in his direction, touching it with his own teeny-tiny one. He then spat, deciding that was a terrible idea, and stared at this black wolf with awe. He then decided that this was not a terrible intruder and was not to be forced out, but Stoic appeared the think differently. His pitiful growls filled the den, and Solemn plopped onto his stomach to watch. His little head fell to the side and his tail whumped against the ground with excitment. His family was kind of annoying, he thought, but his all the same.

Stoic was annoying.

Odette was just happily snuggling up against the black furred wolf, beginning to fall asleep, when Stoic let out his own version of a growl and then said "Foon!"  Sure, she admired her Brother's ability to speak, but not when it disturbed her sleep.  Odette let out an angry growl of her own before snuggling up closer to the black furred male.

For a few seconds she began to wonder a little frettfully about how Stoic would react to her growl.  Would he chew on her ear again?  Sit on her like Adeline did?  Do something even worse?  Odette hoped not.  Maybe this black furred wolf would protect her if Stoic tried anything.  Comforted by the thought Odette snuggled up even closer to the wolf.

Solemn remained silent in his corner, his head tilting and his tail thumping against the ground. This was crazy, he thought, for he too was shocked that his sweet sister had growled. His tongue poked out of his gums-- his tiny teeth barely stopping it-- and he stared at the situation at hand. So strange-- so intriguing.

Odette felt rather proud of herself.  She had successfully stood up to Stoic and had not let her usual timid character get in the way.  Everything had pretty much worked out good for her and no one was invading her nice spot up next to the black furred male.  Perfect.

Odie however did not think that she would growl at her brother again.  Although everything had worked out as planned, her softer side was starting toco,e out again, so if there was anymore rebellion, Odette probably wouldn't do anything.  It was just most simply in her nature.  So all she did, was snuggle up even closer to the dark colored wolf and enjoy his warmth.

Steady would look over the pups for a while longer, playing mediator if need be. He rather enjoyed watching them interact, with both themselves and himself, and knew he was already coming to love them. Eventually, when they were all tuckered out and sleeping, Steady left the den to sit at its entrance, and continued to watch over the area.