He was stuck somewhere in a limbo between wanting to get up and going for the day, and not wanting to be drenched for all of it just yet. The humidity was one thing, but these downpours were showing little sign of letting up. Hour after hour of rainshower was quick to lose his interest all together.

But he tried to wait it out and dozed curled around his family, but restlessness won out in the end as the morning wore onward; he stepped away from them delicately, wishing them restful slumber for the rest of the AM hours--they might as well, if the weather was going to be this poorly. He'd stretch his legs a bit then revisit the idea, unless struck by a whim to get out in it already.

Thankfully a fresh trail detailing the commander's pathway lured him after her, so he trailed behind through the tunnel, not certain what would await on the other end; he had not come this way in a few days, and with all this rain, he knew it could not be normal.

When he could see, his eyes narrowed into a squint, half curious and half concerned. Still, he moved up alongside her, posture adjusted accordingly as he chuffed a short greeting--although likely to be lost in other noise. Time shared between the two of them had been scarce since puppies were a common denominator here, and with all else to carry on with too. "How much worse do you think it'll get?" he posed, and wondered aloud at once. He had never seen storms like these this close to the coastline.

Her insight is well-received. He's not ready to discount nature's might entirely, but, it was about what he had hoped to hear from his commander to only help bolster his belief. While not good it could be worse, the cliffs were formidable--perhaps more steadfast than any other place he'd claimed as his home before. As for the mountain, any mention of it made him remember the smell of the smoke. "I agree," he said right away. That was not something he had ever wanted to test; he didn't trust anything that smoked like that, knowing all too well of fires themselves. He had not wanted to stay around to become acquainted with those of the volcanic nature any more than he had already. "And we will be smart about it," he affirmed, with faith in their core members, and their upper echelons. "Some rain won't stop us," he twitched a lip thoughtfully. He was far more keen to stand against it than he had been to smoke and ash, but that was because he knew better. For all of their flux, they had a knack for overcoming all that they could. Their cliffs would not let them down so easily, and a storm would never be enough to unseat them.

And indeed, he nodded: a lot had happened. He had been caught up most notably in his family and maintaining guardianship of the place, but was not blind to everything else. From Kendra's untimely end to Wildfire's demotion by choice, and all else, it was always something. "But that's typical for us, too. Never a dull day here." The wocha still believed it made them better. He'd yet to be proven otherwise, as the waters churned more angrily than before.

Even with the backdrop of the crashing waves, he can still find his solace and ease from the moment, so from it spins anticipation. He, too, is ready to see the young age up and further into their fray--as warriors, hunters, or whatever else struck their particular fancy. Their training is something he can participate even more distinctly in, especially as they move well pass the fragility of their early puphood. "I'm looking forward to it," he replied with a slow tail wave, though kept his eyes glued to the waves. His brood, especially, could benefit from some basics established soon. Sirio was a tough call; he couldn't say if the timid boy would make or break beneath better direction. Dalia he worried less about, and what he knew of Wildfire's more rambunctious trio, he had a good feeling they would take to it well enough too.

"I want to see mine take to guardianship, somehow. But it needs time, and they do seem to have more of their mother's disposition, so we will see how that goes with some real motivation and training," he mused. Sirio came to mind again but he held firm to the belief that homegrown defenders could be some of their strongest and he often reminded himself that they were just whelps still. "What do you think for your bunch..? Any good guesses?" he smirked. Hunters? Scouts? Fierce warriors? A bright future, regardless the route.

It seemed natural, and maybe a bit selfish, to want them to follow in his steps and take up the guard. He could teach them so much that way, more than he could with any other pathway-- from spars, defend alongside him, and knowing they kept Drageda safe.. but picturing shy Sirio and a future like that one was still an awkward fit. Even graceful little Dalia did not look cut for the role. However, they had time to grow up still, yet Dio was feeling it about time they began to hit stride.

He contemplated in silence for a few moments after nodding when she said she felt the same. It would take time, and they would all learn one way or another.

"Just hope it lets up soon. I'm starting to miss dry," he said with a small scoff, gesturing to the stormy, humid everything all around before he nudged her chest in a quick farewell. He moved to leave the way he'd come after his brief goodbye, and would head off to check on the pups while they were on his mind anyway.