After days of stormy weather, clear, warm summertime weather was back in full swing. It was balmy and hot at its worst, but after being so cooped up for so long while the coastline was tormented, he was just glad to be beyond that finally. Which, of course, it had taken a while for him to feel their boundaries were entirely refreshed after that had nearly washed away every thing scent-related out there, even an occasional cache or two included, but on the relative whole, they had weathered it well and now were well on the upswing.

The pale Wocha intended to carry this momentum further, so kept his patrols frequent and hunts often. His route was beginning for veer for their eastern borderlands for a round after his favorite hunting trails yielded him nothing, and somewhere between these two was when Portia came upon him. He slowed up immediately, ears perking her way since he was a little surprised to have her find him, not that he would be one to complain about it, though. "Oh hey," he quipped fondly, and arced to face her better, thus noticing how absent from her side either of the pups were right now -- or so it appeared.

Distance erased in a heartbeat and she fit neatly beneath his neck. Naturally he gave himself to the cause, leaning easily against and over her in one smooth motion. When she sprung away, his eyes followed and ears perked up accordingly. "They're slacking already.." he tsked softly through a grin. Although in truth, Sirio would need a lot of opening up before he was guard material. Dalia was probably the better first line of defense--if we're talking logistics of guardianship, of course. "But no really. I'm sure you can appreciate some space," the pale-furred wocha lamented. Those two really, really liked her. He'd always been a little surprised by it--but equal measure relieved that they were not hard to keep close and uncertain what to do with such a notion as a whole.

"Nothing extraordinary today. Things scent-wise are finally seeming all back up to full strength from before the rain, and a few days without anything too weird has been good too." he detailed, not piling her with the mundane details of it since it was pretty far beyond her scope of interests. Plus it wasn't really worthwhile when nothing exciting was to be had. "Which is a relief. And, if all stays well there, it can mean more time for training the goufas." His tail waved, as he had always been looking forward to that new stage in their growth--even if he did not know what his two would pursue exactly, but they were going to grow up well-prepared. Drageda would ensure it.

He understood.. as far as he was able, and since he didn't want her to feel guilty about it, his tail waved slowly--happy for her to enjoy some space. They were awfully clingy so it made sense she'd want to not have them underfoot constantly. He didn't quite understand why they were that way, though.. and next caught himself wondering at exactly what point it was her face fell. A half-thought backwards realized it was what he was looking forward to, although, he did worry for them too. Quite a bit. Way more than he wished he had to..

His ears fanned outward--I understand.. but: "I know. But they will need to start somewhere, sometime.. whether they like it or not," he sighed, not intending to be too hard on any of them, but the duo did need to keep moving forward up and out into the packlife more or else they would begin to risk falling behind. "It would be just basic things for now, anyway. Which can hopefully help to get them interested in something out here," he gestured to all this territory beyond the safety of Hougeda with his muzzle. He knew that Drageda could--and would--raise capable wolves. They had everything they needed here between their territory and their packmates--so why not?

The fall of her ears told him everything he needed to know of these concerns. He knew, he felt them too. Maybe not to the same measure that his mate did, but he doubted them and that bothered him. They weren't quite so ready for this, and the wocha could agree to that wholeheartedly. Although he did stand by his belief that letting them wait and come around when they were ready, if ever, was very likely to do more harm than good.

He didn't disagree--together, he and her wouldn't let them lack entirely by any means. They had plenty to teach them between the two of them.. but it was never going to be the whole picture. He just worried for their social skills, and their interactions with the aspect of pack so entirely ingrained in their needs as wolves... and here, among them, as Drageda. "I know they will. I just wish there was some way to make that transition.. easier, or hell, even entirely realistic for them. Besides just shoving it upon them like 'here, enjoy! or don't!'" Dio sighed, and squeezed his eyes shut for a second. He didn't know how to approach the matter, besides just powering through it.. but that was what worked for him, not necessarily his sprogs. "I'm way less concerned about her, truthfully. She's shy, but I think curiosity will outweigh it for her with time.." he breathed, having relaxed a bit with the statement and vaguely hopeful thoughts concerning his daughter. She had a little fierceness underneath her seemingly timid demeanor, he believed.

Whatever it was, or would be, they would have to figure it out.