Moonspear ^____^

Ever since first meeting @Tikaani, they often begged @Sialuk to take them back to @Moonshadow’s ulaq. Every so often, their mother granted their wish. Today was one of those days, and Pie now knew the path well enough to lead the way!

They bounced right up to the doorway and stuck their nose inside to exclaim, Hellooooo? Anybody hooooome? I bringed you a song, Tiki!

Their yellow eyes eagerly plumbed the dim interior. They’d since met @Nashua and @Nayati, though Tiki remained their favorite. Part of Pie always wished to take her home with them, though anaa had explained how sad it would make the baby’s mother and brothers should they take her away.

Aani had watched for the pup named Pie. She didn't know any others. Not really. She wondered if they would come and play again.

Ears qent up and little pudgy body raced forward. Coming nose to nose with pie. Eyes bright. Singsing?

Moonshadow was taking a short walk within earshot of her den when she heard the young pup call out to hers. The dark woman relaxed by the entrance as she watched Tikaani greet her friend.

“Sing,” Tikaani chirped, “sing!”

Treepie didn’t need to be asked twice thrice!

In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room!
In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room!
All the birds sing words and the flowers croon!
In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room!

They clapped their paws at the end of the verse, yellow eyes shining as they waited to see what their younger friend thought of the song.

Lyrics belong to Disney.

Tikaani was blown away by her friend who sang and clapped paws. Ahe tried to join in, but couldn't quite get the clap right. And she ended up sprawled on her back looking up with eyes shining in delight.

Teach tiki?

She thumped her tiny tail and looked up with a pout. How awesome it was to be older and so good at singing.

I wasn’t sure if Moonshadow’s post was a cameo but I wanted to keep this moving since it’s been a couple of weeks!

Pie giggled when Tiki toppled over onto her back. They loomed over her, their head conveniently shielding her face from the glare of the spring sun. They bobbed it when the little girl asked to be taught, then thrust out a paw to help Tikaani back onto her feet.

Soon enough, the two of them were seated, facing one another. Treepie considered where to start. They supposed they should teach Tiki the words first, then they could work on the cadence.

The first line goes, ‘in the tiki room,’ but you do five ‘tiki’s! they explained. Take a big breath ‘fore you start, Tiuttuk thought to add, demonstrating before warbling out the line again.

Tiki giggled. And lifted a paw to touch the face that peered down at her. Tikaani scrambled to her feet. Though they went different ways at first, she managed to get them under her and grinned.

Tiki took a deep breath and then another just for good measure and belted out the lyrics, off key and loudly. 

In the TIKI, TIKI, TIKI, TIKI, TIKI ROOM!!

Pie leaned back a little, their ears following suit, at the blast of noise that left their best friend’s mouth. Nevertheless, they favored Tiki with a winsome grin. She’d gotten the number of “tiki”s right, now they just needed to recite the only other verse and then they could begin working on their cantillation.

You repeat that line twice, then you say, ‘All the birds sing words and the flowers croon!’ next, the elder babe instructed. Say it with me, Tiki! they encouraged. All the birds…

Tiki saw the movement amd realiz3d perhaps she had been too loud. Mama reminded her sometimes to use inside voice.

She lowered her voice. Still off key, still a little loud. But she followed along, her pronunciation off. All de birds sing wards and the flowers croon!

The pronunciation was close enough for Pie. They clapped their little black paws as they sang in tandem, eyes dancing like sunbeams.

Now let’s say it all at once, then we can sing it.

Treepie waited until Tikaani was ready, then drew in a deep breath and recited the entire verse: first, the two duplicate lines; then the standout one; before finally ending on one last repetition of “tiki room.”

Tiki repeated the lines as well as she could some of the pronunciation leaving a lot to be desired. But she tried. That was enough 

In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room!
In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room!
All de birds sing wards and the flowers croon!
In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room!

It was hard at first to clap and sing, but by the end she had it almost, maybe a beat or three off.

Soon they were singing a duet. It wasn’t the most harmonious of performances, though Treepie was delighted to share this thing with Tikaani. Their smile never left their face, not even when Nayati and Nicte began groaning and hushing them from further back in the den.

Their mothers seemed to be in agreement, asking the pair to keep it down for the rest of their rendezvous. Pie chortled and nodded at Sialuk’s request, lowering their voice as they stretched out just inside the door of Moonshadow’s ulaq.

You did real good, Tiki. Now you can sing it wherever you go, ‘cause it’s your song. Tiuttuk nudged her cheek. What you wanna do now?

Tiki couldn't quite word the way the shared song, made her feel. But it was a feeling that started deep in her belly and worked its way up. Making her feel warm and happy and so very loved. She warmed beneath her fur at her siblings and her mother, but she couldnj't quite hide the delight. 

Wanna esplore?

A small paw to her mouth in delight, wondering, hoping. Could they explore right outside. Maybe look for wormies or creepy crawlies or buggy wuggys could they? Maybe some pretty rock sand flowers? Bees buzz buzzing.

Treepie immediately looked to Sialuk with an expression that asked, Can we? Their mothers told them not to stray too far, then gladly shooed them out of the den (probably in case they started up again, as songbirds were wont to do!).

The elder pup patiently waited for Tiki to exit first, then leaped to all fours and bounded after her. They brushed her shoulder with a soft giggle as they passed, wondering if there was anything in particular Tikaani wanted to explore out here.

Oh my gosh! Tiki! Pie cried out suddenly and sotto voce, pointing a black toe at a big fat bumblebee drifting from one clover to another. Look at its butt! It’s so big! they exclaimed, clapping a paw to their mouth as they loudly laughed.

Tiki had enjoyed the singing it had been something she found great fun in. And as it was with her most favoritest wolf, it was even better.

Tiki stepped into the bright sunlight. Little eyes wide in her head as she looked about. The summer sun dancing along her coat of many colors. 

Tiki went forward and stared at the black buzzy bug. It's little stripes. And there on it's legs little pollens things. It's so cute for a buggy.

From somewhere behind them, Sialuk’s voice warned them not to bother the bumblebee. When Treepie threw a questioning glance her way, she explained that it had a tiny needle in its rear end—a stinger, she called it—that could hurt them. But so long as they just let it be(e), everything should be fine.

Pie’s attention returned to the bumbling bee, now with a healthy dose of respect for its capabilities. They squinted, trying to see this stinger, but it was hard to tell with all that fuzz. In any case, they wholeheartedly believed their mother’s words.

Their attention inevitably shifted to something else, Tiuttuk guiding Tikaani on a little tour of the hundred square feet out front of the ulaq. This went on until Moonshadow decided it was time for a meal and a nap. With a token protest and a parting hug, Treepie flitted home with Sialuk.