Stone Circle This is what we eat

@Leta @Clay @West Tyree @Newt Just a quick thread with rounds so no hold up but I wanted to have an explore thread with mom for you guys!

ROUND 1

Valette hummed softly as she glanced if all four were present before taking them out for an exploration trip. Today the sun was out and the skies were clear. She thought it would be perfect to take them to the stone circle and see if they could spot any bison. Perhaps as a bonus, she could give them a show in hunting if they were ready to sit still and listen. Plus, the hunting might be something they were more interested in in the future.

"Come little ones," she murmured and started walking to the Stone Circle. She had been allowing her children to follow her more often so they would get a chance to see more. She kept them in the heart of their forest for most of the time. Ever since Ira warned her about dark forces outside the territory Valette had been avoiding the borders when she had her pups in tow with her. Plus if they were straying away too far she was very strict and give them a good hard warning nip that such direction was not allowed. Still, they were very curious children but she was not the only one with eyes, luckily she had pack members to help her. At this moment, however, she had to keep her eyes on them as she walked them to the stone circle. At least they broke from the trees, the stones clearly visible before them.

The round boy bounded after his mother, running circles around her if she ever slowed or came to a stop. If he wasn't careful he likely tripped over his siblings on more than one occasion (he really needed to learn to look where he was running). West often seemed to have never-ending energy, at least until he crashed. But today had a reason for him to be so excited, he was given the chance to leave their den once more! Perhaps this time they would go further than just around the clearing past the mouth of the den.

Unfortunately West would also be subject to several of his mother's guiding nips. He was a bit thick when it came to learning, but he did his best. The stones would slowly come into view as their little squadron moved forwards. The stones, towering much higher than their father, definitely caught his attention. They couldn't just be rocks, could they? The pillars all seemed too perfectly place aside from the crumbling ones. What're those, Ma?

Since we're almost at 8 weeks, I've increased her vocab but since she's not 8 weeks she's not very fluent LMAO.

 

Leta was as exuberant as her brother, West. His energy was contagious and she giddily played along, and when he was not looking and crashed into another Leta herself was always too slow to stop. But soon there were new sights that gathered her interest. Some familiar, some not. So the trip was peppered with many: What's that? and What's this? Leta received prompt educating, and would repeat the words under her breath to try and commit them to memory. 

When they arrived to the stones, Leta looked up at them in awe. Yeah!! What's those? She parroted, not intimidated by their height (she had learned that most big things were wonderful).

While his siblings ran about yapping and fumbling, the boy had stayed silent and walked under his mother's legs with wide eyes. His siblings were loud and hurting his ears with their screaming. He didn't want to be near them. He instead took everything in with an inner monologue before forgetting as something new would gather his attention. He had gotten more than enough nips from his parents recently, and was quick to learn and pick up on what was a no-no.

When the stones came into view he would stop, sniff, and turn his head to Valette for some sort of communication. Were they okay to touch? Were they dangerous? Regardless of her answer he turned back and placed his front paws on the tallest one. It was taller and bigger than father. He actually wanted father to be here right now. Without noticing, a whine had erupted from his throat when thinking of such a thing. "Mother where's father?" He asked "He should play too."

When their mother first gathered the mischievous bunch, Newt was caught chewing on his paws. He still does not know why they are so itchy, but the uncomfortable feeling only goes away when he chews. Tiny baby teeth occassionally bit too hard and caused the boy to whimper, and bald patches were starting to form between his toes. The skin raw and red—very irritated.

Yet he is not one to refuse an adventure. Running at the heels of Valette, occasionally the greyscale boy sprints after West. Forever freezing, however, when he notices they are heading in a direction their mother was obviously displeased with. So while he stayed away, West tended to get nipped.

As they continue, the area grows more familiar! Greyback once took him here, and it is something Newt will forever treasure. A secret until now, when the boy eyes the towering stones with a large smile. Stones! He glances towards Valette with big eyes, seeking praise for his knowledge and answering his siblings demanding question.

New round! Post order reset!!

The pups were so cute lately. They were starting to learn more words and starting to understand her better. It was also fun to see their personalities develop as they were growing. All of them had received some nips for wandering off but some seemed to take them better than others. West seemed to be running around her in circles when she didn't go fast enough or had to wait for any of the other pups to catch up. Leta seemed to join him in that until they stumbled over one another.

She had not expected for Clay to listen so well already and followed her step quietly. Perhaps he got the more reserved nature from his father, while West and Leta clearly had the excitable gene that Arlette seemed to have inherited. Newt seemed to be a good middle in energy today. Valette smiled at their questioned, she was surprised however when Newt answered. "Very good, Newt!!," Valette praised. "Yes, Stones"

The mother turned to Clay who asked about their father. She smiled. "Perhaps we should call him then?," she offered and then howled to Greyback to come to join them. Her howl had been relaxed so the male was not going to panic that something was wrong. Valette walked them into the stone circle. "This is Stone Circle," she explained to them. She wanted to say that is was important but would they even know this word? "It is special. Only here, in Easthollow. Easthollow is home. Easthollow is where Mama and Papa and you live."

Valette walked to the edge of the circle that overlooked the meadow and open fields down below. Valette smiled when she saw the massive bison grazing. "Bison. Big Food." She was pretty certain that they know what food was.

The whine of his brother caught the eldest boy's attention. Clay was asking for their father to come to play, yet he wasn't....really playing was he? Was his idea of play to just walk under their mom? That didn't seem fun...then again Clay wasn't the most fun sometimes.

Newt seemed to bark out an answer which Valette then praised. Hey how'd he know what they were, wasn't he around every time they left the den? Man...Newt was so smart. The round boy squinted with a disgruntled face at these "stones"...Stone Circle. If he remembered that maybe he too would be praised next time.

It wasn't until Valette moved to the hillside that he stopped "studying" the pillars. Excited to see what this big food was, West rushed over once more until the large beasts came into view. They were HUGE, bigger than papa and the stones. The sunny boy's eyes grew wide as his mouth hung open. How were they suppose to eat those things?

Bishen...food!!! He tested the word although a slight lisp got in his way. He wanted to eat the bishen! Not realizing that these creatures were fully capable of running or hurting him, West started to bound down the hill.

Clay wrinkled his nose at his siblings voices once again, their cries about stones way too loud for his ears. The only one he dared listen to was Valette, his mother. She always held a soft tone to her voice, one that didn't make his head hurt or cause him irritation... except when she was angry.

He continued to look at her, and when she talked about their home he wandered up to the edge of the Stone Circle.

He didn't dare to go in.

Clay peeked his head out from around the corner of the tallest stone and stared into the circle with his tail tucked between his legs. He didn't like it. It was too tall. Too big. Too mysterious. He let out a whine and skirted around the edge to meet his family where they emerged, and when they did he immediately dove to stand under his mother once again.

The bison, although far away, were scary. Clay noticed the sharp teeth on their head, and their fat bodies. Would they eat him with their teeth? Would they sit on him if he got close? He watched as West bounded down the mountain, but didn't say anything. He only stared at the monsters in awe.

"Food...?" he mumbled.

Pride surges through him. Valette praised him! Newt puffs his chest, a big grin on his lips at his mother's cheer. Elated that he could please her, it sets Newt off to a good mood. He'll have to tell Greyback about it later, too, so he knows that Newt remembered! Clay mentions him, and Valette offers to call. Newt beams, giving their mother an excited nod in agreement. His tiny tail wags behind him.

At her howl, he leans his head back and attempts (poorly) to copy her.

Soon after, Valette introduces them all to the Stone Circle. Having been here before, the greyscale pup feels confident going through them. Baby blue eyes wide with wonder and awe nonetheless, especially since it is not something he is able to explore on a daily basis yet.

Eashollo, Newt tries under his breath, and repeats it in his mind. He'll try to get the pronunciation down later, for now, his attention turns to the large creatures roaming the open plain ahead of them. The greyscale pup freezes in fear, and much like Clay, wants to run and duck underneath Valette for protection.

Wes! He calls out, snapping his jaws closed and pushing his ears back at how loud it ended up being. It caught the attention of the bison...

New Round!! Slight PP @West let me know if you are cool with it.

Valette smiled at all the excitement and curiosity of her little ones. Curiously enough, Clay seemed to walk around the circle. Though the mother would not push him into doing anything he was fearing. Perhaps some gentle coaching later. She didn't have time for that, as soon as she mentioned the bison and that it was food, West ran towards the bison while Newt, Clay, and Leta looked like they were ready to crawl under her. "WEST Come back!," she called out almost at the same time Newt called out for him. Which seemed to have caught the attention of at least one of the bison.

"Stay," she commanded the other three as she leaped forward to rescue her pup. A loud snort came from the bison and stomped his foot in a warning not to come closer. Valette caught up with West and nudged him back to the circle. But they were rather close to the immense beast and soon after she heard the rhythmic stomping of the bison charging towards her. Valette snatched West by its scruff as the bison was on the mother's heels trying to trample and give a good headbutt with his horns. Valette's ears were back mostly to listen if the sound came closer. It was not easy with a plump pup hanging from her jaws that was rather heavy.

Valette jumped to the side, knowing these beasts couldn't turn on a dime as she did. But with the added weight from her jaws, her paw folded over under the weight and was soon making a summersault into the long grass. In her fall letting go of West. Valette had no time to think of her injuries but as she got up she sank through that left front leg once more with a soft yelp. Her eyes instantly sought for her son and nipped him hard. "RUN, to siblings. Go," she demanded. She made sure there was no room for argument.

Valette heard the stomping get closer as the beast turned. Instead of going after her pup Valette charged the beast on three legs. Her ears flat and teeth bared. The female was as big as she could make herself and as loud as she could with snarls. The mother wasn't going to approach the bison head on but made more of an arch in her approach to the beast, coming towards it with such ferocity that only a mother could have. She would die protecting her children. Coming from the corner of the bison's eye, charging from the grass the beast turned away from her teeth. Both seemed to be mother's protecting their young. Valette was relieved to see the bison abandoned its attack but did turn and keep a close eye on her. It was clear that the beast would attack again if she took a step closer. Valette decided she was going to respect that and limped on three legs towards her children and the circle.

She probably strained her paw. It hurt to put weight on it and she would probably need to cool it in the stream later. She hoped that this was a good lesson about bison and how dangerous they were. Hopefully, the sprain wouldn't take too long to heal. She went back to her children. She would do anything to protect them even with them being foolish, running into danger like that. She approached her children, going up the slope on three legs was rather exhausting. Her eyes were looking for West trying to see what he had to say for himself but also to check if all four would get the lesson they learned today. Bison is not a friend.

The eldest heard as Newt and his mother called out to him, but his mind was already set...that is until he saw the aggression in the bison mothers eyes as she stomped towards him.

West put on the breaks skidding with a newfound fear as he fell and scrambled to his feet. With the noise of the stomping hooves he hadn’t even noticed Valette hurrying towards him or nudging him towards the stones until he felt the rough yank upon his scruff.

Lucky enough to be in his mother’s care, Valette took them out of harms way until she fell causing the round boy to hit the ground hard with a yelp of his own. The boy was fine aside from the initial shock but his mom? West was quick to his paws as he slowly approached with ears back, Ma— the young boy was quickly cut off as Valette demanded he returned to his siblings, the hard nip causing another yelp as he ran up the hill with his tail between his legs.

He could hear the ferocity and aggression behind him, not completely aware of everything just risked, but he knew enough. He had messed up big time. It took some time for Valette to climb back up to them but as soon as she made it he noticed the limping. West sunk down as he took a few steps back from his siblings. His ears remained flat showing he learned his lesson as he nervously licked his lips. 

Once he was aware of his mother’s stare burning down on him, the usually sunny boy avoided eye contact only glancing up briefly before shying his gaze away once more. I didn’t— f-food not a loud whine escaped him as he looked for the right words. I’m sorry... he looked close to crying and he slowly skirted closer. She was injured because of him! He wanted to make things better but how was he to do that? He got in scuffs all the time with his siblings but nothing was ever serious. Could he just lick it better?

It all happens so fast.

In the blink of an eye, West is out there in danger. Newt cries, overwhelmed with the situation because he isn't big like ma or pa. He can't do anything but stand there frozen in fear. Valette rushes into action. The greyscale pup is free from his trance in an instant. His jaws open wide, about to rush after to assist his family when their mother commands everyone to stay.

His mouth shuts instantly, ears flattening against his skull. Baby blue eyes widening and staring in teary horror as the bison charges at them.

A whine escapes him nonetheless, and he paces back and forth. Never moving forward. His pacing only halts when West comes running to them. Big ears standing on end, the scholar nervously starts to nose over his older brother. Tears still flowed freely, he copies how Valette checks them over, and adds in a few licks.

Ma is walking funny, and West moves away to reach her. Thankfully it seems the bison is no longer charging after them, but Newt still remains on alert. He glares down at the hulking beasts as they run off in the opposite direction away from the hurt family.

Valette's eyes stayed on her son who looked so incredibly guilty. The whine tugged on her heartstrings but it would actually be a good lesson for all her children. Valette stepped closer to West. Newt was clearly worried about him as well. "West, I understand you are excited about food but you have to be careful. The bigger the prey the more dangerous they are," she explained. "That is why a wolf lives in a pack and works together to hunt. Wolves do better in packs as no wolf can take down a bison, for example, on its own."

The mother limped closer. "I accept your apology," she spoke and offered him a soft smile. "I know you didn't do it on purpose but you have to be careful and listen when I explain something, alright?" She offered him a little lick. "This time I could protect you but as you might realize is that it could have ended differently." She eyed at her other children as well. She would hate to see them in pain.

Unlike other times the boy had been warned, Valette had no need to repeat herself. He fully understood the risks now experiencing what could have been much worse first hand. She reassured him that there were no ill feelings and he was forgiven, but that did not change how he felt. Newt poked at him offering a few licks of his own to which he gave one in return before looking back to Valette, Yes, Mama.

Next time he would be careful, he still wasn't sure how a wolf was to take down one of those creatures, even in a group, but he wanted to see it. Something that big had to be tasty. They would likely have to go back to the den now since his mother was injured, hopefully, his siblings weren't mad he cut the trip short. A pout still sat on his lips as he stared out at the plains, but at least he was no longer close to crying.

Although the lecture is not directly pointed at him, the greyscale boy settles down to listen closely to Valette. Every now and then, he glances towards West, surprised by how quiet his older brother is. He does not understand how much the close encounter truly impacted West, and the uncharacteristic way he is acting leaves Newt worrying more.

West and Mama okay? He asks after both spoke. The tension in the air makes Newt feel so uncomfortable! He really wishes Greyback was here right now, so Papa could help solve things.

Valette stepped closer and cuddled into West. She was glad that she was safe. Valette limped to the stones and went to lie down in the middle. Her pups probably expected her to go back but Valette wasn't intending to. If she could lie down then she didn't feel the pain. The female quirked up her lips into a smile. "Yes, West and Mama are okay," she returned.

The mother called them closer. "These are the stones of Stone Circle. It is very important to us, our pack," she explained to them. She was not going to explain too much as it would probably be confusing to them. "It is in the center of our lands, and it looks out over the bison herd. Also when we have a meeting with the whole pack it will be here," she explained. "Okay, now go explore! But stay in the inside of the circle, please!"

Shying his gaze, West let his mother nestle against him secretly welcoming the touch before she pulled away. However, when she started walking it was back towards the circle, not the den. His ears perked as he cautiously followed, now looking up at the full height of the stones. Valette explained how this circle was the center of the pack and was very important. He could also see the big food from up here meaning he didn't have to get close to watch them.

Wrapping up Valette encouraged them to run free as long as they stayed close. His tail wagged excitedly at the change to venture on his own as he was quick to sniff each stone and inspect them. Eventually, he came across the broken one with several smaller stones leading off into the woods somewhere. It looked like they could lead to something, but he was already yelled at for wandering off once so he turned away leaving it for another time. Done looking at the giant rocks, West plopped down in the center and rolled onto his back to look at the clouds.

Uncertain, Newt frowns, glancing between brother and mother. The concept of pain is not new to him, yet this is the first time the boy has ever witnessed danger from a different perspective. His tail starts wagging at the tip—limply, at first—until it grows with more confidence at Valette's reassurance. A smile reappears back on his lips.

Excited again, Newt gobbles up the information their mother shares. His eyes eagerly shifting from her to the stones to his siblings as they approached. West is still quiet, however, and the silence is enough to distract the grey boy. Once Valette is done speaking, and the siblings scatter around to explore, Newt keeps an eye on his older brother.

It is only when he settles in the middle of the Circle that Newt approaches, his head blocking West's view of the sky. What you doing?

Throughout the whole ordeal the pup had sat and watched with mouth agape, his olive eyes keeping watch on his brother, who had rushed into the fray of the bison. He wanted to scream too, but mother was quick and ultimately yelled at the same time as him, drowning out his small voice.

He then watched as rushed in and snatched West, only to turn with the bison on her heels and fall. Time stood still for the lad as he watched the body of his mother contort and somersault. It was weird, watching his mother fall like that. To him she was powerful, and could never be hurt. But seeing her fall and yelp in pain did something to awaken to boy. He felt his nerves light fire and the memory stick to his brain. He was curious as to how it felt, to how it looked, and he tumbled forward to get a better view of her.

Luckily, the bison had turned tail and run, and his mother was now approaching behind West. Once again they had wandered into the circle, leaving clay to pace beyond the edges with a grumbled whine in frustration. He wanted to investigate! He wanted to join them too! But something in the air around the circle told him to stay out.

So he sat alone, watching his family with a displeased frown.

Valette noticed that Clay was staying behind. She got up to her feet and limped towards him as Newt and West were playing and investigating the circle. She had noticed that he walked around it before and wondered why. The mother got on three legs and then sat before him. "Why don't you want to enter the circle?," she questioned to the pup.

Normally pups had silly reasoning for not doing something but Clay seemed really frustrated about this like he physically wasn't able to go inside. Valette looked at him patiently and wondered what his answer was going to be.

His youngest sibling's protests barely registered, instead Newt had taken most of his attention as his younger brother loomed over him asking what he was doing. In a simple response, he just lifted a paw to the sky as if he was pointing at something obvious, but above there was nothing but the clouds. I looked around so now I'm just watchin' the sky. Couldn't get in more trouble if you just sat there could you?

Newt lifts his head towards the sky, following the way West’s paw points up at it. Alas, he does not see anything unusual, so he turns back with a tilted head. “What do you see?” Newt flops onto his back next to his brother, brushing his shoulder against him. He keeps his eyes up, squinting against the harsh light.