Moonspear small boats of fire are falling from the sky

Altair squeaked, for lack of a better descriptor—they were alone, it would have seemed. Though not truly alone in all actuality, as @Hydra wasn’t ever really that far away for long. Chances were, she had just stepped out for a moment to do whatever it was that mothers did when they had a moment, and it certainly wasn’t taking a long, soaking bath in a clawfoot tub two rooms away.

Of course he hadn’t quite learned that the mirror images he often saw were not mother yet either. Had the sense about him to know that they were but were not, yet @Alya and @Lyra were often close by too, doting aunts with striking similarities to his mother that he presumed they were one in the same. Mother had just gone to change clothes and suddenly deprive them of a meal and let them wither away—not that they were ever close to that danger either.

But he protested it all the same, eyes wide and much more able to grasp that wherever it was that Mother Dearest had gone had something to do with that blinding light that was still a feat to reach. He squinted against the glare that leaked in, nose working as diligently as it could to suss out an answer. He used @Mintaka for a step stool to do such a thing, front feet planted squarely into her side as his mouth opened to issue another pleading remark.

He directed the next couple to the rest of his siblings in a rousing manner, urging @Mira to join him and perhaps imploringly to @Caelum, who never really had much to say. His inkjet brother may have had his moments to make noise, but of the trio he was by far the quietest. Altair didn’t worry about Mintaka—she’d protest his existence real quick if she hadn’t given in to resignation of being his midday soapbox.

Not that he cared—where was MOTHER?

tags are more for visibility but y'all wanna join it anyway so c'mon

This escapade was one of her briefer ones; she was able to relieve herself and get a quick drink prior to one of here children beginning to squall. Hydra could guess at the culprit, given one at present happened to be louder than the rest. It was, of course, his fathers look a like. She could only guess at what their duets would be like once Dirge taught this litter to sing; given their hearing was limited at best presently, Altair was unsurprisingly tone deaf. The guesses filled her only with dread when she could do with a good, long, quiet few hours. 

It could not be said that Hydra was not a patient mother, though. It could be likened to that of a saint in these early months, even when they grated on her nerves. Knowing they could not help it helped... and even when they could, youth was a decent enough excuse to simply make her swallow her irritation and understand, at least, that at the end of the day they were children. She wanted to teach them to defend themselves, their pack, their home... but even when she did all that, she did not take away from their childhood and their ability to be children.  Hydra was simply aware that everything in life could be utilized as some sort of lesson, and she was not one to waste time.

Slipping into the den and watching Altair make a bid to rally his siblings, Hydra withheld the amused grin she felt in her heart. She moved to press her nose against him and ensure nothing had gone awry to make him cry so, and once she was satisfied that there was no blood or thing around them that had given him a fright, she sighed as she lay alongside the small cubs. Up to your usual antics, I see, she drawled, your father will help you work on your pitch, I imagine. And Alya will teach you how to make those crocodile tears truly believable, Hydra teased, though he could not understand her.

Altair roused her, eliciting a rumble from her chest as she unwillingly awoke. Mira blinked tiredly, blue eyes moving from brother to mother- who entered the den with her typical chatter, directed at Altair. Mira frowned at the sound, smacking her lips and curling into a tighter ball than before. Pray they would not awake the girl again; Mira did not desire play or noise. Those who crossed her would receive more of her little rumbles.

His cries seemed to fall on deaf ears, though the tousle and turn of Mira’s form silenced them for only a moment. She was useless as were the others, clearly, not all inclined to raise the alarm that they were utterly alone. Neglected. Abandoned. His gaze lingered on her for several beats when the shadows spread across their floor and with a wobble as he turned so very quick and violent and hopeful, he spied their mother.

Altair did not hesitate to beckon her.

Her touch bolstered him and his protesting turned affectionate as he abandoned Mintaka for her with steady stomping. First over Caelum excitably then onto Mira with little regard that she was in the way too. A foot to her face; he cowed happily, energetically. MOTHER was here, his entire body announced and if MOTHER was here—that meant there would be sustenance.

But he was torn between prime opportunity to feed and seek comfort in his toddling, but hesitation was a fleeting thing. He could do both, and sought to tumble against the downy hairs of her belly with continued glee.

Mintaka had not minded being used as a step stool, but Altair's cries were getting a little concerning. She relaxed when her brother stepped off of her and went to their mother instead, getting to her feet and shaking her fur off - nearly falling over in the process. The lighter pup wandered over after him, but did not plow over their siblings this time, gentler paws doing their best to step around them instead. 

The girl extended a paw toward her mother's muzzle as Altair rushed to her belly, stretching her head up to try and reach Hydra's face.

Mira was less than enthused, and Hydra's look offered no sympathy; the cub was luckier than she to have muffled hearing and not the full extent of her brothers harping. Contemplating rousing her to see the sort of hell she might raise, Hydra elected not to. Mira was a growing girl, and sleep was an essential part of the routine to get there. All the same, Hydra did so enjoy to see that fighting spirit she already sensed within her. 

Altair was at her belly now, and snuggled there; Hydra did not reward his wailing with more touch, but did let him eat. Mintaka toddled toward her face, and Hydra heartily breathed in the fresh scent of her. When offered a paw, Hydra exhaled against it, observing what Mintaka might do with the sensation.

A foot came to her face- hitting her right in the eye and hurting like hell. Immediately she winced, eye shutting tightly while tears leaked from the edges. Her muzzle wrinkled as if she would snarl, but her courage fell apart, and she began to sniffle, crying at the pain while her heart burning fiercely with a hate for the boy. She whined quietly, though kept it subdued- not wanting to bring more attention to herself than necessary in such a pitiful state.

Oblivious to the fact that he had in fact made his sister cry like an absolute monster, Altair was content. Call it payback for some other transgression against him, probably earlier, probably over the prime teat. It wasn’t like MOTHER‌ didn’t have enough to pick from, but infants were infants at best and renown for turning feeding time into puppy tetris. It probably wasn’t even Mira’s fault and the fact that MOTHER‌ didn’t bestow him with attention for his squalling and stomping didn’t disturb him either. Not yet, anyway.

But boy when he would notice… it wouldn't be pretty.

Woah, mother was so cool. Mintaka's eyes widened at the warm breath on her paw, but she didn't draw away. Instead, she leaned in further, tapping her nose to the dark wolf's muzzle. Her mom was so nice and pretty and big and good. The best of all mothers, she had decided firmly in her little head - even though she was not aware of any other moms in the world. 

Her siblings were making noise, but Mintaka didn't mind that too much. They'd figure it out.

With Altair eating, Hydra was able to mind one daughter. She heard the other, though ignored the sound of her hurts if only to not encourage her to release her feelings and cry without necessity. Altair had not struck true, after all (though Hydra had not seen the events unfold in their entirety). Still, she would never encourage her children to cry. Just to rally against whatever might have made them feel such a way. In time, she imagined that Altair and Mira would see eye to eye against the common enemy of outside threats, but for now their imagination only gave them limited subjects to work with. 

Hydra had no idea what her silver cub thought, though was content to mimic her and let her do as she would. Nose to nose, Hydra watched Mintaka and exhaled another gust of air that would engulf her little girl, listening to her other children all the while...

last from me also, to fade!

Last from me.

Mira's quiet longing for her mother's help found no result. So she was on her own, then... such were the woes of a puppy's little world. She slunk silently to a corner of the den to sleep while wetness leaked from her eyes- within hours the girl's eye would open again, but she would suffer the after-effects of painful swelling in the days to come.