Northstar Vale I'm tryin' not to let it show, that I don't wanna let this go.

Set a couple days from now on the 13th/14th. Puppies are one month old! :O

The den was too cramped for them. It hadn't taken long at all, which surprised Ibis. Had she grown this fast? Had she ever been the size of either of these girls? The den had been too cramped days ago and now it was impossible to cram both children inside with her; she took to sleeping just shy of the mouth of the den, blocking the entryway with her body. It seemed right to keep her daughters hidden - plus, aside from @Akavir visiting to deposit food for her and @Viinturuth to steal little moments, there had not been any visitors.

Ibis would not let @Lilitu or @Arielle out of her sight for very long. Short trips to relieve herself or stretch her legs would be cut short at a moments notice, and when the girls would play together she was just as vigilant. They could have their fun - it was important they figure out how their bodies worked and how the world behaved with them a part of it - but Ibis was increasingly anxious as they grew. She would usher them back in to the den on a whim, and so far they both accepted her judgement.

How long, she wondered, until her peaceful perfect family was disrupted?

Mature Content Warning

This thread has been marked as mature. By reading and/or participating in this thread, you acknowledge that you are of age or have permission from your parents to do so.

The participants have indicated the following reason(s) for this warning: gonna try to start marking stuff mature more often- just bc of weird thoughts here : )

 

How long? That all depended on how well Ibis could continue to protect herself and her daughters. Caring for children had Takeshi growing restless and bored of babytalk; even moreso bored with the fact that his wife was too busy getting her nips gnawed by his kids to give Shi any loving. Or rather, to give in to his own approaches- he was not willing to make any advances when his own son or daughters might be around the corner; even their fight had been a great risk. And Hotaru. Hotaru had him restless; as she grew, some strange feeling rose in his gut. Was it fatherly love? Somehow it was different than what he felt for Sumi, or Haruki...

He shook away the confusing thoughts, wandering the territory aimlessly until he had unconsciously come near the queen's den. She had not been so pretty as a round little balloon, but now that the bubble was bursted, he was intrigued by her again. The outside of her den smelled of multiple men- and the thought slut briefly flashed in his mind, as he hesitated, nose sniffing at the entrance. Ibis? He called her gently by name, recalling she had not been at the meeting that was his downfall in the public eye... although, news traveled quickly sometimes.

A part of her was eager for socialization, being so invested prior to becoming a mother. It was a habit she'd given up in lieu of her obsessive attachment to her daughters, but she ached sometimes for those old ties.

Reiko had not been by for a while, and she was one of the more solid connections the queen had. Hime had wandered through while Ibis had been asleep, and the thought of her friend's twin filled her with a sense of subliminal dread. It was neither of these two women who called her name now - and while Ibis was thankful, she was also worried. The voice was not familiar; it had been a while since the queen had heard Takeshi speak, so she did not know who sought her out until she drew herself from the den.

She did so carefully, quietly, and with a furtive glance over her shoulder and a soft shhh when one of the girls roused from their nap at her movement. As she turned to face whoever had come across her little hidden family, she was surprised to see the would-be Emperor; unaware, of course, that he'd been elevated to the highest position in their kingdom.

All the same she smiled, simultaneously inviting of his presence and guarded, to a degree. Hello. Um, how are you? It was clear by the doe-eyed look upon Ibis' face that she was being genuine in her question, and oblivious to the kingdom's ails.

Single post from me unless he's spoken to.  :)

He was never far from Ibis' den which, he supposed, might rouse some suspicion among the wolves of the Vale. Regardless, Viinturuth did not fret over rumours - he hadn't felt much like one of them since his arrival, and he was content to keep his circle small. For now, his attention remained solely with his family: Akavir, Ibis and their two cubs.

Right now, they were all that mattered.

When the voice of a stranger requested the Queen's attention nearby, the pale rogue lifted his head and pricked his ears forward. Fueled by concern that an unknown male sought his brother's bride, he was swift to abandon his resting spot and made his way at once to her densite, where burgundy eyes settled on the alabaster pelage of a comrade. He smelled strongly of their territory, enough for the Winter-white to assume that he was another leader, and his tail lowered accordingly.

His gaze turned briefly to Ibis, and asked a silent question: are you alright? She seemed to be, yet the discomfort in him remained; no one had bothered to visit the little Queen since before the arrival of her litter, so why now? 

Akavir, for the most part, never strayed far from his wife or children. His reconnection with his brother couldn't have come at a better time, and the sparse conversations he had with other pack members had been conveluted at best--Hime's words to him still striking some unknown meaning that he hadn't bothered to dwell on. 

The meeting, however, had left his trust in their safety rattled, and while he hadn't shared with Ibis the strange shift of pack dynamics, he had kept even more careful watch over her since. He hadn't wanted to add to her stress after becoming a new mother, but when the scent of the one wolf who had truly shaken the core of the Empire now drifted to him, the iron wolf was alert, his movement quick. 

he heard the call of her name and he felt the pull of his lips to a silent snarl. Akavir was laid back by nature--but as he stalked forward, the shadow was quick to intercept the great white wolf, pulling forward to partially block the view of the den entrance and his children inside. 

there was no warmth in the champagne gold of his eyes, and his voice cut through the pleasant exchange to get to the point. "Emperor," he greeted, though the title held no reverence nor respect upon his tongue. "Can we help you?"

Cameo!

Who had no thumbs and was now officially awake? This girl!

Lilitu popped up from between her parents' legs with a squeak of greeting, pulling forward to stare at the visitors. She immediately fell back, hesitant. There were two white wolves here, one which she recognized—he'd come to visit before—but one she did not.

The one pale woman had not been so kind. If the stranger was any relation, she wanted nothing to do with him. . .and wanted Mama to chase him away.

She fixed the man with her best fearsome stare, fur fluffing up slightly. Sort of a, You mess with Mama and you're gonna have to go through ME, stare. Even though it was Mama that would probably be defending her fluffy butt in the first place.

Oh well. One day she'd live up to it.

The queen greeted him quite naturally, and though he searched for distrust in her gaze, none seemed to show. Had the men not told her? Takeshi could only wonder how it would benefit them. They all seemed to hate him now, why not rope another in? Whatever- the fact that she was in the dark about the latest gossip was fine by him. A ear flicked back to acknowledge Viin's footfall, but Takeshi's gaze did not turn, satisfied that the man remained at some distance. Just as he was going to answer the lady- the second one, the one who was not even yet promoted to king, caused storm blue eyes to narrow as he intercepted him, daring to ask him whether they could help with something. The beast no longer cared to force pleasant behavior. It would help me most if you moved aside, Akavir. I am speaking with the queen. He murmured in low breath to the male, tone unthreatening but words clear. The child's growl presently went unnoticed by Shi; too focused on the man before him.

The tiny vibrato of Lilitu's voice caused Ibis to blush and hastily turn away from the man, at which point she bowed slightly to caress the fur along her daughter's nape to try and calm her. Shh... where is your sister? Go on, and with some care (along with some kisses) Ibis tried to soothe the girl as she coaxed her deeper in to the den. Whether she slept or not was inconsequential but Ibis wished to keep her daughters safe from the attention of this man. Protective, as always.

When Ibis could focus again on Takeshi she had a sheepish expression on her face, an apologetic cant to her ears. Akavir had moved closer by then and so the queen's first look was at the dark quills of his shoulders. As pleased as she was to have the brothers there to protect her she did not see any threat to Takeshi (beyond her default apprehension of the man) and hurried to relax her fiancee.

I am speaking with your queen, Takeshi drawled lowly with what Ibis would label as a confident impatience. She drew further from the den mouth and pranced fawn-like beside Akavir, a small smile on her lips. It is alright. Will you go watch the girls?

It was not yet clear if this was a friendly visit or not but Ibis had not missed the title used for the pale man, and if anything she knew he must outrank her by now. He was their leader and so they must keep the peace with him. There was an idling worry that he was here to denounce the little family or perhaps chase them out, but that was more of a dark fantasy plaguing an overly cautious mother than anything.

Quick phone post to keep this going. Assuming Viin didn't want to post bc cameo. Can remove if you do, Rebel!

Takeshi was displeased by his presence, and as such, the frosted mane of the wolf bristled further. It solidified his suspicions of the man, and of course sweet Ibis had been in the dark of the packs politics--and so she was quick to appease the ivory man; requesting Akavir keep watch over their daughters. 

Champagne eyes studied the man for another moment. He knew who this was man. He had heard enough to know his family was not safe here. The knowing look was given, and he felt it obvious enough that he wouldn't be far and held no qualms about stepping in should the man try to even rustle a fur on his fiancées beautiful head. 

With a delicate nip to her cheek, the swarthy warrior bent his muzzle down, aiming to nudge his daughter toward the den where her sibling rested peacefully. A shadow for now, ready to spring into action should it be warranted.[/ooc]

lol sorry have another post

Ears forward, high atop his pallid crown, the frosted rogue watched with an unwavering maroon stare as his raven brother appeared to join the mother of his cubs out in the open. He wanted to sweep forward then, something instinctual spurring him on to shield his family from this brute with his own body, yet he managed only a step. Viinturuth, having not yet found his place (if there ever could be such a thing) among the wolves of Reneian Empire, did not wish to rock the boat with his inferior presence.

He held his breath when at last the unknown male parted his jaws to answer the question that Akavir presented, then gritted his teeth at what he heard. Harmless, patient Akavir. His brother was far too good, too pure for this bitter world, and some big-headed asshole felt it appropriate to pretty much tell him to fuck right off.

The toughened silver hairs of his nape lifted, and the Winter-white shifted his weight as he prepared to unleash the desire to intercept. Ibis' voice, this time, stalled him. Viinturuth veered aside instead, prowled back from where he'd come to watch and wait should she have need of another set of fangs to rid her densite of this arrogant fool.

Arielle may have been peacefully sleeping at first, still tucked against mother's warm side, but she was woken the second she was alone on the den floor. She looked around, unsettled and confused; it was rare she was ever alone, and she decided she didn't like it at all. She uttered a soft, uncertain squeak that was answered by the sound of her mother's voice outside. She wasn't sure what was being said, but she was sure now where she needed to go. 

Arielle lifted up on wobbly legs and toddled outside where her parents were. But things seemed tense and weird, and there was a stranger she had never seen before. She froze in the den entrance, her puppy blue gaze staring up at the adults with confusion. For so long, it had just been the four of them with the occasional visit from the pale man. She wasn't used to feeling so unsure, and she didn't know what to do about it.

It was then that dad turned and moved towards her, ushering her into the den with some urgency. Arielle followed without hesitation, desperate for some kind of direction. And when they settled inside, she would take up a spot next to him and chew on his tail or wrestle with her sister, completely unaware of the weight of the situation now that she was back in the den. She did wish mama would return soon, though. 

made an assumption about akavir, lmk if i need to change anything

sorry for the wait yalll ;_;"" burnout, busy-ness, etc.

 

Though the man seemed unhappy to move, his wife dismissed him readily to watch the children, moving beyond the den to meet Takeshi. The emperor felt the wary eyes on him, but he could not be bothered to care. Ibis was pretty, but he'd never attempt anything- at least, not in front of her husbands (or whatever this relationship was.) So instead he knew he ought to be careful, but not uncomfortably so- keep things light, upbeat. If anything, he could at least use this occurence to try and get Ibis to see his good side. 

How are you doing since the birth? Are the children and yourself healthy and happy? Anything I can do to help? Came his flurry of questions- and it was true that he was willing to help wherever an extra paw was needed, but it was not out of the goodness of his heart. Appearances mattered much at this point, and if Ibis saw him as generous, it could be a great favor.

As apprehensive as Ibis had been of this man in the past, she did not have a reference point for any recent chaos within the kingdom; she had not forgotten Reiko's tale nor the sentiments attached, but her mind was fogged by half-sleep, a mother's weariness. She did not immediately find him suspect - in fact, his offering of help was met with a kind smile. Innocence.

We are all doing well. It is quite a time consuming task, raising children. Ah, but you know that by now — I hope your own fare well? One day she would have to meet them, she reasoned. Akavir tends to my needs, she murmurs softly, full of love for the man. Or there is Viinturuth to take his place. Thank you for your offer, but... It is not necessary. Her smile creeps wider, trying to ignore the deep tha-thump of her heart when she mentions her chosen's brother.

It is kind of you to visit. I have not seen anyone, ah, aside from... occasionally catching Hime lurking about. She says this with a light amusement to her voice but it is guarded, too. Ibis is more wary of the Empress' twin than anyone else so far and cannot place exactly why.