Hushed Willows you're my devil, you're my angel

It had been since day one that Kavos had been exploring. Despite his disinterest in the rest of his family, he had spent most of his time finding what lingered beyond them and wrapping his mouth around whatever he could get a hold on. Taste was the most prominent sense that he used in his adventuring, though sight was a close second. He had become increasingly interested in the entrance of the whelping den and what laid beyond it.

This is where Kavos could be found on the particularly blustery day.

Sprawled in the entryway, the pale cub laid and looked to the embered trees that loomed overhead. They, he was sure, was his favorite thing to look at. They were a vibrant contrast to his dull and unremarkable existence and he couldn’t help but feel lulled by them. It was as he looked on that a wayward leaf fell onto the ground before him. Despite the initial fear he felt, and the pricking of his peppered fur to match, he leaned towards the leaf and put his mouth around it. A piece broke off instantly and to this dissatisfaction he felt, the child scooted back a step and  shook his head and stuck his tongue out as he attempted to rid his mouth of the leaf.

Following the altercation with Stark and Warbone at the borders, Tambourine took it upon himself to start patrolling on a more regular basis. It was sort of boring and he became distracted easily, yet whenever he finished a circuit, it gave him a sense of accomplishment. He liked it best when he could accompany one of the Alphas rather than go it alone. Not only did their company make things more interesting, they taught him things that he would probably never learn on his own.

He finished a roundabout right around lunchtime and then headed back into the pack's territory to find something to eat. On his way, he passed by Amara's den by pure happenstance. He didn't know her and someone (he couldn't remember who) had told him not to bother her or her pups. When their scent hit his nose, the boy froze and looked around as if afraid of being caught red-handed. But nobody came to tell him off and then he saw movement. Tambourine couldn't help himself. He moved closer.

What he found was a pale pup munching on a leaf. Tambourine's eyes flew wide at the sight of someone so much smaller than him. "Hey!" he said overly loudly, his tail wagging. Then he remembered himself and flashed the littler wolf a sheepish smile. "Am I bothering you?" he stage-whispered.

Kavos was quick to attract company. Though residue of the leaf lingered on his tongue he ignored it momentarily to look at the nearing stranger. This was the first time he had seen a wolf that wasn’t in his immediate family and despite his curiosity he also felt on edge in regards to the other’s company.The only company he took pleasure in was the company of a sibling in the midst of a play-fight.

With his tongue sticking out and his brows lying heavily upon his milky eyes, the child stared at the other puppy, as if questioning why he was here.

The little guy—a detail Tambourine detected by scent—did not deign to reply. He just stared at him in silence. For a beat, the older pup returned that gaze, still smiling. Then it slowly slid off his face. He looked around self-consciously again. When his own pale eyes returned to find the pup still staring in his direction, his eyes not quite focused, he felt a chill travel down his spine. He shivered.

"Um..."

Kavos watched on without a sound, simply taking in the other as a whole. The concept of how big the world was still a very strange concept-- one that he would not grasp for months to come-- and he was confused by the other wolf’s existence.

As the other’s facial expression melted before Kavos, his head tilted. This expression was one that he had not seen before and something about it tickled his fancy. Voicing such curiosity, the child offered a quiet “Woo?” as he craned his head forward.

He didn't feel scared, per se, but something about the way the small child stared so blankly unsettled Tambourine. He turned to flee walk away when he made a strange sound. Tambourine froze, swallowed and squinted at him. "Woo?" he said back, just as quietly. He supposed it had been an innocent noise, even a sort of cute one. But he continued to eye the kid mistrustfully, as there was just something creepy about him.

It was as Kavos attempted to respond that a flash of panic flare in his eyes. In his attempt to communicate with the other he had accidently swallowed a leaf and now said piece leaf was lodged in his throat. A fit of coughs overcame him, rocking his tiny body as he attempted to clear his throat. He had never felt like this before and frankly he did not like it one bit.

In the midst of his coughing he looked to the older wolf with imploring eyes as if to beg, “HELP ME NOW!”

The sudden gagging caused Tambourine's fur to stand on end, simply because it had gotten so quiet (and creepy) and he wasn't at all expecting the loud noise. He jumped about an inch into the air, his eyes flying wide. He felt his impulse to flee grow stronger, though his eyes met the child's and he saw the plaintive plea there. He might have been a little spooked by this encounter but Tambourine could see that the little boy needed his help.

"What's wrong?" he asked, sliding up to hover over him. Tambourine wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed but he wasn't stupid, either. In any case, something clicked in his mind and he guessed, "Something struck in your throat? Is that why you couldn't talk?" Even as he spoke, he lifted a comically over-sized paw and clapped the kid on the back a few times, hoping desperately that it would help.

Kavos wasn’t quite sure what to do at this point. Would he be like this forever?! Would he never feel normal again?! Such fears overcame him as he looked helplessly towards the other. In response to Kavos’ despair, Tambourine came over in an attempt to figure what was going on. When a patting paw was offer, Kavos looked up to Tambourine as the leaf began to make its exit.

After a few more coughs the leaf escape Kavos’ throat and found itself in a pool of saliva. His eyes widened as the irritating sensation went away and he began to felt something that he had not experienced in his short life: love.

He loved this stranger-- whoever he was-- and was happy that he had come and saved him. Babbling idly, Kavos wagged his tail as the piece of leaf dribbled from the corner of his mouth as he attempted to express his feelings to the other wolf.

The obstruction came loose and the puppy spat it up: a chewed-up piece of leaf. Tambourine immediately felt relief flood through him. His pats turned into gentle rubs instead. "You okay?" he asked, dipping his head down. Forgotten was the creepiness of a moment before as he sought the smaller boy's gaze. "Do you need a drink of water or something?" he added.

He was a little surprised when the puppy's features lit up and he began babbling. "What?" Tambourine asked, turning his head sideways so his good ear pointed at the pup. But he was just saying nonsense. His brow furrowed and Tambourine looked him in the face again. "I don't..." It only now occurred to him: maybe he was just too little to talk yet? Probably the leaf hadn't helped but it wasn't that he was choking or even a creep, he was just a baby!

"Ohhhhh." Tambourine withdrew his paw from where it was sliding up and down the kid's back. "You can't talk, can you? But," he wondered aloud, head canting so that his ear flopped comically, "can you understand me...?"

Despite his panic moments before, the pale child was calm now thanks to the Keep’s Xi. He did not understand what Tambourine said and instead of trying to make sense of the other’s concerns, he attempted to mimic them. He watched the other’s mouth carefully and moved his lips about in an unflattering manner.

Meanwhile, Tam’s questions fell without any answers in response. Despite the fact that Kavos could hear, he did not attempt to answer.

He took the kid's non-response as an answer. Instead of being spooked like earlier, he smiled warmly at the youngster. He wondered when he would begin to talk and understand things. Tambourine couldn't really remember how old he had been when he'd developed these skills. Heck, he didn't even really know his own age. He shrugged to himself.

"What's your name?" he wondered, then kicked himself when he realized the child wouldn't be able to answer him. And there was no sign of his mother; she must have stepped out for a moment. "I guess I'll have to give you a nickname," he babbled despite knowing the pup couldn't follow. Tambourine lifted a paw off the ground and tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I'll call you..." He paused for a beat, squinting thoughtfully at the pup before his eyes fell to the chewed-up leaf between them. "Chalky."

Tambourine continued the one sided conversation and Kavos continued to mouth the day away. Determination came across his face as he also attempted to talk but only babbles rose in his attempt in speaking. He seemed to have favored the “ah” sound.

It was in the midst of his rambling that Tambourine spoke a word that caught his attention-- Chalky. He stopped at this and looked to the older puppy with an intrigued expression and tilted his head, unsure of how to react to something he actually liked.

It blew Tambourine's mind a little bit when the pup looked at him as if he had somehow guessed his actual name. "Chalky?" he repeated with a few blinks before breaking out into a big grin. "It's 'cause you choked on the leaf," he announced. It made sense to him, anyway. "I'm glad you're okay now, buddy," he added hastily, reaching out to pat Chalky's shoulder again.

As he regarded the smaller wolf, he realized he felt protective of him. He decided he wouldn't leave until @Amara came back from wherever she had gone. He just hoped she wouldn't be mad at him for hovering around her kid without her permission. He didn't mean any harm. He'd even saved his life (not that Tambourine fully understand how serious the choking episode could have been). Hopefully Chalky's mother wouldn't mind him being here or returning again in the future to spend time with his new little buddy.

He was still unsure of just who this wolf was, but he liked the words he spoke and the feelings he made him feel. Kavos had never felt so fondly for another or enjoyed another's company as much. So, needless to say, Kavos would do all in his power to keep this wolf at his side.

After the lovely rub to his shoulder, Kavos leaned forward instinctively in an attempt to learn more about the Xi that had saved his life. Without much of a warning Kavos leaned towards the other reached to the pale hairs that covered Tambourine’s chest. Latching on, Kavos tasted the other, his tongue snaking through the other’s hair as he got a taste for this wolf.

There were some similarities to his mother’s fur that he could taste-- namely the taste of the Keep-- but there was a certain taste that was missing: the taste of milk. Letting go, Kavos looked up to the other with confusion as he wondered what was wrong with him.

When Chalky began to sniff and prod him, Tambourine held still and let him. He giggled a little when the little boy's snout tickled along the slope of his chest. "Hey!" he squeaked indignantly, flinching away but smiling all the while. His small companion looked a little bewildered. "Sorry, it tickled!" Tambourine quickly apologized, mistaking Chalky's confusion for unhappiness over Tambourine's reaction to his touches.

To make it up to the younger boy, Tambourine bent forward and licked a stripe from the tip of Chalky's nose, up between his eyes to the top of his head. "I like you, Chalky," he declared. "I can't wait until you can talk and stuff. Maybe I can teach you?" He squinted curiously at the Sigma's face. "Can you say Tam? Taaammmmm?"

the woman carried a small, plump bird within her teeth; the easiest catch she could manage at that time. days spent reluctant from the outside world had left her near starved, thin and tired. yet, it was the sound of giggling and movement to her right that, after catching the being itself, led her to the sight of her son licking and clearly pushing himself on some boy she had never seen before. the woman was not impressed, for she would not have a son with the same upfront personality that had got her into the mess of a life she was living.

"is he bothering you?" her eyes flicked from between the older boy to her son, and settling on kavos accusationally. the possibility was likely, for they had bothered her at unconventional moments as well. whatever the case may be, her children were bothersome bunch, she knew that much, and she could not have them annoying any others especially when their existence were as guests within the keep; a standing she was not willing to loose no matter the unlikely possibility her month old son would cause their doom. "kavos," the woman scolded, just before her eyes wavered to the pile of leave remnants and regurgitated spit. the pieces clicked together and in less than a second did her tone increase in temper, for despite her hesitance, she could not help but to feel alarmed at the fact that her son had clearly almost died eating a leaf.  "you silly little boy. you could have died," harsh words met the child as well as she narrowed gaze that she had commonly adopted when speaking to the children. the mother was visibly angry, perhaps the closest thing she could get to feeling any emotion for the child other than resentment; worry and anger over the stupidity of her son. in a frenzy of emotions, she did not even notice as she nudged the boy at his forehead, a maternal gesture that she did not even know she was capable of giving, never mind to project it onward in physical form.. yet, the brief and wavering moment seemed to cease to have happened as her eyes hardened at the severity of the situation. the last thing she needed was to be blamed for neglect, and ultimately, the death-by-leaf of the youngest son. but had she not taught them? what was wrong and what was right? what to put in your mouth and what not to? 

she hadn't.

Something light bubbled within the Sigma as the other drew a line towards his forehead. In an attempt to showcase the joy he felt he wrangled his lips into something that resembled a smile. The line of his lips was wavy, yet the corners of his lips curved upwards for the first time. His tail tipped from side to side and his face wrinkled happily.

This happiness lasted until he heard he heard his mother’s voice.

The light in his life went dark as he turned quickly to Amara and any happiness melted from his expression. As her scolding commenced the child stared intensely at her and cupped his ears forward, as if to silently defy her words and show that he was the boss-- not her.

Before Chalky got the chance to repeat after Tambourine (if he could), someone else spoke from behind him, startling the older pup. He simultaneously spun and crouched, ears splaying and tail drooping as Amara walked onto the scene. He mistakenly believed her question was directed at her son and he twisted his lips, about to insist that he wasn't bothering Chalky—whose actual named turned out to be Kavos. But it seemed she was scolding her son, not Tambourine, which rendered the Xi momentarily mute.

The littler puppy wilted in response to Amara's gruffness, though there was a stubborn look on his face as he regarded his mother in stony silence (not unlike the way he had looked at Tambourine at first). Tambourine looked between them, heart pattering in his chest. "I helped Cha—Kavos. He's okay," he said a little uselessly. "Is it okay for me to be here?" he added, eyes shifting a little nervously. "I'm Tambourine. Stark's my dad." Hopefully that would help his case, if Amara was annoyed with him too. She was kind of unpleasant and reminded him of Natasha.

not for the first time, amara felt the heat of a glare unlike she had felt from another, once more; from her own son. it was a replica of the gaze she had bestowed upon them at their birth, full of loath and resentment; enough to cause her hinds to quiver and her ears to drop. could she apologize for interrupting, for coming the closest she had to caring? unable to form the words under the gaze she felt from kavos, the woman stuttered. "o-okay, t-that's okay," the words from tambourine passed her ears, only speaking to reassure the child she would cease to interfeer. timid steps, unlike her interrupting attitude, she began to retreat away from the child and his friend, mumbling only assurances that their interaction was not forbidden, masking the plea to keep kavos away from her as long as possible. "y-yes yes, okay,"

she ran once more.

She ran.

He lifted his chin as she retreated, his expressions of seriousness fading into smugness. He loved when he got his way-- especially when it involved Amara not getting her way-- and doing this in front of his new friend was the icing on the cake.

His tail curled out of enjoyment as he turned to his friend with shining eyes, looking to him expectantly, as if to ask: “What now?”

Tambourine's head tilted at the nervous stuttering and his lips parted to say something when the she-wolf turned tail and ran. "Wait—" he called ineffectually at her back, before slowly turning to face Kavos. He expected the smaller pup to look just as baffled but the little dude just looked smug. Tambourine's head tilted even further, though after a beat of silence, he simply shrugged.

"Your mom's kinda strange," he said, giving Kavos a crooked grin to show he meant no offense. He thought briefly of his own mother. Tambourine had loved her so much but now he could barely remember anything about her. "You don't bother me at all," he said after a brief pause, just in case Kavos had heard Amara's question and thought there might be truth to it. "I think you're pretty cool." To prove his point, he plopped down beside the littler boy and slung a foreleg companionably about his shoulders.

"I wish you could talk, though," Tambourine confessed, looking down into Kavos's face with a fond sparkle in his gray-blue eyes.

If Kavos could have fully comprehended what Tambourine had said, Kavos would have agreed completely. His mother was very strange and the pale child did not care all too much for her. Personally, he felt that she were more of a nuisance than somebody to love and cherish.

Soon enough, after many confusing words were attempted to be communicated, the elder puppy pulled Kavos into a wolfish embrace. He was taken aback by the action. He remained rigid as he looked up to Tambourine, his eyes wide and face expressionless. But, soon enough, Kavos felt a fuzzy feeling from within, causing him to bury his face into his friend’s chest and remained there, pleased with the outcome of this day.