Phoenix Maplewood It'll Be Raddd

Radcliffe was still confused over the whole situation. Since the hot times, his father had not been in sight. And it worried him greatly, and he grew to become sulky. Today, he chose to be sulky right in the open. Just, laying there alone. Huffing quietly against the dirt, sometimes pushing his nose into the dirt and shovelling some around, then sneezing.

Fortunately--or more like unfortunately--for Radcliffe, Timberlake was in a stellar mood, and was hiding in the brush a short distance away. With a small cry, he leaped forward, pouncing on his brother and further stirring up the dust. A hazy cloud rose slowly around them, and Tim rolled off and sneezed once, twice, three times in succession before resuming his play, chewing gently on Rad's ear.

"What's up, Rad??" he asked, voice probably blaring as his lips were right next to his brother's skull. "Why you so sad?" Timmy had been sad once, too, but then Chaiyya had come and now everything was awesome! Maybe Rad needed to meet her too! They could all hunt bugs together!! "Sad Rad," he giggled, enjoying the rhyme he'd made up on the spot.

Radcliffe gave a small yelp, yet after he realized just who exactly it was attacking him he just stayed still. His ear was gnawed upon, and the quiet boy sighed. "Something feel wrong...Something feel sad here" Rad murmured under his breath. Then he gave another sneeze upon the ground. He glanced over, trying to get a good look at his brother.

"What happened? I don't understand" he murmured again quietly. He could not understand any of this.

The dark wolf had a trace of crimson splashed ever so slightly on her snout. From her maw held a bundle of fur unlike her own, and had long ears. Earlier Desdemona was granted a successful hunt and came back with a healthy hare. As it swayed from her mouth, her jades focused onto the inner woods of Morningside.

She knew she was not to go within the inner sanctuary without a proper guide, her mentor, to accompy her. However Sunny was mysteriously absent, and the leader gone without a word. There was another member that was recently brought back, but Desdemona did not disturb her adjustment time. There was not many to bring forward prey for the young, and with mighty reluctance, the Joiner would go forward.

When she gave a stride toward the camp grounds, Desdemona had caught sight of a different bundle of furs, one she recognized, but one she has yet to meet. She had caught this hare for the young ones meal time, a bit unsure if they were able to wean off mothers milk. With the dark wolves long legs going forward, she would seek out the two, unaware of the damp mood one has.

"Me neither," he responded, face falling. Aw, shucks. Now HE felt sad, now, too! He knew what Rad was referring to--their father's absence, their mother's scarcity, the change of territory. Everything was so wrong, when it used to be so right. He wished he had answers, but he didn't.

Timmy was just about to give Radcliffe his usual advice--"Don't be sad; let's play!"--when the new huntress appeared, a hare in her mouth. Mood brightening at the prospect of food, Tim leapt to his paws and bounced around, trying to grab the prey from her. He seized one leg in his jaws and tugged, ending up losing his grip and falling over.

"Hi Desde--Desdeeeechoooo!" His attempts to say her name were interrupted by a loud sneeze, and, snot dripping down his muzzle, he peered up at her expectantly.

Radcliffe huffed quietly, sadly. He wanted his father to be here, to play or watch them play. To cheer him on. Rad saw another approaching and glanced up. "Hi..." he said quietly, and stood up slowly before heading over. A mopey expression played about his features, as well as confusion. He had no idea what was happening around him anymore.

Now this was what she assumed was normal puppy behavior. The slobber, sneezing, and carlessness. Desdemona bent down to place the hare down for them, "hello." She greeted, not minding the messy appearence he held, nor the falling. Rather the dark dame lifted her paw and tried rubbing it against young one, wanting to wipe the snot off. Not knowing how gentle she was supposed to be, if managed to get the snot off him, it could be rather roughly. 

Desdemona felt a new need, and responsibility to care for them now that Morningside was slowly... Falling from its grace. She knew care was more then just protecting and feeding, as the female remembered her own childhood. So she looked over to the pup she did not know yet, and inquired, "what is wrong?" Though lacking paternal guidance on how to interact with them, her face continued in seriousness despite asking in concern.

He giggled as she rubbed his face, coming way too close to blowing a snot bubble at her. Once he was (relatively) clean, she ceased and asked Radcliffe a question instead. Timberlake, knowing how shy his brother could be, decided to chime in for the both of them.

"It's sad here," Tim replied. "We miss Daddy. And our old den. When do we get to go back?"

Then he dived into the hare, tearing it apart as if his last question didn't even matter. Sometimes he just talked to talk.

Back from vacation!

Radcliffe barely lifted his head when the other came close, rubbing at his brothers face. Rad just stayed there, his eyes shifting up to regard Desdemona there. Then he huffed once Timberlake spoke of Daddy, of their old den. Tearing up himself, sniffing as if he were smelling at the ground for something. He just wanted Daddy back.

Desdemona initial thoughts this was an odd pup. Then again she has rarely seen pups and did not know of their regular behavior. She did knos the other showed signs of sorrow, and even sniffled up. It cause the dark dame to freeze, a bit startled and unsure on what to do by the question and slow sobs. She did not show her anxiety of this situation, and remained stoic in silence.

It took a few moments to collect herself before trying to find the right words, "I do not know," but Desdemona didn't know then right words. So, she gave them her words of truth, "but," she continued on. Her paw once again motioned upward, but toward Radcliffe in an attempt to wipe his tears away, "the home might be behind. But you will always be here with Morningside wolves, who count you as family." She didn't know if they would understand, but the slender wolf wasn't sure how to simplify it.

"It's an adventure," she took a pause to attempt a more 'fun' way to phrase it, "a new place to discover, and mark as your own."

Radcliffe began to sob. He could not help himself, hearing that their home was behind them. And his father had last been there. Was he behind too? He sobbed quietly, putting his paws over his face as he did. Not wanting to show his tears. Even as Desdemona spoke of an adventure, it did not warm his spirits so much.

since Timberlake fell inactive going to assume his character just wandered off

Desdemona silently watched Timberlake chew into the rabbit as if his previous words were nothing. He has an odd one, especially since he simply got up and left- leaving a half eaten carcass behind. Perhaps he went to play rather then have some lunch, as she assumed that is what most young ones would do. She would have followed to make sure he was safe, but she could not forget that another pup was around.

One that needed more attention at the moment, as her large ears heard a sob, and a jade gaze wandered toward a small one trying to not show his tears. Desdemona froze at the sight, because she didn't know how to generally handle these types of situations. Not a sociable wolf, she had no idea how to comfort, as it seemed her words from earlier failed. She was bit lost on how to handle this.

So she awkwardly stood there for a few moments, before shuffling closer to Radcliffe. Desdemona felt the words 'its okay,' were not right in the situation, and hesitated to voice out. The best she could do was hold a paw out, and rather sloppily, try and pet the crying child. 

Radcliffe watched as his brother went off from under his own paws, and then hid under his paws again. Sobbing quietly more. Until he felt a touch, of a paw that stilled him. Looking up, he shuffled forward and went up against the other wolf, the only comfort he could feel that would make him feel a bit better at least.

She was truly a wolf with limited experiences, one being the mystery with comforting. Especially toward pups, for Desdemona felt she never really had that motherly instinct. The hardened nature that been boiled from a misfortuned path took away those natural emotions, and they were not easy to retrieve back. She only felt awkward, and stressed by the pup that coddled next to her rather then the thought to baby him. She worried for the right words, and on what to say- would he even understand her? Baby-talk was a foreign tongue to the black dame.

Through the anxiety that swirled within she let the other warm to her side, only looking down at them with confused jades. However as someone with an expressionless face, surely it looked like an awkward scene with one crying, and the other stoicly looking at a younger wolf. She was at a loss.

But she let him, nontheless, and quietly stood there, unsure what to do.

Radcliffe was silent for quite a time as he leaned up against her. And whined. A dull whine, of sadness. "Father...I miss my father..." He dared not look up, or else revealing his sad tearing eyes. And only remained against their leg, moving himself to be under as if sheltered by them. "Why did it burn...why did we have to leave father behind?"

She most likely was not the best companion to be against, as Desdemona wasn't a soft or plush wolf. Her fur was cold due to the upcoming winters, and her skin was muscled by the experiences she went through. Even her fur- perhaps sleek and smooth, might be a bit roughened by the new adjustment she is going through with this pack. A stressful time, she is rowing through, and trying her upmost best to serve to the pack. Even to a pup, that she did not know how to comfort.

"Sometimes," she gave a slow start, "those who stay behind, stay behind to protect." She didn't know who his father was, but from what she gathered over bits here and there, some did not make it in the fire that terrorized Morningside. She gave the estimated assumption that Radcliffe's father was one of them, "he wanted to make sure, you and everyone else, continued on." Desdemona tried her best to be easy on the words, but she never would know how to truly comfort.

Radcliffe didn't want ot hear it, but it helped a little to hear it at least. His father to Desdemona's understanding had stayed behind to help. So...so maybe he was still out there! And they just had to find him. His tail wagged a bit in hope. "So he could be out there still" he murmured quietly, a bit tired as he yawned after.