Sawtooth Spire zugespitzt

tension in sagtannet, but for the next hour mahler put it aside to grant his new daughters the totality of his attention. he brought with him that day a pluck of beaver fat for @Nyx, chuffing lightly in her direction as he came upon the den.
a rumble of affection, and then the gargoyle had settled to his belly, gathering first @Elke and then @Ciri into the wide crook of his powerful arms.
"heute lassen wir deine mutter ihre beine strecken," he told their small closed ears, content to lie his broad rough muzzle between them and breathe the milky scent of their baby selves.

With Mahler's arrival, Nyx' tail thumped the den wall in appreciation of his visit. Hawkish eyes followed the dark General's movements as he slipped into the whelping hollow, swift to find the morsel between his teeth. The sight of meat was enough for saliva to pool in her mouth, as she'd been to preoccupied to realise how hungry she felt.

From the father of her children came an unexpected opportunity, and Nyx blinked up at him for a moment of quiet consideration. No, her body screamed, heart reluctant to leave her newborns so soon for any period of time. She looked at the duo, knowing they'd be safe, and eventually chose to take her leave with the reminder that a chance to quench her thirst, relieve herself and stretch her legs would not come often.

She showered her offspring in soft kisses, and offered their guardian a knowing smile before she slipped beyond the cave's entrance to consume her lunch in peace.

When the birth-giver unfurled from around her snoozing cubs, Cirilla objected noisily. Disturbed, she scrunched up her little face and nosed at @Elke's porcelain shoulder in attempt to seek more warmth.

It came quickly, but not in the form she'd been expecting. A different adult swept she and her sister into his loving arms to cradle them snugly at his chest and, although she could barely recall the scent of him from his visits, Ciri was content to bask in the comfort he provided.

ciri was calm enough, though he had not expected either of them to truly put up an upset. not with how full and round they had become. "in some veeks you vill meet the others." nothing she could hear for now, but it set mahler to wondering how that sort of interlude might go.

She explored the dense fur of her father's chest thoroughly, poking with her stubby little snout and tasting with her eager tongue as she rummaged there - perhaps in search of a willing teat to nurse on. Alas, she quickly realised there was none to be found, and with a very dramatic whine she moved away to feel along the length of Mahler's strong forelimb.

Elke didn't seem to do much at her side, bit Ciri felt particularly active as she explored their guardian. She ended up on her back, having failed to tackle the obstacle of her father's large paws, and failed her tiny paws in the air in a poor effort to right herself.

little ciri began to explore the new landscape, but only momentarily before she tumbled beetle-like over upon her own tail. he harrumphed a chuckle and righted her, turning her round to face where elke lay slumbering. "very brave," he commented in his pleased way, watching to see what she might do.

Soon she was back on her belly, and that small ordeal was quickly forgotten about. The dark-furred newborn cooed softly to herself, appreciative to be back in a position that felt most natural to her, and continued to nose around the circle of her father's forelimbs as though nothing had ever happened.

Elke lay still at her flank, likely slumbering peacefully, and little Ciri unknowingly poked at her face with a curious snout.

he watched their little interactions with a pleased eye. there was a fond hope within mahler that his youngest pair would grow into a fair bond as they got older. phaedra commanded his first brood; she was outspoken and curious, and mahler saw already the fearlessness in ciri.
would they view one another as sisters? he did not think so, and the thought pained him.

Little response came from Ciri's snoozing littermate - likely only the soft mewls of protest that her underdeveloped ears could not hear. So she carried on for only a moment longer before her jaws parted in a wide yawn, and she curled close to Elke to be swiftly swept into sleep's willing embrace.

<3

all thoughts slipped into a warm blur of emotion as ciri found her sister and nestled close. he was a blessed man indeed, and nyx would find the gargoyle half-dozed with his great strength guarding over them.