Dragoncrest Cliffs into the spectrelight

For the last month, he had adhered strict to his best routine--most effective, most ground covered on patrol, extra hunts, so on. Thankfully this year he had a better grasp on it all, even with nursing his own aches from the bear's might (another stark reminder that he could not bounce back as swiftly as before) through everything.

Now, though? All had gone.. well so far. He was keeping up all he could, content and fulfilled, all while squeezing in all the chances he could to be with his family. The puppies were growing by the day, and he was eager to watch them progress, hopefully into the future of Drageda along with the other litter just ahead of his own. 

So when today's foggy morning patrols-turned-hunts went swiftly into his favor, he could return to their side even before the afternoon spanned on. On a truer lightness to his step he had oftentimes lacked lately (citing bear and overexertion, probably), he carried with him two thick rabbits hung slack in his teeth and when the den appeared in his line of sight, he eased up and called out to whoever was home as he closed in on the dark depth--expecting either @Portia or @Dalia, and of course, the trio of little fuzzies @Dacio @Sequoia and Opalia to answer him soon enough and his still-warm chance at a meal for any willing takers.

He'd been sprawled near the mouth of the den, content for the coolness of the rocky wall that he'd pressed his flank to, and had settled into position to watch the world outside. A light mist hung between the trees beyond the family's hollow, depositing a cool few on the vibrant wildflowers that sprouted from between the rocks. Dacio, having only recently roused from slumber, parted his jaws to yawn before resting his chin atop an outstretched feeling to observe the hazy scene before him.

The return of his father was anticipated, though the boy's reception of him was no less excited. As the golden Wocha strode into view, Dacio was quick to gather onto his over-sized paws and scramble out into the open. He tripped over himself in the eagerness to beat his sister's in what had become a daily race for the prize that Dio often carried and, with great urgency, the ashen youngster reared onto his hind limbs in a rude attempt to reach for the rabbits that dangled from his sire's jaws.

Snatching a limp foot between his growing milk teeth, Dacio pulled at it with a frustrated "rrrr!"

earlier in the day, @Wildfire and portia had gone out for breakfast together to catch up, so the piebald mother wasn't hungry. but, of course, dio was always a more than welcome surprise, and so she left the den-- ushering sequoia and opalia out with her. dacio, the little attention-whore, had already raced out to greet their father. portia carefully stepped over to dio, her bad leg still not great for movement, and gave him a gentle kiss to the cheek. "what'd we do to deserve you?" the fisa asked playfully, then moving to rest near the mouth of the den, giving a soft sigh-- thankful someone else was around for the pups to latch on to, she needed to rest her eyes a minute.

dalia followed moments later-- she'd been organizing some moss balls in the back of the cache next-door. "daddy!" she barked as she spotted her father, trotting out of the den to intercept him, careful not to step on the trio of puffballs. she nosed his chin happily before stepping back to look at dacio, who was eagerly trying to tear the leg off a rabbit. "did you patrol this morning? how was it? did you find anything cool?" dalia asked, accidentally letting a whole train of questions slip out like some sort of toddler. of course, her mother always found more interesting things when she was out and about-- but portia looked for tiny treasures anyway. dio, however, sometimes found coyotes to chase out or new visitors. both were interesting to the pale kru.

Infinitely grateful for the good hunting, and feeling ready for a little break when the time came, he immediately forgot all about whatever train of thought he had been organizing prior when the grayscale son made his bid for first place. A warm reception from his family followed, too, and he had more than enough to keep him occupied. Dio perked too for his mate and though he flashed her a fond look (best he could through the prey he wasn't ready to set down just yet), his focus spearheaded onto the boy who came for him with such gusto that there would be no ignoring him.

The wocha's tail waved a happy rhythm and with a swinging gesture of his head, he gave the slack rabbits in his grip a little shake--though held fast, he knew better than to entirely underestimate growing, energetic puppies. When Dacio went for a dangling paw, he lifted it up a bit higher, then back down into his reach again with a low, playful growl rising in his throat too. But, with everyone else here, and the sisters (Opalia especially was glaring this way from a ways behind her brother) starting to look vaguely interested in this too, he wasn't going to let this become a full-blown tug of war yet. He soon let go, leaving the boy to that catch.. if he wanted. Dio kept a paw on the other one, the smaller of the pair and the first, chillier one he had felled as Dalia appeared.

Affectionately he reached to nudge his speckled daughter back. "Patrol, yes, all.. quiet though," he answered, licking rabbit fur off his lips. There wasn't that much to report besides trees and marks. Typical work. Best he had was but some idle observation--while he'd been out anyway. "There were some squabbling hawks down south, closer to Ankyra, but I can't exactly police the skies," he rolled his scarred shoulders, remembering the bear from the Sound all too well and the marks he would carry for good. At least the creature sighting hadn't been that bear; he hoped to never see it again. "They took off towards the Sound eventually. Keeping peaceful here, too?" he asked back just to be sure.

When Dio lifted his head, Dacio's jaws held fast to the rabbit limb that he'd successfully clamped in a vice grip. Briefly, he dangled from his father's catch, body sagged in a dead weight, but he completely underestimated the adult's strength. Once his rear paws found solid ground again, the golden Wocha released one of his kills and the ashen youngster was swift to hurry it away out of reach of watching sisters.

He felt Opalia's glower follow him, and he eyed her with caution as he dragged his prize across the ground toward a quieter place where he might be undisturbed. When at a more comfortable distance from his family, Dacio proceeded to pluck tufts of downy agouti fur from his meal, before tugging and nipping at exposed skin. Eventually, he managed to break through and he greedily licked at the fresh crimson blood that spilled forth. Content to ignore the boring adult conversation, the dark-pointed puppy helped himself to the rabbit that he intended to keep all for him.

"you could try," dalia purred with a wagging tail, having fun imagining her father soaring through the skies, yelling at birds. her tail beat against the ground. "all good here-- i'm working on my pup sitting trade," she revealed with a gentle puff of her chest to her dad. it was easy given how many pups were in drageda... but all the same, dalia found she really did love caring for the goufa's. 

and then she paused to give dacio a stern look, noticing how protective he was being. "hey-- dacio-- share," she scolded with a furrowed brow. she glanced to portia for back-up-- knowing that dacio was very attention driven by their mother, but portia had already fallen fast asleep. she supposed being a mom was hard...

Edit: ah crap, I posted out of turn. Sorry.  :(

Still mostly reliant on his mother's milk and partially digested meat, Dacio wasn't entirely sure how to navigate such a fresh corpse. All he knew was that he enjoyed the metallic taste of it on his tongue enough to want it all for hmself, and hovered protectively over his prize. Should any rogue sister venture his way, he would rumble his offence and drag the rabbit out of reach.

As he chomped down on the exposed hide once again, a feminine voice demanded his attention. A charcoal ear thrust in her direction, he turned his baby blue eyes on his elder sibling who insisted that he share, though he ignored this request. Dacio tugged and pulled with greater ferocity as he feared Dalia would take it from him, puncturing the skin with every intent on ripping a large enough section away should she decide to claim it.