Lost Creek Hollow Don't you lie, your cheeks are blushing red.

Tagging Gannet for reference but maybe she can meet Ashlar? If the lite PP is not OK I can edit it out!

It was raining when she woke that morning. A little pitter-patter of cold water spitting down at her, catching on the leaves of the oak trees rimming the clover field. She startled awake after a strange little dream — something about playing tag among the willows of Elysium with Okeanos but it was different too, his face was replaced by the small shape of the dead boy — and she as she shivered the dream evaporated. Ibis stood up and shook the beading water from her coat and then proceeded to begin grooming herself, only to pause — she thought she heard something.

The scent of @Gannet drifted her way but it wasn't strong. Curious, and always happy to be in his good company, she began to prance through the clovers to intercept him. What she stumbled upon wasn't the handsome pale wolf, but someone far, far younger; they appeared to be wallowing in a mud patch, which didn't seem like very much fun to Ibis. She couldn't help but scrunch her nose up at the sight of the young boy (@Ashlar) messing around like that; there was no way to tell where the mud ended and his coat began!

um don't mind me <3

They were playing hide and seek. Gannet had just hidden himself away when Ibis arrived, and he was waiting on Ashlar to finish counting.

Rather than move to identify his spot, Gannet remained crouched, fairly well hidden among the taller vegetation. His white coat for once didn't hurt too much in that either. It wasn't the best spot, but he wasn't looking to win for too long anyway.

Ashlar was just opening his eyes to look, but when he did it was Ibis he saw first instead of Gannet.  He let out a small squeak of a noise and flattened himself, then peeked at her anxiously from his place between strands of clover.  Ashlar was not much of a socialite when faced with strangers.

Ana 'ide, ookit?  He babbled querulously, but he didn't rise to come towards her.  He had to accustom himself in his own time and that was a  tentative feat to achieve.

The boy seemed content in doing whatever-it-was. He caught sight of her almost as soon as she took notice of him and, with some babbling (which Ibis presumed was an invitation to play), wriggled in the mud. This must have been one of the children that Bat had been talking about when she'd mentioned many mothers; the memory of that conversation caused Ibis to mentally pause, to study the boy's giddy little face for familiarity. Was this another sibling she didn't know? She didn't feel inclined to investigate too closely — a little bit skeptical but also kind of nervous at the prospect of her father with so many women — and she was stuck pondering where she stood.

Gannet continued to hide, but Ashlar seemed to have been sidetracked by Ibis's appearance. Noting that the pup hadn't begun looking yet, he crawled forward, conscientiously making some noise as he did so and smiling as he glanced at Ibis. Doubtless she'd hear and see him, but Ashlar was shorter and hopefully wouldn't manage it. Easy but not too easy was the way with pups.

Playing these sort of games was one of his favorite pastimes, and he was thrilled that Ashlar was finally able to partake. He couldn't wait until Liffey's we're old enough as well!

She didn't understand what he was saying.  Ashlar stared at her for a moment longer with wide, still-blued eyes as he considered his options.  He could continue looking, but that meant coming closer to her, because the direction he wanted to look was there; or he could wait for her to leave.

The rustle that Gannet caused by moving made Ashlar's mind up for him.  He had cornered his quarry and would catch him, for he was the mightiest of hunters!

The pup forgot about Ibis in his excitement and lunged through the grass and the clover.  As soon as he spotted Gannet he let out a gleeful shriek of laughter, then pounced to take up his tail between his small teeth.

The pup appeared to be looking for someone, or something. He was watching her and didn't seem to be eager for her company and that didn't bother Ibis much; she didn't know how to act around the very young. She was very young herself, but not so small and inexperienced, not like him. Strangely, she felt a resistance when she moved to intercept the boy in his mud puddle; but he was already turning away from her to pounce through the grass, and as soon as his attention had drifted she felt the spell be broken.

They careened through the grass with as much finesse as a golem made of clay; she watched as the pup's antics muddied Gannet's pale coat and felt a thin sensation of pity for him, but mentally chided herself, 'Its just a kid being a kid, stop being so mean.' And she drew closer, ambling towards where Gannet was not-so-hidden anymore and keeping him as an obstacle between herself and the muddied child, not at all interested in joining the mess. 

She smiled though, and called to them,
Oh! You got him! Look at you go, little warrior.

Gannet had no clue about Ibis' inner thoughts, and his only reaction was a delighted roll as Ashlar bowled into him. He delivered a series of nips at the pup, playful ones, then gently waved his tail so that he would have a challenge holding it.

You did. A fierce one, he said, and gave a playful growl at the boy.

Then he looked at Ibis and smiled. This is Ashlar.

This is Ashlar.  The child gave a small squeal, then began to gallop in a circle around the two of them. He made it only as far as halfway before he tripped, tumbling to land nose first into the dirt.  

He was undeterred, however! The chase wasn't done and neither was he.  Though he was on the tail of nothing visible, as soon as he picked himself up he was back at it.

Then, abruptly, he stopped.  He let out a little growl, almost one that would match Gannet's own, and turned to face Ibis.  He then stamped two front paws, inviting her to a game.

Ashlar? That was a very nice name, she decided. It sounded very strong, even though he seemed so very, very small. Upon hearing the name the boy seemed to perk up; Ibis had watched him nose-dive in to the dirt but thought nothing of it, yet when he came careening towards her, she gasped and side-stepped towards Gannet as if the child was about to do some actual harm. She wasn't sure what to do -- he had so much energy! Then he stopped short, bowed, and slapped his paws against the earth.

Ibis knew precisely what that meant — and she was overwhelmed by a brief but stirring comparison to Okeanos. His little growl, the sneering puppy face, the invitation; she couldn't just sit there, even if she was a bit out-of-sorts by the child's exuberant energy. She ducked her head and shoulders low, her forelimbs spreading in a vee, and called to him with a rrrruff!

As Ibis moved sideways, Gannet began to step to intercept, sensing Ashlar's rush had made her nervous. It wasn't necessary though. The pup luckily slowed down as soon as he got close, and Gannet smiled as he invited Ibis to play. From what he'd seen so far, Ashlar was fairly timid with strangers, but he'd warmed up quickly here. It was good for him to know his packmates as family and safety.

He remained to the side to watch their game unless they invited him in - one on one was better though.

he is skippable for a bit! <3 unless referenced

He was delighted when she growled back, and he bared his little teeth in a very unconvincing snarl.  Unconvincing because it was much more of a smile than anything else.  He darted in and attempted to wrap his forepaws around the only part of her he could reach.  If he managed to nab her right forepaw, he'd roll over sideways in an attempt to wrestle.

He was not a fighter, but when every fight was a game he leapt in with exuberance.

He was a sly one; he moved with the bumbling ineptitude of youth but Ibis wasn't much different in her lack of grace, and soon he had zeroed-in on one of her limbs and grappled with it. The girl laughed lightly as her limb was compromised, and the sound grew as the boy rolled and tussled against the limb. Ibis ducked low as he sprawled on his side and then his back, poking at his plush belly with her nose while playfully, lightly, pretending to grab at him with her wide-open mouth, all in jest.

Ashlar was highly ticklish, and when Ibis poked his belly, his laughter pealed out with even wilder abandon. It was hard to growl while laughing, but he tried to, and rolled over to protect his ticklish tum.

His front paws grasped for her muzzle, but as he grabbed her, a slight sound escaped him.  Hyuck. His eyes widened, and then again.  And again, his little body shook with them.  It was his first time getting hiccups, and he was extremely baffled by them.

The boy began to laugh—what a glorious sound! It brought a big smile to her own face and some giggles, but those arrested when she noticed his laughter transform. His little hiccups were a sight to behold; not as abrasive as the loud and pitch-imprefect laughter, but curious.

His little hops made Ibis draw back a half-step (thinking she had broken him somehow), but when she recognized the little belches as innocuous breaths of air caught in his chest, she relaxed and dove close for more play. At this point the boy managed to grab her snout; still hopping to his own beat, but eager to keep playing.

Oh! Yeh goh meh! Ibis murmured around his grasp, sounding more cartoonish.

Now Ashlar had the challenge of trying to giggle around hiccups, but he managed it.  He was delighted that he had managed to capture her face as his own and planted a big kiss on her chin in response to her admitted defeat.

Gohh youuu he exclaimed, and then laughed again.  He tried to roll over to get up, but he would need to let go first.  Fine, her face was her own again!  He rolled and scrambled to try and get away before she could capture him and take retribution!

God this is such a short reply aaaah

He released her and rolled over, sort-of, giving Ibis a moment to orient herself better to the new game; his little paws were hard to avoid as they flailed and he was trying to escape, but she dove close and with a gasp, plunged her nose in to his belly fluff and went, PPPBBBPPPTTHHHH as if she were blowing her nose and he was the tissue. He'd still be able to kick at her or grab at her with his forelimbs, even grab an ear if he felt the desire. Ibis hoped to make him laugh — and it didn't occur to her that Gannet was watching all of this stupidity. Had she been more "with it" Ibis might've been more conservative with her playing.

Sorry sorry! I'm gonna wrap this if that's ok!

Gannet watched with absolute contentment as his son squealed with delighted laughter under Ibis' play. She would make a good sitter and friend to him, and he was suddenly struck by how good it was to be surrounded by so many friends. This pack had such a different feel to it than Moonspear had - here, everyone he crossed made him feel better on seeing them, and everyone he spoke with seemed keen to bring joy.

As Ashlar struggled to his feet and began to run, kicking off a game of chase with Ibis, Gannet leaped sideways into a playful hop so as not to provide a shield or a hiding place. He then joined in, beaming at the fun of playing on a beautiful sunny day.