Hideaway Strath there's a spark in your heart, that's all you need

There was not much to a puppy's life. Eat, sleep, squirm, repeat. But as he grew, Turmeric discovered there was more to life than what he'd known when his eyes and ears concealed him in darkness.

For one, there was light. Bright rays splashed the entrance to the caverns and enticed him outward - and this enticed him to his feet. The little boy often shuffled forward to touch the light with his toes, spreading his paws toward the beams and watching them shift with eyes wide with the innocence of wonder.

This morning found him splayed near one of the rays, but today his ever-wide eyes shifted upward to watch the point they reached from.

Arlette stayed around the den. The pups were starting to become more active and it was fun to start watching them. She had been resting and staying with them if they needed her or her milk. She had noticed that she had disliked being away from them. Not that she didn't trust Derg but she just wanted to be by their side all the time.

She had to smile at Turmeric while he explored some rays of sunlight. Now they were in the other den, they had more access to light than deep in the system of the chambers. Arlette had liked that for them, plus now would be easier to take the pups outside as well for a few hours a day.

Kynareth’s known of Derg and Arlette’s pups of course. He’s wanted to give each parent, especially Arlette, space before he goes to try his luck at seeing them. Today, Kyn deems it necessary. It’s about time he spoke to Arlette again and finally lay eyes on those sweet little fur balls of hers. 

So he moves diligently. Dare he say, he’s excited to see what they look like. He’s not so excited for the fact that Arlette may or may not try and kill him if he drops in to see her and the little buggars. 

When he approaches her den, he makes himself as noisy as possible so it doesn’t seem like he’s trying to sneak up on her. Instantly, he sees the sweetest little ball of fluff lying out in the sun. He chuffs at Arlette and can’t help but chuckle when his golden eyes land on the pup. He stops a good distance away, he wouldn’t approach unless Arlette allowed him of course. So with his head down in a fairly submissive position he looks to the mother and smiles.

“Arlette,” He greets. “may I have a look at your pups, darling?” He asks rather sweetly. The Grandmaster’s gaze is one of soft questioning. He wouldn’t be mad if she snapped and told him no, but he sure hopes she’d let him.

Sound and sight were still hazy, but the little boy could see and hear well enough to know now another wolf when he saw one. Only, this one looked so very different from mom and dad, and Turmeric decided that even if you smooshed mom and dad together, they'd be nowhere near as huge as the titan poised some unreachable steps beyond him.

A leak of urine wetted the fur on Turmeric's belly, betraying his conflict - because in the next moment, he found himself crawling forward, curious to meet this hulking man, despite the uncertain tuck of his tail against his pee-stained belly. "Mmmmm," he rumbled in his pitch little voice, still too young for any coherent words. He looked to his mother with a gleam in his wide eyes - asking permission, even as he tiptoed forward another little step.

Arlette hadn't expected Kynareth to show up to her den. Still the female realized that the male probably wanted to check how many she had. She was a little wary with the huge male stepping closer to her pups. She was almost a bit uncomfortable with the height difference, feeling if Kynareth really had it out for her he could squash them with his paws.

However, how the leader approached was nothing like the was ready to murder the competition to his pups. She sat up, alert and watching him for a moment. Turmeric seemed excited to meet him save for the little pee he just did. She didn't think it would be out of fear. "As long as you don't eat them," she warned but then calmed down a bit. She was still a little tense but that was also because she wasn't used to being around the male again.

She gently nudged Turmeric since he looked behind him. She smiled warmly. Arlette didn't want them to be antisocial so she approved of him exploring the other male. "That is Turmeric. He looks like Derg. We also have Thyme and Mulberry. Two boys and one girl," she told him them

Thyme had been snuggled against his mother's fur when suddenly that was pulled away. It ripped him from his sleep and cause a cry of protest to come from his throat. He lifted his head up to look around, most of it was blurry but she did know the light shape called mother and the dotted and splashes of brown and dark from his father. He rather stayed close to mother because she was warm and had food. The boy noticed his mother was alert, and couldn't understand what was causing her to be. She smelled different, or her shape looked different than normal.

When he heard a deep tone he turned. His eyes locking onto the massive shape before them. The striped blob was huge. He saw his brother a little clearer and tried to move to him but his steps were not as stable as he liked and he toppled over. The pale boy also wanted to see what this massive thing was!!!

Kynareth can’t help but smile sweetly at the small balls of fluff and fat. Especially the one that just peed himself a little and he most definitely doesn’t stop himself from laughing at the mixed emotions this little one has. Turmeric is his name, a Derg look alike and Donovan watches him softly as he nears his own massive form. 

“I would never.” He says seriously, but his voice is soft as he says it. Not even one bit sarcastic. He really couldn’t find it in himself to kill the little buggars, they’re so cute.

Dropping himself down from his heightened position into a lying down position, he crawls towards the pups a bit and scoops the little guy up into his paws and against his chest. He looks to Arlette then as she speaks, telling him the other pups names and his eyes dutifully move to look at the others. Damn, he’s really gotten soft hasn’t he? It happens when you haven’t been in war for a while. 

He chuckles when the other, paler pup, moves towards him then and he watches as he wobbles towards him as well. Turning his attention back to the one in his paws, he laps a dark tongue over his head. He can’t help it, guess he’s just a dad at heart now. He’d kill anyone if they tried fucking with Arlettes pups too, no doubt about it. 

“They’re cute, dear.” He says to her then. It’s likely she’s never seen Donovan’s soft dad side before. Hopefully it wouldn’t be too much of a shock. “Can’t wait for you to meet mine as well.” The Grandmaster says with a hint of excitement.

Mom's approval was all he needed. He thumped his short puppy tail and at her bump, made to shuffle forward a little more.

But the big man got to him first, and in a swoop, Turmeric found himself wrapped in an embrace that reminded him of the sun. Warm, and firm, and soft. He'd squeaked at the onset - a pitched gasp of surprise - but came to lay easy between the new wolf's paws, and he stared up with that same childlike wonder he had turned towards the light, and his mother. Now, to this new friend.

A little giggle escaped him when the man rasped his tongue across him, and Turmeric reached up to try and bap his nose against this his new friend's chin.

"Aye!", he squeaked, trying to call his brother with what little sounds he knew. He'd seen him toppling his way over, and wanted him to come here too!

Arlette watched but what she saw was the least she expected if she had to had guessed. The leader was a total softie regarding to her pups. She was surprised by it, expecting he might be more in favor to his own. Arlette did relax at the sight of it. She reminded herself that Derg and Kynareth were like brothers and that it was logical that he would accept Derg's pups. Still it was a welcome surprise.

The female quirked up her lips. "Look at you, Kyna. Such a big hit with them," she responded with a smile. It was cute to see Turmeric and even Thyme join the big male. It was good, in this stage pups knew little fear, and the more they were exposed to things the better. "I'm very eager to see them as well. I must arrange a playdate with Simmik," she agreed. But she wanted her pups comfortable with being outside the den first.

For Thyme this was all the encouragement he needed when his brother squeaked for him. He pushed himself to his legs and bounded forward with happy hops and uneven steps. He was getting there. The blob smelled a bit like his father, but different. Thyme got to the male's paws and tried to climb over them. It was rather though but he wanted to be where Turmeric was. He peeped in excitement when he managed to climb over the leg and join his brother. 

Only the young child was then distracted by the big and fluffy neck. He wanted to explore the man up closer and stepped towards his chest. He popped his front paws on it and moved his nose through his fur. It was very different than from his father or mother. Thyme, as all kids would do, tried to bite into it, exploring with all his senses. He was trying to grab small strands of fur.

Kyn laughs gently as Turmeric lifts himself to lick and nip his own chin. Humorously lapping his raspy tongue straight over the pups whole face. He can’t help but laugh again. Lifting his gaze up to Arlette again he sees her smiling back to him. He allows another boisterous laugh to rumble from his lips at her words.

“I’ve gotten soft, I’m telling you.” He jests lightly. Then responds to her next words about the play date. “Definitely should. I bet my boys would be ecstatic to see other pups.” Then he grins. “Simmik is being a bit greedy with them at the moment though, but perhaps it’ll happen soon.”

As he speaks his attention is then focused on the other pups waddling over and having trouble climbing over Donovan’s massive paws. He smiles at him too and it only grows enough to show teeth when little paws settle on his chest and begins nibbling on his fur. Don drops his head to him and begins doing the same, playfully rasping his tongue over his little fat body and occasionally nipping at him gently. Using his nose to roll him over and begin nipping his ribs and belly in an attempt to tickle him.

And what met his little kisses but a big ol' tongue across his face! The gesture surprised him, yet the laugh that leapt from Turmeric's throat was as hearty a squeak as any happy toddler could offer. He felt himself spurred on by the rumble of the older man's laugh, and the sudden appearance of his brother Thyme, who'd finally managed to make his way over to the big cloud man to join him here in the burrows of the fluffiest fur he'd honestly ever experienced in his entire little life.

Turmeric rolled over to shove his forehead against his brother with a light and affectionate bump, garbling some nonsense to him in the process as he looked to Thyme with bright and excited eyes for him to experience this experience too.

When the cloud man went to tickle Thyme, Turmeric rolled completely over and sought to worm his way into the onslaught, despite his clumsy lack of coordination - knowing the feel of a game, and eager to help his brother win against their new best friend.

Arlette watched Kynareth with her two boys. He was really fantastic with them really. They seemed very comfortable with the man. "Well, you are a big hit," she chuckled at him. She herself grew more comfortable as well. Arlette was protective of them, but she really wanted them not to feed off on her fear of them getting hurt.

"It can be a little scary to allow them more freedom," she admitted with a light smile. She nodded to the man. "I know from my mother when to let them go and explore more but it can be hard," she hummed. "I am really eager to meet your children as well."

Thyme felt very comfortable around this bear of a male. Plus his brother seemed also interested in what he was doing. "FAAA," he keened out and nipped more of the fur to show his brother how fun this was. They both seemed to beg for his attention. Thyme also wanted his licks and tickles. Because that was fun! He moved towards his bother and tried to wiggle his way closer. 

Sorry short

Kyn flicks his eyes up to Arlette with a light grin on his face as he tickles her children. A laugh bubbles from his lips and he can’t help it. All three of them are squealing and rolling over to try and get tickles and nips too. They’re cracking him up and he nods back to Arlette as she speaks. 

“Yeah, my boys aren’t as lighthearted.
Tulok likes to beat his brothers up over food sometimes, Atka is obsessed with rocks, and fucking Alduin keeps throwing up when he eats ‘cause he eats too much too fast.” He laughs softly and shakes his head with a roll of his eyes. “They’re already a handful.” 

With that he dips his head and begins tickling and nipping all of her pups stomachs and chests. Loving the way the squeak and squawk as he tickles them. They’re so cute and he hopes his pups get along with them. He definitely hopes his pups don’t bully them and instead decide to befriend them. He can’t wait to see a pack of pups running around and causing havoc in the Strath.