Lost Creek Hollow april serenade

April showers brought, well, more May showers. A rainstorm rolled over Riverclan and Shadowpup, who’s ears had just opened, heard the patter of droplets outside the den.

She perked up and listened… until a loud BOOM of thunder crashed overhead.

Immediately, Shadow began to wail.

Hope you don't mind me! Probably will need some adult intervention here

Mae was sick and tired of all the noise in this place. She was sick and tired of this place in general, really, and had chosen to take it out on anyone who was not one of her brothers or @Akavir.

The thunderstorm only worsened things. Mae wasn't scared so much as agitated, and so when Shadowpup began to wail she snapped almost immediately. She growled once and went straight for the younger girl with teeth at the ready. It didn't even occur to her that she could actually hurt the other pup.

Rain—he was soaked, but remained on quiet watch. Their time was coming to an end soon at Riverclan and he was both eager and reluctant to return back to the creek. Whatever mess awaited him there, he knew at least that Arric and Moss had likely kept the place upright.

A crack of thunder drew his eyes to the den—seconds later a distressed cry caused him to rise, and poking his head in, his eyes fell upon the bundle of pups—and his own feisty daughter as she emitted a growl and lunged.

Swiftly, Akavir made to halt her, his own paw swooping in to act as a blockade as his jaws tried to find purchase gently upon the back of her nape where he would pull her back to him—protecting not only the other pup but likely her from another caretakers ire.

Their time here would need to come to an end sooner than expected, he believed, as he cradled Mae closer to his chest, releasing his gentle but stern grasp.

Thunder was outside and now it was inside, too. Mae’s rolling growl, no matter how tiny, made Shadow’s brain vibrate in its case with fear. The neonate was completely helpless and relied on her guardians for every aspect of survival… but her instinct to live was strong.

She cried even louder, petrified and hurried away from Mae to hug the wall of the den. Mother! Mother! Help!

Her father appeared quite suddenly, blocking Mae's attempt at reprimand, but she wasn't disappointed. In fact, she was delighted! Mae's mood flipped almost immediately and she let out a soft little cry of joy to be tucked so close, burrowing further into his thick fur.

K'vir, She mumbled into his fur, and started to chew on it with zeal. But only for a moment. Shadowpup's heightened cries drew her attention, and Mae leaned away from her father to frown in her direction. Something like concern was starting to bleed through her agitation, and it showed in her flattened ears and wide eyes as she looked back to Akavir as if to ask: aren't you going to do something about that?

partially expecting akavir's nose to get bitten by an angry mama... hahaha

A switch in her mood—Mae snuggled closer to his warmth—or she looked for a chew toy. Either way, the acting out was done—and as the other little one wailed into the dark, his daughter had the gall of giving him an incredulous look—like, wasn’t he going to soothe the babe that Mae had been so intent to strike only moments before?

Knowing he would have his hands full with his daughter as weeks passed on, he cast an arched brow glance to her, and raising, he nudged her softly, encouraging, before padding close to nose at the crown of the afraid pup—hoping to soothe before the cries of the younger one would wake a mother that clearly was in a much needed and deeper sleep.

Rumbling to soothe, he made to lay down between the two cubs—nudging the youngest closer, and coaxing Mae forward—the storm would pass, soon, he hoped, and sleep could be had once more.

Sorry for my delay~

Shadowpup felt a kind touch that made her wails dwindle into tiny hiccups. However, she also recognized the scent as a stranger. But who could complain when thunder and growls harassed her?

She shuffled close to Akavir and buried her head into his dark fur, finding comfort in his presence.

Never apologize! <3

Mae was satisfied when Akavir reached for the other girl and comforted her, although a distinct stab of jealousy set her slightly on edge. But she wasn't heartless; she could tell that the dark pup needed comfort. So rather than the defensive display she wanted to put on, she allowed herself to be herded by Akavir and studied the girl curiously.

After a few seconds, she reached out to boop the other girl's nose with her own. It was the only form of interaction she could think of that didn't involve biting her. Mae still wasn't entirely sure what to do with other children, aside from her brothers.

The pup was reluctantly soothed by his touch—the rugged man pulling her in closer as she burrowed—cries fading to hiccups. Mae came closer—Akavir reaching out also to his daughter to cradle them both against him—breathing out a gentle sigh as the storm raged on outside.

Mae went to ‘boop’ the other on the nose—Akavir searched his daughter and leaning down to plant a rumbling kiss on her brow, he whispered. “In a world you can be anything, Mae, above all, be kind,” he offered to her quietly.

Last from me

The last iota of discomposure was eradicated by Mae’s little boop. When Shadowpup felt the elder child’s gentle touch, and the soft leather of her nose, a calm came over her. Though thunder still rumbled outside, the dark little cygnet felt safe and loved.

Stress took its toll, however, and Shadowpup almost immediately fell asleep – the pink of her wee tongue poking out from her lips as she suckled in her dream.