Sawtooth Spire What do you call an alligator in a vest?...

Had Iqniq been a father before? Yes. Had he been a present father before? No. He'd been promiscuous during his explorations. While he'd been careful not to approach females during their season there were a couple of occasions when instinct simply could not be stopped. Was it something he talked about? No. It wasn't anything he was proud of. It was for this reason he was likely overcompensating with his persistent presence. It was fine. Truly. He'd rather his kids be sick of seeing him than pained from not seeing him enough.

He held his thoughts close as Aariak assured him his earlier words had been a joke. A soft smile crept across his maw as his tail threatened to wag. "Mm. I can't wait." He wanted to play with them. He wanted to teach them. He wanted to parent them. Tonravik and himself were so different that they each offered something special to share with the kids. Those kids would be extremely well rounded. He was excited to see what adventures their future held.

At Aariak's comment on his brothers and uncles, Iqniq laughed. "Adults with opinions? Sounds like herding cats." At least with children it was a learning experience. They could grow up with discipline and obedience. They could learn when "No" meant "No" and what consequences would come with forgetting it. Adults? They definitely had more of a "I do what I want" mentality. He couldn't imagine being a caretaker over those who didn't think they needed care or looking after.

It pleased him to know Aariak was just as excited to meet the pups as he was. It would be good for the children to meet new faces and learn how to be social with more than just their little circle of family. "You'll have to stop by when we're ready to introduce them. Or rather, when Tonravik is ready to introduce him." She was still calling all the shots on their lives at this point. He'd almost forgotten.