Whitebark Stream The blurred world is filled with dust

It'd been some time since he last saw Kaori. She'd practically vanished since the announcement of Salvatore's death in the neighbouring forest, a tragic accident which had robbed the Whitebark wolves of a friend. He and the Kaori had been followers of Bhediya, Artyom recalled, and did not doubt that the duo had been close for this reason. Artyom had looked for the dragoness prior to the birth of his children and had picked up on her scent here and there, enough to assure him that she was still around.

She was left to her privacy while the Alpha's attention turned toward new life. Stepping with ease into new fatherhood, the gilded hunter was often loathe to leave his mate's side in the time that followed their litter's arrival. Artyom attended to what was required, but Dawn and the pups remained at the forefront of his mind throughout each hunt, each hasty patrol. His heart yearned to be close to them, for fear of missing out.

Two weeks had passed so swiftly, and so much had changed. The pups' eyes had opened and they'd grown considerably, become somewhat more aware of the world around them. It was a joy to experience, but Artyom had dedicated himself almost entirely to simply watching over. With a flurry of affectionate kisses and puzzles to his family, the Alpha exited their hollow that morning to turn focus toward his neglected comrades.

It was the unmistakable aroma of a birthing that drew him closer to Kaori's whelping burrow, and surprise knocked the breath right from him. Artyom hovered some distance away, nose working as he sniffed the air again to assure himself that his mind was not playing tricks. Might this be the reason why the dragoness had secluded herself from the pack? Fearful that the leaders might reprimand her, a subordinate in their ranks, for breeding out of turn? A low whine pushed past the ranger's lips as he called out to the new mother - it's only me, he seemed to say, taking a few tentative steps closer but unwilling to venture within striking range. "@Kaori," Artyom said out loud at last, voice soft and velvet ears pricked as he listened eagerly for the soft coos of newborns, "do you need help?"