Blackfeather Woods How can one like me love one as filthy as you?

@Kove and anyone of her siblings who wanna crash the party

The little girl had gotten many gifts from life- She could now hear and walk pretty okay. Once she had the hang of walking on all fours, she was skipping around the den most of the time; screaming for someone's attention or milk or just anything that would settle her down for some time. She didn't care how hard she had to cry for something she wanted- didn't care how annoying she was to her whole family. She would be loved, she decided, whether they wanted it or not. She was a good kid- the best kid, and today she found it was the white blob's turn to give her some attention.

She skipped her way to her father with a bright smile- her blue eyes shimmering  in the lone rays of moonlight that streamed into their dark den. Everything was quiet- everything was still, except for her. She bumped head-first into the white lump that was her father with a squeak. Nal- Nalligik! She stumbled over her first word-her voice clear as day. Nalligik! She demanded once again.

It was with his frontal half facing the entrance that the male had fallen asleep. Even in his unconscious state, though, he was attentive of all that was happening around him. It was his responsibility to guard his family and keep them safe, and so, more often than not, he slept with a rigid posture. Tonight was no different, of course, aside from the bump he’d felt against his side. It was soft in comparison to what an adult—or legitimate threat—could do, and so it was with slow movements that he’d lifted his head up and off of his paws. Turning, he’d looked towards the girl, ready to ask what she was doing awake. Before he’d the chance to speak, her mouth had opened, and out spilled her first real word. Ears perked atop his crown, an expression of surprise filling his features, briefly, before morphing into joy. Against the earth, his tail thumped, a smile pulling at his lips as he regarded his daughter.

“Âng, piuvuk!” praised the man, his voice just above a whisper. A glance around the den was taken, but, in the end, his fiery gaze had found its way back to her face. “UKak atâ,” he then prompted, eager to get her to say more. Already had Atshen started with saying ma, so he was determined to get one of the others to say dad first.

Her ears were perked high atop her tiny freckled head as she awaited a response. She was sure to move around some more to try and wake her dad, but never would she use her teeth. It was with a side-eye on the entrance that she waited, letting out small whimpers. How dare he not respond right away! She was just about to demand him love when he moved- finally!

She grinned at his words- she understood only the first word, but it was a start. She nuzzled against his soft, white fur. While she was devoted to her mother, she did not dislike her father. He was... okay, she supposed. And that was a compliment coming from her. Atâ? She repeated after him, quite amused with how she sounded herself.

The grin that resided upon her lips seemed to insinuate that she knew what had been said to her, which he was glad for. He’d made it a habit to speak to them in his native tongue as often as possible, and it seemed as if his efforts were paying off. Shadows meshed with light as she nudged herself up against him, and he’d used the closeness to run his muzzle over the top of her head. He wondered for how long he’d be able to do so before they were all too old and disinterested in their parents, but ended up abandoning the thoughts. It didn’t matter how much time he had to spend with them, for he would enjoy every second of it, and then go through the motions of missing it terribly once the time came.

Astrid repeated the word, and so, again, he smiled at her. “Nakullarpuk!” exclaimed the Inuit, though he was careful to not shout. He didn’t wish to wake any of the others, knowing that it was important for them to get plenty of rest. “UKagiallak,” Kove prompted, wishing to know what else she could say. It was often that he spoke to them in the language, so it was interesting, to him, to see what all they might have retained.

The little girl spoke nire Inuttut than English at this point, though she did remember mother saying some things in a language that was somewhat familiar to her. She supposed she liked them; her parents. Her siblings were mostly alright if they did not challenge her in any way or form and the place they had was... acceptable. Maybe a little dark and blobby but enough for her tiny body now.

She was praised, and a proud smile settled onto her young face. She somewhat understood the last bit and grabbed a random sentence from deep inside her brain. It took a few seconds for her to completely think about it and it's pronunciation, but after some thinking she knew she'd have at least part of it right.I-Itsinak.

Kove knew that it was important for his children to learn the common tongue, but never was he able to help himself when around them. Usually, if not always, he addressed his children in the tongue of his family, just as he currently was. Thus, whenever they spoke it back to him, he was proud. Lessons in English were left for Nemesis to teach, though he came to wonder just how well they were going; he’d yet to hear any of his children use the language as their primary. Wishing to believe that they were going well enough, his thoughts went back to the matter at hand, which was listening to and teaching the girl as she spoke. Her next choice of words, however, had been surprising.

“Itsinak?” the father repeated, his version having been presented as a question. Of course, he knew that she could just be repeating something she’d heard before, but still wished to investigate further into it. If it turned out to be that she wasn’t simply doing as a mockingbird might, then he needed to know. “IlilikKen?” he’d decided to ask. It was the Inuk’s hope that she’d not seen anything that might have caused her to speak, unprepared to explain away some fantasy monster from a child’s mind.

Father repeated her and Astrid nodded. Yes, that was exactly what she had said. Geez, dad, your age is showing. She looked a bit irritated by the fact he had done nothing but repeat her, and while it was good to know he understood her, no praise had been given. Her nose wrinkled, but a fake giggle left her maw very soon. It was better to stay on dad's good side while he was a lot bigger than her. If mother could put up with him- so could she.

Âng. She spoke loudly, making sure she was heard. While she had no real idea what father had asked, most questions were answered with what she had just said. Perhaps this time it was a good call to say too.

A brow was raised in response to the girl’s expression, but he’d moved passed it once she’d laughed. When she spoke again, he looked her over. “Hm,” he began, then lowered his head down and nudged her cheek. “Piujuk.” He couldn’t have his children living their lives in fear. Though their home was a naturally dark place, that didn’t mean they had to fear it, or anything within.

“Âhammageng?” Kove went on to ask. He wasn't entirely sure what more he should say, though he considered sharing with her a story. After some more consideration, though, he’d decided that doing so would be a terrible idea; the stories of the Inuit were far from joyous ones, and he certainly didn’t want to scare the girl.

She grinned widely, hoping to get at least some sort of prize for being such a fast learning child. A good girl she tried to be,for her own good. Like this, her siblings had no chance of EVER being as awesome as she was in the big ones' eyes. Father moved forward, and she accepted the nudge with a cat-like nuzzle to his face. She guessed that would do. She yawned, her big mouth open as wide as she her tiny body could manage.

Âng. She said again, but she wasn't paying attention anymore. She wiggled her way close against her father's warm body and lied down. Ingulak... She yawned, and lay down her head with a soft thump. 

As he’d nudged her, the gesture was returned. He smiled down at the girl, listening as she continued to speak and eventually laid up against him. It was clear she was tired, and would have been, too, even if she’d never said so. Kove readjusted his body then and pulled her close, wrapping himself around her loosely to provide more warmth. It was something that he’d never had the chance to do with the daughters of his first litter, and so he was more than happy about having been given the chance to do so now.

“Sinik,” the father murmured, laying his head down as he did so. Awake he would remain until she no longer was, just to be sure that she did not struggle in the process of finding sleep. Afterwards, he’d allow for himself to slumber as well, never to move out of worry that he might disturb her.