Broken Antler Fen Starboy

Siblings maybe, but AW! @Ivy @Mato @Nova

The boy woke up with a loud yawn. He did not remember falling asleep, which confused him at first, but it quickly went away. He did not need to know. Life was wonderful as it was, and he did not need anything to perhaps ruin it. Some things were better left unexplained. The massive (for his age) boy got up and stretched himself out - shaking his whitening coat with little grace but a lot of power.

When he stuck his muzzle out of the opening of their den, he could make clouds by breathing, which kept him interested for a while. After that, he casually walked out, barely feeling the cold. He was ready for an adventure. 

Sebastian was just returning from a hunt. He had a hare between his jaws as he saw his son come out the den. Probably to explore. Sebastian let out a muffled woof in greeting because he was holding the hare. The male placed it on the frozen ground. His eyes falling on his fluffy son. "Hi Ben," he greeted and nudged him in greeting. They were such cuties now with their fluffy coats.

Sebastian grabbed the hare and placed it in between them. "You want to learn how to eat this?" he asked with a grin. Sebastian liked watching his pups learn new things.

The big fluffball that was Benjamin stared. He did nothing else. Not even his tawny tail moved as he took the world in. This was adventure for him - looking, without much else. He was not like his siblings that seemed entranced by danger and running around. No - he liked food and watching the scenery. He liked chasing his own tail - he liked getting a bath from his mother. He barely made sounds, but it was easy to see he was perfectly healthy and in good condition. But it was not his concern that perhaps his parents thought he was abnormal. As long as they fed him, Benjamin was sure they could come to some sort of agreement.

Suddenly, he spotted the familiar form of his father with something he did not recognize between his teeth. His head tilted to the left in confusion. He greeted his father in return with a wag of his tail before he was distracted by a bird. It flew over the fen without effort and let itself be carried by the wind. That was far more interesting than whatever his father was trying with him - but he was not actively ignoring Sebastian. He was simply... distracted.

Sebastian was a bit surprised when the boy didn't show much interest in the food he was bringing. Perhaps it was just his mind that was getting distracted. Sebastian nudged the pup. "That is a bird that just flew over us," he explained and then nudged the hare closer. "And this is a hare, another animal we can eat," he explained and started to open up. Perhaps he should take the step to eating meats more gently. The male wouldn't know as it was his first time being a father of these young pups.

He took some meat out for Ben. "Doesn't that smell good?," he grinned trying to enthuse him. He did know from his younger siblings sometimes they preferred their mother's milk. Yet he was pretty sure that Pearl was slowly stopping with giving them milk. Their teeth were too sharp now. Alas, perhaps Ben was one of those pups that preferred milk more?

He blinked and looked shocked at his father when he was nudged, having had no time to prepare for the sudden physical contact. While he was a hugger at heart, he did not appreciate being distracted from his distractions. When he returned his attention to the black bird, possibly a raven or a crow (although he did not know their names nor that it was a bird), it was still in the air. It flew as if it was looking for something that was on the ground.

When his father explained, Benjamin's mouth was agape. Biiiiird... He called dreamily (his first spoken word), turning his muzzle toward the sky again. The hare did not interest him - it was not moving, and he doubted it could move as gracefully through the sky as the bird. Still, he also very much liked food and the word "eat" was extraordinarily triggering. His nostrils flared and his salmon tongue lolled out of his mouth, but he did not remove his eyes from the graceful, black form until it landed somewhere he could not look.

He sniffed at the piece of hare that was presented and licked it carefully. He took it in his mouth not long after, slowly but clearly with joy. It was good! Mother made pretty amazing dinner, but this took the cake for sure. He stood and waddled to the rest of the hare, his tawny tail only slightly wagging. He was not a child that showed enthusiasm much, but there was no doubting that he was enjoying himself.

 

Pearl watched the scene from the back of the den, warm and cozy with the other three snuggled against her. Her head rested on her paws, smiling as Ben waddled his way to the entrance. Even though she knew he wouldn't go far, she had to make sure he could get back, so she allowed him a few more steps outside before gingerly getting up and joining him. 

She saw Seb returning with a plump-looking rabbit in his maw, mouth watering at the sight. Pearl sat and watched his exchange with their son, who seemed- out of it? Not fully there? She wondered about this briefly before the father opened the rabbit and the warm smell tickled her damp nose. 

Hopefully the pups would take to meat fast, as their rapidly maturing bodies (and teeth) made it all around more difficult for everyone to keep on milk. But her aspirations for the near future were quickly thrown aside as Ben uttered his first coherent word. Her face broke into a wide, suprised grin, looking to Seb with glee. He'd never been much for talking, but her ecstacy only grew when he appeared to like eating the hare's meat. Her tail wagged rapidly as she said, "First word and first meat! Look at him go!"

Sebastian watched the pup further develop and his smile only widened when the pup mimicked the word bird and tried some of the meat. He hadn't realized that Pearl had been watching him but she seemed very happy. Sebastian was very pleased too, especially seeing that little tail move a bit while Ben was eating. Sebastian moved to Pearl and licked over the top of her head. He loved her dearly.

He woofed for the others. @Ivy @Mato @Nova "Come little ones. I have a treat for you," he spoke. He wanted the others to enjoy their first meat meal too. Have their teeth sink into flesh and explore the different kinds of meat. Plus the bones were good for their teeth too. Sebastian was happy to provide for them. He hoped Odette would return soon though. He missed having her around.

He took a piece of ripped fur from the hare, hunger having never been a problem for the big boy, and threw it around with quick jerks of his head. He eventually ended up chasing it - the snow perfect to roll around in and the fur a better prey than his own tail. Still, something bothered him. The bird. Yes - where was it?

Biiiird! He called to the sky, having isolated himself from the rest of his family by a little bit. He was not far - he had just lost track of where he was as he was playing with his prey.

Sebastian watched his young boy play with his meal which would later be good skills to be a hunter. Sebastian watched his son with joy. It was very cute to see. The pup then started looking for the bird. He was curious why the pup showed so much interest in the flying animal. Sebastian stepped closer to him and hushed the pup. "If you are very quiet you may be able to hear him," he whispered to his son. Perhaps he could learn something from it. Then the bird chirped and Sebastian's eyes started to look for it.

Edit: I just realized I accidentally skipped you @Pearl. So sorry, Let me know if you want me to delete it! :O

No worries! Feel free to skip me if my character's not doing much

Pearl couldn't stop smiling at her son, coated in white powder from rolling around in the snow. It was a joy to watch them grow and take interests in things. For instance, birds. The boy called for it, realizing he had lost it. Seb whispered something to him, and suddenly it was silent for a few precious seconds before the bird chirped again. Her eyes wandered to find it, locating it after the second chirp in a low-hanging branch. Smiling, she turned back to Ben to see if he could find it.

The entrance of his father made him more comfortable, and he let the bit of rabbit fur be as he looked up at the sky. Quiet - he was glad he was mostly always exactly that. Why the flying animal intrigued him was not even known to him, let alone his parents, but he had yet to grasp what that meant. His ears swivelled from side to side, trying to pick up a sound. It was then he heard it; a chirp, as it would later be known. His big, blue eyes travelled upwards to a single branch where the bird had appeared again and a big grin was painted on his young face.

Bird! He called again, not loud enough to scare the poor creature away. His front paws clawed at the sky as he tried balancing on his hindlegs, but ultimately he failed to do so. He landed softly on his side - in the snow that had already coated his tan fur from top to bottom.

Sebastian watched Pearl with a loving smile. She was so pretty just lying there and enjoying the life with their pups. Sebastian's dream was coming true. He couldn't believe he had such a great mate with such loving children. The bird chirped and instantly Ben seemed to be on the bird. He might be a good tracker and hunter later. It was terribly cute to see him topple over. Sebastian stepped forward and nosed over him. He seemed more than alright, and let him find the bird again if he wanted to. Sebastian just nestled against Pearl now and licked over her cheek.

The puffball made an adorable attempt to catch the bird in his paws, resulting in a tumble that didn't concern the mother too much. He was young, and there was plently of soft snow to catch his fall. She raised eyebrows, prepared to get up and check on him, but Seb seemed to be on top of it. He came back to be next to her, and she happily snuggled up against him. Pearl smiled, absurdly content. What a wonderful life to have.

Father came to snuggle - check on him after the tumble that made the world go "whoopsy-daisy" for a short while. When it stopped spinning, Benjamin spotted his father returning to mother and he smiled at them goofily. He was distracted by the fluttering of the bird as it flew away - perhaps not impressed by the young boy's abilities to spot him. Ben frowned, but it was only briefly, and he returned to his mom and dad not long after.

Not minding the lovey-dovey moment of his parents, he nestled himself against their bodies. He yawned then, but at the same time his tummy rumbled and he was confused as to what to do. Eat or sleep? It were his two favourite things to do, and he was kind of lost.