Dragoncrest Cliffs catch a tiger by the toe

When a face appeared in the den's mouth this morning, Bat sprang to her feet and attacked on sight, complete with an endearing, "Rrrrr!" At two weeks of age, she wasn't exactly a straight shooter, so she tumbled right out of the log and onto the visitor's feet. Before she could make sense of what'd just happened, she felt herself being grabbed by the scruff and gingerly airlifted back into the confines of her woodsy home. She burbled happily during the flight, tiny legs pedaling as if she were swimming through the air.

She was now facing inward, directly at her smiling mother, though she peered over her shoulder and offered her rescuer a toothy grin. Bat made to repeat her attack, only she got in her own way and tripped over her own forelegs, chin very nearly thumping on the wooden floor. But a white paw thrust out just in time, catching her and softening what might have been a rough blow. Her baby blues rolled upward to survey the wolf who'd saved her twice now: @Étoille.

"Barf," the youngster declared nonsensically, right before latching onto one of his toes. It vibrated in her little mouth, though Bat clung tenaciously. Her ears hadn't opened properly but she could just make out the faint murmur of voices over her head, a familiar cadence, though there was a new depth to today's exchange as her biological father's low timbre resonated through her small body.

"That's Rory, although we've all sort of taken to calling her Bat," Wildfire was saying to Étoille, "because of those ears and her habit of sleeping upside down. And I guess we can add her vampiric tendencies to the list too," she noted, eyeballing the pup still frantically suckling Étoille's toenail.

portia herself was displaying a few early pregnancy symptoms, thank heavens. lately she'd worried that perhaps it was her that was the problem. sirio's disappearance and dalia's inactivity in the pack was worrisome. perhaps it was her genes that had screwed up her children so badly. perhaps they needed to be raised how she was raised, with an iron fist and a condescending tone. perhaps she needed to burn their self-confidence to the ground before they could build it back up for themselves and truly make a name for themselves.

because, truthfully, portia had turned out more than fine, hadn't she? 

but this, this was a second chance. portia would do more than enough to keep her children happy and healthy and acting like poster-children for drageda. she would, she'd do it, just you wait and see.

but as she was walking, out gathering fresh moss, she heard wildfire and etoille in the distance, and the unmistakable sound of puppy yip-yaps... and she just couldn't resist. the speckled fisa made her way to her friend and packmate, voicing a bright bark a little ways off to alert them of her presence, her limp still incredibly noticeable as she worked hard to put no pressure onto it. "and who's this?" portia purred as she approached, viewing the little black fluff ball fondly, "i thought i'd stop by for a quick checkup."

Suddenly, the toe began slipping from her mouth. Bat latched and tried to tug it back, yet it broke free. Bat pounced again, very nearly repeating her earlier tumble out of the den. Étoille hadn't gone far and would've caught her if necessary, though the pup managed to avoid falling. Instead, she dangled over the threshold, just like her namesake, blinking down at the patch of grass below and making all sorts of curious noises.

A shadow fell across her, a phenomenon which caused Bat to lapse into silence. She began to slither backward, her tiny rump raising into the air and her tail going ramrod straight in the effort. Once fully inserted back in the log, she pushed her anterior end upward into a sit, head tipping back to regard this newest visitor. She resembled the last one, though there were black, not brown, smears on her freckled face. And the eyes peering down at the Goufa were the same as the grass: punchy spring green.

"Portia, meet Rorqual, alias: Bat," the Feisripa introduced from somewhere behind her. Bat's big ears twitched faintly at the barely there sound, earning a chuckle from her mother. "You can probably see why..."

When Portia arrives Étoille acknowledges her with a nod and brief smile, but his attention is clearly focused on the child currently latched onto his foot. Such a strange little creature. They all are, really -- since he's been allowed to come visit, he's rarely strayed, fascinated by the tiny growing things and their unique personalities. 

"Fais attention, petit," he murmurs to Bat as she dangles, amused. He rearranges himself, sinking to a sphynx-like position so that his head is more or less level with her while giving Portia space to speak with Wildfire.

"like river stones," portia purred, acknowledging the size of her ears with amusement, "how are they treating you?" she directed the question mostly at etoille, since even though these were not his children(they were thuringwethil and wildfire's), he seemed to be playing a big role in it-- and portia knew that wildfire's answer would be wildly positive.

she looked to both the caretakers curiously before asking, "may i?" time for a checkup, at least for bat, who was awake and being a little devil-- oh but such a precious one. she waited for the okay before she bent down to get a better look at the pup, sticking her nose forward. she looked healthy, but she'd do a little prodding just in case. "hey, sweetheart," portia purred, tail slowly swaying behind her.

"Go right ahead," Wildfire encouraged Portia when the Fisa expressed interest in checking up on the pups, prompting those green eyes to drop to Bat's level. The pup went cross-eyed as they came closer, a grin twitching her little lips as she unknowingly made an, "Ooooh," sort of noise.

Then she noticed it: the nose. Bat had come to hate them; they were unpleasantly cold, leathery and moist. She wanted nothing to do with them, even if they were attached to otherwise interesting characters. The tiny Goufa immediately tried to slither backward and out of reach, bumping into @Kiwi.

Her sister's dim squawk gave Bat an idea, although it was more instinct than true brains that prompted her to creep behind her litter mate, duck her head and use it as a battering ram to shove her sibling forward, putting her in the nose's spotlight instead.

Behind the silly pair, Wildfire chuckled as she introduced, "Portia, I think Bat would like you to meet Kiwi."

Amused, he glances from Bat to Portia as she asks him a question. "They are interesting," Étoille answers, smiling as the medic leans in closer, sending the strange child scurrying back. Moments later she's thrusting her sister forward like a shield -- how cute. 

He chuckles, and amends his reply. "And quite cute." It's probably the most expressive the titan has ever been -- perhaps being around children is good for him.

"quite cute," portia echoed, her nose twitching as kiwi was sacrificed before her. the fisa gave her a small smile. "hello, kiwi," she purred, and this time using a forelimb to scoop the baby towards her and get in a good, proper, prodding. which, really bat, takes all of like 10 seconds so you're not really saving yourself from much. 

holding the lil tyke steady, portia decided that kiwi was, in fact, good and healthy, and so she freed the pup with a soft kiss to the head-- right back to wildfire. and then, again, looked at bat, who was not escaping this checkup. instead, she flattened herself to the ground(thank god she wasn't too far along, her stomach might not've let her do so) and gave a quiet huff. her chin resting on the earth, ears pricked up, portia gazed upon bat curiously before sticking out the tip of her pink tongue. a challenge! but only if bat decided it would be one.

It worked! Bat watched as Portia scooped Kiwi to her and began performing an assessment. Curious, the Goufa leaned out of the log again. This time, it was Wildfire who darted forth from behind to snatch at her scruff before she could take another tumble. Her mother airlifted her beyond the wooden walls, settling her on the patch of grass just outside even as Portia finished Kiwi's checkup.

Bat watched as the Fisa slung her belly to the grass, head on the pup's level and her warm breath blowing over the tyke's face. She grinned, then giggled as the pink tongue emerged in a classic mlem! The puppy surged forward to bat (pun intended) at the exposed appendage.

feel free to skip me unless u need me!!

He falls silent, watching the Fisa examine Kiwi with vague interest. When Bat seems about to fall the Steltrona moves to catch her at the same time as Wildfire, but her mother beats him to the punch, lowering her onto the grass. He smiles as Bat goes for Portia's face, amused by her antics and content to watch from his position as silent guardian.

as bat surged forward, albeit clumsily, portia grinned, her pink tongue still poking out. it was tapped playfully, and though bat's little feet didn't taste all that great, portia didn't mind-- of course. but! with wildfire's help, bat was not escaping this time! she used her paws to scoop the baby towards her, beginning her own assessment of licks and nudges. this was simple, little bat! see? nothing to fear. 

after a few prods and kisses, portia was content with the check up and freed the pup (if she chose to runoft, that is) looking to wildfire with a smile. "healthy as ever, and so energetic-- you're always so blessed with bright, peppy litters," she told her friend, of course, without praying inwardly that this litter (her own) would be a bit less lethargic this time. dalia had grown up well, of course, but sirio had never grown out of whatever bizarre, socially ineptness he'd been born with.

 

Before she knew what was happening, she was being scooped up and gently assessed, which involved a few pokes and prods. Bat squirmed whenever Portia's nose touched her but smiled when it was replaced with kisses. It was all over soon and she was plopped back in the grass at the adult's feet.

She was facing Étoille now, who looked veritably gigantic from the pup's new vantage. Rather than be intimidated by his size, Bat felt drawn to him for it. She hoisted herself rather gracelessly onto all fours and toddled over to him, only to slump at his feet and let out a happy, sleepy sigh.

"So much for energetic and peppy," Wildfire quipped, stepping out of the den to collect the dozing Goufa. "Nap time," she declared, shooting smiles at both guests. "Thanks for stopping by and feel free to drop in anytime."

portia smiled. "of course, hun-- sleep tight, bat," she purred, and with a single nod of farewell to etoille, portia set off again to do more portia-esque things. not much, of course, not with this damned leg. besides, she had her own pregnant self to look after.