Sun Mote Copse well, that's gonna cost you extra.

Fin had been surprisingly well behaved following the birth of her grandchildren. She hadn't stormed the den and stolen them or anything! She'd even given the new mother her space to get comfortable and settled into her new routine, which Fin knew well enough to involve never sleeping, getting sucked on constantly and licking up more puppy shit than actual meals. Ahh, life was so beautiful sometimes. She couldn't wait to experience that shit show again herself in a few weeks.

When she came to the den that day, it was with a gift in tow. She, of course, hadn't caught it herself. She had @Clover to thank for that who may have given her the almightiest of eye rolls at the request, but had nonetheless agreed to catch it for her dear ol' mama so she wouldn't have to show up empty-handed.

I can't remember what @Eljay's and @Wildfire's den looks like, but Fin stood a few feet away from it when she arrived and gave a soft woof to announce her presence. The partridge's feathers tickled her nose as she did, so she sneezed promptly - a sound that was probably loud enough to actually be heard since her woof had probably not been.

Do you want to count their toes again? Eljay said softly to Wiffle with a wag of his tail. He watched little Whisky Jay and Elwood Junior Junior as they squirmed around, completely mesmerised. Eljay couldn't quite believe that @Weejay and @Elfie were actually a product of him and Wiffle, and that he was their very father! It would need to take some time to settle in.

When he heard mommy's approach, his tail wagged again and Eljay called out from the hollowed tree that Wiffle had picked for a den: Come over! Of course his mom was totally welcome to see the little noodles. Eljay nuzzled Elfie's underbelly while he waited for mommy, while quietly counting his lil bean toes again.

Eljay and Wildfire were probably going through the "pink goggles" period in regards of their kids and a good thing so, because soon their lives would become hell. Years and years ago, when his mother had been born, she had been the loudest of the litter. And, while this was happily forgotten during the years of being a stunning example of domestic bliss and wonderful character, the trait had not been lost in the least. Elwood Jr. Jr. would be wolf of Voice and eventually he would capitalize the remaining four letters.

Now, however, having eaten too much milk and lying on his back the kid, began to feel some motion, rumbling and tumbling inside his round belly. At first it was soft as tickle, but this was just the tip of the iceberg of, what was to come. Elfie expressed his discomfort by squeaking few times, but once the half-digested food began to tango with the flora that was unable to deal with such a strain, the gasses began to build up in his intestines, blowing them up like odd-shaped balloons and causing pain to the kid. 

Good luck, parents, with the colicky kid! Elfie began to wail and cry at top of his tiny lungs.

When Elwood came across Finley's scent after finishing a (very slow) patrol of the borders, he followed it for a few yards and then realized she was leading him to Wildfire and Eljay's den. Naturally, he didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to engage in some puppy snuggles with his new grandchildren, so he hastened along and arrived shortly after his mate.

He peered over her shoulder as Eljay beckoned her closer, his gaze zeroing in on the little one that was crying loudly -- his namesake, he noted with a smile. It was surreal to be looking down at Elwood Jr. Jr. in the flesh. He more closely resembled the Redhawk side of the family, while his sister looked the part of a Blackthorn. Even if the littlest Elwood had been born with purple fur and green stripes, big Elwood would have loved him just as fiercely.

He glanced at Eljay and asked over Elfie's cries, "How is fatherhood treating you so far?"

Like the well oiled machine that is Finwood, Elwood stepped up to her side just before their eldest invited them to come closer. Fin wasn't surprised to see him in the least. Their lives and routines just kind of worked like that. She gave an eager whine as she crept forward and slid onto her belly at the mouth of the den, scooting far enough to the side to make room for Elwood to fit in beside her.

A wave of nostalgia threatened to engulf her over this moment. They'd done this before, only then it was Wildfire who was the squealing red pup. Fin hadn't even been a mother herself yet, and now here she was, a grandmother. Again.

She dropped her head between her paws to get eye level with the little beans. Her ears perked to listen to the conversation Elwood initiated with their son, but for now, she couldn't take her eyes off the little troublemakers.

*butts in*

Sequoia had dropped in from time to time to check on Wildfire, but her mentor had been sleeping every time she had come by, and Eljay had been off doing whatever it was dads did. So when she arrived this time to find Finley, Elwood, and Eljay gathered around, the honoree was thrilled to be a part of the little gathering.

Hey guys! she whisper-shouted, not wanting to startle the newborns. Luckily for her, one of them started squeaking away, and that one would probably wake the other one, leaving her free of guilt.

The happy peace didn't last for very long. Eljay thought to hear some rumbles from the ruddy kid's stomach, but he didn't have time to investigate before he started to be loud. Very loud.

Luckily Eljay had plenty of experience with little troublemakers. Raven's kid had been a handful for sure, and maybe that was part of why he was so attached to them: he'd spent a lot of time looking out for them, running after them, trying to comfort them. It was different than pups who were quiet or calm and didn't need much comfort -- especially if they weren't your own.

Now he would've loved the little beans regardless of how loud, quiet, calm or rambunctious they were, because they were his own. When daddy approached it was hard to choose between talking to daddy or comforting the littlest bean. Well. Maybe not that hard. Hold on -- he told dad and with an apologetic expression he started nuzzling Elwood Jr Jr's belly ever so gently, hoping to ease whatever uneases he had by massaging his belly a bit. Meanwhile mommy was silently observing -- an unusual thing -- and to top it all off there was another visitor.

Hi! Eljay called out to Sequoia after lifting his head. He then looked at dad and grinned as he said: Busy. And wonderful. And then he lowered his head again to tend to little Elwood Jr Jr, hoping to ease whatever was bothering him a bit.

Lucky thing that Eljay was a dad with experience - though the belly massage session was not pleasant in the beginning, eventually it did make things move and ease up inside. And just like a little whopee-cushion Elfie greeted his grandparents and aunt with a loud and elaborate you-know-what. Later in life he will learn some manners, for now this was all they were going to get out of him. Once the belly aches were gone, the little kid stretched his paws, yawned mightily and fell asleep almost immediately.

Last one from Elfie, but you may PP him. :)

Eljay’s actions spoke louder than his words. Before he even had time to answer his father’s question, he began to warmly tend to Elfie’s needs. He seemed so natural as he soothed his son, and even as Finley shifted next to him, Elwood nudged her shoulder to make sure she was paying attention to their little boy — who wasn’t so little anymore.

In the midst of Eljay’s ministrations, there was a voice from behind. Elwood turned to see Sequoia and waved his tail in greeting. Eljay didn’t seem to mind the growing group of wolves in his doorway as he finally responded to Elwood’s query.

It looks wonderful, Elwood agreed as Elfie quieted and fell asleep. He smiled and asked, What’s your favorite part?

Fin glanced at Sequoia when the girl arrived to greet her new baby siblings. She had long ago forgotten that Wildfire hadn't actually given birth to this particular daughter. To her, that fact never mattered. She herself hadn't actually given birth to Wildfire, but the little red wolf was just as much her daughter in her heart as Clover or her sisters. Which meant, in a way, Sequoia was just as much her granddaughter as the little grey and white pup lying in front of her.

Except Weejay was a lot cuter, so paying attention to the older granddaughter was out of the question. Sorry, Seq.

Fin turned her attention to Eljay at her mate's nudge, somehow knowing without words what it was he wanted her to see because Finwood is magic like that. Eljay had always tended to his baby siblings with just as much care and attention, but it was something else seeing her eldest being a father to his own kids. It was almost too much for her aging heart to take, but seeing as it'd be really fucked up for me to kill off Fin right in the middle of that moment, her heart actually took it just fine.

permission to skip Sequoia :) seems like a good place to end? unless any of you have any more to add. <3 feel free to post more or archive it at some point!

Eljay breathed a sigh of relief at Elfie's big and noisy, well, you-know-what -- he was just happy that the stress was out of his son's body for now. Elwood asked him then what his favourite part was, and honestly Eljay wasn't too sure he could tell. He loved all of it, this whole being-a-dad-journey. Counting their toes is pretty great, Eljay said with a gleeful grin on his face. And snuggling, or just watching them. Just being with them, I think, is the bestest thing. Like someone who was very madly in love, Eljay looked down at Elfie and Weejay with a broad, giant grin on his face. He could not be happier than to be here with his mommy and daddy and his own children. What a dream come true.

One last post! <3

Eljay's answer was so, well, Eljay. Saying that he liked to count their toes showed how he paid attention to each little detail of his children. And then he admitted to simply just enjoying their presence, which was also a perfect answer for the first-time father. He had dreamed of this for so long, it was natural for him to just want to soak it all in and appreciate every minute with his son and daughter.

"Being a grandparent is pretty great, too," Elwood murmured, his gaze softening on the sleeping forms of Elfie and Weejay. He could have stayed there all day, but he didn't want to infringe on Eljay and Wildfire's time together and with their children, so before too long he nudged Finley and whispered a goodbye before departing.