Moonspear And I Said Nothin Will Stop Me Now

All welcome but special mention for @Jarilo for some father/son bonding!

Growing like a weed and having acquired a taste or two for the outdoors, young Saviguk was no longer content to be confined to the den nearly 24/7. Sure it had its perks, with all the familiar smells of his mother and sister, but that was about it. These days it felt like the walls were closing in on him, leaving him with less and less room to writhe about freely. 

And besides, the outside world was so much more interesting! After his initial shock and bewilderment on his first day of emergence, the dark boy quickly became enamored. There were so many sights, so many colors, sounds and smells! It was all so new! Each time he stepped out his brain was on a sensory overload and he loved it! He wanted to experience it all, but where in the heck to begin?! 

He knew a pair of eyes or ears were on him at almost all times. A call from his mother when he began to inch too far, meant that he'd be in trouble if her gentle warning wasn't heeded. Some days he tested those limits more than others, just to see how far he could get. Today, he had wandered significant distance without being pulled back, but by no means far enough to get lost. The mouth of the den was still a dark speck in the background behind him. Casting a thoughtful glance back, he wondered if Kukutux was just asleep, or simply allowing him to venture further afield. It wasn't long before he was distracted, feeling something soft and spongy beneath his paw. Lifting it, he revealed his discovery; a stubby off-white mushroom with brown spotting. "Huuhowa...?" He peeped curiously, bending down to eye level for a closer look.

Meandering his way back towards the den after a brief hunt with a limp rabbit clutched in his jaws (as they were plentiful this year on the hills swathed in clover, especially later in the afternoons), Jarilo perked his head to see a spot of dark through the foliage ahead. First, vague concern crept on him but a few strides closer helped clear this quickly. Almost unsurprisingly now that he was closing in, it was Saviguk.

Day by day, the pair had become harder to contain as they unfurled from little pup-grubs to something a lot closer to small wolves. It seemed to happen quickly, since he was easily caught up in the moment of this or that when it came to them, but for an instant of introspection, he marveled at how far they had come already as he approached his wandering son who appeared to be occupied with something.

Once he had come almost to him, Jarilo set down the kill nearby and finished his approach. Savi.. what'd you find? he asked, a soft sway of his tail to go with it as he aimed to look past the boy. This close to the densite and utterly secured with the mountain's safety therein, the dark Ostrega had no concerns on why he was roving--instead, a contentment to see him out, and about--glad he had not gone further, though. Maybe his sister and mother might not be far, or perhaps even interested in joining them (he had brought a lunch!), but for now, he would gladly keep him to himself.

As soon as his father drew near, setting down a limp furry bunny, he had his son's attention. Dark ears pricking, Savi tipped his head up to regard his sire with wide, young eyes. Still with his paw hovering over the spongy mushroom which was very much to his interest, he eyed the kill with limited curiosity. Turning back, he nosed the mushroom gently, watching in fascination as it sprung back to its natural position. "Mmm...flowa?" No, that wasn't quite right. He had seen some flowers before, but this one was so differently shaped and much less colorful. He had yet to make the distinction between fragrant blossoms and fungi.

Drawing nearer had afforded him a good glance at what it was that had drawn the little one's attention. Jarilo was swift to help cultivate any knowledge about what was around, and what all the mountain offered them. Though, this one could get complicated. Fungi were odd things! Best to keep it straightforward, and at least he was pretty sure this was not a kind that was toxic.. to his knowledge, anyway.

Oooh sort of, he grinned, taking another peek for effect. Honestly, it shared some similarities to flowers in its habits. A lot of differences too. It's called a mushroom, he provided, for its broadest name.. since he couldn't name this one by type exactly. It was pretty standard, so once again, he aimed for simplifying. They come in lots of different shapes and kinds, like flowers. They like to grow after a good rain, when it's been all wet, he added as details, because he had a lot to say about nature and its features. This was just another one of them.

His father elaborated for him, stating that this odd growth coming out of the earth was called a mushroom. Savi tilted his head, curious eyes blinking. "Muh-room..." He had yet to get his pronunciation right, still very much at the age of babbling and grasping basic words. He listened closely, interested to hear that more of these fungi would appear after a good rainstorm. "Wanna see more aft'r rain!" He bounced on his paws excitedly.

He had seen flowers before and sure as heck knew those weren't edible. He had tried one once and didn't much care for the chalky taste at all! Gingerly, he nipped at the outer shell of the mushroom, feeling it give under his teeth. With a side eyed glance at his dad, he asked a muffled "We eat?"

Muh-room was pretty close, close enough for his purposes--so said so with a nod. Yup, and they tend to grow on old soggy wood sometimes. So fallen logs, or at the bottom of trees, sometimes make for good spots to check for them, he detailed with a lasting smirk, happy to see his son's excitement over the prospect. Of course, this was also veering into the territory of mushrooms being involved in the process of decay.. but he also was not opening that endless void of mysteries, either.

Next question, too, was also a more complicated matter than he was ready to unpack on a pup so young, but he would do his best. It was a brown mushroom, so he was pretty sure this one was fine. It didn't raise any alarms in him, so he wasn't bothered when Saviguk gave it a little snip. Some of them you can eat. Some actually make for a decent snack if other food is hard to find, he explained, remembering those lessons of his own when he pulled them from his mother--from the edible ones to the viking tradition of berserkirs, and whatever else came up in-between. The world of mushrooms was startlingly large.

He would have to show him a maitake when the autumn got closer. Those were pretty tasty, honestly, but now was too soon to find one. But that's the tricky part with mushrooms--some of them are actually very poisonous and can make you sick, his tone went a bit more serious then. If they're brightly colored, or have white parts underneath, or have a ring around the stem, that's usually a bad sign. Sometimes, the bad ones just smell nasty too... kind of like pee, or worse, honestly. he explained on. So it's best to not eat too much of one you don't know. Later in the summer, there's a kind that grows then that is very edible--it actually kind of tastes like bird meat. I'll show you as soon as I spot one, he promised with a wink.

Old, wet wood then. Saviguk cataloged that away in his young mind, though it was anyone's guess if he'd remember later. From what he had seen so far of his mountain side home, the place was loaded with potential hiding spots for these little mushrooms. Delicately, he pulled his mouth away as his father explained that not all mushrooms were safe to eat. Although the one he had come across was likely harmless, he didn't care to take another bite at it. From what he had tasted, this one had a bland, if not somewhat chalky taste. His opinion on it was a scrunching of his muzzle and desperate flicks of his tongue to rid his mouth of the odd taste. Classic icky face.

His eyes were filled not with concern, but attentiveness and even a degree of seriousness for someone so young, upon learning from his wise dad that other mushrooms were deadly! He visualized their characteristics in his mind’s eye and gave a stiff, single nod. "Eww. I'll keep 'em away!" He declared with a batting of his tail. Not a single member of his family would get an upset tummy, or worse, while he was on watch! The serious glint in his changing eyes was replaced with a more delightful one, then. Meat! There was one that kind of tasted like a bird! "Ooh! Promise? Sia may like!"

Judging by that look, he didn't have to worry too badly about any mushroom-related incidents. It was best to just leave them be unless you knew for sure, but Jarilo knew how curiosity worked. Once he got older, there would be no telling what Saviguk may find out on his own. At least for now, he moved on at relative peace that his warning about them had set in. Yep, mushrooms are strange for a lot of reasons, not only because some are safe, and some are not. There are many different ones all across the seasons too. Some only grow in very specific ways but others are practically everywhere some years. It can be interesting.. on that one, he definitely had let the details get the better of him.

But he reined it back it and nodded once more. You'll be the first to know if I find one this year. But, it won't be until closer to when the leaves change colors.. That's when that kind grows, and only then, he said. Want to see what else is around? he offered, ready to continue poking through the woods as he considered the next route, wondering what else they could unearth. If odds were good he could find other mushrooms types to really round out this lesson but he wouldn't know until they did find any, or not.

i'm okay with a fade and a new one soon if you are? c:

Works for me!

His father informed him that there were multiple places these mushrooms grew. And not only at one specific time of year either. What stood out to the perceptive young boy, was when the leaves would change colors. Intelligent eyes peered up into those so much like his own, head tipping. What did he mean by that? Saviguk had never experienced such a phenomenon. All he knew was the rich, verdant greens of spring and summer.

"We'll look for 'em together, then!" He bounced up, his latest discovery forgotten. "I...think Ana likes those things." He muttered uncertainly. He went by memory only, having many of time seen the duck returning from a trip with various plants clutched in her mouth. She often had a potent smell of herbs too. Surely, she knew a great deal! "Yeah, c'mon. Show me!" Bubbling with eager energy, his sturdy paws tapped against his sire’s chest, sharpened teeth grazing an ear in a harmless nip. Saviguk raced ahead, circling once, encouraging Jarilo to lead him onwards for their next discovery.

In the months to come, there would be much for the boy to see.. It seemed already he had an interest in nature, and Jarilo felt it wise to nurture that--because how often did he have someone to mushroom hunt with, anyway? Sounds good, he replied all too easily. They could look together when the time was right.

With that much said, and as soon as he had his son in agreement, he playfully nipped down at him with a fond rumble. Not wanting to be left in the dust here, he was off towards their next point of interest with a spring in his step.