Hideaway Strath You talk like a man and taste like the sun

@Kynareth Deagon @Alduin @Atka
backdated to a week after birth

The first few days after having the puppies had been foggy; she had been tired and healing but had managed to keep the children fed and warm. Guilt still ate away at her over the loss of their daughter. She felt like it was her fault—like she had done something to cause it. There were times when she could have been more careful, and she had chosen to act as though other lives weren't depending on her to keep them safe and protected. With the guilt came the suffocating need to ensure nothing happened to their three sons that still lived. Right now, they seemed to thrive; they grew bigger and more mobile every day. It both delighted and terrified her. She wanted them to grow big and strong, but she also knew that her days of controlling everything about their environment were numbered. Soon she would have to let them discover the world on their own and hope they were strong enough to survive. 

These thoughts filtered constantly through her mind as she watched her three children sleep. They were piled between her front legs, fat and warm as they snoozed. Simmik rested her head on her leg, protectively sheltering them from the opening of the den; she was picky about who she let near and in the days following the birth only Ky and the healers had been allowed to see the pups. 

Her gaze watched the entrance to the den where the sun cast warm light onto the dirt floor. Her husband had not been here when she woke from her nap, and she wondered where he was and waited for his return. She liked when he was here; she liked their little family and how content she felt when it was just the five of them. She soaked up as much of these moments as she could—soon the children would be curious and rambunctious, and she would have to share them with the pack. But not now, now things were quiet and controlled and she enjoyed it while she could.

Ky had gone a short, but necessary patrol to check the around the pack and make sure no one was dead or injured. He’s satisfied by the results enough to rush to his den faster than he feels like he ever has. He loves spending time with these cute lil’ bastards he calls his children (said with love of course). He just can’t get enough of them and he finds himself crowding Simmik and the small balls of fur much too often. Hell, at this point he’s sure Simmik would get sick of him for being so glued to her side. She already has three little parasites stuck to her side, what’s one more?

So he trots back eagerly and slows as he approaches the den. Instantly, a smile comes to his maw. Not one of his usual sly, cunning, prideful, or flirty ones, but one of genuine happiness and love. He feels his heart swell every time he sees them and his beautiful wife. He can’t wait until they start running around and getting bigger and he gets to train and rough house with them. For now, he has to be gentle. Something he definitely doesn’t mind, especially with those sweet little potatoes of his.

“My love.” He greets Simmik as he moves in to brush himself against her cheek. A lap of a purple tongue moves along her muzzle and he’s flicking his eyes to the little buggars stuck to her stomach. “How are they?” He asks even though he just saw them a few hours prior. “Fat and healthy it seems.” He jests, moving to lie down beside her, circling the pups with his own stomach facing them.

The boys started to wake and squirm between her front paws, causing her to lift her head and nuzzle and lick them. She knew they were hungry, so she stood and adjusted to curl around them, nosing them in the direction of food. Once they were settled, she rested her head on her paws to watch the entrance once more.

It wasn't long before she heard steps approaching and she tensed, her hackles raising along her shoulders. But her mate's scent quickly smoothed down her fur and replaced the anxiety with warmth and anticipation; she missed him when he wasn't here. She lifted her head as he entered the den and returned his affection with a nuzzle to his cheek. She smiled down at the children as Ky asked about them. They're perfect, she said softly. He circled them from the other side, blocking them from the opening so that they were safely surrounded by their two parents. 

Simmik reached to nuzzle and lick Ky's jaw, her expression peaceful and happy. How are things outside? she asked. She hadn't left the den once since the children were born; she was too afraid to leave them for even a second. But that meant that she had no idea what was going on beyond these walls.

He never wanted for anything very long. If he was hungry, his caregiver gave him food; if he was cold, she gave him warmth; if he was worried, she gave him comfort. It was something he had gotten used to quickly and something he would fight tooth and nail to keep. He didn't like being uncomfortable, nor did he think he should have to suffer in any way. So when he was woken by the stirring of one of his brothers, he started to grunt and release soft sounds of displeasure. His stomach was empty, and that wasn't acceptable. And like the doting mother she was, Simmik quickly moved and nudged them closer to her so that they could eat. 

He felt his mother tense, something she did often. It was always followed by the presence of another. Sometimes it was one of the wolves that visited from time to time—they never stayed long, but he had begun to recognize their scents. Smell was all he had right now, and he relied heavily on the sense. Today, though, the scent that filled the den was another one of comfort. This wolf was here a lot, and his scent mingled with his mother's even when he was gone. It made him feel safe just like his caregiver's own scent. 

He detached himself from Simmik and began to scoot around, searching for the other familiar form. He was curious already, and he wanted to see if the other wolf also had warm, tasty food. It took some time, but finally his face bumped against the large abdomen of his father. He rooted around with his velvety nose until he found what he was looking for. Knowing what to do now, he attached himself and suckled, attempting to draw out food but nothing came. He grunted in irritation and tried harder. Maybe it just took a minute to get going.

As he settles down he can’t keep his eyes off of his beautiful wife and those fat little pups he gets to call his. Nothing in his life prepared him for this. He thought he would’ve had this with Sasha, but alas it is nothing compared to being with Simmik. Plus the big part where she didn’t kill his entire pack and run away with his kids is a plus. 

So as Simmik is asking her question he chuckles as he hears the pups whining and whimpering. They’re wiggling about against their mother, cute little paws kneading at her stomach. 

“Everything seems normal, so I can’t complain.” Then he’s quirking a brow and a confident smile. “Haven’t had any visitors in a while. It’s a shame.” He hum deviously. He’s sure Simmik knows exactly what he means by that. He wants to go chomp and he doesn’t chomped on anyone in quite some time, he’s beginning to miss the thrill of battle. It seems others have finally figured out that coming close to his territory only results in death or bodily harm.

Then he’s distracted as one of the pups, Tulok, seems to be searching for something. It confuses him as to what exactly he’s searching for. He was just tucked perfectly against his mother’s tummy, so Ky doesn’t possibly know what else he’d want. Until it’s becoming more obvious. The chunky pup is squirming towards him. His golden eyes are bright with curiosity and he shares a quick, but confused glance to Simmik before jumping a little as he feels the pup come into contact with his abdomen. 

Then the little bastard is all of a sudden trying to suckle onto him and Ky’s face becomes one of humorous shock. His maw dropping open and his cream brows raising. He flick his gaze back and forth between Tulok and Simmik and gasps as the pup tries desperately to suckle on one of his much smaller and useless nipples. 

“I’m your father!” He chuckles with a boisterous laugh. Moving to nudge the little pups mouth off of him. “Only your mother is allowed to do that, nasty.” He jokes and gives a sly look to Simmik then.

Then as if things couldn’t get more interesting, Alduin feels his brother move away from him. He moves off his mother’s teat with a loud, messy pop and he’s whining at the loss of warmth. Yet, he too can faintly smell that other familiar scent he’s come to adore and seek for comfort. It brings him what he seems to realize as contentment. Of course his mother will always be number one, but this other scent is also comforting. He doesn’t have many thoughts moving about in his newly developed brain, but he can connect two and two together with his basic instincts.

He follows his brother, huffing and puffing at the loss of the warm blanket around him, but too stubborn to stay out. He’s also squirming towards his father, moving clumsily over his paw and getting stuck underneath Kynareth’s armpit. It’s warm here he decides. The scent soothes him. This is most adequate and he decides to stay put in literally the most award position for his father. Comfy for him, but definitely not Kyn.

One could never snooze long with a nice belly-full of milk, not with the other heartbeats. They very often woke him with their cries or stirring. And when they woke, so did the mother beast. The usual stiffening as a not-quite stranger enters the temple. His scent is familiar, but that does not mean Atka had any intention to rush towards it like his foolhardy brothers. 

More. The brindled pup would grow to be a manipulative and cruel bastard, this was already starting to show. He had an awful habit of kicking out with his paws, striking the tiny bodies beside him in an attempt to claim their wonderful mother's milk all for himself. 

However as they left him, wobbling towards the unknown father in that silly little half-crawl they did, the warmth flooded away with them. In an unexpected turn of events he began to cry for them, already missing the scents of his kin. No. Atka's plump body rounded to follow Alduin's scent, eventually catching up to bump against his elder brother's rump. Enough to kind of say: Why did you leave me?  Of course he was a mere potato and thus could not express his meager thoughts in words. Curses. 

She chuckled softly at his answer. That must be boring for you, she said, shaking her head. I do love watching you toy with strangers on the border, she added, glancing up at her husband with the look of adoration she saved only for him. But I can't say I'm too disappointed things are boring while the boys are so young. She liked tearing apart intruders as much as the next wolf, but the children were so vulnerable right now, and she didn't want anything to happen to them. It was why she allowed no one but Ky and the healers in the den and why she hadn't left for even a second since the pups were born. 

She glanced down as Tulok started to make noise. She felt the instant he had stopped eating, and she watched him worriedly—he usually ate more than that. She hoped he wasn't getting sick or something. But then he rooted around in Ky's fur, something they all did to her when searching for a place to attach themselves. Her worry melted into amused confusion as he seemed to have found what he was looking for and began trying to feed. Simmik couldn't help the laughter that filled the den at her mate's reaction. He's lively today, she said as her laughter faded away. 

Then the other two boys, one after the other, seemed discontent with their brother's absence. She watched them toddle across the space between her and Ky before nuzzling into their father. It made her heart swell with love and contentment. Her eyes watered a little. They're perfect, she repeated, unable to take her eyes off of them.

He had to agree with Simmik. He also doesn’t want anything too crazy happening while his pups were but defenseless potatoes. It would be a right shame if he had to kill someone for stepping onto the land without permission (wink wink). To protect his pack, his and Derg’s pups, and the soon to be due mothers; Nyra and Aerin. 

“I agree with you there.” He hums back before all the pups start crawling over to him and nuzzling into his fur.

He exclaims his earlier sentence and laughs as he watches them crawl over and bump each other clumsily. They’re so fat and healthy, so big too. Kyn feels his breast swell with pride because he knows they’re going to grow up to be as big and strong as him and hopefully just as savage. He wouldn’t rest until all of his children were cold blooded killers and worthy of carrying on the Saint bloodline. Oh, how he will be so proud to see his three boys tear someone to pieces and he’s sure Simmik would be too.

When Simmik’s laugh echoes throughout the den, he feels his heart swell so deeply for his love for her. Not even minding the little balls of fur crawling over him as he looks up to her beautiful face. A look of pure adoration overcomes him and he realizes how truly happy he is. He can see the love in Simmik’s gaze and it gives him life — gives him the will to live. He would never die if only for her to look at him like that every day for the remainder of his life. 

They’re perfect. She whispers and he sees her eyes glisten with happy tears. His heart skips a beat and he smiles so softly at her that he swears his teeth would rot out from how sweet it is. He blinks his own eyes willing away his own wetness he feels gathering there. He would not allow himself to cry. So he scoots a bit closer to her, which causes the pups to whine a bit and press closer against their father’s stomach. Settling his massive head closer to Simmik’s, he touches his forehead to her own and stares at her with such desperation that he swears he would never be able to communicate how much he loves her with words or actions the like.

“They are.” He hums. “You are too, babe.” He whispers and softly laps at her lips with a dark tongue. “I would do anything for you — for them. Anything, even give my own life. Anything to make sure you’re all safe.”