Redhawk Caldera be careful little eyes what you see

eyes opening - all welcome - anyone allowed near the den.

The darkness that the world had provided for him so far disappeared. It was gradual for him, though for those around him it would seem very sudden that his eyes opened; to him, it was gradual because he did not see everything all at once. There was light filtering in as his blue eyes first opened, blinking into the darkness of the Blackthorn den, and he mewled as he looked around at the blobby shapes of his family, not quite used to or good at using his new powers.

Now that the puppies were born, Maia had begun to recover a lot of what she'd lost the last stretch of her pregnancy. Thanks to her family she was filling back out and most of the tiredness she'd felt had vanished. Soon she'd just be "four pups oh wow" tired and pretty much completely back to normal. It must have had something to do with the puppies, she guessed, but she didn't care. They were beautiful and one hundred percent worth it.

It always surprised her how quickly they grew. Today she inhaled sharply when she looked down and found her little Aiden looking back at her with unfocused eyes. Already? Ohmygosh. Look at you! She crooned, touching her nose lightly to his. Pretty soon they'd all be up and running around and getting into all kinds of trouble. What was that she said, about not being tired?

She was so excited. She loved them dearly as puppies, but when they were old enough to explore, there was so much magic to show them! And so many stories to share or create, together.

chickadee was practicing the fine art of locomotion.
keeping her small chubby legs underneath her was a feat. and then there was light, a great burst of it all at once. it tickled her eyeballs and sent her down upon her rump.
but she did not cry, only cooed at this vibrant new sensation, gaze searching now for the fuzzy outlines of mother and brother.

Soon one of the blobs came closer, and Aiden blinked a few times, rapidly, as his mother touched her nose to his. It was interesting that it came at the same time — the feeling of her nose touching his, something he was already familiar with, and the light changing around him — and he looked almost studious as he peered around. He had not yet noticed Chickadee, instead focused solely on his mother for now.

Two sets of eyes!!! Little Chickadee too!! Maia nosed her daughter and gave her a couple of licks for good measure, making sure out of habit that she was clean and fine.

Welcome to the world. I can't wait to show you everything. They wouldn't understand yet, but she was going to tell them a story anyway. Something simple and light, something fun. She remembered @Lilitu suddenly and missed her, fiercely. But she smiled and got closer, speaking softly.

I think, first, I'll take you to sing to the trolls. They're still shy but I think they've been lonely, lately. With four of you they'll be so excited to have so many new friends. Maia wasn't much of a singer but she hummed the little tune that Lilitu had sang quietly. She'd have to teach them the words once they were old enough to know it! And then, whenever Lilitu came back, she'd know how much her family here loved her.

mama's voice hummed pleasantly in the air over chickadee's head. then came the swiping tongue. the girl babbled a little, fully focused on her mother as aiden was. 
she seemed to notice her brother again next, and turned her chubby neck toward him, craning over to inchworm toward her sibling with another pleased sound.

Aiden took being licked in stride, seeming not to mind it very much but neither responding to it very much. He just looked at his mother, blinking some goo out of his eyes, and only noticed his sister's presence when she came closer. Something moved in the corner of Aiden's eye and he turned his head towards her, fascinated with the form coming closer and closer. His little nose twitched as he sniffed the air to confirm that she was a friend.

They didn't react to or join in on the song but that was not a surprise. They would learn more as they grew and music was one of those things. Maia knew that she didn't have the most beautiful in-tune voice but she tended to hum and sing anyway, especially when she was too happy not to. They'd hear more.

They were caught up now in exploring each other for the first time in a new way. You are all going to be able to look out for each other now. Your sister really loves you, Aiden. She couldn't resist how cute it was, Chickadee's soft purring as she stumbled towards her brother. She couldn't wait for Eljay to get back and see this - another milestone! It was all so fast!

She didn't interfere again, though, and let them come together and find one another in their own way. She would only nose them into place if they began to stray too far from her radius.

at last she made it to her brother.
chickadee tested the air. she burbled in babyese at him. she bumped her nose with his own, toppling herself at his paws in her eagerness.
the girl loudly protested this, trying to squabble onto her side.

Aiden sniffed the air as she came closer; her scent confirmed that she was one of his siblings, to which his little tail started to wag. It whirred a little faster as Chikadee bumped his nose, but when she fell Aiden let out a mewl of dismay, as if something invisible had just tripped her. He immediately leaned down to nose her side, a little roughly, in a failing attempt to help her up.

last for me!

aiden's help did not go unnoticed, but chickadee was tired. she squalled for their mother, nuzzling fiercely into maia's side before she found what she was looking for. a sigh and a snort and the girl was asleep, content with the progress she had made that day.

Aiden wasn't very tired yet, but as soon as Chickadee settled down to sleep he could feel it take him too. He tried to fight against it for a moment, but eventually succumbed and drifted off to sleep as well.