Dragoncrest Cliffs Bluebells

She left the children momentarily, knowing the warmth of the bright afternoon would keep them comfortable even in her absence. She meandered through Bluepeace Meadow as the wildflowers swayed, always within sight of the den’s mouth.

She gazed toward the cerulean heavens, fangs bared for a moment. Hanging on the wind were a few ivory gulls, and swallows whisked to and fro. She sniffed indignantly and licked her lips. No eagles, no hawks, no falcons.

She would never lose another the way she had lost Reqiuem, she promised herself.

And then she sang out for her sister, her brother, for Svalinn and the others- Maleah, who might like to spend some time with the two-week old children, Cayetano if he was near, his elderly ward Kheviel if she was well. Her nieces and nephews might want to handle the young ones, annd bring their newest siblings ans well. And one by one she brought her children- @Cheri, @Jean-Heron, @Èlosie and @Roux so they could rest in a soft bed of new grass in the roving shadows of the flowering trees they lived beneath.

the saint, belly full with salty seal fats and fish — that she was getting better at catching — was beginning to gain weight again, filling back out with aching slowness of blood beneath a bruise. but already, she did not look so gaunt, so bonethin; her golden eye brighter and more alert.

a small bundle of feathers: brown and spotted of a hawk, some white and grey of seagulls, is carried betwixt her jaws. she'd meant to use them to decorate her den, when she made or found one.

her steps slow as she comes across chacal, perhaps subconsciously drawn by the song despite that it had not been meant for her. ears flutter back to rest at half mast atop her skull, steps faltering as her gaze goes from the mother and leader of sapphique to the four small children.

hesitant and unsure.

it wasn't too late to slink back the way she came and avoid the little outing.

Jean-Heron was not a fan of being airlifted!

He squirmed and fixed himself in awkward poses as The Claw deposited him out into the open air, nestling him into the sun-dappled spring grasses. He seemed to wobble somewhat indignantly on splayed paws for a moment, until he began focusing on the onslaught of things that were new to his tender senses.

His eyesight was new - brand new, as a matter of fact - and larger shapes in his blurred vision interested him the most. Head angling towards the shy shadow [Saint] looming nearby, he began to trundle determinedly towards it.

cameo + slight PP!

The Sandstone was returning from a finished patrol when Chacal’s song reached him. He arrived from the opposite direction of Saint, eyeballing the newcomer with barely disguised annoyance as he came to greet the mother of his children. His expression changed immediately to show the Tanzanite a bit of appreciative affection before turning to give each daughter a kiss.

He stood back then to watch as baby Jean-Heron stamped his little feet in a march towards the Granite. Though he did not outwardly threaten the girl, the implication behind his lasting stare was there.

Backing off for the time being, Svalinn took to the shade, lying propped up on his elbow to watch the children explore their surroundings. @Cheri wandered after him, and soon he was spoiling her with attention.

Much had changed in the two weeks since the birth of Sapphique's newest brood. They had grown considerably and explored with new senses, even conjuring the strength to find their feet. Chacal settled them on soft grass, but it seemed none could stay still for long. 

Jean-Heron moved to explore something close by and Chéri padded off to investigate the gilded adult who rested close by. Roux, on wobbly limbs, pursued her sister. She found herself climbing over the mountain range of her father's strong limbs.

Chacal eyed the newcomer for a moment, appreciating the fact that she looked willing enough to leave if she was turned away. Instead, feeling confident that her children would be safe, she beckoned the woman forward with a light woof, and reached to lick the top of Jean-Heron's head before he began to walk toward Saint.

Svalinn greeted her, and earned a light croon. She appreciated that he had Saint in his watchful eye, though Chacal was willing to invest some amount of trust in her; should she betray it, Chacal felt certain she knew just the perfect ledge on the cliffs to shove her from.

Roux followed as well, and Chacal- now having two children on the move- inched forward a bit.

a man and the children gather and she freezes, a bit like a doe in the headlights, wanting nothing more than to melt into the sand as she feels the adults' eyes on her.

unwelcome, unwelcome, unwelcome —

the hissing thoughts in her head would not let her confidence take hold, eagerly feeding her insecurities and paranoia as if it were a starving beast.

saint is overcome with the feeling that she was interrupting on something she had no business being apart of.

her heart thrums like a wardrum in her chest and she recedes back into her initial skittish nature. even as one of the children determinedly comes towards her, she shrinks back, apologetic look given to the two adults before backtracking the way she'd came. more than content to let the little family have their moment.

The newcomer moved back. Chacal thumped her tail against the ground gently, but would allow the woman the space to retreat should she feel uncomfortable. She smiled faintly at Svalinn, for how protective he had been, though she would not wish for the man to overstep his boundaries. She chopped her jaws together, and gave him an “over-the-eyeglasses” look as if to say be gentle.

After all, Sapphique should be welcoming of its new members, and she took an interest in having her children be well known by all of them.

Jean-Heron continued to toddle after the unfamiliar shape, but it moved backward faster than he could cover ground, his frustration growing with every lurch forward.

Thankfully, the tiny bull became distracted by a playful wind in the tall grass before a tantrum could rev his up crybaby engines. Which is good, since he'd received several noise complaints already and next would be a citation.

Although personally proud of his ability to intimidate the stranger at a mere look, Svalinn cringed internally when they started to leave. Stiffly, he turned to catch the expression he’d earned from Chacal and gave a wordless defense: 



Oh, c’mon, I didn’t even do anything that time.

Trying to hide his disrobing smirk, Svalinn flopped onto his side and returned to minding the girls.