Sawtooth Spire it's hard to explain; lizards and pumpkins

Family!

It was morning, and this time he was the first to wake. He found himself pinned between the first and last born, but he was able to slip out without much trouble after a bit of worming around. Now free, the red-haired child stretched out, extending his front legs and then his back, until he was strung out as far as he could go. He sat down on his rump, head bobbing as he sensed the world around him. Suddenly, his eye lids slid back, revealing ice blue eyes. He blinked several times in rapid succession, swaying and wobbling as he adjusted to the new sensory information that was entering his mind. He could not make much out, but he could distinguish brighter and darker areas, and for now was fixated on the brightest - the mouth of the den. Curious, he slowly started to pad toward it.

He lived a simple life for the moment — a comfortable pattern of sleeping and eating, occasionally exploring and bullying his brothers but not exactly fussed with moving about too much. He enjoyed being nestled between his siblings where it was warm and where his food source was close by.

However, when he woke in the morning and experienced sight for the first time (as undeveloped and unfocused as it was), the last born couldn't help but crawl over his family, escaping the huddle and curiously wiggling his way towards the strange light that was the entrance of the den. He hadn't noticed the smallest was already heading that way, too, and paused only when he ran face first into a fiery-coated rump.

HI BROTHER

His steps were slow, one tentative step after another. His mind was not so developed yet as to be able to focus so intently on one thing and still monitor his surroundings, and so he was surprised when his brother bumped into him. He squeaked, and spun to see what was behind him, and there he saw the indistinct dark shape of the last born. His tail wagged, and with the bright glow of the den entrance forgotten, he toothless jaws sought his brother's face in a friendly, playful greeting.

<33!

He had released a small, surprised squeak at the unexpected road block, stumbling back into the dirt. Pingasut was the smallest of the brothers, and Sitamat could have easily clambered over him (not possessing the brain power yet to realise he could go around him), but he instead sniffed back at his sibling with fascination. He could only see a blurry silhouette in front of him, highlighted by the glow from the den's entrance. He continued sniffing the odd form until his brother decided to suckle his face. Sitamat grunted, before his own tail wriggled and he shoved his head forward to boop Pingasut back.

Sometime in the coming days his milk teeth would emerge. He was compelled to chew, and so he gummed his brother's face until said brother decided to boop him. He was remarkably steady on his feet for one who had not long ago gained control over his hind legs, and did not fall, though he did take a step back. He growled playfully, and raised a paw to bat at his brother's snout, pushing toward him to claim back the space he had given up in the moment prior.

He was successful in pushing back his brother (even if it was only a step) and Sitamat wiggled his tail in triumph. His victory was short-lived, though, and his tail stopped as the blurry form of Pingasut moved forwards again and a paw smacked him on the side of his stubby muzzle. The last born's glee quickly turned to anguish as he allowed the relatively light push to send him falling onto his side. The fox had defeated the bear (for the time being).

The third born was both surprised and thrilled that he managed to topple his brother with a single swipe of his paw. He seized the opportunity, and with a menacing growl (sort of) he descended on Sitamat, intending to pin his bigger brother down. In the same moment, his toothless jaws sought the plush fur of the last born's neck, for added support in his endeavor to capture and truly conquer the bear.

Although he couldn't comprehend it just yet, this was Sitamat's first spar — and he was getting thrashed. He squeaked and his stubby tail whipped around as his brother seized the opportunity and pinned the much larger puppy to the ground. Something warm closed around his scruff and, although it didn't hurt at all, the boy cried again, flailing his limbs. In a desperate attempt, Sitamat rolled onto his other side, hoping to take whatever was clinging onto his neck with him.

His mouth found purchase on his brother's scruff, and for a moment, the fox had the black bear pinned beneath him. Just as his jaws slackened and his tail started to wag, Sitamat rolled. It surprised the third born, who was prepared to let his brother up, but now he found their roles reversed. His larger sibling now had him pinned. This would not do. He his paws stuck out to push against the dark boy's body, but he could not budge him. He grew still for a moment, and then started to cry in the most piteous fashion, sniffling and wailing as though in pain.

The pressure on his neck was relieved as he rolled, and Sitamat's own tail started waggling as he was suddenly right-side up. Something plush was beneath him instead of the usual cold dirt, and the boy looked down to see his tiny brother — or, at least, his vague outline. He was squirming and kicking, but Sitamat refused to move, staring down at his brother in fascination. It was when he started to cry did the youngest then stir, settling down across Pingasut's midsection in an attempt to stop his fussing.

His brother shifted, and for a moment his piteous cries ceased. But then he felt the weight again, this time across his midsection. He was still pinned, and he began to writhe with all the strength he could muster. He renewed his cries — this time louder, crying out for all he was worth with intermittent groans as his creamy white toes thrust against the black bear in an extra effort to get the beast to move.

Still, the bear cub did not budge despite his brother's persistence. There was no malicious intent, Sitamat simply found Pingasut quite comfortable (even though he was almost half the size of the others). He shifted only slightly as the smaller pup squirmed and pushed against him, his attempts to dislodge Sitamat thwarted by his sheer size and stubbornness.

Suddenly, @Tonravik grasped his scruff and lifted him up from his poor brother, and now it was the youngest's turn to flail and cry. He was deposited next to his other siblings, and Sitamat looked up to see the large, dark form of their mother grunt and shift — their noises had interrupted her nap. Unhappy that he had been taken away from his comfortable spot upon Pingasut, the boy let out a loud huff of air, settling his head onto his forepaws and beginning to sulk.

>:]

Just when he thought his tactic was not working and that he'd have to find another means to coax the black bear off of him, their mother swooped in to do the work for him. Sitamat was lifted from him, and placed back down beside their other siblings. The fox was delighted. He pushed himself into a seated position, with a devilish glint in his blue eyes as he looked toward his sulking brother. His mouth lifted into a toothy grin, and he giggled in the manner of a drawn out heeeeeeeeeee!

He thought himself crafty indeed. He gloated for a few moments, his shoulders swaying as he wiggled with glee, enjoying what he perceived as a triumph over his sibling. Afterwards, he dropped his cheeky display and padded to Sitamat, draping a slender foreleg across his brother's shoulders as he nuzzled the side of his head and licked his ears, his shit-eating grin replaced with an affectionate smile.

Ping's so cute <3 And last post for me!

His brother's display of flashy pride went ignored by Sitamat, who turned his head away from them and his mother, disgruntled that he had been removed from him so rudely. He was back on the cold ground again. It wasn't comfortable here. Pingasut's giggle earned him only a flick of Sitamat's ear, and he breathed another sigh as he shifted in place, trying to find a warm spot in the dirt.

Suddenly, something draped along his neck and the youngest turned only to get a face-full of his brother's tongue. His dreary demeanour changed almost instantly, and the boy wiggled his tail as he squeaked a laugh, nosing back his sibling playfully as he groomed his ears. The warmth Pingasut emitted caused him to huddle closer to the smaller boy, moving to rest his head upon the other's soft back.

I enjoyed this thread! <3

Two successes in a short time made the fox feel warm with happiness. He had escaped the bear, and now even had soothed the sulking beast with affection. His brother draped his head across his back, and the third born settled in himself for a nap. He was not inclined to be anywhere else but here, as he thrived on the closeness and even as a pillow of sorts, felt immensely comfortable. His eyelids soon closed, and he dozed with Sitamat.