Neverwinter Forest Hi momma, bye momma

open to anyone, including @Dublin and @Eimear if you have time!

Little tail wagged as Szabala nosed around the den entrance. Suddenly she picked up a strange, new scent and her heart skipped with excitement. What could it be? She had to find out! Without further thought, she scampered after it. 

She ended up traveling farther from the den than she usually does, and soon everything seemed to grow big and scary. Tail between legs, she padded about, jumping at a shuffling sound ahead. The strange new scent flooded her nostrils, and despite her fear, Szabala inched forward. There, stood a thing, with long ears and a fuzzy little tail. It wasn't much smaller than Szabala herself. It's nose wiggled about as it scavenged in the debris. 

"Boo," she whispered, sticking her head around a tree and revealing herself to the thing. It didn't occur to her that it could be dangerous, but luckily for her, this thing wasn't. It's head lifted up, and it's enormous eyes  stares at her for a split second before bouncing off. It bounced away! Szabala thought that was the funniest thing she's ever seen, and began laughing and giggling, flopping on her side.

Dublin saw his sister bound away, and was curious what she was doing. He giggled, chasing after her. "Bala, Bala!" he said, his way of saying 'Szabala'. Dublin didn't notice how far away he went, he was too busy chasing his sister. He caught up to her after the thing had left, and saw her on the ground. That looks like fun! Dublin thought, and joined her.

While Kieran was watching the pups, Kaskara stretched her legs and went hunting. There were six growing children in the pack now and both mothers, herself included, needed all the sustenance that they could muster. So when she found a bunny trail, she followed it faithfully. It was only when its head snapped up, nose and ears twitching toward a sound suspiciously similar to her son's, that Kas realized that perhaps her children were not as well corralled as they could be. The creature bounded away and Kaskara jumped after it half-heartedly, landing in the clearing, visible to the children watching.

After a moment of stillness for dramatic effect, Kaskara turned toward her children with a smile, and lunged toward them playfully. Here comes the Mommy monster! She crashed through the brush, her eyes alight with joy, and when she reached her children, she snatched them close. Oh, these kiddies taste so yummy. She licked them playfully, first on Szabala's head, then Dublin's, and laughed merrily. Two will not satisfy my hunger! Take me to your siblings, little ones. Then I can truly feast. Then she set to nibbling on them, first on their toes, then bellies, laughing all the while.

Soon, Dublin began to trot after her, calling her name. She batted him on the nose as he grew closer, her hysterical laughing slowing down. He joined her on the ground and they laughed together for a moment before something crashed through the brush. Here comes the Mommy Monster! She screamed with delight as she was gathered close, receiving a lick upon her head. She twisted to nip at Momma's chin. "You can not eat me!" She squeaked in protest. 

Then, the Monster asked for her siblings and little Szabala squirmed away with haste. "Never!" As Momma began nibbling at her, she began laughing again, struggling to get out of her reach.

Dublin giggled as his mama licked him "heeheehee, not the Mommy Monster!" He pretended to run away, then came back "I'll protect you, Bala! And Rian and Mear too!" Dublin laughed as his mama started nibbling him. The little prince twisted around. What great fun this was!

Kaskara's heart swelled with love at this simple game with her children. Szabala squealed playfully and prepared to defend herself and her brother against the Mommy Monster. Kas laughed warmly and continued to nibble on their toes, on their bellies, tugged on their tails. When Szabala tried to squirm away, yelling "Never!" as she did, the mother laughed heartily and flopped onto her side. I've been bested by the little beasties! Oh, I have been brought low! She laid still on the ground for a long moment, before popping one eye open to see what they made of her dramatic entrance.

The Mommy Monster suddenly began to crumble, and Momma fell to the ground. At first, Szabala feared that she and Dublin had hurt their mother, or even worse, and tears immediately began to well up in her eyes. However, Kaskara bellowed some more sentences, and she seemed fine -- for now. So Szabala shook away her tears of desperate worry and galloped over, bouncing up into Mommy Monster's shoulder and butting her ear.

Dublin giggled as the Mommy monster went down, but was a bit concerned for his mama, but the concern was wiped away when she started talking again. He started playfully licking her ear, laughing "Mommy monster won't hurt us. No-no-no-no-no hurt." he said, chanting the word over and over again. He liked playing pretend with his Mama and Bala.

Kaskara giggled as her child licked her ear, and she rolled over (carefully) and gathered her pups to her, licking each of them between the ears. No, Mamma would never hurt you! She smiled at them, nuzzling each, before letting them go. Where are your siblings, hm? Are they at home being lazy? She watched them for their reactions, wondering which of her beloved children would grow up to be the healer, the warrior, or some combination of their parents.

Szabala squealed and giggled as Kaskara rolled over and hugged her babies close to her. She lapped at Mama's nose with her little pink tongue as she spoke. "Yeah!" she exclaimed with disappointed in her voice. "They Lazybutts," she then announced loudly, releasing a fit of laughter almost immediately after she had spoken the words. She knew it! She knew what she said could be hurtful... but it was so funny!!

Dublin giggled at his sister's use of the word 'Lazybutts.' It didn't just mean something funny, it sounded funny too! He cuddled into his mama "They must be very tired!" Dublin said "And bored. Sleeping is boring sometimes." Dublin started to ramble "Unless you have nightmare or very good dream, which wake you up, and you can play with tail, and shadows!"

Wrapping up.

Kas and two of her children played for a while longer, wrestling and tumbling in the summer grasses. When they were tuckered out, she brought them back to the den, and settled in with all four of her babes and her husband for a long afternoon nap.