Stavanger Bay for indeed, I am raising up the Chaldeans

Though one child was yet unnamed, Doe had finally gained enough faith in the second pale she-pup to called her @Whiskey, partially because the name matched that of her twin's, but mostly because of the silly, drunken way she seemed to move. Whiskey had graduated from her partial isolation and had been placed alongside Juju and Iss to fight for her meals. Though the wolf was still small, it had to be done. The brown pup - Hind's granddaughter, Doe thought with sad approval - remained nameless. Every time Doe closed her eyes, it was with the conviction that Hind's granddaughter would be dead when they opened once more.

But still, she lived.

And named or not, it was time to announce the birth of these four to all parties involved. They'd lost most of their following - Laggy and Tets were both long gone, and Rouge was not far behind them - but they had one new addition that Doe thought might be able to handle the job. (She did not trust Murgash as far as she could carry him, and she certainly couldn't carry him to the river, or even to Ravensblood Forest.)

Without much more thought than that, Doe poked her head out of Stone Den and called for @Solveig, hoping the shewolf would be willing to do some message-delivering for the resident den mother.

Solveig, true to form, had settled herself quickly after her acceptance. She'd spent the majority of her time familiarizing herself with the territory, and memorizing the individual scents of the wolves that made up the pack. It was her desire to meet every one of them and strike up a strong rapport, but it was something that could only come with time.

Today found her following the borders and adding her own scent by way of squatting every couple hundred yards or so. She would be one with them; presenting a united front against those who would seek to do them harm. Doe, especially, was at the forefront of her mind—her pups would need constant supervision for the next few weeks until they were grown enough to mind their mother's word. That distraction would keep the Atoll's mind divided. This was where Solveig sought to fill the gap until it was no longer required of her.

So she was gladdened when the summons rose on the air. She finished the last marker with a few kicks of her back feet and took off. It was only a scant few minutes until the densite came into view, and as did Doe's oddly lopsided ears. The brutish she-wolf slowed to a trot and lowered her head on approach to the Beta female. One ear switched forward at the muffled sound of tiny whimpers within the depths. 

She looked to Doe expectantly.

Sol came promplty to the smaller wolf's call, and Doe once again felt fond toward the woman.

"Hail, Sol," she chirped, head cocking as the other remained silent, waiting. Doe supposed it was one of those things; all the ones she held dear were taciturn in nature. Szymon and Qilaq most notably, but even Skellige to some extent. "How have you been settling in?" the shewolf inquired, seeking to gauge the other's level of comfort before sending her to traipse through the wilds. If this was not yet a place Solveig could call home, then Doe was not sure it was wise to send her away - she might not come back.

And they needed Sol. They needed any set of teeth they could find before winter set in, but Solveig especially seemed promising to the young mother. She was not Furiosa, was not Lagertha or Arturo, but Doe still thought she would be a fine addition to the family - if they could keep her.

Sorry for the delay. Rough week, blah.

Both ears flicked forward and she nodded, both towards the greeting and in response to the querie. "Very well. In fact, I've set about adding my scent to the borders to further discourage any wanton intruders." She explained in the hopes of pleasing Doe's sensibilities as a Beta female. Of course, she had no way of knowing that she was already off on a good foot with the she-wolf. A smile enveloped her features and she lowered her nose to the earth to better pick up the faintest trace of milk and sweetness on the air. The pups were sure to grow fat and healthy before the snows hit. A good sign, indeed.

"And you? I hope the birth was not terribly taxing, and your children are well." In truth, she wanted to see them as any good wolf would, but knew better than to ask.

Though the answer was not a gushing one that wiped away all Doe's worries, it pleased her to know that the shewolf was settling in. She seemed to be doing well enough that Doe felt comfortable sending her out - it was only a short journey, after all, and not one fraught with danger, either. Hopefully, Solveig would take well to the task.

"We are well - and it is about the pups that I have called for you," said Doe, tail wagging. She came a little closer to the female, leaving the mouth of her den so that Solveig might be able to see inside. It was not too bright out, and Doe wasn't sure the light afforded a good view of them - but that could wait. "There are a number of wolves that should be told of their births - do you think you could spread the word, if I gave you names and descriptions and general locations? None of them are more than a day's journey away."

If Solveig were a more emotionally complex wolf, she might have balked when Doe mentioned her task having to do with the pups. Not that she was afraid, or disliked them—on the contrary she adored children, but she didn't trust herself to care for them. The four-year-old hadn't actually given any thought to motherhood, or her role to play in rearing them. It was as if her biological clock was geared towards the traditionally masculine tasks of providing and nurturing mothers. 

But with that said, she was a bit relieved when Doe asked her, not to watch the pups, but to pass along news of the birth to those Doe deemed suitable and trustworthy. The smaller she-wolf moved aside as she spoke, and the hulking Northern woman stole a glance past the Beta female and into the den where small, furry shapes moved about in search of their mother's warmth and milk. She couldn't make out any telling features, just a few nubs of ears, and the occasional plaintive whimper. 

Solveig turned her nose to Doe and touched the tip of her snout to the smaller woman's cheek while she waved her tail, clearly pleased. "Of course," she replied as she pulled away to a more conversational distance. "I would be glad to. Shall I extend an invitation to visit once they are old enough and you are rested?"

Doe's tail wagged as Solveig expressed her willingness to carry out the task, as well as an understanding of why she was being sent out in the first place.

"They can come as soon as they want to," said Doe, not too worried about them disturbing her precious time with her precious children. They didn't do much, and any break in the monotony would be good for her. "You can come see them, too, if you want," she added brightly, wanting the invitation to be clear. She sensed some sort of reluctance from the other woman, but regardless, she was family. If she wanted to see the new blood in their clan, Doe wanted to oblige her. "They don't do much," she went on, shuffling back into the den and nudging each child in turn. "But they make cute sounds and nibble at me."

Smiling fondly at the children, she listed their names to Solveig in order of birth: "That's Isengrim, Julep, Whiskey, and little no-name." The shewolf curled protectively around her brood, but when her head popped up to search for Solveig, her eyes were free of wariness - and lit up with a happy glint that invited Solveig to come nearer, if she wished - and perhaps to touch, if she was careful enough.

Sorry for the wait! The holidays are rough.

Solveig was ready to recieve information on the wolves she was sent to find, but instead was rewarded by an invitation from Doe to join her and see the children herself. A rush of emotion swelled within her breast and she nodded as the smaller she-wolf turned and disappeared down into the dark cavern. She hesitated for another short moment before quickly following behind the beta female, unable to hide the genuine smile that tugged at her lips. 

"Oh?" She replied as Doe remarked on their relative inactivity. When their eyes opened, and they gained control of their motor skills, the pack was surely going to be in for it. One child was enough, but this was a remarkably large litter in Solveig's eyes, and all she could think about was keeping them safe. 

The Atoll rattled off the names, none of which were familiar to the northerner, but she nodded all the same. Her ears pricked at the mewling bundles as Doe circled them with her warmth, and she sniffed the ground where they had surely shimmied around on at one point or another. A look was cast towards the other she-wolf, seeking any sign of irritation or intrusion, and finding nothing but acceptance. 

Solveig slowly lowered herself to the ground and stretched her neck out as far as it would go to sniff at the nearest—Julep, if she recalled. It was hard to tell the difference in the dusky light of the cave. Her nose was nearly as large as the pup's head, and muzzle just as long. She could hardly imagine, as with any birth, how wolves began life as tiny, innocent beans. Her touch was featherlight, and cautious, but she nosed Julep gently with a soft, soothing croon. 

"They are beautiful, Doe." she said with a decided thump of her tail. "So much potential in such tiny bodies." 

Urgh, I am so sorry for the wait. Potatoes are not even wiggly anymore XD

"Thank you," Doe replied, tail lashing. She cooed over them a moment longer before seeming to remember herself and looking back to Solveig. "Our sister pack, Teaghlaigh, lies in a forest just up the shore. They should be the first pack you come across, when you come around the side of the Gryfalcon's keep. The alpha there is called Arturo, and he should certainly know, but there is also a pale woman called Furiosa who I would like to be told as well.

"The third is a cat-wolf - black, with tufted ears. I don't know where she is, but if you'd check for her at the river that runs from the sea and into Teaghlaigh, I would be very greatful," she explained, tail wagging hopefully.