Golden Glade The harsh frozen world

@Jhala, @Astik, @Reek and @Tambourine since he was babysitting? Others of the pack more than welcome too!!! Set after the territorial fight.

Tapat was cold. Very cold. The pup didn't have a thick winter coat, if it was a normal winter he would perhaps be fine, but this was not a normal winter. He tried snuggling close to his brother but the pup was still losing warmth fast. The wind was tugging on his fur even while trying to find shelter under a twig like bush. He curled up his small body tightly. His bigger brother had far more fat than him which helped him stay better insulated than that he was.

The small boy closed his eyes by now, far less chatty than he normally was with his never ending questions. Though now the questions were mostly mentally asked. Why was it so cold? Why wasn't he in his den? Where were his parents? Why wasn't his mama here with him? What if they wouldn't come back? Slowly those questions became something more of a dream, as he sank off into into a deep sleep to protect himself against the cold.

jhala ran, her heart pounding in her chest. she ran to where they'd left the children with her ears pressed against her head. she always feared something bad would happen, just out of sheer paranoia. laurel and indra had attacked her children, the high inquisitor had threatened their existence... it just wasn't right, and jhala feared that someone else would come and swipe them away from her.

she moved into the den where the children snuggled up, going straight to tapat. astik she of course worried about, but the trip to the glade had shaken her up. something was off about the boy, and she worried that he was ill. her tail was between her legs but it wagged furiously, nosing the little pale-pup a few times as he lay with his eyes closed. his breathe-movements were visible, but she just wanted to double-check. "baby, baby, baby, baby, baby..." she cooed over and over, waiting for the child to stir.

Tapat was so cold, even when his mother arrived Tapat was still out of it. His body was not used to this cold, nor did he have enough fur to keep himself warm. He had been suffering since the traveling through the icy winds and the freezing temperatures. The den needed more heat to keep him warm. The pale body was sunken off in deep thought, images swirling around of his mother, father and Astik. He was always going to be a child someone had to worry about.

His breaths were shallow. He just wanted the warm. Though with some nudges and chanting the boy did spur some life back into him. His body trembled, his hear lifting a bit. He could smell him mommy. He blinked his eyes open. Tapat's ears were flopped back and his feet tugged under him. He let out a squeak which was not really sounding like a word. He just hoped his mama would warm him up.

her heart dropped, fear flooding through her body. "no... baby, baby, baby," she continued to coo, instead taking the pale child and wrapping herself around him tightly. if @Astik was nearby she grabbed him too, cuddling the two. @Tambourine would've been welcomed into the pile as well, any warmth was all she wanted for her two babies. tapat did not sound well, and he was cold to the touch. she was terrified for the boy, terrified that after all they'd done she'd lose him too.

"com'on lil goose," she said softly, licking his neck fur roughly the opposite direction, "lil' pat, my bright lil' sun, my sweet lil' jakob." 

Tapat closed his eyes again when he felt the warmth of his mother. It was even more soothing that her scent was all around him meaning that he wasn't alone anymore. He had his brother and his momma all around him. Out of habit the pup gently nosed over her belly, wanting warm milk, though as a four month old one wouldn't drink milk anymore. Tapat was gently trying anyhow. But the scent he expected wasn't there, after all Jhala wasn't giving any milk anymore. He wished he had the warm liquid warming his tummy.

Instead he just curled more against her belly, trying to burry his face into her armpit. Tapat was mostly drifting off in his own world, half asleep half daydreaming as he warmed up. He was mostly unaware what happened around him or who joined. He was with his momma now. That was the most important thing. What might be a relief for his mother though was that at least his tail was starting to gently wag once more. It were only his paws, ears and nose that were still very cold to the touch.

he stirred more as she laid there, and she grew less and less frantic. she still cooed softly and licked his fur the wrong way, but he became warmer and his little white tail tapped against her. relief replaced her fear, her own nose moving to touch his cold one. "there we go, goose," she murmured softly, letting out a soft breath as she moved her nose from his. he would be ok, but she feared still for him in the weather.

he buried his nose under her arm, and she sighed lightly and curled herself tighter around him, placing her head beside him. he'll be okay, she told herself over and over, he'll be ok.

So cute <3 End-ish? Though we could continue!

Tapat hummed happily when his mama curled around him. He felt so safe and warm. All was well again. It seemed his mother had calmed down a bit too and realized that her son would be alright. Had she been hours later Tapat would not have survived the cold. Yet, the small miracle child still lived. Tapat closed his eyes and rested for now. He was soothed and calm. A nap in his mother's embrace was the perfect medicine.

sounds good!

jhala eventually fell asleep, a bit worried still but calmed now that tapat was. every now and then she would wake and press her nose against her baby. he was safe here, he didn't need to be afraid, she hoped he would remember that... if nothing else.