Moonspear meet the family
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Ooc — Iris
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#1
All Welcome 
The pups had been growing rapidly — well, except for the one runty girl with the weird leg — and the time was rapidly approaching that they should go outside for the first time. That morning, Charon nosed @Amekaze awake with an excitement that was uncharacteristic for the Moonspear Alpha these days. He called for the pack — @Hydra @Lyra @Alya @Korei Julia @Dakarai @Olive @Terance @Kavos @Tryphon @Aries @Cassiopeia — to invite them to meet his children for the first time (well, for most of them it was for the first time).

"Come on girls, time to go outside with papa and mama," Charon said excitedly to @Vela, @Galaxy and @Jarilo, only to realise last-minute that he didn't have just girls this year and corrected, "And our tough guy, of course," while he nosed Jarilo in the butt to get him moving outside. Charon waited at the den's mouth for them to take their first steps outside. When Ran wanted to go outside too, taking a few careful, wobbly cripple steps forward, Charon's ears flattened and he chased her back to the back of the den with a warning growl. He preferred if the rest of the pack didn't see her until he had figured out what to do with her.
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Ooc — Kat
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No one needed to tell her twice; as soon as her parents said the word, Galaxy bounded outdoors. She remembered sunshine, fresh air and wide open spaces. She had forgotten how harsh the former could be at first and rocked on her heels, eyes squinting and watering. They soon adjusted and she frolicked forth, tongue lolling from her mouth as she turned her head this way, then that way, seeking the familiar blue skies, red rocks and dry heat she knew.

The sky was blue but there were big, puffy, white clouds everywhere. There were no red rocks at all; instead, there was green everywhere she looked, though she did spy a boulder here and there. The humidity was currently off the charts and though she didn't sweat, it made Galaxy's small body feel heavy. Her tongue lolled from her mouth in a pant as she tried to recover from the mild shock of these unfamiliar surroundings.

It was more disorienting than truly disappointing. She knew by now that this was a whole new life. Quickly recovering, Galaxy gave a happy yap and began chasing her tail. Right as she caught it between her teeth, she heard Charon's growl and released her grip, straightening out with several loud blinks. "Sup?" she blurted without thinking, head cocked, unaware of how gangster she sounded right then. She was curious about what her dad was doing but hadn't yet noticed Ran's absence.
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The concept of "outside" was something that Vela had yet to grasp. Though it had been mentioned previously, the freckled Pi had found herself confused whenever it had been brought up in her parent's one-sided conversation. Unlike the previous interactions with the strange word, today seemed different as there were actions coupled with this foreign phrase. Unlike Galaxy, who busted from the den with excitement, Vela trailed behind as she took it all in with wide eyes, observing everything that she could. She did not fear this new world and instead was very curious to what it brought. 

The change of scenery brought about adjustments in the lighting. As the dark comforts of their cave had quickly evolved into bright sunlight, the child found herself both pausing and wincing suddenly as her delicate eyes felt the warm touch of sunshine. It did not take them long to become accustomed to the light and when she felt normal again. It was as normality overcame her, Ran was ushered back into the den by Charon. Playing the part of sidekick, Vela threw a glare over her shoulder in the direction of her disabled sibling, not knowing why father cast her aside, but aligning herself regardlessly.
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Outside, he knew of only vaguely. He knew where it was in relation to their cozy den, how he was deterred from investigating it at length, and now how his father spoke of it with excitement. As infectious as it was, the steely pup was content to go with the flow, blissfully unaware of this greater picture as he poked along behind his two paler sisters as they carved the path up and out in the world. Somehow, suddenly, it was the okay thing to do, so he did.

He settled back with a startled yip when his head practically spun at the sheer magnitude of this out here--right here, this whole time! All of it! So green and bright and warm, he looked up and around gave another quick start when he realized his father shooing Ran back in and away. Jarilo veered well out of the way of that with a new spurt of motion, darting forward a few more short body-lengths. into the relative open before the den. The realization of how foreign that felt was what stopped him. Nearby, he saw his mother looming and his pale sisters near too; he'd be alright.

His eyes were stuck wide, though. He couldn't stop looking at everything, overwhelmed and awed.
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Ooc — gerra
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While not to the degree of Charon's excitement, she was looking forward to this dearly. The dark alpha was ready to unleash them, especially since that meant less on just her alone, and one step forward in their eventually independence from her--truthfully, her favorite part of this all. She was an effective and dutiful mother to them because she had to be, but that didn't mean she was a fan of it, or any of its necessities. Her patience was pressing dangerously close to an end when it came to being cooped up with these puppies, and watching Ran continue to struggle was often on her mind as well--proving for a darkened combination she did not fancy any at all. So a little distance between them all could do her nothing but good.

Following her pale mate's lead, she urged them out and slipped into the sunlight herself, with a happy saunter and a waving tail. While he shooed Ran back (something she did not question, she'd be fine to not see that miserable nub for a bit), she wasted no time trotting a short, half circuit around the den's immediate doorstep; no far, nothing else was around. Ame circled back and took up a post a few meters from the entrance, where she could keep an eye on everyone and everything.

She had a mixed feeling for the smallest girl who just may miss this. Pity, definitely, yet still wanting her to be able to overcome it--but could she, especially if she'd be denied like this? When did she, as creator, decide to do more?
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Charon's growl was interupted by a burst of laughter at Galaxy's 'sup'. He turned away from the den, deciding he'd think of what to do with Ran later — though truthfully, he sort of hoped she'd just fall over and die to spare him the trouble because he didn't want to have a weird deformed freak for a daughter — and focus on the happy family moment for now. He turned to Amekaze and grinned while he teasingly asked; "Do the gangster genes come from your side of the family?"

Vela's glance didn't go unnoticed though it was hard for Charon to decipher whether she was disapproving of Ran or he (though he was pretty sure it was of Ran, as he saw no reason she'd distrust her own father; and it seemed logical that nature'd make the pups turn on a weak freakish pup like that). A smile broke across his face as he looked at her, her little frumpled face a reminder of his own in so many ways, and with pride in his chest he moved forward to nuzzle her face. Then he nipped at her ear and leaned down in a play bow around his pups, inviting them all to play with a growl.
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Maybe if she hadn't had the cognizance of a yearling, Galaxy wouldn't have thought much of Ran's absence, nor particularly cared. Though her surroundings were new, life itself was old hat to the youngster, so she had the presence of mind to inquire, "Wan?" It was kind of bothersome, being unable to pronounce words correctly or verbalize much yet. The knowledge was there, it was just a matter of getting her dumb lips and tongue to cooperate. She was working on it.

The pup's attention—the span was still short, despite her mental acuity—flicked to her dad when he spoke to her mom. "Gan'sta?" she repeated, head cocking again. Her tail waved slowly, amused by this word, which was familiar. "Yike cho-yo?" little Galaxy inquired, using the term ("cholo") her brothers had often thrown around down in the Mexican desert.
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Vela's stern expression eased once Ran retreated. She was glad that she and her father, with Charon doing most of the work, had been able to shoo away the nuisance. She had never been particularly fond of her sibling, for reasons well beyond her comprehension, and whenever the opportunity to boss her came about, the speckled girl took advantage. She was never particularly dominant with the rest of the siblings, but, something about Ran spurred the girl to act as she did. 

Turning, Vela was greeted by her father's advance, and her expression shifted happily as she leaned into his embrace. Even as he pulled away, her expression remained bright as she watched his body bow. Quickly catching on, Vela trotted after him with a whipping tail, happily accepting his invitation to play.
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Ooc — Rosie
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I don’t want to slow you guys down, so feel free to skip Olive :)
Also being incredibly vague about Dakarai things because it hasn’t played out yet

Olive used to think that she was a solitary creature, bound to nothing but her heart and soul and the gods and the open road — but she was quickly learning how untrue that was. Meeting Dakarai taught her about passion and becoming a mother taught her about dedication; melting in with the Moonspear clan introduced her to subservience and led her to the realization that this was not always a bad thing. The eternal gods taught her to accept the things she could not change.

And now that she was without so many of those things, the pale mother did not know what to think.

Losing Sirius had become a normalcy for the small family, as unfortunate as that was; but seeing her heathered babe at Arturo and Hemlock’s feet had reignited the flame within her that craved his dependency. It hurt, more than it had the first time, to see how her progeny had learned to love his flamekissed caretaker as he should love her. Perhaps visiting Sirius had been too much for Dakarai, too. Olive imagined it reminded the man of what they had lost; all that he had lost his entire life. The man was subject to waves of melancholy, just as she was, but the dark knight had been gone for too long. They had never left the communal den they shared, wishing to provide a sense of stability for their two small children — and there were many nights when their sparks became too hot and one or the other had to retreat away from the other. These instances never lasted more than a few days, but it had been many days since she had seen him and even longer since their forbidden tryst. His scent was begining to grow stale.

She wondered. She dreaded.

Even her own children were growing and gaining their independence, as beautiful and painful as that was. The femme now permitted the babes to venture off on their own without her hovering and fluttering and fawning over them from afar… it had been the only way to assure herself of their safety. But now, she had to trust them and trust in the world. 

So, the lamb was, for the most part, alone.

And when she answered Charon's call and ventured upon the Ostrega family at play, her heart cried out. They all seemed so happy. So unmolested — allowed to flourish as a family should, instead of spun around in every direction as hers was. Often times, Olive looked towards the stars to seek why her lot in life had been cast this way, why she didn’t deserve the pretty picture that laid bare in front of her — she was good, wasn't she? Or had Arturo been truthful, and she was in fact not good? 

The druid always cut her lamentations off prematurely. She would not doubt the stars so soon.

So, Olive swallowed her sadness and ventured forth towards the clearing where children gamboled with their parents, as families should, and the lamb gave a weak, forced smile. She would not damper this occasion with her sadness. It was the first time she had the privilege of seeing the small princes and princesses and she would try to pull whatever happiness she could from it. "oh," she uttered softly. "what a beautiful, wonderful, magnificent family." There was an eerie honesty and transparency to her words, but her personal concerns were not on the table for that day's meeting.
and all my days are trances, and all my nightly dreams
are where thy grey eye glances, and where thy footstep gleams
in what ethereal dances, by what eternal streams

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#10
Readily enough, his light sisters seemed to take to it all and he was a half-step behind them, keen to take his time and stay a little behind their immediate leads. Jarilo stayed stuck right here, quiet, while they babbled and played. In his silence, he peered, and he sniffed about; his whole body felt different out here, illuminated in sunlight and mountain breeze. Knowing why or how went well over him.

But eventually he began to ease from his stupor and lifted his head to the flurry of motion between his father and sister's romp. Watching them did enthrall him enough to pop into a stand. "NyooOO!" he belted dramatically in their direction, and started to mosey over towards them both. His tail whipped eagerly and he picked up the pace, beginning to romp until he spotted a stranger prompted by her words, so he was a little surprised by her--to see an entire adult stranger here already! The boy halted again and aimed a wide-eyed stare at Olive, falling away from pursuing his dad and sibling already, without making much progress on it anyway. "A..aor," he muttered thoughtfully, and sunk down into the grass again to watch her more, though he took care to dart a look towards his mother first then father next, just to make sure this was not a problem. While unfamiliar to him, by appearances, she fit the general theme of what he was used to very well. Neither of his parents suggested he should worry, either. Jarilo stayed low though, just in case. He had a lot to process already.
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Ooc — Java
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#11
my work break is almost over but I want this in my log!

He had waited, and now had his chance. The masked boy listens to the call and swiftly marches along the mountain ridge, eager to meet this family he has sworn to protect; and when he arrived upon the scene he was struck by a strange vision. Not the image of Charon or Amekaze, but a woman bathed in red fire, a man made of smoke and pewter stone - and for a minute Tryphon could only frown his confusion. 

When the image transmuted into reality  (the clouds shifting, sun beaming, and children noisily meeting their new world) he saw them clearly. Then, slinking closer, he ducked down to their level and extended his nose as if to say hello - but let them come closer if they wished (or were permitted).
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Hydra spent as much time as she was permitted near the den, but more time than that near the borders keeping the land safe of pests and trespassers. Things had been quiet, fortunately. Between herself, her sisters and Terance, nothing made it very far within Moonspear if it was unwanted. When the call came Hydra had been patrolling with her mirror images, and raced with them toward the densite. They collectively slowed once they drew near and Hydra observed those already present. She chuffed amicably to Tryphon, nodded to Olive, and drew close to her parents to nip them both fondly with a waving plume. Hydra looked to her littermates and then to her younger siblings, moving to sniff at them as she always did when she saw them. They never smelled of anything new, but they were beginning to smell distinctly like themselves.
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Content in the fresh summer air, she settled at her spot. "Hm, they might. None that I knew myself.." she reasoned thoughtfully, eyes on Galaxy as she considered the matter Charon posed. "But it is not impossible," she added, pairing with a small smirk. A varied history went into this litter even with all the mysteries on their sire's side, so a gangster far back in there somewhere, somehow, would not surprise her--although never did she suspect the actual cause, as the pale girl's tail waved and she shared more words, none of which meant anything particularly noteworthy to her.

She glanced over the boy, then watched the other girl take her father's bait for play first. Soon after, she was able to spot Olive's approach. By then, the dark mother had reclined sphinx-like to the side of their little gathering, and swept her tail softly to the first of the pack to come. Tryphon came towards them next. For him, she chuffed softly and welcomed him in among them all. The trio came too, and Hydra earned a fond snip of teeth back of course. Ame hoped to encourage her own pups to relax and enjoy with her nonchalance somehow. She wanted their reception to the rest of the pack to be a warm, easy one.


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Korei woke up from a rest later than most, if anyone else had been resting, grumbling when someone's howl was sounded outside. Only after some time did she finally decide to get up. She felt like she just wanted to sleep, just wanted to rest. It was only then that she noticed, after arriving where Charon had howled from. 

Her eyes widened, filled with wonderment at seeing such young ones. Then it hit her. "Siblings!" She suddenly yelled out. She remained behind everyone else though, only viewing from a distance.
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Charon ignored Galaxy's request for Ran, though he laughed as she tried to repeat the word 'gangster'. He exchanged a quick amused grin with Amekaze about this and then leaned in to boop her on the nose with his nose. That was when he also bowed down to incite play with his daughters, something to which his little mini-me Vela quickly responded. He woofed as he batted a paw at her invitingly, careful not to actually hit her, a playful growl bubbling in his throat.

More wolves joined the party then — amongst which some were his daughters and some were other family. Seemed like yesterday that he'd been here, leading his first daughters outside for the first time... He smiled at them specifically as they all appeared, tail waving, before turning his attention back to the new pups, focussing mostly on Galaxy and Vela.

He announced, to those that didn't yet know — mostly the non-family present — "This is Galaxy," gesturing at the white pup with his nose, "And Vela," as he gestured at the playful Vela. Then he searched for and, eventually, found Jarilo who was seemingly hiding or ready to pounce from the grass; "And that's Jarilo."
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Vela was all too wrapped up in her moment with her father to notice the strangers that had gathered around the mouth of the den. Focused on only the pale, batting paw, Vela stood before her father and slipped into a play bow. It was as she settled herself in this position that Charon's attention was taken away and she stood slowly, her attention drifting to those who had surrounded them. 

She had not expected such a crowd to be present and as her eyes fell to them, her expression dropped. She did not know a majority of these individuals and those alone sparked an unusual sense of worry within her narrow chest. Despite these feelings, she did not voice her discomfort. Instead, she took a seat before the crowd and attempted to manage the thrumming of her heart while she observed, wondering just what the others were doing here.
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Rather than answer her, Charon growled and batted at her (and Vela too). Galaxy pursed her lips, still wondering about the gangster/cholo subject, but her attention span was pretty nil so far. She grinned at her pops, turning to face him more fully and baring her teeth in a playful snarl. Meanwhile, her tail whipped back and forth and she exchanged a quick glance with Vela. Surely the two of them could take him on if they tag-teamed...

But suddenly Galaxy felt quite crowded and she realized it wasn't just her parents and litter mates surrounding her anymore. This must be the rest of the pack! the little girl realized, blue eyes flown wide. She peered from face to face, her mouth opening into a toothy smile, her pink tongue lolling sideways from her muzzle. Her entire backside wagged eagerly as she tried to figure out who to approach first. There were so many intriguing folks gathered here!

She picked one at random, bounding up to Hydra and teetering on her wee haunches to peer up at the svelte black she-wolf and attempt to sniff noses. "Hi!" she chirped enthusiastically. Somewhere off to her right, Charon was introducing the pups by name and she parroted one of the syllables rather mindlessly: "—axy!"
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Hydra observed the little ones as her father named them—by now, she knew these names and who they belonged to at least—and her eyes focused on the male of the litter. He was her first (known) brother, and thus she was intrigued... but it was Galaxy who won her immediate attention when she bounded toward her. Hydra's tail waved as she peered at the cub who reared, and Hydra was relieved to feel no amount of hatred at all toward the little beans. No, it was not children she hated—only incompetence. Hydra nosed the little bean (perhaps a little roughly, unpracticed as she was) and blew a warm breath of air upon her from her nostrils. When Galaxy spoke her name, Hydra came up with her own version quite quickly: Axe, her ears flicked atop her crown.
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Ooc — Magdalyn
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#19
quick cameo, just wanted to shove terance in here bc he would never miss meeting the babies!

terance was, well, nearby when he heard the call. he wasn't patrolling with any of the cerberus-- at least not today-- but he was just checking out a few old foxholes that were around the whelping den. he and hydra had chased something out of one not too long ago, and he checked them every now and then to make sure they didn't come back. the call was so exciting! terance was absolutely stoked to meet the babies. his green eyes were wide with excitement-- until he actually arrived.

he saw three of them, all bouncy and yippy and all those puppy things. he paused a little bit off, still clearly in sight. a wave of something like sadness crashed over him and, despite his best efforts, his ears fell with it. he stared as they played-- interacting with charon and amekaze and hydra-- but didn't move forward. maybe it was homesickness, or even jealousy, but terance suddenly didn't feel like meeting the babies, not when they were this young. he thought too much of his baby siblings, and of wraen and sarah. how unfair that their whole family be here, when he didn't even have a clue where his was now.

not finding the balls to run off into the mountains and avoid this whole situation, terance merely watched from a distance. the pups were plenty entertained and he doubted they'd even notice him, but if he caught an adults eye he'd give him a polite dip of his head and a wave of his tail. he was showing his support, that's all he wanted to do.
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For a few moments more, he stayed hunkered low in the grass. With this being officially the most wolves he had ever seen at once, the steely boy was quick to decide that was an awful lot, and that he was not fully prepared for such. He needed a minute to regroup and once he had the chance to get a good look at as many other new wolves as he thought there were, he finally gathered up some courage and moved his way over closer to them. Galaxy already was giving her hello to them, and Vela looked to be taking it in quietly while their father made the proper introductions. He hovered off next to Vela a moment, craning his neck this way and that and eyeballing all the new faces still until he decided to approach Tryphon cautiously (since he was down low anyway!).. and reached out nose first towards him. Caution kept his paws more rooted, so he stretched out especially awkwardly for his weird little greeting.
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Ooc — Java
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Each child seemed to be easily entertained. The last of the brood, a dark boy, caught sight of Tryphon and seemed interested enough to investigate. He didn't move far, but reached out to try and boop noses. The older wolf smiled, his golden mask shifting slightly as his expression changed. 

A thought struck him rather suddenly as he looked upon the boy-cub. He wondered - while the boy began to reach out and seek with his nose - he wondered if this is what Saghani looked like as a pup. She popped in to his mind at the most inappropriate times lately; but as soon as she was there, she was gone. Tryphon tried to focus on the boy child and crooned an inviting little sound towards him, staying as close to the child's level as he could.
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All was well. Tension over having them out and about for the first real time began to melt away as the meeting progressed without massive incident. She couldn't blame them for being a bit overwhelmed, but really on the whole, they were doing well enough for themselves for a first time and the wolves comprising her pack spurred no worry in her either.

Amekaze was a silent presence as her mate gave their names, one after the next. Although she might have looked stoic in her watchful state, she was very content with this once she was able to fully put Ran outside of her thoughts.
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Korei Julia listened to every one of their names spoken, and put them to each of the pups she saw. She was so happy to have more siblings. More to play with! To say things to. Maybe even show them her skills on the ice, next time winter came! So many ideas were running through her mind, she could barely keep up with them all, or what was being said around her by the other onlookers.
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Charon watched how the pups responded; Vela stoically watched the visitors, Galaxy seemed excited to make new friends and Jarilo, after hiding out in the grass for a moment, poked his head out to meet Tryphon. He sat down and watched all of them, in which Vela looked like a miniature version of the Ostrega patriarch.

"Julia," Noticing Korei Julia, Charon suggested to her, "Maybe you can teach the pups about the stars when they are a bit older." He'd taught Korei Julia a decent bit of his own skills, and could teach her more if she wished once he was unburdened a bit more from the pup-caring. Maybe it was time she pay it forward, and somewhere deep down, Charon also hoped it would mean she'd take up a more prominent, useful position in the pack, like her sisters.
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Hydra's eyes then shifted toward the anxious Vela. Her tail twitched behind her, though the anxiety vexed her. Still, reminded more of Lyra than she was of Korei, Hydra warmed to her. It's alright Vela, she encouraged and then dipped into a play bow, looking toward her younger sisters. Who's the strongest of them all...? It was a little game Hydra liked to play with them, wherein her forearms were the arena and the two potato spuds were beyblades that struck one another repeatedly until one tapped out. She grinned, hoping that this little game would make Vela feel more in her element—to do something she knew, vaguely, how to do.
I'll find that you'll find that I'm lethal