Redhawk Caldera sunshine

maybe @Finley ?!??!

 

Clover rest outside the den after completing about thirty sprints around the perimeter. She had a great amount of energy, but having released (most of) it, her head rest on her large paws. She was content to observe her siblings play before her while she took a brief "time out". Clover's tail beat behind her as she watched them lazily, when suddenly the shifting grasses caught her attention. Her head lifted and when a small field mouse popped its own face upward, they locked eyes. The critter was frozen for a second, and Clover's ears perked forward before her head titled. What was that thing? She knew for certain someone would have the answer, and so she called out, Mom! 

That caused the thing to return to all fours and run away. Clover, excited by this without quite understanding why, rose to all fours and yelled to it, hey!!!! before she bolted after it.

I FORGOT THIS EXISTED OMG MOMMY IS SORRY

As highly as Finley had always thought of herself, she typically hoped for her children's sake that they had more of their father in them than her. Now that she was older, she recognized that she had been a reckless, wild idiot in her youth. She didn't ever want to go through what she had put her own parents through. So far she'd been quite lucky. Liffey was the one exception to the well-behaved children she had been blessed with thus far, and in truth, her transgressions weren't nearly as bad as Fin's had been.

But now, there were four more little Blackthorns. Though they were still young, Fin sensed that these little ones had soaked up more of her genes than Elwood's. Particularly, her daughters. The alpha was thoughtful as she watched Clover participate in her first 5k and remained so as she watched the little wolf resting. She had begun to zone out when the pup tensed out of no where, but was quick to focus again when she heard her name being called.

Her ears perked as she snapped to attention. She was startled when Clover suddenly took off running again, and so she hesitated a couple of seconds before jumping to all fours herself and running after her, leaving the other kids in Lagan's perfectly capable paws. "Hey! Where do you think you're going, Fum!?" Fin barked, cantering easily behind her, glad (not for the first time) that even her short legs were longer than the two month old's.

Her mother followed after her, easily closing the little ground that Clover had covered. Her eyes left the mouse for a moment, overjoyed as she was to hang with her mother (which she always did, but it never got old for her), and already she forgot her intent to chase the mouse and discover what it was. Clover was easily distracted at this age and instead of giving chase, she weaved between her mothers legs and yapped happily. 

Until the mouse showed face again. Clover froze in place, yelled out another hey!!! before she dashed back in the direction the thing scurried in.

Fuck, why was this kid so fast? Fin had to work a little harder than expected to keep up with her daughter, but still found it easy enough to keep pace. She froze when Clover stopped, expecting her to change direction. She wasn't entirely wrong in that assumption, for the girl did indeed turn to go a different way, but she did so about six or seven times before finally stopping. And even then, it was only a brief pause before she darted off again after her prey.

Had this been one of her first two litters, Fin would have quit at that point and simply waited for Clover to get herself lost and start crying for help. But the weight of Lucy's disappearance remained heavy on her shoulders, and so she trotted off in the new direction her little wolf had run, grumbling a, "Seriously kid," as she went.

Clover again lost sight of it. For a moment, she stood very still. A rustling in the grass caused Clover to launch that way, though when her paws captured something it was only a squashed cricket. Clover, not understanding she'd just killed something, sniffed at her foot before she displayed it toward her mother, uncertain as to what this gooey substance was, exactly, and what she was meant to do with it. Hey! ...hey hee hey????? she chatted to her mother, what in the world is this stuff?

Fin slowed to a stop as Clover paused again. For a second, it seemed as though this break was going to be just as short-lived as the last. But, whatever her daughter had been hunting had apparently finally been captured. The alpha grinned, peering around the girl's little frame to see what she'd caught just as the pup turned to show her. Her brows lifted in surprise to see the smeared remains of cricket upon her paw. It wasn't the most impressive first kill, but it was still an accomplishment.

"Woah, nice one, Fum!" Fin complimented enthusiastically, leaning down to sniff at her little peet, "You know what you did, right? You got your first kill! You're a hunter!" She grinned at the pup, her tail wagging. She wasn't sure if Clover was familiar with what a hunter was, but now was as good a time as any to try and make a gamekeeper of her.

Her mother was pleased with her! 

And thus sealed Finley's fate: whatever insect she smushed, she would forever show her peets to her mother in hopes of hearing praise. Her tail wagged wildly behind her as her mother complimented her. Liking it, she wanted to do it again. But right now she was too excited over her mothers adoration, and so she let herself be excited as she hopped up on her rear legs to attempt to douse her mother in millions of kisses. 

But there was another rustling! 

Clover stopped and growled as she hustled in that direction. Of course, the mouse knew she was coming (how could it not, with her stomping and growling). But she needed to know what it was!

Fin laughed as Clover attacked her with kisses. She lowered her muzzle to poke her nose at the girl's exposed belly, attempting to tickle her away. The sound of rustling did the trick for her. The little girl whirled and tensed, growling in her tiny puppy voice at the spot where the noise had originated. Fin tensed as well, crouching over her pup and shushing her softly.

"Stay quiet, Fum," she whispered, "You'll scare it away if you growl and make a bunch of noise. You have to be sneaky." She tapped Clover's bum lightly with her nose, trying to get her to crouch low like she was. Might as well teach her right from the start. And though Fin had given up her gamekeeper trade a long time ago, that didn't mean she didn't still know a thing or two about how to kick ass at this.

Her mothers words were articulated as best as they could be. Though a lot was lost on her, her mothers touch certainly caused her to respond and she crouched for an instant. Clover asked, hee??? (good?) and the rustling began again, in the near-distance. The critter, whatever it was, was attempting to escape.

Fin, knowing exactly what her daughter meant when she hissed nonsensically to her, smiled and nodded. She realized it wasn't likely that Clover would be successful in this hunt. So when the rustling came again, Fin was quick to encourage her with a soft "Now!", even though the mouse was probably already well on its way to eluding them. But oh well. Finley didn't move in pursuit of the mouse herself, wanting this chase to be all Fum's.

The pup was quick, but not exactly quick enough. Fin couldn't help but smile as Clover sprang forward after the little animal, thinking wistfully about how short a time she would have with her kids being so small and adorable. It did occur to her after a few seconds though that her daughter was once again running away from her as Fin hadn't taught her yet when to give up on a hunt. So, she stood and began tailing her once again.