Heron Lake Plateau he's chatting with my rare coin guy.

Fig was being a real pill again. After spending twenty minutes stomping his feet and shout OUT at @Towhee while she slept, only to be so very rudely ignored (he'll learn...), he had stormed off to plop himself down about a foot away from the den's entrance. He glowered at the outside world, wishing he could just run out there and be a part of it whenever he wanted. So far, he'd only been allowed to escape when one of the big wolves was with him. And currently, there were no big wolves.

He considered going outside anyway, knowing that one always seemed to appear whenever he did. But they usually just herded him back in and gave him a scolding for going out when he wasn't allowed. It was seriously dumb, so he was going to put them in their place and pout the hell out of this situation. Startingggg now!

The boy squiggled a bit on the ground to make himself more comfortable. No reason not to be cozy while he pouted, so he sprawled out real good like a bear-skin rug at the entrance. In case you're wondering, yes, he looked adorably absurd.

Towhee stirred awake, raising her head with a yawn and blinking blearily around the den. She located Fen (asleep by her hind foot) and Fig, who was posed near the door. Totally unaware that he'd been trying to get her attention for a while now, the Beta hoisted herself onto all fours and stepped right over him, saying, "C'mon, squirt, let's blow this Popsicle stand," as she went.

It was a clear, sunny day. Towhee stretched, then walked a short distance away to relieve herself. As she was busy watering the grass, she kept her attention focused on the den's mouth, keen to keep her eye on her nephew—no, her son. Because somewhere along the line, that's what he and his sister had become: not her niece and nephew, not even her godchildren, just straight-up her kids (along with @Phox, of course!!!).

Fig didn’t lift his head from the ground as Towhee approached, but did strain his eyes to peek hopefully up at her. But only like a little hopeful... he was still very grumpy with her previous lack of attention and she needed to be aware of what a disappointment she was. I mean, she needed to learn better obedience after all.

The moment she began to speak, though, Fig was up and barreling after her with his little tail wagging along with him. He didn’t know what her words meant, but any sound at all from her was invitation enough. He liked the outside and wanted to explore it more, so he was more than happy to drop his petulance and bounce merrily about in her footsteps.

The boy paused to watch as Aunt Mommy leaked on the ground before him. He sniffed at the wet spot she had left behind curiously because he’s a dog and that’s one of the icky things they do. He then trotted up to her side, squatted, and took a nice long pee while smiling up at her as though she was going to be SO HUGELY PLEASED with him for doing what she just had.

BARGES IN!  She's prob skippable tho

Fig and Towhee were apparently leaving, but Fenn was having a nice little siesta and was far too comfy at the moment to move.  That is... until she realized everyone was actually, truly going.  And that there was no way she was going to let them leave without following.

FEEYA She yelled, bumbling to her paws and running after Fig (whose name she definitely did not know or say correctly).  Unfortunately for Fennec, there was an outcropping of stone that she failed to notice near the exit, and this time on her way out, her paw smacked right into it.  She sat down abruptly, and her breath hitched as she looked down at her poor, abused toes.  She let out a soft, piteous whine in a bid for sympathy, but unfortunately for her, Phox wasn't there.  Alas!

It did please her when Fig emptied the tank outdoors rather than indoors: less cleanup for her. "Good boy," she said, following the verbal phrase with the signs. She then reached out one foreleg to pat him on the head.

Just then, Fen popped out of the den, catching the Beta's attention. She saw the girl stumble, then sit abruptly, and though Towhee couldn't hear the sound she made—nor did she possess motherly instincts, really—but she nonetheless sensed an issue and stepped over Fig again to make her way over to Fen.

"Ow?" she guessed, bending to peer at Fen's teeny, tiny peets. "Where does it hurt?" she asked, aware that Fen might not understand. With her head held this way, they were within a few inches and she could look quite directly into the pup's milky eyes.

Fig straightened proudly as he was praised, puffing out his chest and sticking his chin out in silly, kind of pompous, display. He wilted immediately when Towhee's attention left him and may have begun to pout were it not for the fact that he too became distracted with his sister. His eyes shot open wide when she fell and began to whimper as all of his "big" brother alarm bells went firing off at once.

"Haaaaa!" Fig cried angrily as he darted over to her, planting himself protectively at her side and glaring around at the whole world while the fur all along his back and his little bum fluffed up big and angry. He gave a fierce/squeaky growl at the offending rock while Towhee tended to Fen, ready to give it what for if it tried anything.

Like any stubbed toe, the pain went quickly, but Fenn continued to quietly whimper as she enjoyed Towhee's reassurances.  The rock definitely deserved every bit of what for Fig was dishing out, and she pushed forward to lean, almost cat-like, against Towhee's leg.

Feeyah oooga. she encouraged him, peeking out from behind her leg.  If there had been an actual danger, she'd probably have been out and facing it down because no way she was letting him adventure without her.  But since it was a boring old rock and not even outside the den, he totally had this.

Fig launched himself toward them with what sounded like wild laughter, not that Towhee heard it, of course... she did see him attacking the rock and shot him a quick smile before refocusing on Fen. She appeared fine, though she leaned against Towhee in a way that naturally melted the mercenary's toughened heart.

Because little Fen was latched onto her leg, preventing her from signing, Towhee spoke out loud. "I think it's great that Fig's here to avenge you, Fen, but don't you want to join the smack-down?"

The rock did not rise to his challenge, but Fig still glared at it, his eyes full of mistrust. It wasn't doing anything, but that didn't mean it wouldn't do something the moment his back was turned. He gave it a ferocious snarl, lifted a paw and slapped it hard. That was when he determined that it was thoroughly defeated and turned around to go back to Towhee and Fen. Because it was defeated. Totally not because smacking it had hurt really bad.

Fig went to Fen and nosed at her cheek with a soft whine, his tail wagging to reassure her that everything was okay. Because I'm not good with the babbling thing, let's just say he babbled something that was meant to convey to her that everything was okay, he'd taken care of it, without me having to actually put it into kid words. He then snuggled in against Towhee's leg opposite his sister because he'd earned some affection too. Not because his paw hurt. He's a big, strong boy. Not a baby. Give the big strong boy some comfort, please.

Not when Feeya has it handled, why would she?  Fenn shook her head, and stayed where she was, tucked up against mom aunt Towhee.

Until Fig finished, of course.  She sniffed him back and gave a few licks of support because yeah we fight but we also LOVE EACH OTHER and he totally defended her honor.  They were just a nice little love snuggle fest on Towhee's leg and it was sickeningly adorable.

Evidently, she didn't. Towhee shrugged, content to let the little girl latch onto her. And when Fig finished punishing the rock and returned to wrap around her other forelimb, all her internal organs turned to mush.

"Love you guys," she murmured, bending to kiss the top of each head and give each of them a cowlick with a swipe of her tongue. "You little dorks." She paused and amended in a murmur against Fig's forehead in particular, "My little dorks."

Someone wanna ship this pile of lovey mush to the archives?! :D