Swiftcurrent Creek there's a rumm-bly in my tumm-bly

It was strange to wake up one morning and see blurry shapes, but it wasn't something that kept Larus' attention for long. He didn't really notice when his legs became useful either, at least not until Jokull and Valtyr started to putter around in the den. They were so quick to advance beyond him - in time Larus would become jealous over this fact, but for now he was simply stupefied. Their jostling always woke him up too early, and then if he complained... Well... The poor boy would always get a big fat bum in the face. Sometimes it was his older sister, sometimes it was his sole brother. Either way, it was bum and it was in his face and it wasn't very tasty.

The boy, having been asleep on his rotund belly, woke up with a start - for once rising before any of his siblings - and was quick to wiggle free from the bodies that had previously flanked him. He got to his paws and wobbled, only to fall after one step and go rolling towards the door of the den. Larus squawked in protest as gravity took control. And then, when he came to a rest with his face poking out in to the sun and his paws suspended above him, useless and awkward, he gave a terribly cry. "Mnnnaaaaahhhaa!"

'Mnnnaaaaahhhaa!' was the shriek which awoke Valtyr with a start, head popping up from the pile of puppies on the deerskin sans one little brother. Always the attentive one, the big brother's wobbly head looked around to see exactly what the fuss was all about. There, in the distance, was fat little Larus - rolly polly pup and all - turned on his backside near the burrow's entrance. He blinked. Mom wasn't here. Dad wasn't here. What was a pup to do?

He chirped and then he baled; calling to Larus as he began to clamber over his dozing sisters. One foot... and then two... though Valtyr had discovered the ability to walk, his motor skills weren't quite all there yet, and so he scuttled over Jokull until he had finally cleared the sleeping pile. "Baaa," he hollered as he strut across the den's floor, tail straight up into the air to help keep balance. Eventually, Larus' image became clear. "Laaa!" he screeched in pleasure as he collapsed onto Larus' upturned tummy, wanting to wrestle despite his brother's objection.

All he wanted was some yummies from his mummy, but she wasn't here! How dare she. And now Larus was stuck on his back, flailing his little sausage-link legs as if, with the right choreography, she would appear out of nowhere. The goings on of the pack were not of import to the child. Heck, he didn't even know what a pack was yet. The boy squawked and squealed, making all kinds of pitchy noises with the hope that it would rouse someone - anyone - that could feed him.

Instead, he got Valtyr.

The boy was suddenly there, with his head plopped squarely upon Larus' round tummy. How rude! How mean! He kicked with his little hind legs, then his little front legs; both of which did not move in the way that he wanted. The rear feet kicked out, but his front limbs grasped his brother's head and pulled in, squishing him closer and warranting another noise: "Vvvv! Vvvaaa!" Larus sputtered and wiggled, but couldn't figure out how to let go.

To an outsider, it was clear as day to notice how perturbed Larus was by his older brother's antics. However, the more he protested, the happier Valtyr became. Quickly he was swept into a giggle fit as Larus struggled beneath him. How could he have known this wasn't some sort of new game? Clearly his brother wanted to play! The short platinum arms of his sibling wrapped around his crown like a bear hug, and pulled one another nearer.

"Laaaaaaallllalalala!" he squealed in joy as he rolled with Larus into the sun — "Pwaaabbbbtttt," he buzzed as he planted a raspberry on Larus' stomach. This was a fun game indeed! One foot rounded his brother's side to gain balance as he began to mouth Larus' chubby forearm, testing his jaws (and new teeth) for something other than eating.

No matter how hard he tried to squirm, there was no getting free. His forelimbs cinched around his brother's head and then - with a rather ugly noise - Valtyr's face was buried in Larus' belly fur. It kind of tickled! And the tickle just made him more annoyed. Through a tittering of giggles, the boy shoved with all his legs and all his might. Instead of connecting with his older brother though, they caught the air. And then Valtyr's mouth was chomping down on one of them. "Naaa! Nananaaa! Mnn!" Larus squealed and rolled, pulling his brother along with him as he erroneously flopped further outside of the den. The sun glinted off of his body - but all Larus was aware of, was his brother's weight and the sudden warmth that accompanied the motion. "Aaamaaa!" He called out, and found his words muffled by Valtyr's superior bulk. Again with the butts.

A very intimidating grrrrrr vibrated from betwixt Valtyr's gums as he gnawed on Larus' meaty limb. He fancied himself quite vicious, indeed... a mighty warrior in a pint sized body, heroics and all. 'Naaa! Nananaaa! Mnn!' his sibling complained before rolling over, taking Valtyr with him. Together they tumbled through a patch of clover into the Sveijarn clearing, an area rife with greenery beneath the morning sun. Fuzzy bees vacated their spots among the blossoms as the pups josteled for a better spot, but in the end Valtyr remained on top. "Taaa!" he announced enthusiastically as he smothered Larus with his rear end.

Another fit of giggles sent Valtyr rolling onto the ground, little paws flailing for funsies in the air. He cooed sheepishly, watching the canopy sway in the breeze. Only then, at that moment, did he realize that they weren't in the den any longer.

There was only so much bum that Larus could tolerate (re: none). His brother's rear end was hardly fascinating, but at least it didn't smell too pungent. The boy continued to squirm; however, regardless of how pudgy his own figure was, he just wasn't strong enough or capable enough to bowl Valtyr over. He mewled and croaked with childish indignation, hoping that sounding his defeat would make his brother stop. Where was mummy? Where was daddy? Why couldn't anyone hear him! "OooooOOOoo!" He gurgled, the sound transitioning in to a squeal-howl. Then with a thrust of his legs (rather well choreographed in that instant) he attempted to vault his sibling away from him. Whether this was successful or not, Larus wanted to roll out from under the dominating presence of his brother — something that wouldn't be possible even when he reached adulthood, not that he knew it now.

Oof Valtýr huffed as he was finally shoved off, landing into a springy pile of clover. At first, he was dazed... but suddenly, the young Sveijarn was infected with a fit of giggles. "Yayaaayayayaaa!," he screeched in rapture, so overwhelmingly pleased by the game they had just played. "Aayaaa," again he wanted, rolling onto his tummy to check if Larus was up for another round, blind to his sibling's complaints.

Suddenly, a dragonfly landed on a clover bloom... and the puppy's attention on the yellow-masked brother waned. "Wwoooowwoooooo," he crooned. The world was full of magic.

With the absence of Valtyr's added weight upon his body, Larus felt relief. He couldn't distinguish the sensation itself, but he was far more content now that he could breathe without issue. The warmth of the sun had him basking pleasantly as well, ready to doze off in the grass. His eyes began to slowly, steadily drift closed — but then Valtyr roused him again, this time with a bubbling enthusiasm that was very much unwelcome. "Wwoooowwoooooo," Crooned his big brother, who seemed to be interested in something nearby. Larus opened his eyes and rolled over, although he didn't find his footing for another moment or two. When he was on all fours, the boy waddled and wiggled, then collapsed in the grass - as if planting his face against Valtyr would somehow stop the boy's sounds. The motion startled the bug, though. It took to the air and was gone.

BBbbzzz! The dragonfly took off when it realized it was being watched. Valtýr squealed with glee until he heard a noise behind him.

Plop. The sound of Larus in the grass was enough for Valtýr to refocus his gaze upon his chubby little brother. "Lala," he said with a big squeaking yawn, gummy little jaws spreading wide as he sucked in air. All this adventure had made him sleepy. He waddled over to his little brother and laid down besides him, completely oblivious that every action thus far had been Larus trying to get his older bro to shut up. Snuggling in for a nap, Valtýr coiled tight next to the fuzzy munchkin, stuffing his blunt face into the crook of Larus' neck.

Larus blinked up at the sky. The warmth of the sun was comforting, and the sudden drop in noise helped to foster a more soothing atmosphere. He didn't see the clouds drifting above him - they were too far, too pale against the blue of the sky. And it was so bright out here. The boy murmured to himself as he drifted, lazing in the grass, and then Valtyr's body wedged itself close. He squeaked softly when the warmth of his brother became apparent; then, gradually, his eyes closed and he began to doze.

The brother's had their differences, but in the end a good nap was in order. Valtýr dozed contentedly besides his sibling, exhausted after such rousing games, and dreamed of little colorful beetles ripe for capturing. He barely moved as he slept, and only a small whimper escaped now and then.

Eventually, their mother returned, and Tuwawi carried each one back into the safety of the den - but Valtýr could not complain. The exciting outside world would always be second to time with his family.