Swiftcurrent Creek Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime

Paging @Maera @Jökull @Lárus & Open to anyone else who wants to play with babies

Though the sun set past the Western Mountains, life still stirred in Swiftcurrent. Summer crickets buzzed noisily in th tall grass while the screeching of bats careened overheads. Pradators were afoot i the wilds, and Tuwawi was quick to return home so she may tend to her brood. Her conversation with Njal by the riverside had been heavy, but the northerner's fiery wife was chalk full of ambition. Regardless, she wished to stay in her little bubble by the Sveijarn burrow forever... though she knew this could not be.

In the fading light, Tuwawi arrived with a young and mostly-dead partridge between her jaws. The half of her previous kill she had intended to bring had been consumed, and this dub ground-bird had stumbled right into her path. Perhaps it would make a good target for her children's first hunting lesson.

The den was empty. Well.. Not entirely empty, but more hollow than usual. Larus was aware of how chilly it was as soon as his little eyes opened, greeting the daylight. He was sequestered in a pile of slumbering siblings; warm, but not nearly as comforted as when his mother was around. He blinked and stared up at the ceiling of the den, reaching with his little paws in to the darkness there - but the darkness got darker suddenly, and he recoiled. A tiny peep of noise accompanied his unease. He did not realize that his mother had just arrived home with a new toy - far too interested in the shifting shadows above his head.

Just like Larus, Maera did not yet notice the prize dangling from mommy's jaws. The fiery babe was lying flat on her belly, her eyes blinking slowly as her little brother stirred beside her --waking her from her beauty nap.

She expelled a cry, half in protest of being woken and half greeting her lovely mother home. After a couple more blinks she lifted her chin to look at her progenitor's face. It was then that she realized mommy had brought something. Maera wriggled herself free from the embrace of the sleeping bodies of her siblings and with her little eyes fixed on the treat she wobbled to mommy's feet. "Ma?", she begged enthusiastically, showering her mother's feet with kisses so she'd give her the gift.

Valtýr was a heavy sleeper; that was for certain. Only the violent jolt of Maera's wriggling out from the puppy pile woke him, head landing onto the ground with a hard thump. 'Ma?' he could hear his sister call. Squeak, he could hear Larus' unsteady chirp. Half lidded eyes looked to Tuwawi at the entrance to the den.

"Mum! Mama!" he hollered, suddenly very awake. He stumbled, rising to his clumsy feet as the puppies swarmed her. She had something in her mouth... something he had never seen before. What had she brought them?

Her little bundles hurried up to see what Tuwawi had brought, although Larus appeared a little hesitant. All at once, the mother's worries melted... and her words to Njal by the riverside felt validated. Her children were precious and thriving... but staying in Swiftcurrent wasn't worth the risk. Eventually, their borders would be broken and it was only a matter of time before more nefarious matters arrived. Perhaps if they didn't have children, it would be a different story. Their loyalty to their new, albeit young, alpha would be just as strong. However, Tuwawi priorities were undeniably weighted.

How fast they were growing. Too fast. Just yesterday they were blind, chirping bundles of warmth, nursing from her belly. And now? They were like little adults - teeth and all - with a hankering for meat. The thought that their little babies were growing up suddenly overran the mother with emotion, though she stifled small tears until the bird was on the ground to distract the children.

It croaked, near death, and quivered feebly before the young Sveijarns. Its once lustrous feathers were matter with wolf saliva and blood. It was near death, the bird knew, but that didn't stop it from attempting to get up, and hurry away. Awkwardly its rear leg kicked out as the fowl attempted to find solid ground.

His little toes reached in to the dark, grasping, flexing, but never finding purchase on any solid object. The boy flopped over in the next instant and blinked, wide-eyed and sleepy, at his mother's silhouette. Her outline was emblazoned by pale light, most of which her body blocked out. Tendrils of blurry color crept around her. Larus was full to bursting with love for her — his mummy, the closest thing to a best friend he had known thus far in his life. He had siblings (obviously) but they were loud and obnoxious, squirming things. Daddy was around, but rarely. He reached across the dirt in a great big big kid stretch towards her, and with a peep, righted himself upon his belly.

Valtyr was up - so was Maera, both voicing their delight in their own ways. Larus blinked against the rising dust that his motions caused, and let out an abrupt choo! as he sneezed; in time with the strangled sound of the thing that mama had brought to them. He was interested, but lazy. Curiously lethargic. The boy slumped against the floor and watched Valtyr for his reaction - judging the situation based on what big brother did before testing the limits himself.

The little copy of Tuwawi tried climbing up her leg when the agonizing creature in mommy's mouth squirmed with pain. She wanted to see it more closely though the awful sounds it made scared her a little. Her courage however was renewed when she felt Valtyr and Larus by her side.They were three against one smelly thing, the scale tipped on their side.

Finally momma dropped the creature, and with a thud it landed in front of the babies' feet. Yuck!, Maera thought as she watched it wiggle pitifully,it sounded worse than it looked though. It's cries were terrifiying for the little fire-kissed daughter. She turned to look at Valtyr and then at her little pillow-brother, Larus; just to see if they shared the same disgusted frown in their faces.

OH MY!
The little girl whipped her head wildly as the thing attempted to stand. It was a horrible sight, but something in her insides (instincts) told her it'd be fun to topple over the dying animal.She resisted the urge to lunge at it, mainly because she had had a similar expirience before that ended badly. Though the beetle was nothing compared to the bird, she feared again it could eat her face -- which was extremely ironic since it was them who'd end up eating it.

Valtýr didn't notice his mother's fatigued look or the wet glaze upon her eye. He was entirely consumed by the wobbly creature she had place before them. It was a bird of some kind... he knew that much... but its condition didn't look so good. Its feathered were matted, and the sharp scent of blood was in the air. To other puppies, especially Maera, it might have been an enticing meal or play thing... but to Valtýr (who had been recently traumatized by his destruction of a beetle) only looked at the fowl with concern in his gaze.

His sooty head watched the miserable half-dead creature fall to the ground, and he approached it cautiously, ears picked but body roached. He shuffled over to Maera for support, noticing Larus wasn't among them. Two were better than one. "Wazzat," he whispered as he nudged her, not knowing if he should help it or attack it.

Tuwawi blinked away the tears that threatened to drip down her cheeks, surprised how suddenly she had become overwhelmed by her emotions. She lamented over how adult her offspring seemed, and how fleeting her time with them had been in the den. Sure, she had a few months left to dote on them... but soon there would be little room for coddling, and they would have to learn the laws of the pack and the wild. The world was deemed too harsh for her little bundles of joy... how she loved and adored each one. Jokull for her bullheadedness and bravery, Valtyr for his sentimental gaze, Maera for her will and steady mind, and Larus for his indulgence. Each child had their own colorful personality, and it surprised Tuwawi how quickly she, herself had grown. It felt like just yesterday Sterntooth had initiated his first members into Kindred where she had met Njal for the first time... and now their brood trotted around the den like tiny adults, smaller reflections of themselves.

She watched them curiously, eager to see how they would take on the injured bird... but their reactions were not entirely what she expected; nevertheless they were entertaining. Valtyr and Maera seemed a bit taken aback by the creature, though the fiery girl seemed hungry even if she needed a little support. Valtyr was a softer pup and he eagerly sidled up to his younger siblings to build confidence. Larus was busy in the back of the den, rather disinterested unless his siblings needed him.

Their mother laid down close, chin upon her paws, as she observed. She would be there to assist and encourage, if they needed, but for not she was content to simply watch.

The boy huffed against the ground, his breath causing the dust and dander to stir around him and float in the light. Particles drifted near his vision but long lashes, quickly batted, saved his sight from harm; he watched his siblings as they fawned over the strange new toy mother had brought, but he did not rise up to greet it himself. His puppy-blue eyes had started to transition, and they were trained upon his enigmatic older brother. Valtyr's momentary confusion prompted Larus to lift his head and watch a bit more eagerly, but movement from Tuwawi was more interesting. The fat baby lifted to his paws and awkwardly tumbled over to her. He plopped down beside her, gave a cursory glance at the weak bird, and then slouched against her nearby paws. Let his brother and sister enjoy the toy - he was happy enough to have mama all to himself, even briefly.

While the agonizing creature fought to scramble back to its feet, Maera pinned him down with her gaze alone. She was so engrossed watching the ugly and injured bird move in awkward ways that made it seem like it was doing some kind of dance or ritual. The heat that iradiated from Valtyr's shoulder was comforting for the flame colored babe, she leaned against him and mimicked his words before sneaking a quick glance at mommy's face.

"Whaa?!", she prodded while blinking expectantly at Tuwa's face, her eyes lingering slowly in the scar that marred her beautiful face. Suddenly the brusque flopping of the bird against the den's floor made her look away --and even twitch a little with fear. Larus' quick escape went unnoticed to her, she only had eyes for the dying bird at the moment.

The urge --or desire-- to bat her paw against the blood spattered body of the winged creature grew when it gave an pained cawk that to her ears was like a plead for her to play. Still she didn't want to be the first to approach the creature, perhaps if Val came along...

Even with his fiery confidant at his side, Valtýr still spooked when the little bird helplessly squawked and tumbled around. Its broken wings flapped violently. To any adult wolf, it was obvious the creature was near death. However, the little Sveijarn suddenly, and inexplicably, became extremely unhinged by the poor creatures plight. He recognized it not as food, but a friend that was hurt... like how the beetle had been stomped to smithereens. The emotions of suffering and agony suddenly registered on his infant mental chart, and Tuwa's son was almost immediately moved to tears.

Copper eyes became big and wet as his chubby face pulled into the most massive frown. Valtýr sucked in air as he began to sob, practically throwing himself atop Maera to be consoled. "Fixxit," he wailed, streams of tears rolling down his face, "Momma... MaeMae... pweaseeee fixit." Perhaps the long day and late hour had left the toddler tired and overemotional... but it was clear he empathized with the bird, and was horribly sad because of it.

Larus seemed disinterested in the half-dead game, and instead preferred to curl besides the watchful Tuwawi. She kissed his golden crown and groomed his tiny ruff, inspecting her smallest son with little nudges. Once confident he was happy, healthy, and clean, she left him settle into a tiny puffball by her side, leaving Val and Maera to their game.

However, wailing cries interrupted the tender moment. Valtýr sobbed onto his sister, stricken with some sort of grief. At first, Tuwawi was a bit puzzled, but the need to console her child overshadowed any worry. "Shh, shhh," she cooed, "Val, why don't you come next to me?" The ember attempted to get her son's mind off the desire to fix the unfixable as a small pang of guilt sank in her breast. Was it too early to show them prey? There were not even two months yet... perhaps time and rest would make them more bold and allow their instincts to thrive. Maera, seemed interested enough... but what about her sons? Her gaze traced the fireball's puffy silhouette and scrutinized her expression for any signs of distress.

Last post with Val so this can be archived!

Visibly upset, Val waddled over to her mother for comfort. Her burred her face into her ruff, dampening her tawny hair with his tears. Her scent eased him, and soon the tiny child curled into a small ball to sleep off his worries. However, the broken bird would not soon be forgotten... the firstborn had learned that life was a precious thing... and to see any creature, even a bird, be wrought in agony, left him with a sinking pit in his spirit.

last post for me too

The sudden realization her older brother had was lost on her. Maera was not yet able to comprehend or value the importance of life, as small or insignificant as it were. For her the dying bird was just a toy Mommy had brought along.

A toy she wanted to play with, but didn't. Because Valtyr's sudden wails and Larus' passivity discouraged the little girl to take any action against the bird. That's why, without glancing back at the agonizing animal she crawled behind Valtyr and coiled up against mother. Oblivious or ignorant to the reason her beloved brother wailed.