Whitebark Stream We dream the same every night.
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Despite the stress and worry that came with leadership, Artyom always found comfort in his family. He made every effort to share in their company, so fearful he was to miss out on a single moment that he would regret.

With Dawn off to have a rare afternoon to herself, Artyom led their offspring through the woods toward his territory's namesake where he knew the current ran gentler. At three months of age, it was about time @Juniper, @Storm, @Frost and Winter learned how to respect it.

"Подожди нас," he called to his sterling son, who strayed just a little too far ahead for his liking. When Winter paused to do so, the gilded Alpha bumped his snout encouragingly against his smallest cub's pale flank, and swept his dark eyes fondly over each of his two daughters.

First to step onto the pebbles shore, Artyom glanced around for any sign of danger. Satisfied that no threat lingered, he turned to his children with an expression that demanded their attention. "You can play in the shallows," he informed, striding forward to show the pups how the water reached his ankles, "like this!" Suddenly, with one smooth motion, the gold-furred leader aimed to splash his brood with a mischievous grin on his muzzle.
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she remains, uncharacteristically, in the near vicinity of her father as the group makes their way through the territory. it most certainly has something to do with her mother's reaction to her most recent disappearing act, though how long the effects of her reprimand will last is yet to be seen. 

the whisper of water is inviting, especially as the sun bears down hotly on her back, though her father's voice demands attention before she makes for the shallows. his splash is met first with a gasp, and then a charge toward the water. "gonna get you!" she promises, splashing into the shallows. it is the tug of the water around her paws, however slight, the gives her pause, and has her maw round into a soft "o". "d' water's going, da!" she has no way to accurately describe the odd tug, and so instead attempts the same motion as her father. but she's underestimated the strength of motion she'd need (her father had made it look so easy!) and so she only managed a pitful arch of water that is nowhere near enough to splash her father, let alone any of her siblings.
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Made eager by his father's announcement of adventure, Winter was keen to remain several steps ahead of his littermates. Too energetic to maintain the easy pace set by their patriarch to accommodate the group as a whole, the firstborn bounded forward - quicker at the sound of flowing water - until Отец barked after him in request that he wait.

The boy stopped, and grumbled to himself in frustration. He twitched his nose and turned to face his family, brow furrowed impatiently. No further comment was made on the matter, but Winter was sure to stay up front.

He took in the scene before him with blue eyes made wide by wonder, a gaze that swept across the rippling surface of their stream and the soft sway of lush grasses. Beyond, the white-barked trees stood tall and proud, and he couldn't help but consider what curiosities lurked on the other side.

His father shared the dangers of the current, and Winter regarded his words with an uninterested flick of an obsidian lobe. What really drew his attention toward him, however, was when water droplets rained suddenly down over him. "Привет!" Winter countered, leaping forth across the stones after Juniper to enter the shallows alongside her. Watching her failed attempt at mimicking their father, he adopted a new strategy by rearing up and crashing his paws down into the water - enough to soak himself and likely to poor siblings around him.


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@Storm feel free to still join in if you'd like!

Artyom welcomed the cubs to respoand to the challenge with the waving flag if his tail, a gesture of both excitement and display of title. It wasn't often that the gilded Alpha needed to assert himself and nor did this situation warrant him to do so, but he wished merely to tease his offspring enough to encourage them forward. They would need to learn the importance of hierarchy, how to respect the ranks of pack-mates and how to recognise their place among them - it was a skill they would all require, no matter which direction life would take them in.

It was Juniper who braved the water first, but she stalled. The father observed her movement quietly, smiling at her with warmth as either the sensation if water or change in temperature around her ankles seemed to affect her.

"Холодно, да? his expression brightened, and dark eyes flitted from his flaxen daughter to acknowledge the bold steps of the silver son. "Все хорошо, хотя. Ты привыкнешь к этому."

He looked toward the pebbled shore where Frost hesitated, unsure. Little Storm did not attempt to step into the shallows. As he parted his jaws to offer soft words of encouragement to the stragglers, Juni attempted and failed to splash at him. Winter, however, adopted a new strategy, and water droplets rained down on Artyom's pale snout before he pointed it accusingly in the boy's direction.