Swiftcurrent Creek Even if we're discovered, just be sure to wear your best

If this doesn't get any replies by June 1st Mae will exit the territory and get lost!

Since their return to Swiftcurrent Creek, Mae's behavior had significantly improved. She spent much of her time with her silent brothers, @Nicodem and @Jakub, and felt no sense of urgency regarding her slow acquisition of speech. She'd learned enough words to communicate most of her intentions to @Akavir, at least for now, and was content with that. Mae had yet to feel any stirring of desire to interact with those outside of her family.

She was very curious about the world beyond, however. Each day she attempted anew her ultimate goal of a jail break; a trip outside of the Creek! Riverclan hadn't been pleasant, but Mae was sure that there was something more exciting out there. She'd watched everything with wide eyes on the trip back, and it had never left her mind. Today she was getting closer than ever; she'd managed to slip past @Swordfish, her appointed babysitter, and was following an old trail left by Akavir directly to the outskirts of the territory. If no one stopped her, she planned to have a grand adventure.

[ooc[mild pp by grabbing her, but i can change![/ooc]

Akavir came and went—his desire to be a more prominent presence in his children generally whisked away by duty. Jakoul’s disappearance remained a mystery—and he found himself souring at the possibility of her return, for no signs of violence or corruption had seemingly taken place from what he could tell.

Yet… had he himself not once disappeared from his own family, without any sign of distress? Swept away by the waters—and saved by Moss and her sister.

Guilt gnawed at him then, and as he turned an old trail that lead back to the den, he found a rather confident Mae bounding along—clearly making a break for it.

He huffed back a small laugh—eyes narrowing in his best stern expression before he made his presence aware to her by stepping into her path—and just as swiftly, his jaws bent to grasp her nape gently and turn her back the way she had come, followed by releasing her and giving a gentle and firm nudge to her rump. “Wrong way, Mae,” he noted, the words chosen allowing her benefit of the doubt that it had been a merry accident she had wandered away… but his tone indicating he knew otherwise.

Totally fine <3

Akavir! Always delighted to see her father, Mae immediately surrendered her quest in favor of launching herself at his forelegs, seemingly unaffected by his attempt at sternness or his physical correction. She nipped affectionately at each of them in turn, her whole body wiggling with the force of her wagging tail. Her excitement grew tenfold within a matter of seconds.

A playful growl stirred in her throat and her nipping turned to wild chomping, her teeth clicking together in the air when she missed. Not hard enough to draw blood, but certainly enough to sting. Mae was getting carried away, to put it simply. But how often did she get Akavir all to herself?? She just couldn't help herself.

hope it's ok Vys comes in!

It had been days since her introduction to Swiftcurrent Creek, and Vystra hadn't yet met another member other than Akavir. Today, she found herself trying her paw at hunting. It was a miserable endeavor, on filled with plenty of exasperated huffs and snarls, claws scraping frantically along dirt floor where a field mouse had only just been! Rosy eyes narrowed in defeat, unaware that the mouse was only mere inches away from her rump. If she were going to become a better hunter, she would need better tricks.

The young woman began to dig absentmindedly with a single paw, lost in thoughts of becoming a better provider for this pack. But a movement to her right, this time not a mouse but something else of a small stature. A pup? The pale wolf followed, keeping watch from nearby shrubbery until a familiar face stepped into view. Akavir intercepted the young one with a firm grip of their scruff and a mumbling of words. So this was a child of the pack's.

Slowly as to not startle, though they likely heard her fumbling, the newly appointed Swifty stepped onto the trail. "Agavir." She greeted with a wag of her tail, then pressed her ears forward to zero in on the young child who was now assaulting his ankles. Who is this?

Where he had tried to steer her course in direction, Mae proved to be a whirlwind of motion and spun, instantly clambering his front paws and his limbs, greeting him with an enthusiasm that was hard not to feel at least a little good about.

At least not everyone was mad or annoyed with him.

The excitement drew along puppy teeth—and they were still increasingly sharp. He winced, but before he could return the greeting, a vision of ivory caught the peripheral of his gaze, and glancing sharply up, he noted the humble stance of Vystra—the rumbled greeting of his name and mispronunciation stirring a smile from him. “Vystra,” he called to her in welcome, though knew it would be lost to the wind as such—and with a glance down to his daughter, he made to garner her attention—to cease her playful bites and pay attention to one of their newer packmates. “Mae, this is Vystra. Friend.”

Also fine!! <3

Mae did not take kindly to being interrupted by a stranger. She froze in the midst of her play, looking up at Akavir with an expression that was equal parts affronted and incredulous. Friend?! How dare he! How stupid did he think she was!

Well, she would show him that he couldn't fool her. This was no friend of Mae's, this woman she'd never met, so the darkling pup whipped around to face her and drew herself up to full height with fur bristling. She started to bark furiously, front paws jumping a little with each one. Go away! We're busy!

Not being able to hear was a blessing at times like this. Though she hadn't dealt with children before, she could now see through this little one's temperament that they seemed to be unruly. At least, little Mae was. The hops and silent barks charmed her as Vys drifted between staring at the small whirlwind and her father. She assumed he was at least. There was a likeness between them that said as much.

In an act of "desperation", Vystra feigned shock at the mightiness of the girl by hopping back and allowing the space for the father daughter duo. Landing with splayed paws, billowing a small plume of dust into the air, the pale wolf bowed playfully against her small dark adversary. You're so fierce! She whined excitedly, grinning wide in the hopes that the girl might want to tussle with her as well. Admittedly, she hadn't completely grown out of the rough housing phase of her youth yet.

Mae was hellbent on leaving a wonderful first impression, it seemed, and as she puffed up to full fluffy puppy height and barked, Akavir withheld a sigh and roll of his eyes, instead favoring the moment with a nudge to her rump that would reveal his distaste for her attitude—a low crooning growl that acted as a warning for her bad manners.

That was when Vystra spun delicately upon the spot—delicate ivory fur stark against the spring ground and her playful intentions revealing a rather attractive quality in the girl. She took the lacking welcome like a champ, and bemusement flickered in the eyes of the Mayfair as he watched the two interact for a moment.

Mae's barking died away, but her mood did not lighten. Instead she stood in place and frowned for a moment, finding herself very unhappy with the way she was regarded by the adults. The woman did not take her seriously — and more importantly, Akavir was displeased with her.

It only took her a second to decide she was under no obligation to stick around for this kind of treatment. With a huff, Mae turned to stomp back to the den. If he wanted to be friends with this woman so badly, he could do it without her!

And just like that, she was rejected... by a child. Her head tilted in utter confusion. Was she not fun? Was she not cool? Pink lips pressed into a tight line as the young woman righted herself with a ruffle of her pelt, an attempt to rid the dirt from her underbelly as well as any leftover humiliation. Vystra drifted her rosy gaze from the small tyrant to her father, flicking her ears awkwardly as if to say I tried. If she had arms, she would've shrugged them.

Closing the space once more so that she met with her leader, the rejection of the pup had already lifted from her shoulders. Akavir would definitely have his hands full with this one. 

If Vys could get over her own family abandoning her, she could take the tantrum of a headstrong babe. The large black-coated male before her at least looked amused by her antics, and so she focused on that. Tail wagging, she tried out a simple greeting she had learned long ago. "Hi."

Mae stomped off—Vystra, while seemingly no stranger to body language rather than words—would be hard pressed to miss exactly what the little girl was currently thinking and his pale eyes followed after her tiny little form. He considered a moment when the ivory swept up to him, tail wagging and pulling his attention with a spoken greeting.

Her mood seemed unhindered by the antics of his daughter, and with a bemused glance, the man lowered himself to a play bow—his head tipping to the side—waiting for her first move.

Mae wasn’t forgotten—but he also wasn’t about to give in to her tantrum.

It was a shame she wouldn't be connecting with the little lady, no emphasis on the word lady, but Vys was soon met with vibrant energy from her leader. Her Alpha wanted to play - with her!? Never before had someone of higher rank ever conceded to her playful advances. Her tongue lolls out the side of pink lined lips as her expression brightens and glows. Game on then. 

She knew damn well she could not physically gain the upper hand with such a large adversary, and to be frank, with absolutely no fighting experience. She grew up playing alone. Her favorite games had included pawing at falling leave in fall, sliding over ice in winter, and hopping in and out of puddles in spring. In summer, it was a free-for-all.

A quick throw of her backside began the battle. It was done in a way that her tail would swish in front of his lowered face, blinding those pale eyes of his. Then, she would back pedal into a booty bump against him. It was a made up move, a bold strategy. She hoped it would catch him by surprise enough for her to wheel back around and topple him over.

It was a turn of events—over before it started when the girl spun, blinded him with a well aimed ‘thwack’ of her tail, and then actually sat on him.

Five years of age and he had never witnessed anything like it, and the laugh that came from his chest rumbled from deep within—heartfelt—and so very needed. She wheeled around, giving him time to spring upward to action where the two would run and chase. Mae was too stubborn to be lured out, but for a small moment, the Alpha was able to engage in a carefree moment where nothing existed but silliness, the wind in his face, and the occasional laugh.