Bearclaw Valley toothpoint

dad thread! @Aurelian @Ahni @Asura @Arlen, any and all! @Ameline for visibility or joining <3

it had been almost a month since the little bearbabes were born, and ancelin wasted no time in introducing them to different scents and textures. pheasant feathers, deer poop, chamomile flowers, red dirt from the valley's single path — anything that might early prepare them for life beyond the den and the expectations of their skilled pack.
today it was a vole, half-living. he set the tiny thing among his quick-growing children, noting how auberon, little alfie, raised her ursine paw to prod first.
if his wolven kids had any qualms being raised alongside a bearcub, they certainly had not shown it.

ahniska, small and still wobbly on her paws, yipped with soft excitement as she approached the vole. her eyes, bright with curiosity, darted between the small creature and the others around her. her nose twitched at the unfamiliar scent, the faint smell of life and earth clinging to the small body.
her paw, still clumsy but strong, reached out, tapping the vole gently. a soft growl-like sound came from her throat, the tiny bear cub's attempt at a growl, though it was more of a yip than a real threat. her fur ruffled as she sniffed the vole, the strange newness of it overwhelming her senses for a moment. but then, another yip, louder this time, as she looked to her father, her little face filled with wonder.

aurelian barrels forward with all the grace of a tumbling rock, chubby legs splaying as he nearly trips over ahni’s tail.
round indigo eyes locking onto the vole, nose scrunching at the smell. he lets out a breathy huff and pounces, and lands beside it with a thud and a delighted squeal.
his paw smacks the vole with too much force, sending it skittering into a sibling’s leg. aurelian howls a high-pitched giggle, then dives after it again, tail wagging like a banner in the wind.

On wobbly limbs and oversized paws, the newest Bearclaws were spoiled with gifts from their father. Feathers, fur, grasses, leaves, the very earth, and more! Each experience was coveted by the growing Arlen. Grasped by sharp puppy teeth and stowed away deep within their heart.

The prize today was golden.

Squeezed in between Ahniska and Auberon, Arlen happily took turns in inspecting the vole. Auberon reached out with bearish grace. Ahni touched the vole with gentleness.

Arlen's little tail wagged fiercely behind her. Her paw rose high off the ground as she balanced. She wanted to place her paw firmly upon the vole, when Aurelian rolled in. A piebald tornado tumbling through with squealing laughter.

The vole scattered from him, and into Arlen's planted leg! Startled, they plopped back onto their haunches, catching the vole with the curve of their belly.

They got it! They got it! They got!

When Arlen look up again, they met the matching gaze of Aurelian right as he dived once more. Arlen was plowed over with a yelp, followed by a rowdy laugh as they wrapped their arms around their brother.

Asura is reluctant to engage, the chocolate of his nose scrunching in distaste for the rodent, and the rowdy nature of his siblings as they barrelled over and into one-another, stubby limbs unequipped for a chase and trying their damn hardest anyways. He yips out his displeasure as they hurl by, nearly caught in the crossfire.
He sat a little quieter, shuffled away when the other two blew through, but did not pull his eye from the half-living vole as it tried weakly to evade them. He watched it, even if he was hesitant to take in the earthen scent of the thing.
Giggles erupted from his siblings, and Asura's mouth could not withstand the pull of a slight smile at each corner. He shuffled closer to his father, a son to sit in his shadow.

no posting order & thanks for joining <3

each child was developing their own personality, and ancelin had learned from the previous year that this started quite early. auberon was tentative and gentle, though no less focused than her lupine siblings. ahni tested the vole, reacting to instinct but tempering herself with caution. aurelian was fearless, swiping at the tiny creature without preamble and lunging after. arlen had possession next, and caught the flailing thing with good humour before the interlude became a wrestling match. asura did not join, sitting next to ancelin with an observational and distant air.
each skill exhibited, including settling still to watch, were necessary to the development of hunting and fighting abilities. the pups were well-poised to have a great start in this valley, and their parents would do the rest.
reaching in between rowdy bodies, ancelin found the vole again and threw it several times into the air, then again, enticing the young ones to strengthen their legs by jumping.

ahniska waddled over, her tiny paws unsure but determined as she watched the others play. she blinked up at the vole, instinct pulling her forward but keeping her small body rooted to the floor. a hesitant step, then another, and she swiped at the air, her clumsy attempt falling short. the others moved faster, more sure, but she would learn. she always did.
her eyes flicked to ancelin, who had caught her attention with a toss of the vole. she wobbled a little closer, ears flicking with excitement, before her legs gave way slightly, and she caught herself just in time. a small grunt escaped her as she watched her siblings. pa...! she mumbled softly, reaching for the distant treat with the eagerness of a pup still figuring out the world.
still, it was progress. and she would get there.

Arlen was a machine of playful growls. Nibbling at their brother's neck, tugging at delicate ears, and pulling at his fluffy cheeks.

The wrestling match was invigorating. A warrior's heart deep within their chest was pleased. It urged them to continue. From the corner of Arlen's gaze, their father's patchwork pelt has moved. Quick and deft, he stole the vole.

Arlen's vole. They caught it first! No, the fact that Ancelin found the thing and brought for them all did not count in the child's mind.

Arlen squawked angrily from the den floor. Disentangling themself from Aurelian, they hurriedly scrambled to Ahniska's side.

There, high in the air, Ancelin held the vole. Swaying the small rodent, it was the worst kind of game: a tease!

With a stamp of their paws, Arlen barked demandingly for their father to drop it. When denied, they moved to the man's front. Placing their paws on his leg to try and climb him for the vole.

he squeaks angrily whenever arlen untangles themself rudely from aurelian's hold! stumbling heftily to his paws and launching himself after them.
barreling right into ahniska on the way, stumbling onto a single paw and screeching in confusion as he begins to tilt over, a leaning tower;
crashing shortly thereafter.