We can go to see a show, but I'll make you pay

Only those who are welcome to visit the newborns!

48 hours post-birth saw Nightjar in his most contented state yet. He was sprawled out on his back with his tail lying flat on the floor. His head was turned to the side and his mouth was wide open, with his tongue touching the floor. In fact, it was with his tongue touching the floor that woke him up.

He stretched his forelegs toward the den ceiling and yawned loudly, curling his tongue against his toothless gums and whining comfortably.

After his excursion with Somnia, deep into the belly of the mountain, Elwood was tired and ready to go home and crash. His den was veritably calling to him, but his feet carried him first in a different direction. He took a detour and meandered towards the Alphas' den, curious to see how the firebirds were doing -- there had probably been little change since his last visit, oh, only hours prior, but that didn't stop him.

He peeked into the den, waiting for approval from one of the parents before lowering himself to the ground to see who was awake and rolling around. The brown and black pup, soon to be known as Nightjar, looked as though he was ready to fall asleep with his legs rigid in the middle of a glorious stretch. The Beta reached out with a paw and tapped gently on Nightjar's round tummy, his brows raising quizzically as he waited to see how the little guy would react.

Nightjar was, in fact, quickly dozing off again when he was jarred from sleep by a jab to his gut. It was gentle and well-meaning but he squeaked like a dog toy and flailed his legs until he was on his side with his sightless head turned rather accurately in Elwood's direction. His mouth opened wide and he yipped, only to burp loudly and then immediately sneeze.

The Beta was quite lucky that Nightjar was asleep when he arrived and not feeding, or more than noxious air might've found its way up from his gut. Instead, he burped again and began wriggling his nose, partly interested in his own emissions and partly reaching for the Beta's somewhat familiar scent.

Elwood had learned that he could never anticipate what would happen when he touched one of the firebirds. They each had their own little personality, but it was a crap shoot as to whether they would squeal, fart, pee themselves, or vomit. So when he touched Nightjar, he watched with curious eyes and pricked ears, wondering just how the rotund puppy would respond.

He was rewarded with a couple of burps and a sneeze, along with the tiniest of yips. The Beta male smiled, his tail swishing against the ground behind him. "Nice one, dude," he praised, laying his forepaw down an inch or so away from the pup's twitching nose.

Nightjar squeaked in response, although it was really just random noise rather than acknowledgement of Elwood's praise. His ears wouldn't pop off his head for another three weeks, and wouldn't actually hear anything for a week after that. It would be quite some time before he could appreciate compliments.

He pulled himself forward with strong legs and bumped blindly into the Beta's paw. Without hesitation he began to rub his gums against the coarse hair, both savouring the new sensation and searching for something to draw milk out of. He soon found the Beta's blunt nail, which he wrapped his mouth around, only to pull away a moment later as his mouth was assaulted with the taste of everything and anything Elwood had stepped on or in in the last day.

Another thing that Elwood had learned about the puppies was that, while they did not yet have access to their senses of hearing or sight, they used their mouths to explore the world. Little Nightjar inched forward until his blunt snout bumped right into Elwood's foot, and then, naturally, his response was to gum his toe. The sensation was peculiar -- it tickled, but not enough to make the Beta want to shake him off -- but it didn't last for long.

The mottled child withdrew and he chuckled, tucking his paw to his chest and leaning his head down towards his nephew. He snorted gently, releasing a burst of air through his nostrils. He then extended his other forepaw, providing a second obstacle for Nightjar should he choose to continue his mission.

He worked his jaw to rid himself of the awful taste of dirt and barely even sensed when Elwood's paw pulled away from him. He was too busy being assaulted by the strong tastes of the world outside, at least until the Beta sent a wave of warm air and snot particles his way. It was something he would lose the ability to scent in later days, but while it was his strongest scent, he could almost smell every little thing that had landed in the Beta's nose in the last little while.

Craning his neck forward, the boy scented the air with his mouth wide open, unwittingly tasting everything the Beta's snort had expelled, as well. This, of course, tasted like almost nothing.

Nightjar seemed to forget about clambering over Elwood's paws, instead intrigued by something else. His little nose and mouth were working in overtime, apparently smelling and tasting the air. Elwood wondered just how sharp the puppy's nose was; could he detect the various scents that were surely lingering on his breath?

He lifted a paw in front of his own muzzle and breathed into it, then wrinkled his nose at the faintly stale-smelling air. But, curious to see Nightjar's reaction, he sent a puff of air in the boy's direction once more, with enough force to ruffle the baby soft fur between his ears.

Perhaps because he had no other senses at his disposal, Nightjar took to Elwood's exhaust like a cat to catnip. Again he craned his neck forward and wriggled his nose, drawing deep breaths of stale air, respiratory drops and whatever bacteria happened to reside in the man's nose. Unwittingly, they were both strengthening Nightjar's immune system with this activity.

Only when a stronger gust of breath ruffled his floppy ears did he respond to Elwood's treatment with a sharp squeak. Despite its volume and intensity, it didn't signal discomfort. Rather, Nightjar was enjoying himself, as much as such a young babe could enjoy himself. As though to indicate this in the most feline manner he could manage, he stretched his feeble forelegs out and alternately curled his toes, effectively kneading the air.

Wrapping up since this one is a little old! :)

Nightjar squeaked and Elwood chuckled, finally leaning back and refraining from blowing more air in his nephew's face. He was interested to see what seemingly mundane activities were exciting to the firebirds -- with their limited senses, everything was a new experience to them.

After a few more minutes of play, in which Nightjar's movements became slower and slower, one of the watchful parents indicated that it looked as though he was ready for a nap. Taking this as his cue to leave, Elwood delivered a gentle and affectionate poke to his godson's round tummy, then slipped quietly out of the den. It wouldn't be long before he returned.