With all the drama in the pack, Bass really needed some quality time with his youngest son. Merlin was full of energy and seemed to be oblivious to all the drama in their lives. He was a real breath of fresh air, and that's exactly what he needed at the moment. So he paused from following the trail of a doe, tipping back his head to howl for him. He had no idea what they would actually do, but just being around someone with a more happy energy would be a real break. Relaxing his head he sat on his haunches and waited, trying to ignore the constant drizzle of rain. For the first time in his life he was actually looking forward to winter, and the end of this blasted rain. His ears fell back for a moment, hoping that everyone that was sick would be better by that point.

"Speech"
'thoughts'

Merlin was snuffling and digging in the mud around the base of a rock, trying unsuccessfully to find the ground hog he'd been chasing up to the point that he'd lost it in the rubble, when his father's call pierced the enshrouding rain. The yearling popped his head up with a goofy grin gaping his muzzle and his tongue lolling out one side. Dad! He flipped around with surprising grace for being, well, him, and galloped off through the mud and drizzle without a care. "Hey Dad!" he chirped as he pranced up to the white (well, probably formerly white, at the rate Merlin was going flinging up mud with his frisking paws) alpha-dad, with wagging tail (which was also flinging muddy water everywhere) and wriggling excitedly. He apparently also had mud on his tongue, which he noticed a little too late as he curled it back up into his mouth to talk. Oh well, a little dirt in the digestion never killed anyone! "Whatcha doing out in the rain?" Though mostly oblivious, he wasn't completely oblivious, and it had not escaped him that most other wolves didn't seem to care for the constant drizzle and mud as much as he himself did. ""

It didn't take long for his youngest boy to come barreling towards him, bringing a sea of mud with him. His eyes squinted as the damp earth was tossed around -- mostly onto his once white coat. He opened his mouth to tell Merlin to stop wiggling, when a big glob of mud was flung into his maw from his sons tail. Gagging at the wad of mud coating his tongue, he turned his head and dropped the earth back to the ground, his nose wrinkling up in disgust. His tongue ran though his half closed jaws, trying to scrap the mud off of it. Turning back to Merlin, one last ball of mud smacked him right between his eyes. They quickly shut, a sigh leaving his maw. Shaking himself to get rid of most of his new brown coat, he opened his eyes slowly and fixed Merlin a glare. Until a bubble of laughter left his maw, shaking his head back and forth again as the mud slowly slipped down his features, meeting his brown diamond. "Apparently getting my coat dyed brown," he chuckled, eying his equally dirty son. "The real reason is that I wanted to spend some time with you, kiddo. What do you want to do? Besides paint your fathers coat." He said with another laugh, taking a seat in the mud. He was already coated, no need to try and avoid it now.

"Speech"
'thoughts'