Tamsyn laid at the edge of the den where the sun that was filtering through the cloud cover could reach her, their pups sleeping soundly against her stomach. The crash of the waves was the perfect sound to lull them into a nap—not that it really took a lot to get them to go to sleep right now. In these early days following their birth they did little more than wiggle around, eat, and sleep, but she treasured every single second of it. She knew from experience that these days would go too fast and she'd blink and they'd be over. Malik started to stir with adorable little puppy squeaks and she smiled, shushing him gently as she dipped her head to give him a loving nuzzle, quieting him back down and tucking him back against his sisters to keep napping.

She looked out over the shore while she waited for Kane to return with the rest of her children. She wasn't sure how many of them would want to come meet their half siblings, but she knew that Artorias at least would want to see them so she figured she'd invite the whole family out to their little den on the shore. Briefly she considered just bringing the pups up to the castle instead, but as tiny as they were she didn't want to risk moving them around too much and she was quite enjoying this homey little den that Kane had prepared for their little family. Her ears perked when she heard the sound of paws moving across the sand and she peeked out of the den, spotting them heading toward her with a grin. She gave a wave of her paw when they got close, moving her paw to her muzzle with a quiet shush to make sure they weren't too loud before coming to greet their new family members.

Tamsyn Carpathius of the Valley

Kane came to collect them, informing the Carpathius brood that their mother had given birth and wanted them to meet the pups. Bowen still wasn't sure how she felt about the whole thing. Her mother should never have died. Had she not, these pups would never have existed. She supposed that she liked Kane well enough, but he would neve replace her mother. He would never be good enough. Her mom was happy though, so Bowen plastered on a smile and followed the man to the beach where her mother waited. Seeing the motion of quiet from Tamsyn, Bowen did just that. Not saying a word, she looked at the small pups, then moved away a few feet to lay in the sand so that the others could take a look as well. The young woman didn't feel anything for them. Perhaps it was because they weren't wolves yet. They were just little wiggling lumps. Maybe she would like them when they had personalities. Or maybe she just wasn't a kid person. She certainly had no desire to ever have her own children. The world was too horrible a place. Her own past proved that. "Bowen"

Gwynevere was perhaps the most familiar with Kane out of all of her siblings since she had been the first to meet him and bring him to The Hallows after he rescued her from one of those massive saber cats so maybe that made her a bit more excited for the children he and their mother had than the others, but she didn't mind. At this point in her life she was just happy to have any kind of good news and something to look forward. She had been watching her mother's progress throughout her pregnancy, making sure she had all the care and herbs she needed to make sure everything went smoothly, and she was eagerly waiting to hear how it went after she and Kane left to set up their birthing den on the beach.

A few days passed and then Kane came to collect them to finally meet their pups and she was more excited than she had been in a very long time. She quickly gathered up a little gift of some sweet berries and some helpful herbs like alfalfa and marshmallow, wrapped and tied up in a small cloth sack, and then walked down to the shore with the rest of her siblings. Her tail wagged gently behind her when she spotted their mother, nodding quietly when they were reminded to be quiet. She glanced toward Bowen as she moved off to the side and laid down on her own, but returned her focus to the two tiny girls and the larger boy that were curled up and asleep at their mother's belly.

She sat her gift for them just inside the den and gave her mother a grin, peeking at the pups and relieved to see all of them happy and healthy—especially their mother. Tamsyn was absolutely glowing and content and after the days Gwynevere spent with her following the night Resin attacked her it was such a relieving sight. She had seen the joy completely leave their mother's eyes for a long time so seeing her like this now was all Gwyn could have really asked for. She settled down just outside the den where she could still see the pups, but she wouldn't be in the way so their brothers could get a closer look.

"Gwynevere Carpathius"

The big day had finally arrived! When Kane came hurrying up to the castle with a huge smile and tired eyes, Artorias knew what news he had to share before he even said a word. Tamsyn had had her litter and he was a big brother once more. Artorias' heart soared in his chest, and the Aegis wasted no time going down to the shore with the other dire wolf to see the newest additions to the Carpathius family. Even if they had chosen not to take the family name, they shared the same blood, and they would all be Carpathians in Art's eyes. Kane led him down to the seaside birthing den, Bowen and Gwynevere having already arrived. Kane had obviously delivered the news to them first. While Bowen was lounging out on the sand in the sun, Artorias could see Gwyn emerging from the den to sit just outside the door, peering inside with the biggest smile on her face. It did his spirits good to see his sister smiling like that again.

He approached and regarded both Bowen and Gwyn with a gentle nuzzle, exchanging an excited and gleeful look with Gwyn before he slipped inside. The den even smelled like new puppies, and he got their scents before he saw them. Tamsyn was curled up on the bed of furs, positively glowing with radiant motherly bliss and looking far happier than Artorias had seen her in a long, long time. He saw Tam press her paw to her muzzle in a silent shush and the giant alpha cringed with an apologetic look. As quietly as he could, he crept closer to peer around Tamsyn's curled paws and tail. Nestled against her stomach were three little beans of wolves, sound asleep as they snuggled with their mother. Artorias' mouth fell open the moment he beheld them—his siblings, half-blooded be damned! Amber eyes glistened with glowing teal tears while he watched them sleep, the two girls bearing striking resemblance to their mother while the third was a near copycat of his sire. They were beautiful and precious.

Turning to meet Tamsyn's eyes with his own beaming face, Artorias came closer to gently nuzzle and lick his mother's cheek in wordless congratulations and affection. "I'm so happy for you, Mom," he whispered in the quiet of the den, his voice barely louder than the rolling of the waves outside. "What are their names?"

"Artorias Carpathius"

Avantika followed a bit behind her siblings, needing time to think on her way. She was happy for Tamsyn, of course. Her mother deserved to find new love and have whatever life she wanted, and it was nothing short of a beautiful miracle that she'd even been able to have this litter. But she couldn't help but feel a little hurt, and she wasn't quite sure why. Maybe it was just that she was now living away from the castle. The three kids didn't have the last name Carpathius. But they were her baby siblings, whether half or full-blooded. Technically, blood had nothing to do with it at all. She tried to push away the doubts and think instead on what it would be like to have little siblings. Would any of them be fighters? Maybe she could teach them! If anything, it would be good practice for whenever she and Audra had their own children.

She loped faster, and arrived in a hurry, not long behind Artorias. She took a deep breath and softly padded to the den. They were so incredibly small. Avantika was a pretty average sized wolf, if a bit tall, and even she could never imagine being that tiny. She could crush them with one paw! Her stomach set, and she felt suddenly grim. Even a little fox could kill one of the puppies. Anything could. Looking at them, she wondered how any wolf ever made it to adulthood. They needed such care, or at least, they ought to have it -- she'd turned out mostly alright despite her early childhood's challenges -- and they looked as if they'd kick the bucket at the slightest pinch.

"Speech"

Rudyard had nodded at Kane when he gave the news, promising to be there right away.  He had just needed a few minutes to get some water.  He’d just finished a hunt and while it was always a thrill, it certainly gave him a thirst afterward.  Once the water was lapped up he ran to follow the path Kane had taken.  It felt strange mom had chosen to have the new pups outside of the hallows land and was a bit unsettling.  What if a certain demonic brother of there's found mom and Kane with their new siblings outside of the castle's protective walls?  

Rudyard shook that horrific thought from his head, this was a time for joy and celebration, not unwarranted fears.  Mom was fine, the kids were fine and, they weren’t overly far away if they needed to call for help.  Rudy wagged his puff-tail in greeting to his sisters and Art as he moved into the den.

“Hi, mo-“ cutting off his own voice when he realized softer voices were supposed to be a thing.  The motley wolf took a slow step nearer, stretching out his head as he looked to the pups.  “They’re so tiny,” Rudy spoke softer now.  They were so young and naïve with thoughts only of food and sleep Rudy imagined.  Had they ever truly been so tiny?  

Rudy grinned imagining the role of a big brother and all that he could teach them.  All those important lessons in life!  Would one of them want to be a great hunter?  That’d be a fun thing to teach and he’d be sure to teach them from the mistakes Rudy had learned early in life the harder way.  

Rudyard Carpathius