CW: Recluse is still grieving the loss of one of her kids, just be aware that will be a theme of this thread, take care of yourselves. <3

Recluse hadn't really wanted to let them out. They'd only managed to get the blood out of the stone floor of the den a few days ago and the image of her eldest daughter cradled in her forelegs... Eyes already unfocusing... Well, it had visited her in her dreams every night since. Eraithus had offered that they could move dens but Recluse didn't really want that either. He'd found it and she liked the den when- Well when she wasn't reminded of Kali. Which was most of the time right now, even when she had to focus her attention on her youngest litter. They hadn't even gotten to meet her- No! Recluse shook that thought from her mind. But the sudden loss of her daughter, it would have been a lie to say it wasn't affecting her decisions right now. The woman didn't want to let her youngest out, she wanted to hold them to her and never let the cruel cold world have them, she wanted to keep herself from ever having to lose another child again... But Eraithus was right, there was nothing they could have done for Kali, and sheltering them here, keeping them from the world wouldn't protect them, it'd only leave them unprepared. So they'd agreed today would be the day their children would get to see the world for the first time. Didn't mean she had to like it. Recluse looked down at her children, piled at her stomach. The sun had set only a bit ago and no doubt they'd soon start to wake, as with all her children she'd taught them early to be nocturnal as she was. The woman looked for comfort from her husband. Now more than ever she was glad he was here, Recluse wasn't sure she wouldn't have collapsed under the weight of her own grief if not for the man's support. He was the father of these children, even if he hadn't fathered a single one. ”Well...” She said as she looked at her husband. Recluse's voice was hoarse, she'd done more crying than proper talking lately and there was a clear reluctance in her tone but, well she was pretty sure Eraithus would be there to help and she wasn't sure she could back down now, no matter how much she wanted. The woman set about waking the sleeping children gently before seeking out Eraithus again, turning to him to help calm her quickly rising panic. ”We're uh- Loves your father and I have big plans for you all today.” She managed to say, a sad smile pulling at her lips as the woman watched her children begin to stir. She would wait until she could extricate herself without knocking any of them over and she slowly, hesitantly made her way over to the mouth of the den where she felt herself falter. Recluse turned back to look at her family, her chest constricting and she couldn't bring herself to say it out loud, saying it would make it true and it would mean one more step toward the danger of the world beyond for these children too. Instead, she looked to Eraithus before gesturing silently towards the mouth of the den, the best her kids would get in terms of her saying outright that they would be going outside for the first time. Beyond the mouth of the den Galho would be waiting, the Potoo perched in a tree to quickly swoop down and stop any pups from getting to far and to offer his own eyes on the scene. Lilith slithered into the den and wrapped herself around Recluse's neck in her usual spot, giving the alpha a gentle squeeze of reassurance, she too would offer her sight to keep an eye on the pups, Recluse would take all the help she could get. ”Speech”  ’Thought’

"Woooo!" It was his best attempt at expressing his joy. Imp scuttered between longer legs than his own, stumpy limbs trying to get ahead of his siblings. He burst under his mother's legs, wiggling in excitement there for a bit. Too young to really grasp his mother's sorrow, and the loss of an older sibling, the boy took a step. He tumbled. He rolled forward. "Eep!" His head hit the soft earth and he let out a light gasp. They were allowed outside. Outside. Outside! There was an entire world out there and more! "Ma, Ma, Ma!" he began to wiggle again, his little body a storm and a quake at the same time "looky me!" he barked before his eyes turned to his father "look, Da!" He took one step outside the den. "Big now!" he announced, puffing out his chest.

The days since the pups came into the world had been much of the same; they’d wake up, eat, stumble around the den and then find their way back to their mother to fall asleep against. Something had shifted in the past week but Enki is blissfully unaware of the tragedy that had taken place in the family’s den, mere feet from where they sleep. All he knows is that, mom hugs them tighter, holds them a little closer and that has made the small pup all the more happy. Tonight, Enki lays curled around his smallest sibling, Ahklut, one foreleg wrapped around her neck while his head lays buried in her scruff.

The warmth of his mother’s belly and the comfort of his slumbering sister has the marbled boy firmly in dream land. Small paws twitch and his nose works as if he is trying to smell something when he suddenly ripped away from a rather pleasant hunt. Groggily, Enki blinks his blue eyes open, detaching his face from his sister’s scruff so he can blink sleepily up at his mother. A crooked smile is offered to her before a huge yawn splits his maw and his small body stretches, toes pointing in the cute way that puppies do. Their mother speaks of big plans for them and Enki’s tiny tail wags as he places a rough lick between his sister’s ears, saying, “Come on Akh! It's time to get going!”

Rolling onto his belly, the boy swiftly stands and gets his paws under him, listing sideways as he goes. Whoa. The earth sure likes to move. Next, Enki gives his fluffy coat a good shake and almost sends himself careening to the ground. Oops. Maybe not so hard next time. Mom points to opening of the den and his eyes widen as he realizes that today, they get to go beyond the that opening. Tiny tail wags franticly as he looks to his sister arguing her to hurry up by saying, “Come on Akh! Let's go explore!” Paws churn as he moves to den’s opening, his brother Imp beating him there but immediately tumbling out into the world. Enki smirks at his sibling, his own long leg crossing the threshold and pushing him out into the world beyond.

Skirting his brother who calls himself big, Enki slows and comes to a stop, wide eyes taking in the dark world beyond their den. The earth is hard, unforgiving and, as he casts his eyes up toward the sky, an eerie glow lights the clouds above. A smile pulls at his lips as he proclaims, “This is cool!” The marbled boy loos back over his shoulder for Ahk, wanting to show her how awesome it is to be outside the den.


"Enki Klein"

Nirah

"Swatting butterflies."

Life. It had been a short time. She remembered the scents around her since birth, the warmth of her mothers and her den mates. When they had opened their eyes there had been a light at the mouth of the den. Not like the hole in the ceiling where they watched the sun set and the moon rise. Each time she and her siblings had been tempted to venture it while their parents slept. However it always had seemed like one of them kept their eyes open, though Nirah was painfully aware more than half those times was Recluse ushering her back to the nest. Now though she sat with her ears pricked the large babe's eyes brightening with excitement.

"Really?!" she exclaimed loudly before bounding over to her brothers. She frowned at Imp before pushing herself next to him and fluffing herself out just as her brother had. "Look! I can do it too." she grinned at her brother Imp. Her attention then moved in the setting sunlight to Enki, "Of course it's cool it's our first adventure OUTSIDE." she huffed. Then stopped looking back to make sure their mother and father were following close behind. She felt a nagging feeling she didn't want to go too far from them. Father had said plainly there were dangers that they wouldn't like and until they were big like them they had to be sure to stay safe. He'd made her promise. "Mama will I be as big as you when I grow up?" she asked tilting her head to the side.

MADE BY MINNIE of BTN

A PILLAR FOR ALL

It had been a very long time... Eraithus had hardly known what to say about Kali to Recluse. He knew he didn't mourn her quiet as intensely as Recluse but in the end all he could do and what he thought was best was to be there for her. He'd been by her side since, especially with the little ones now walking as they had. A few nights they had to make sure the pups weren't leaving the den without them looking. After some conversation Recluse had admitted it was time they got out of the den. Eraithus knew it was hard for her - he felt the same painful sorrow when he was never going to see his siblings again whome he'd been close to. Yet looking at them... their children. He couldn't imagine what it would be like for him if they were lost. Recluse began and he pressed himself softly against her.

After she had finished he grinned happily, "Your mother and I have decided we'll be taking your first trip outside of the den tonight." he said and as soon as the words left his mouth they were wriggling about away from their mother. As Imp fluffed himself out Eraithus couldn't help but to chuckle. "Very big Imp, just see what you'll look like in a few seasons come. Maybe even bigger than your dad or mom." he got up and walked closer to them. "But listen to me little ones, you must stick close to me and your mother while we play okay." they couldn't possibly get hurt right now. Not in a time where Recluse had to heal, but he was here and he sure as hell was going to make sure they all stayed safe for her.

MADE BY MINNIE of BTN

Akhlut didn’t realize the shift in the atmosphere within Habari as she was far too young to comprehend. However, she did know that her mother was almost always somber in juxtaposition to her siblings. The other young pups of her litter didn’t have trouble smiling or wagging their tails. Mother however always seemed sad when she looked at them. Despite the sorrow that couldn’t quite be shaken, Akh was never left wanting for her mother’s attention. Recluse was always there when she needed love, especially when she scraped her knee or things got a little too rough when tussling with her siblings.

Equally she could count on her father to be there for her, the princess was raised without a care or need in the world. Blissfully unaware of the strife she was born into. It was a testament to Recluse and Eraithus' parenting that her innocence would not be corrupted by such tragedy. Her sleep was deep and relatively undisturbed when the family began to stir. Akh took a bit longer to rouse from her slumber, but with Enki holding her against their mother’s belly it was hard to not sleep well.

Her big brother rolled away from her after an encouraging lick to the back of her head. She would have put up more of a fuss about him slobbering all over her if she was more awake. Akh’s little pink tongue rolled out of her mouth as she yawned big and stretched herself as the family started to rouse from their slumber. She heard her mother and father begin to speak about the greatest adventure. They were finally going beyond the den.

Excitement brought her to silence as anticipation filled her heart. Akh made her way to her pretty pink paws, keeping herself at Enki’s side as he encouraged her up a second time. He had enough words for both of them, and taking after her mother’s somber quietness. As her tiny paws crossed the threshold with Enki she heard their father’s voice behind them. He was stern and serious, making sure they knew this was their only warning to stay close. Something told her she didn’t want to disobey.

With her side pressed against her brother’s marbled fur she looked back towards Recluse for reassurance before following him out under the soft sky above. It was all so big and new, she was stunned into silence as she took in just how big outside was. No wonder they weren’t allowed to go far, she knew she would get lost if she wasn’t careful.

Emotions didn't come easily to the boy. Beating around the bush and being tender weren't his strong suits. What he did know was that he felt sorrow for the loss of his sister; even if he didn't know her that well. He felt sorrow because he knew it killed a piece of their mother on the inside. Out of any of the wolves he knew, Recluse was one of possibly two or three wolves that he actually had emotions for. Which was why he had been sticking closer to her den in the days following Kali's passing. Even with Eraithus and Voodoo there to help assist her, he wanted to be available at any point in time. Edelweiss would understand, he knew she would when he could explain it to her. Feeling a tad antsy, wondering when Recluse, Eraithus, and the new ones would emerge from the den, his nose twitched at the scent of his mother. Having been pacing a rut into his own den floor, he emerged a few steps to see a brief shadow not far off. So today was the day? Curious, which perhaps was the only real emotion Ghoul often felt, he took a few steps toward the sound of rustling and voices. Keeping his distance at first, he noticed Galho and Potoo first and knew then it definitely was time for the pups to experience their first day in the open world. The first to emerge was a boy coated in white with grey and black that appeared proud to be big enough to leave. Ghoul couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. Thinking back to his first day, all he could remember was wanting to play with his brothers in a more rambunctious way than the den allowed. Next was another boy, slightly larger, coated more in swirling tans than white. Different, but not unusual. The third was surprising and Ghoul felt his head tilt slightly as he examined the red and white coated girl. She appeared rambunctious and not like any of his other siblings who had all been monochrome so far. Last but not least was the smallest girl whose fur was a mottled brown and white. All of them were so different, yet he knew exactly who they belonged to. He wondered then who their father was since none had the blue coat of Eraithus. Huffing under his breath at the thought, Ghoul approached a little closer now with a placid expression. Awkward at best, he looked to the small pups before taking a seat near the den's mouth. Glancing toward Recluse and Eraithus with a brief smile, he turned his attention back to the pups. "Enjoying the outside so far?"

Akuma had been late in getting outside, but honestly, he didn't mind. He wasn't in a rush to get up what with the headaches he'd been getting but were starting to subside. As he heard his siblings talking a little further away, his head shot up and he blinked bleary eyes to see what was going on and found that everyone had gone outside of the den. Scrambling to oversized paws, the biggest child of the group bounded out and with a mischievous grin, sought to barrel past the others to tackle Imp! "Finally outside!" He crowed as he disengaged from his brother to hurriedly sniff about, tail arched over his back until he came to a big albino guy. Oh, that was one of his older brothers right? He sniffed Ghoul's paws for a moment before circling back around and then headed off in a zigzag pattern as he investigated his surroundings. The small nub of a horn that would eventually grow out was no more than a bump on his forehead for the time being, but in time, it would grow to be a dangerous weapon.