The winter arrived in full swing, a whole year had passed. The rugrats were big and strong, and many of them were hardly coming home once per week. It was time to revisit his options, to consider what he wanted to do now that he wasn't keeping the little mongrels alive. Dusk was turning to night, and the sun was barely more than a few rays clawing at the encroaching blackness. The forest had treated the family well in the past year, and had become familiar as the home he'd grown up in. However, it was always intended to be temporary. He wanted to settle somewhere he could enjoy a community until the end of his days, to feel secure about where his next meal might come, somewhere that he could keep a steady stock of herbs for his increasingly creaky joints. If the kids were ready to move on, he would try to send them off on a journey of their own. He'd been there to watch his parents wither and die, it had been terrible. He didn't want that for his own spawn, nor did he want them to be tied down taking care of him if something were to happen. Let some foolish pack with more empathy than sense take on that burden, not his kids. The cosmic titan hauled himself up from the comfortable furs, headed out to the clearing in front of the old redwood whose roots made his den. The firepit there had seen its fair share of use, and it seemed like a good night to start a fire blazing to keep him warm. Tinder, old coals, and a stack of branches. A few strikes of the well worn flint and pyrite he kept on hand (they'd cost him a small fortune of mead and drugs, when the pups had been barely old enough to be left alone while he made the trade) and there it was, a small ember. It was easily coaxed into a steady flame, the shelter of the thick woods kept any wind from interfering. With a heavy sigh, he dragged a few of his well used furs out of the den and out in front of the fire. A small part of him considered, in a moment of weakness, calling out for one of the kids to come and sit with him. Perhaps he'd indulge in a little cuddling, against their will... no, they were too old to let their old man groom the tangles from their coat by now. He would just enjoy the fire for a little while, maybe pour himself a drink once the flames were well established. ""

Despite the chill of winter, Karaka went swimming whenever she could brave the cold. Since she had learned how, she had developed a love for the water. Her dip today was short, and she was in and out in moments. Laughing and shivered as she trotted back home at a quick pace to keep warm. When she arrived at the den, she was about to start looking around for a dry coat to toss over her back when she saw her dad. He had some coats by the fire, which was perfect for what she wanted. She trotted over to the brightly coloured man, and dragged a coat closer to him. She flopped down onto it, and curled up as close as she could to the fire. “Hi, Dad” She said, sticking her cold nose on his paw. "Speech"

He wasn't alone for long, and along came his gilded daughter. She seemed aglow with the rush of strenuous activity, though she did not stink of blood in the way that his son so often did. A run, perhaps, or a climb? As the firelight began to catch on her form, the glistening of water that clung to her pelage told him the answer. Swimming, in this weather? Couldn't be his offspring. As she bundled one of his furs up closer and flopped down beside him, he grunted softly in surprise. Which became a much louder growl of annoyance as she shoved her freezing, wet nose up against his paw. The spot of sodden fur instantly dropped in temperature, despite the closeness of the fire. The grouchy old man nipped at his daughter's ear, and reached a foreleg over her narrow shoulders to pull her front half into the space against his chest. "C'mere, you shit." he growled, the broad grin that he wore contradicting the malice of his tone. "One of these days I might actually fight back against you terrors, you know that?" he chided his daughter, aiming to settle his bulk so that he could keep her pulled up against his chest. Unfortunately, he needed to be mindful of her horns- which was something he didn't need to concern himself with when tussling with his other children. "How was your swim, little carp?" ""

Raka only giggled in response to her dads grumpy growling. Taking no mind to it, as she continued to wiggle her nose into his coat, moving it near the under pit of his foreleg. Ahhh, nice and warm. The heat radiating from his coat, mixed with the crackling fire was already taking away the chill from her ill-timed swim.

She shook her head as he nipped at her ear, and didn’t fight him as he dragged her closer to his chest. “Mmmm, warm” She teased, knowing he was getting the opposite as more of her damp coat touched him. “Yes dad, whatever you say dad” She said with the insolence of a kid who knew her dad wouldn’t do shit to her. She glanced up at him with a warm, cheeky grin. “It was good! I hate that it’s so cold, or I would have gone for longer” She said, her tone entering the huffy territory of a complaint.


"Words"