The days were growing shorter, mornings crisper, and Dominus was living for it. A young boy with a warm, dense coat that he wore comfortably, and it would only come in thicker and warmer as time went on. Today was a particularly brisk sort of day, and he's living for it. Romping and rollicking among the cattails, trying not to get too close to the chilly water below. The best sorts of days. With fresh air in his lungs and a chilly midmorning sun shining down around his shoulders, the boy is at peace. How could he not be, when it feels like he's invincible. The boy can simply be, among the reeds and the grasses. Bright eyed and relaxed, Dominus is keen on having the best day.

It had taken Ikigai a while to recover from birthing her pups. She chalked that up to the nasty miscarriage that she'd had prior. Regret bit at the pale woman's mind. She'd missed so much of their childhood already. Better to heal and be present for the long run though rather than push herself and possibly hemorrhage and die.

Still a little weak, but drastically better than she had been, Ikigai made her way down the mountain and towards the lake, following the scent of Dominus. Soon his little romping form came into view. He was such a handsome boy and Iki was insanely proud of him already.

"Hello, sweet one," the long legged fae came up behind her son, reaching down to nuzzle behind one ear. "Up to anything interesting today?" She trusted Dominus and Damira to explore the lake on their own. Tanuki was always with them when they left the mountain and she trusted the albino akita with not only her life, but the lives of her children.

"Ikigai"