Following suit, Rhys threw back her head with enough force to compromise her balance and make her see stars - dang it, the colorful blobs were back! - and howled too. Hearing her voice rise up over the knolls filled her with pride. She sounded - in her mind but definitely not in the ears of others - big and strong just like her Mommy. Spinning around, Rhys's gaze darted over her surroundings as she expected her father to appear instantaneously. She wasn't very good at waiting yet and couldn't fathom things not being given to her the moment she wanted them. Wasn't that how everything worked? She wanted something and BOOM! there it was! Milk? Always available. Snuggles? Whenever she wanted. To chew on Rhyme? He was always within reach. Not seeing Valentine, Rhys's gaze darted to her mother. What was taking him so long? ""

Rhyme was just as excited to see his father as his sister, and both pups would not hesitate to join their mother in calling for the slate alpha. Out of the corner of her eye she'd see Rhys almost bite it with the intensity of her effort. Though neither pup had the lung capacity to match their mom Rhythm was still impressed by the effort. She'd smile through the rest of her howl, slowly tapering off into silence as she looked down proudly at the babies. It didn't take long for Rhys to get impatient, and her mother would not miss the glance. Giggling softly she'd explain. "He's got to get here from wherever he was. It's still pretty early, he might have been sleeping.." He could have been doing anything really. You just had to trust that he would be there when you needed him, and he would be. "Patience, my love." She'd lean down to kiss her forehead, knowing she wouldn't need to wait for very long, just longer than her attention span wanted to wait. ""

The three voices that called to him over the wind brought the King at a run. He couldn't believe it, were they outside already? It was too soon! Even though Rhys had been chomping at the bit since her eyes opened it still felt like only a few days had passed since they were born. Soon enough all three of his babies would be running around the packlands getting into who knows what. The trio came into sight and the moment Valentine locked eyes with Rhys and started seeking his son's gaze, he dropped into a play bow and invited them to come get him. There wasn't a whole lot of room to pal around in the den, so now that they had room to move it was time to play. "Talk" "You" Think

Rhyme too would find it odd that their father had not appeared suddenly as they called for him, how far away could he be that he was not there the second they asked for him? He'd take another look around as their mother explained, he had to walk a long ways to get to them. That made sense right? But his daddy had to be really fast because it seemed like as soon as mommy's words were out there was his dad asking to be tackled. Rhyme wouldn't miss the eye contact, and with no verbal confirmation needed the little boy would take off at a sprint to get to dad. He loved his mother with all of his heart, but she was always around. Dad had to go away a lot so time spent with him was even more special. Now that they had room to run and wrestle.. things were about to get so much better! Squealing excitedly the striped pup would hesitate to leap at his father, pushing into the earth with his hind legs he'd jump with all his might to get at his father's scruff. Not that Valentine wouldn't have been able to easily bat him away. However, with Rhys helping his assault he might have made it up there. ""

They had to wait an unbearably long time for their Daddy to finally show up. Like, a long, long time. Long enough for Rhys to get bored and pouty and just long enough for her to consider chewing on Rhyme's ears but not quite long enough for her to actually do it although she was staring at his ears longingly when movement off to the side alerted her to her father's presence. Instantly Rhyme's ears were forgotten and she squealed, "Daddy!" He dropped into an inviting play bow and without a second thought Rhys charged towards him. Rhyme was ahead of her, so she shrieked gleefully, "Get 'im Whymey!" While Rhyme sought to clamber up onto their Daddy's neck, Rhys made a beeline for his face. She was rather fond of ears, so his ears were what she was after. Unfortunately he had a big head so she couldn't quite reach them and still have her hind legs on the ground, but she wasn't so easily deterred. Using his muzzle as a step brought his ears within reach and with her fiercest growl, Rhys latched onto one. ""

Rhythm would watch as Valen's powerful limbs propelled him closer to the den where his little family sat waiting for them. She was impressed with the level of patience the two pups displayed, however she hadn't missed Rhys staring at Rhyme's poor little ears. She was almost surprised that they were not all torn up from how much they got chewed on. She'd smile adoringly as he went right into a play bow and beckoned their rambunctious children towards him. Finding her feet she'd trail after the little troublemakers just in case Valen decided he needed some back up. Rhyme and Rys were both quite adamant in their attacks, not hesitating to get their dad. She'd sigh contentedly as her form leaned back onto her haunches and she watched her growing babies play. "Let e know if they get to be too much for you," She'd offer helpfully as mischief gleamed in her bright blue and purple eyes. ""

With a squeal the duo was on him, Rhyme scrabbling up onto his neck and Rhys suctioning to his face like a starfish. Pretending to try to get away, Valentine slowly shook his head from side to side. He growled loudly, lips parting in a noisy snarl as he poured on the theatrics.  "Let me know if they get to be too much for you." Valen swung his head to the side so he could look at his mate. He winked at her before growling again and jerking his head up sharply so both puppies were jostled. A foot in his eye made him cringe for real, but that's what he got for jostling. He almost - almost - yelped, but held it in and settled for a full-bodied spazz instead. "Ouch!" he said in mock desperation, "They got me, Rhythm!" He squirmed and bucked, pretending to be trapped under and overwhelmed by the two puppies. "Help!" "Talk" "You" Think

Rhyme was a relatively quiet boy, his sister easily speaking enough for the both of them. Even he didn't realize he didn't like to talk so much because of his little stutter. It didn't always happen, but especially when he was under pressure (say in trouble or something) his little lisp would put itself on display. Right now though the little boy was much too caught up in his dad's offer to play. He'd take a giant leap towards his dad's neck, opening his little jaws as wide as they could as he held his arms out almost like he was going in for a hug. Obviously it was much more than that as he latched on. His little puppy claws would dig into thick fur as he grasped for the loose skin on his dad's shoulders. He wasn't quite big enough to get where he aimed but darn it he'd bite down and hold tight to Valentine's neck. Valentine's sudden movement most definitely jostled the young Rhyme, he'd squeak as his body was lifted off the ground, but he wouldn't let go of his prize yet. He'd feel his father jump as Rhys poked his eye out, but he wasn't about to let him up that easy. He'd kind of hear his mother's offer to help, knowing full well their dad would most definitely need it. He was out numbered, of course they were gonna bring him down. Suddenly though he was flopping and wriggling, and by now Rhyme couldn't really hold on. His jaw strength just wasn't there yet. A few more days of eating meat and he'd probably have a much better chance of keeping hold. As he was displaced though he wouldn't give up yet, now he'd try to scale his dad's back. He'd want to climb aboard to more effectively stake his claim. "Godded you Dah!" He'd squeal as me made his way to Valentine's back. ""

Rhys shrieked a laugh as her daddy snapped his head up and nearly flung her off. The laughter made her lose her grip on his ear and after she realized that, the pup flailed wildly after it. In doing so she managed to stick her foot in something squishy, but that didn't matter all that much. Her sights were firmly set on on her daddy's ears and nothing, not even a weird squishy thing underfoot, was going to distract her. She squealed again when her daddy asked her mommy for help and doubled her efforts to grab hold of his ear again. If only he'd stop flailing around! "No, mommy!" she squealed as his ear kept escaping her grasp. "No hep!" ""

At first she only got a wink in response to her offer of potential help, not that Valen would have any trouble with two tiny pups she wanted in on the wrestling too. She'd grin brightly at him as a growl bubbled up in his chest and he bucked beneath their children. She saw the foot in the eye, and was impressed that he hadn't called out in pain. Rhys was unperterbed, her focus fully on her father's ears. Rhyme tried to scramble up his father's back as Valentine playfully sought out her help. Rhys would protest, but Rhythm still made her way closer to her little family's scwabble. "Well if I can't help, I'm sure you wouldn't mind.. some tickles!" Rhythm would giggle as she spoke, moving to tickle the sides of her daughter's round belly. ""