There was an idea in Gem's head that she wanted to get out on... hide. Ever since they had been allowed from the den, the clear night sky amazed her. With each twinkling light that spread out over the night's expanse, she wanted to see more of it. Wanted to capture it forever. Any chance she got to go outside at night, she took it. Even if her other siblings were off on night hunt training, she always hung back with Aliana or someone so that she could wander the ravine.

Between her jaws, she held a small basket that included her rolled-up hide, a container of blackberry paint, and white and yellow wildflower paint that she had managed to craft herself. Coming home with blackened paws and face had ensued quite the laugh from her parents. Her tail wagged happily, almost vigorously, behind her as she practically pranced through the ravine. "C'mon dada," she chirped, looking back over her shoulder at the massive figure of Chimera who plodded along behind her. She was taking him to a clearing near the end of the ravine where the trees opened up to view the glorious night sky. Had she told him what the plan was? Nope, but he was soon to find out!

Chimera was overjoyed at being a father again. Each child was different and he looked forward to seeing their personalities grow. Being the father that he was, Chi would do anything to push a pup further in their interests, so when Gemma came to him asking for a nighttime stroll, he couldn't deny her. Of course he had no idea what she had planned, but it seemed important for her to surprise him, so he didn't ask.

Father and child made their way down the ravine, Chimera's senses on high alert, but still giving his daughter the attention that she required and deserved. He was an easy parent, giving his children a lot of freedom, but he couldn't do so with the outside world. One never knew what dangers lay hidden.

Gem called to him brightly and Chimera chuckled, coming to stand beside her. "Yes, ma'am," he purred, a grin on his dark maw. She was such a happy, sweet little thing. He loved being submerged in a pile of puppies, but Chimera also cherished their one on one time. The brute nuzzled the top of his daughters pretty little head then gave her rump a gentle nudge to get her moving again. "Lead the way, sweetling."

"Speech"

Her father's gentle touch and urging nudge had her hopping forward with a peel of giggles. Even though the wide world around her was full of dangerous things, she knew that her father would always be there to protect her. His titan form loomed over her as she skipped, not a care in the world except to get where they were going. She didn't worry when he was around which said a lot because Gem worried. More than she admitted aloud. Maybe others could tell sometimes, but she secretly hoped not. Just another thing to worry about.

Excited for the adventure ahead, she focused on the whispering ravine around them. How the blooming leaves rustled in the night wind that whistled through the trees. A lone hooting of an owl not far off in those same trees that obscured the blinding moon. Blinking eyes watched from the shadows from little animals such as raccoons and opossums. Nothing that she should fear, nope! Her tingling emotions soon faded to awe as the trees broke into a wide clearing.

Suddenly the moon poured in and the sky opened up to a million stars. Gem's mouth hangs open as she stops and turns her chin upward. "See, dada, stars," her words are a mere whisper as she continued to stare wide eyed up toward the expanse of wonder. "This, this is what I wanted to show you!" She is more than excited as her puppy body wiggles from tail to nose. Unable to wait any longer, she bounds over to a wide enough rock for her to perch up on.

Seated neatly with her tail tucked around her hind paws, she pulls the hide from the basket and begins to unroll it before her. "Will you help put rocks on it to hold it down?" She couldn't hide her grin as she tried to keep her tail from wagging against the rock she sat upon.

When the rocks gave way, the joy on Gem's face brought warmth to Chimera's heart. If his girl was this excited about stars, he would have to take her somewhere where the stars were bigger, brighter. Anything to see the pup smile. He watched as she hopped up on the rock and began to spread out a very thin skin. Chi arched a brow curiously and immediately fetched rocks to weigh down the skin. After placing one at each corner, the brute sat on the earth just behind Gemma, still towering over her even though she was on a pedestal. Chi sat behind the girl, making sure that she didn't wag herself right off of the rock. She was surely excited enough to do just that. The little tail was in a flurry of motion and Chimera chuckled. Had he ever been so excitable? "Now that we're here with your stars, my love, what will you do with that?" Chimera indicated the stretched, smooth skin. He had an idea but he wanted to hear it from Gem. Already he was planning to acquire more paints for his sweet girl. Gemma & Chimera

One would not believe the ravine could open up to such an open clearing. From the outside, it appeared that every inch of groundcover would be masked by the treetop canopy above. Only small slivers of moonlight could sift down through the leaves, making it difficult for some to traverse during the nighttime. But a clearing such as this with lush grass and small white flowers, it was a hidden gem. And now that she's perched upon her rock with the thin piece of tanned hide stretched up before her, she looks up to her father and then to the stars. Their vast landscape is magnificent. If she were to focus, she could point out the different constellations and stars that would help one when they were lost.

Chimera's question sends her tail wagging again. "I want to paint mama a picture! Of the stars! So that when she's stuck in bed, she'll have something to look at!" Gem's voice is excitable as she jumps down from the rock and moves over to a small puddle of mud. "You'd be surprised what we can use to paint!" Gem giggles, her eyes crinkling at the corners. Plopping her front paws as deep into the mud puddle as she can manage, she carefully tiptoes back over to the rock and begins to smear the mud over the hide. "See, the mud is for the darkness that the stars twinkle from. I like to use blackberries, but this will be better because it's stickier and dries better," Gem peers up at Chimera with that wide smile again.

"Then before it dries, I find as many little white flowers as I can!" Why she hadn't gathered the flowers first didn't quite make sense, but she was a puppy after all and their brains hardly made sense. "Do you think mama will like it?" Gem calls out from not more than five feet away as she plucks the heads of small white daisies into her mouth.

Chimera watched as Gem spread mud all over the hide. She explained each step and the brute nodded as she did so. The mud went on to signify the darkness of the sky and the little heads of daisies stuck to the hide to signify stars. It was clever for sure and the black and white giant was proud. Gem asked if Aliana would like the gift and the man's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "She absolutely will," he assured her. No doubt the gift would make his lovely wife cry with happiness. "Actually, I'm quite jealous of your mother's gift." he whispered, lowering his voice conspiratorially. He couldn't remember the last time that one of his children had presented him with something special, not that he needed it. He was simply a doting father. "I'll have to hang this in our den so we can look at it all the time." Gemma & Chimera