Basilisk moved to the block of wood that had served as a puppy barrier against their door. They were old enough now to start exploring the Col proper. The many twisting Warren's and wide open space of the field between the mountains should keep them occupied for a little while. Soon, they'd be old enough to start learning to fight. He intended to start them early.

He pushed the barrier into the corridor and returned to the entrance. Standing beside Ignita as he grinned at the pups. “Alright, listen up!” He said like a drill Sergeant. Commanding immediate attention. “You're allowed into the Col today, but not beyond. Investigate the Warren's, enter no dens unbidden. Companions will have eyes on you, and I expect your behaviour to be befitting of the Fatalis name.” He said, voice hard. Before he let it soften into something gentler. “Have fun, call for me if you need me or want me.”


"Jamie"||"Iskandor"||"Selene"||"Citadel"||"Selene"||"Balrog"||"Ignita"||"Basilisk"

Ach! Ignita was holding her little Jamie close as she watched Bas get up and move the board. She knew this day would come but she wasn’t ready! How do they grow up so fast? She reached out and gave her little Balrog a few licks behind his precious tiny ear. Will he see okay with those hardened gems in his eyes? They were still babies! They are climbing all over them now but still babies! They couldn’t go yet! But with a look from their father, she knew it was time. They were getting stir-crazy, and she was getting stir-crazy. She just wanted them close to her forever! Did Jamie have enough energy to explore today? By the looks of her perking up perhaps she did. It would certainly ease Ingita’s heart to see the girl have one of her rampaging bursts of energy. She reached out just as Odette was passing by and scooped the dark little winged girl closer to her. She came in a day late, would she be old enough for this venture? She gave her a lick over her brow just as if she were her own.

She flattened her ears slightly as Bas started his drill sergeant routine, did he have to be so sharp to them? She smiled though as she watched them all pay him apt attention. Even the tiniest Selene, the one who wouldn’t stop moving even if her life depended on it paused for a good moment to listen to her father. Tiny babies! She sighed as her eldest boys were just out of her reach. She wanted to smother them both one more time before they took a step out into the world.

She would watch from where she lay as each discovered the larger world outside the den. Encouraging whoever looked back with a gentle and comforting smile. She was right here for anyone who wasn’t ready yet either.

"Jamie"||"Iskandor"||"Citadel"||"Selene"||"Balrog"||"Ignita"||"Basilisk"

Cit was reaching for Iskas ear with his teeth when their father suddenly spoke up. Voice sharp and commanding, and unexpected. He straightened automatically, but doing so unbalanced him. His overly large paws were difficult to manoeuvre around at the best of times. He fell head first into his brother, Iska. He knocked his hard head on the other boy's shoulder and shook it out as he straightened.

He was forever having trouble with his paws. They were incredibly big compared to the rest of him, and heavy set like a bear’s. But as their father released them from the den, he forgot about his woes and let out a whuff of delight. He scrambled forward, leaning down to kiss his mother on the way past (and almost slamming his head into hers In his clumsy haste). But he made it to the door, and out onto the world beyond. Now… he just had to manoeuvre down the incline without breaking his head.

"Speech"

She’s been waiting for this, anticipating it with a hunger so fervid she can practically feel it coiling through her veins. As her siblings breach the barrier, Jamie squirms from Ignita’s embrace, eager to follow. “Mama,” the girl protests, rolling her eyes in exasperation, “let me goooo.” She leans in to brush her cheek against Ig’s, a small concession, and then quickly breaks away.

Tottering a little on oversized feet, Jamie spills from the den and clambers into the open air, relishing the breeze as it hits her face. That dual-coloured gaze lifts to the sky, squinting as a barrage of sensations hit her: the breadth of the sky, the rough scrape of rocks underfoot, the floral scent of springtime. She soaks it all in with wide eyes, a princess acquainting herself with her kingdom. And then, inevitably, a cough works it’s up her throat, scratching against the roof of her mouth until she can no longer hold it in. Scowling, the girl dissolves into a small coughing fit, lifting a paw to cover her mouth as she though she can shove it all back down. Still, it’s not enough to dampen her spirits; not on such a momentous day.

"Jamie"

Iskandor let out a surprised yip as Cit tumbled into him, not realizing what would have befell his ear just a moment later. The sudden weight of his brother nearly toppled him over too. He staggered a bit, his frame quickly adjusting, and he managed to keep his balance—though just barely. Really, just barely. Cit was sneaking seconds or something.

Iskandor's ears perked up as he fully focused on Basilisk's commanding tone, his turquoise eyes wide with excitement and curiosity. He sat up straighter, mirroring the posture of authority he'd seen in the older wolves, trying to imitate the stern expression but ending up with a slightly crooked grin and bright eyes. He could barely contain the wag of his tail as he listened, already itching to burst out into the Col and see everything it had to offer.

He took a quick glance at his siblings, gauging their reactions with sharp blue eyes. But the thrill of exploration was too much to resist, and his thoughts soon shifted to the possibilities—the hidden nooks and crannies, and maybe even some new challenges to test himself against. Maybe there were treasures no one had found before!

Iskandor’s chest puffed out a little at the mention of the Fatalis name. He was determined to uphold it, even if he was still just a pup. He nodded seriously at Basilisk, tail going a mile a minute, then gave Ignita a quick, affectionate nuzzle before bounding forward, pausing only to turn back with a flick of his tail.

“Bye! I need to see everything.!” Iskandor called out in an eager voice, already planning to outmaneuver his siblings in their explorations. But beneath that enthusiasm, there was a flicker of thoughtfulness. Even in his excitement, he’d keep an eye on the others—because that’s what a brother should do. With one last glance at Basilisk, he darted forward into the corridor, ready to dive headfirst into adventure.


"Speech"

Balrog’s heart raced with excitement as the barrier was lifted, revealing the vastness of the outside world. He felt his mother’s warm, reassuring licks behind his ear, and though he cherished the comfort, his curiosity was too strong to resist. His obsidian eyes glittered with anticipation as he took his first hesitant steps out of the den, the cool air brushing against his fire-kissed face.

The open field within the Col stretched out before him, a vast expanse of wonders he had only imagined in his dreams. The towering mountains encircled the area, their presence both intimidating and awe-inspiring. With each step, his confidence grew, the soft earth beneath his paws and the scent of the wild invigorating him.

Balrog paused for a moment, glancing back at his mother with a small smile and sway of his thick tail before setting off to explore, determined to live up to the Fatalis name.

"Balrog"

She couldn't wait, she couldn't wait, she couldn't wait!!!! Selene was spinning in circles first one way then the other way. Her tiny paws were only slightly more coordinated than the others simply because she had not stopped moving since the hour she was born. She clambered onto the bed, hopped off the bed, parkoured against the wall, and dashed against another. She lurched to a stop, panting and her tail wagging emphatically as her father caught their attention. The moment she realized what was happening she was dashing toward the exit at full stumbling speed only to crash into her father's paw as he brought her back in because he wasn't done talking. She squirmed against his paw, she was literally the size of his paw and she tried scrambling to overcome it until she heard her mother's familiar "Pay attention" sound and gave Selene *The Look*.

With a humph, she played with the fur on dad's paw while she listened. When he was done she jumped to be first in line but was held back until Jamie made it to the entrance and started coughing. Parents distracted by Jamie, Selene was released and dashed to her sister's side to give her an encouraging nose bump on her shoulder until the cough subsided, then dashed onward down the slope easily overtaking her brothers without looking back.

"Selene"

Ode was brought to the neighboring den early that morning to be let loose with her peers. They were very nearly her siblings they just had different parents. Her dads were both so protective she spent the majority of her first few weeks with them, that didn’t mean she wasn’t unfamiliar with the camaraderie and antics of her cousins. She loved her papas but the other pups were so much more fun!

Uncle Bas stood up before them and laid out the ground rules, as serious as ever, and as she tried to race past auntie Ig she was grabbed protectively. "Oof.” She grumbled as she was preened over protectively. "Lemme go! I wanna ‘splore!” She protested as she watched the first of the pups escape into the unknown. Of course, Odette had already seen the outside while being transferred from one den to another but she hadn’t been let go yet.

Finally she was released with an encouraging smile and Ode raced forward, her little fluffy wings just barely gaining their real feathers as she flapped them excitedly and raced into the open.

"Odette"