She knew she had failed Bass, she had tried but not enough in her endevour to do the best she could with what life had handed her. The pregnancy had been a living nightmare, a scar to her, one that hadn't ended with the birth of her pup but had perhaps gone a long way to healing with the journey she had taken with Shaye to the Northern Lands. The pups joy was contagious, a light in her dark times. She could only imagine that Bass loved his children as deeply as Motif loved hers, and could understand how it would hurt him that she wasn't there for their birth – after all she had been there before in every other part of his life, how could he have expected her to miss one of the most important? She would do her best to fix her mistakes, through one could not undo the past. First she would make her way to the den of her brother, his mate and their children. This little family was a part of her, and she did not even know their faces. Determined to know them, their names and their lives she stopped outside the door and yelped softly to whoever was inside. ""

 

Bass was inside his den when he heard the bark, jumping up from his nap with hair standing on end. He had crawled in for a little nap, and it seemed that he wasn't allowed much of a break. Some of the pups had crawled in with him, but others seemed to be out exploring. Blinking in alarm he peeked outside, but smiled when he saw his sister Motif. It would seem that she had come to see the little ones, to at last meet her nieces and nephews. "Have you come to meet them?" he asked softly, his heart beat slowing after he had been startled awake. Walking outside of the den, he made room for her to peek in. He then tipped back his head, calling for any pups that had not come in for a nap. His pale tail wagged slowly behind him as he waited for them all to show up, excited that they would finally meet their Aunty Motif. He wasn't sure where Wren had wandered off to either, but she had probably gone off to enjoy a bit of time alone. The pups were finally old enough that they weren't constantly clinging to them, well... except for Finch. Poor girl seemed to be very shy, and he had thought that it was going to vanish as she got older. But so far it was pretty clear that it was part of her personality. ""

Though he was growing old enough to spend a bit of time away from his family, it was uncommon to see him far from his father still; he was a daddy's boy through and through. He was a serious thing though, slow to smile, far more serious than his littermates.

The sound of a bark shook him from sleep, though he was not necessarily startled. The family den was a busy place and it was rare to find a moment of true silence here. The young boy parted his jaws, letting out a squeaky yawn before even opening his eyes. Slowly he would rouse himself from sleep, rolling to his belly and blinking sleep slowly from his eyes. A look of vague curiosity appeared on his features as he watched his father slip from the den.

It took him a moment to fully awaken, but when he did, he made his way outside of the den. A woman that was entirely foreign to him stood there expectantly. Lark was silent as he came to rest beside his father, regarding the stranger with a cool, narrowed gaze. "Who's this?" he'd inquire softly to his father. "And why is she outside our den?"

Starling had always been to himself, ever since day one he had prefered to be on his own, in silence. It didn't mean he didn't spend his fair share in the den, glued to his parents side, but he still like to venture out into the world and explore. It was there that he learned how much he enjoyed the color of fresh spring flowers and the scent of foliage. It felt like home when he settled beneath the whistling trees, listening to the wind play with the soft and growing leaves. And that is where he could be found this day, settled beneathe the trees and breathing in the perfume of spring. He was almost lulled to sleep when he heard the gentle call of his father. Jolted, he awkwardly jumped to his paws, blinking he haze from his soft blue eyes. Father? It must be meal time, or perhaps he had slept out here for far too long. With a deep breath he stood steadily on his large paws before lunging forward, through the grasses and towards his den. Once he arrived he saw the stranger, her deep coats and markings seemed to resemble his family, somewhere. Her nose and eye markings seemed to match his own, in a way. With a single raised brow bone he ventured forward and pushed through his insecurities to dip his head to the woman. "H..Hello." He whispered, glancing up at his father and ducking to move closer to him, to where safety was gauranteed. "Burn Baby Burn"

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By the time she had returned from her little 'break' away from the kids, everyone was gathered around the entrance of the den, including Motif. It was nice to see that girl again...especially after hearing everything about her. Didn't she have a daughter? Didn't she leave for a while? The only reason Wren made off was because she was sick...this time, because she wanted a little break. There was no problem with that, right? The woman sat a fine distance away, holding a young goat in her jaws. While she was out, she had figured it wouldn't hurt to catch something for Bass. She didn't know whether or not he liked goat, but if he didn't she could always eat it. "It's nice to see you again, Motif." She said calmly after dropping her food, a smile stretched across her face. Wren slowly stood up and nudged her food over to the side, walking over to Bass and the children. As she made her way over, she smiled gently to Motif. "Are you here to see your nieces and nephews?" "Burn Baby Burn"

Finch had been sitting in the den while Bass and Lark slept, pale blue eyes looking out for their mother. Wren had slipped away, and she had not been around to try and follow her. When a strange woman came towards the den, she squeaked and ducked back in, trying to hide from her. She looked a bit like a family member, but that didn't matter. Her father slipped out first, Lark following after. When Starling made himself know, she was going to dive and hide behind him until she heard her mother. Ears perked fully as she bolted from the den, streaking passed everyone else as she flung herself at her mothers limbs. She swung around her right leg, standing in between her mothers two front legs. As she started to walk, Finch kept pace as she waddled between her forelegs. Her mother called the brown female Motif, and asked if she where here to see nieces and nephews. What were nieces and nephews? Did you eat them? But Wren had said meet, not eat. A single brow raising she looked upwards to look at Wren, a question lingering in her eyes. Did she get to meet these nieces and nephews?

Rhythm would easily lope after her sister, also feeling an urge to visit her nieces and nephews. She didn't often leave Motif's side, especially now. Her tail would wag lazily behind her as she smiled softly, trotting up behind Motif as Wren greeted her. Rhythm would nod her head to both Bass and wren as her bright blue eyes watched the pups. Each one had such a different personality, but as she thought about them her mind would drift to Motif's boys. Silently she would wonder what they might have been like. Such sad thoughts were hard to shake, even as she watched her brother's innocent children. The dark girl would lean into her almost twin's side for comfort, wondering how she might feel. She'd gotten a glimpse into her sister's mind but was still unaware of the dark thoughts that lingered there. Sighing softly she would lean back onto her haunches, keeping the soft smile on her face she tried to greet the pups that had gathered with out hinting at the sadness in her head. "Speech"

lineart by machinewolf2.deviantart.com

It was a sign of the apocalypse. Shrike was... Napping! The boy was curled up in the den, sprawled about in his usual fashion, tongue lolled out of his mouth as he dreamed. But the dreams it seemed wouldn’t last forever, and the boy would eventually open his eyes to the sound of talking. A yawn left him, rolling onto his paws and stretching. He’d pop his head out and wooooah party! He’d bounce out of the den after that, coming to his aunt Rhythm’s side. His tail would wag, and she looked sad, so he had to come cheer her up first! “Who said they could start the party without us, auntie?” Shrike would grin, his banner wagging behind him as he looked up at her with mismatched eyes.

"Speech!"
'Thoughts!'

Table by:: Eve

Her soft yip had startled the boy inside and she grinned at him as he came out to see her, she nuzzled against his cheek as he spoke. “Yes, I want to see what you made” she told him, part teasing and part to allow him pride to what he had brought into this world. She didn't have to wait long before the pups began to show, some from inside the den and some from out. The first to poke his head out of the den was a a softly brown wolf with the destruction face marking. “I'm your auntie” she told the boy, even through the question had been directed at Bass. After that the pups poured in, a little white mountain with stark blue eyes appeared next, ducking behind the safety of her father as she did so. A familiar face would also turn up, that of Wren, the mother of all these pups. ”Its good to see you too, Wren” she said polity, moving forward to nuzzle the girl in greeting. “I am, and I can see you both have made beautiful children” she added warmly. When Rhythm appeared behind her she would lean into her sister for support, already she felt her own regret – for two reasons, that they had already started to grow before she met them, and that she would never meet her own little boys – through for this she blamed herself, even as Rhythm did the same. “So whats all your guys names?” she asked, directing the question at both the pups and the parents. "Speech"

His eyes went down to his legs as Lark stuck close to his side, looking up at him and asking who it was and why she was at their den. He opened his maw to speak, but Motif beat him to it and said that she was his aunty. He nodded his head, pressing a gentle lick to the top of the boys head. "That is your Aunt Motif, and the darker woman coming up beside her is your Aunt Rhythm. They are my sisters, which is why they are your Aunts," he explained, grinning at the darker boy. He was rather blunt and out there, but he loved it. It was good to speak your mind, even if you got into a bit of trouble because of it. Starling came out next, also lingering close to his side as he stuttered out a small hello. He moved over to press his nose to Starling's cheek, trying to encourage the boy. They hadn't met many other wolves just yet, and this was the first time that there was two new wolves to be introduced to.

His gaze left his children as he heard the soft coo of his wife's voice, his adoring gaze taking in the young goat that she had caught. His smile grew on his maw and he was about to say something when a little white bundle raced from the den, swinging around Wren's leg to come to rest under her limbs. He couldn't help but chuckle at Finch, she seemed to be lost whenever her mother left the den. Surly that habit would break when she got older. Winking at his wife, he looked down at Finch and stuck his tongue out at her before his attention was pulled to Shrike. His laughter was booming as his more energetic son raced forward, not a care in the world as he said something about a party. "We still need your other sister before we can call it a party," he said with a chuckle, eyes scanning the group for Sparrow. It was hard to lose one of them with so many of them running about.

Bass looked over to his sisters, picking up on the sad aura that surrounded them. His smile vanished as he gazed at them both, knowing exactly what they were thinking about. The boys that Motif had lost. He let out a small sigh before looking down at the kids, forcing another smile on his lips. "Aunty Motif has a little girl too, but she went off on an adventure for a little bit. She will be home soon, and then you will have a little cousin to play with!" he said, trying to bring about a smile on his sisters faces. Motif asked all the little ones what their names were and he fell silent, allowing them to introduce themselves.