First we find him then we chew him up

Rhyme tried not to let either of the dens which kept his pups go too long in between times he checked their vicinities. He had to keep doing larger patrols, but now that the little buggers could escape he was keeping a closer eye. When he saw the lone puppy tracks leading from the maple tree he knew trouble was up. He made sure the other two weren’t about to go off following their tiny sister before he turned around to seek her out.

He heard Solitude a few trees away, he was calling an alarm. It was an intruder, and he had to guess the white bird had found the exploring Verse. He sighed softly and headed in that direction, wanting to hurry and corral his tiniest child before she hurt herself. He’d feel better about them all going out on their own when it was warm enough to teach them to swim. There was a lot of water in Abaven, and if one of them got swept away by the river he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to find them again. Dead or Alive.

The somber thoughts didn’t leave him before he heard the sound of trouncing through snow. His black ears were perked as he swung his head in the direction of a tiny pup barreling towards him. He couldn’t help the huge grin over his face as she was suddenly slamming into his ankle. He chuckled enthusiastically as she sunk her sharp little puppy teeth into his white fur. His laugh was cut off as she pricked his skin, her teeth were sharp!

”Verse!” He called out, hesitant to shake her off his leg. ”Didn’t your mother tell you to stay put?” He asked her, a bit of scolding creeping into his voice.