Soothing waters, soothing company

Bane awoke from where he lay across from Tahlia. The one remaining eye the elder had saw that Lior was curled against him. Gingerly the wolf picked up the pup by the nape of the neck and placed her against a teat so Lior could easily feed when she awoke. The packless mates newest additions would be molded by the wild to be strong, not burdened with concerns for non family wolves. Bane felt a gust of summer heat blowing in through the entrance and thought as he looked over his sleeping family what the river waters temperature was. He'd go wade for a bit to relax, then hunt for his den bound mate.

One of the pups, Kailos, stirred from where he lay next to Tahlia, his chin planting on his mothers hind leg. The still blind pup looked in the direction of his father with squinted eyes. A tiny paw worked its way over her leg as he settled down with a wheezing pup sigh. Bane remained just in front of the exit for a moment and went back to his son. A lick was placed on the sleeping pup's head and a nuzzle given against Tahlia's flank. With a backwards glance Bane strode outside and waded out into the shallow banks of the Rio Grande. It was almost morning, and as the elder just caught the edge of the sun peaking over the mountains he felt his last paw leave the steep dropoff of the riverbed. Weightless, save for the paw that came back to dig in the mud to keep him in place, Bane closed his eye in contentment.