Freedom! For the first time in her life, a ramp was placed across the barrier, made from a sturdy piece of wood. Her mother stood by the entrance, regarding her with a steady, observant gaze. She only flashed her mother a smile as she took the ramp at a gallop, letting out a cry of delight and paying no mind to the soft, exasperated sigh that left her mother's lips. She knew Shaye had hoped she would take it cautiously, explore in little bits, be safe but that sounded like no fun at all.

She jumped off the ramp before she reached the end of it, her little paws touching down on the earth on the other side, for the first time. She let out a brilliant laugh of joy, before the young wolf was out of there. She knew her boundary was the Monument Rapids, and wouldn’t stray from there - that would just signal the end of her fun as her parents dragged her back home again. She didn’t want to stay in that dusty old den any longer, she wanted to Explore.

“I’m going to find you the best feather, first” she threatened her sister, before taking off in a different direction to her. She was a little obsessed with feathers, always wanting to see her mother’s collection, and touch the soft edges. Her mother had a story for each and every one of them, a recollection of where she found them and what they meant to her. Because of that, she was determined to find her own feather, and it would be brighter and cooler even then her mothers.

She took off along the side of the rapids, ignoring the many eyes upon her. Her mother was certain she would fall into the water and drown, but what she didn’t know was that Motif was an expert swimmer.. At least in her dreams. She prances along beside the water, before braving a toe, dipping it in, before jumping back with a shout of surprise. It was cold freezing, even.

""

He was patrolling today, and so far all seemed well. Abaven didn't seem to have anyone coming around to start trouble, which he supposed was a good thing. He figured it was because of Shaye going around and making alliances with other packs, but he also wasn't sure if that's how Abaven had always been or not. While he didn't want to cause trouble for the pack itself, he couldn't help but think about his brother and his nephew. Ace had many enemies throughout his life, but it had always been for reasons he thought valid enough to warrant it. And his brother murdering his niece and Tyranis being okay with his father's actions was a valid reason in his eyes. He had told Shaye, and though she said he would fight with him, he had his doubts. Would she really when the time came? He supposed time would tell. As he was walking along the river on his way back to his den, he spotted a small figure practically toeing the water up ahead. Crimson gaze narrowed, thinking at first that perhaps it might be a rabbit or other small animal. But as he got closer, he realized it was a pup. What the hell? With a slight growl he hurried his pace until his shadow started to loom over the child, and upon closer inspection, he realized it was one of Shaye's. He was thrown off, however, when he noticed the markings. It...resembled Rhyme? But how...did they? No. They didn't, did they? Weren't they cousin's? He stared at it with disbelief, not wanting to think about the possibility that this was Rhyme and Shaye's kid. The markings were unmistakable...but he desperately hoped that it was a Destruction thing... "You shouldn't get so close to the water. It'll sweep you up quicker than you can say 'oops.'" He warned. speech action

A shadow fell over her, and she looked up to see the giant of a wolf. She studied him for a moment, and then her expression exploded into a grin, and her tail gave a happy wag behind her. A new person! He looked impressive, with funny markings across his shoulder in three lines. She would have inspected this pinkish skin further, only his words would have her pause.

Was that right, was it?
“..Oops”
She whispered, looking up at the man and blinking innocently. It was entirely possible her sisters insolence was rubbing off on her.
“Who are you?” She asked curiously. She felt like she had seen him before, a vague imagery of a man in the darkness of her den. He might have come to visit her mother one day, but she could be wrong.

He sighed and shook his head. Pups were always such a handful. He had almost no experience with pups as young as this. He didn't have to really take over caring for Actaea and Ignis until they were closer to a year old. The pup asked who he was, so the older warrior motioned for her to follow him away from the water where he would then sit down. "My name is Acere Praetor. One of Abaven's warriors," He looked the pup over. That nagging feeling about the pups parentage wouldn't go away. But it wouldn't be right for him to press a little girl like it was an interrogation. She was a child, after all. "What's your name, little one?" He lowered himself to his belly so he didn't seem to intimdating. He easily towered over her when he stood at his full height. And he didn't want to look scary . speech action