It felt like the days since she gave birth to their little daughter had flown by and this darling little fireball was growing far too fast for her liking. She was trying to appreciate and remember every single moment of it, just like she had done for Avacyn and Saracyn, especially since she knew that soon enough she would need to get back to leading their pack and caring for it in earnest. It wasn't like when she was raising the twins and she had more free time to spend with them. Now there were far more responsibilities pulling her attention else where so while she still had things delegated out to others she wanted to soak up all of the time she could with Fiametta. The cave system that their den was set into was already fairly spacious so their little girl had a good bit of space to roam from room to room, but Manea knew it was still no comparison to getting to get out into the world.

It was a beautiful day with only a few lazy clouds in the sky so now seemed like the perfect opportunity to start introducing their little fiery one to the rest of the island—or at the very least the clearings near the caves. Maybe they'd go a bit farther if Fia felt like taking a ride on her father's back, but she was more than willing to do whatever her little one wished. Today was all about her. "Fia," she said quietly as she started gently rousing the little pup from a nap, her soft toes rubbing over the fire-laced markings across her back. "Want to go out on a little adventure?" Her aqua gaze glanced up at Alastor with a little smile, her tail wagging gently behind her.

"Manea Mendacium"

The excruciating pain and heartbreak Alastor had endured at the birth and culling of his children had been offset only by the unbridled love and joy he felt for their darling daughter. Little Fiametta was a veritable fireball of energy and enthusiasm, and the great dire wolf took every opportunity he could get his paws on to spend time playing with their family's newest addition. He adored everything about his daughter, and just like Avacyn, Fia had the hulking behemoth of a brute wrapped around her tiny paw. For her, he would build empires and raze packs to the ground. But for now, he would content himself with keeping her satisfied with games and play and cuddles and naps. Being a father again to a newborn pup had reminded Alastor of all the reasons why he loved fatherhood so much the first time around. Except this time, Alastor would be giving Fia the love he would have given three pups all to her—perhaps as some kind of atonement, or perhaps because he didn't want to let all that love just die with his son and daughter.

The day was an unusually mild and sunny one for early winter in northern Boreas. With barely a cloud in the sky and the temperatures just high enough to keep it cool but not cold, he and Manea had decided today would be the best day to turn their little ember loose on the unsuspecting world. Together they decided on boundaries for where they'd keep her, then headed back into their den to fetch their cherub. Fia was napping, as she usually did around this time of the day, and Alastor moved to sit beside Manea while she roused their daughter, asking if she wanted to go on an adventure. "That's right, there's a whole world out there waiting to see you, sweetheart!" the dire brute said with a wide and warm smile—a fatherly kind of smile. He leaned in to gently nudge and nose at Fia's belly with his snoot, his flowing tail also wagging like his mate's behind him he was so eager to show off his perfect daughter to the whole world. "C'mon, little sleepyhead. Let's go see your new world!"

"Alastor Mendacium"

Fia would never really know that this palace of a den was made for her royalty... didn't every one live like this? Having Irilyth too made life a lot easier. She didn't know much, and she wouldn't find anything strange or out of the norm. Anyone could live a life like hers, but she had just figured that everyone had a big family den and a servant caretaker at their paws. She was kinder in her young and big paws, it may have been a little different as she grew older. Though she knew one thing, that her family was very important to her. Her family being her parents and siblings, and yeah, Irilyth too.

Fia hummed as her mother gently rubbed her back and woke her up. She wasn't a cranky one really, or at least at this age. She was also very content with spending her early life here in the den. Her curiosity may have wondered what was outside, but she had enough room to run around and play right here inside. It wasn't so tempting. At least not until her mother had mentioned the adventure. She took a moment as she laid down on her side, eyes blinking as she woke and then stretched out all four of her legs. Finally she found her footing, licking her lips as her parent's previous words finally ran over her mind. "You mean outside?" She questioned, blinking up at her father as he exclaimed how much more there was to see.

She was a little skeptical in her steps forward and towards the mouth of their cave den, she stopped just before as her tiny form looked straight up to each of her parents. She would wait for them to go first... maybe she didn't really like new things for now. Deep down in her heart she may have been just a little scared... she had everything she needed inside the den so she wasn't so eager to go bounding out of it. A whole world... how much would she need to explore of it to feel comfortable?

"Fiametta"

Fiametta was so adorably sweet she could hardly take it. As she and Alastor roused her from her nap, her father encouraging her to come see her new world, she watched Fia get to her paws and questioned if they meant going outside. "That's right, my darling," she said with a chuckle, nuzzling Fia's little ruby red tipped ear. After Fia started making her first steps toward the entrance of the cave, Manea stood as well, sliding up next to Alastor with her side against his while she watched their little girl go. Pups always grew up so fast. It had already been a few weeks, but it felt like she had been born just a couple of days ago. She leaned into Alastor with a wistful smile for a moment before they moved up to join Fia at the entrance of the den as she stopped right at the very edge and looked up at them.

It was so interesting to see the reactions to things across all of their children. All of their personalities were so different. Saracyn had charged head first into the world, Avacyn had been more methodical and careful in her approach, but their sweet little Fia waited for them to do it with her. She smiled and got right up beside her, leaning down to kiss the top of her head. "Come on, we'll all go out together, okay? On three... One... Two... Three!" After her count down she hopped past the line of the shadow that the cave created, jumping out into the sunlight with Alastor and Fiametta. "See? Not so bad!" she encouraged, glancing up to her husband with a grin.

"Manea Mendacium"

Fia awoke with an adorable puppy yawn and stretch, her oversized paws splaying as she came creeping back into consciousness. Alastor beamed down at his precious little ember of a daughter, feeling his heart melt from the sweetness overload of the tiny girl. She really was one of the most precious and invaluable things in his world. So gentle and innocent... Fia looked to him and asked if he meant going outside, to which the giant wolf nodded with a chuckle. "Most definitely! Your mother and I think it's time the world got to meet its newest princess." Alastor followed alongside his wife and daughter while they made their way leisurely to the mouth of the den, the cool air of winter breezing in from the opening. He brushed his side back against Manea's when she leaned into him, offering his love and support while they guided their pup to meet the rest of the wide, wide world.

They all paused at the entrance, Alastor noting the look of apprehension on Fia's face while she studied the outside world from the doorway. Black eyes met with the matching onyx jewels of his child's, offering her an encouraging smile as he moved to stand on the other side of her so she was safely tucked between his and Manea's paws. Manea suggested they all head out together, and Alastor nodded. "Splendid idea, darling!" He placed a gentle kiss behind Fia's ears after Manea had done the same, and then made a playful show of crouching and tensing, ready to spring as his mate began the countdown. On her mark, Alastor hopped out of the den along with Manea and Fia, their paws touching the dusting of freshly fallen snow just beyond. Bright sunlight streamed into their vision and a cool breeze whispered across the mountain paths. "Well done, my little warrior princess!" he cheered for his daughter once they were outside, meeting Manea's grin while he went to gently nudge Fia's rump with his snout to urge her to explore. "We'll be right behind you every step, my little ember."

"Alastor Mendacium"