It had taken forever, and even longer after forever before mom let them leave the den to go exploring.  Once let out though Corbin wasted no time in running ahead to check out the land.  The grass was crisp, frozen bits of water causing an entertaining soft crush sound below his paws.  In the shadows of some brushes, there was a different type of ground!  Powdery white snow was bopped with his paws, it wasn’t very thick and so soon enough he saw the grass hidden underneath.

Bright eyes soaked in everything.  Everything was so vast and open.  Every little thing wanted to fully catch the black and orange pup’s attention to the point he could hardly find focus on any one thing.  Regardless of whichever way he moved though, Corbin was sure to hop with each stride.  It was important to make as much crushing sound as he could.  

Why hadn’t they been allowed out sooner?  There was nothing Corbin could see that looked at all dangerous here.  Corbin hopped on a large rock, large in the fact it was about half his size.  Using it he tried to climb onto a bush, the idea of climbing on top seeming a great idea. “Bet I can get up here before you can!” That ‘you’ was generalized to any of his other siblings within hearing distance.

"Corbin"

The constant crunch crunch crunch of frozen grass made the golden brown pup perk up, peeking outside to see where the noise was coming from. He was eager to go out and explore a bit and see the real life version of the plants where their dad got his supplies from, but he was waiting for the rest of his siblings to go out first so none of them would be left behind. His attention was caught by his brother Corbin though and he watched as his dark coated siblings hopped through the grass, making as much noise as possible as he went. Dorian chuckled and immediately started thinking of an idea. Glancing back to make sure that the remainder of their siblings were at least with one another or one of their parents, he finally went out to follow after Corbin.

He couldn't keep the grin off of his face and could only barely keep from giggling as he followed in Corbin's footsteps almost exactly, making sure to step where the frost had already been crunched down so that his steps were much quieter and more sneaky. He stayed just far enough back and behind Corbin that his brother wouldn't notice him and by the time Corbin was climbing up onto a seemingly big rock Dorian was right there behind him, ready to pounce. Of course he wasn't really planning on his brother trying to climb onto a bush, but he was too far into his plan to back out now. Right before Corbin went to get on the bush, calling out for challengers to his claim that he could get up there before anyone else, Dorian called back, "Nuh uh! Not if I block you first!" He jumped up on the rock too, immediately going to throw his forelegs around Corbin's side with a giggle, trying to tackle him and knock him off the rock in the process.

"Dorian Kedieo"

Anxiety flared within Bellamy's heart as her children got permission to leave the den for the first time. Corbin and Dorian had already made their way outside… something Bellamy wasn't prepared for. They had made their way from behind the falls, from the cave system Bellamy had chosen as their den. She emerged after her boys, sitting in the grass, but she could not settle down. "Be careful, Corbin, Dorian… I don't want to bring you to your father on your first outing." Bells lowered her green gaze to the grass at her paws.

The fact she had yet to find Saga haunted her. She had been wandering all around all of Boreas, running back and forth between the Northern continent and Auster. No sign of Saga yet… though she had run into a fire in the Veteran's Plateau. That knowledge haunted her. Her ears fell against her skull and Bells sighed, her companions coming to sit on either side to keep an extra eye on the pups that were out and about.

"This feels wrong…" Bellamy sighed.

"I know, Bells. You'll find here, we know you will."

Bellamy didn't answer Whiskers and instead lifted her gaze up to her boys. Hopefully more won't fall apart any time soon…

The pups have been allowed to leave the den and, while two of her brothers had immediately left to go do… stuff, Haydée hangs back. Something seems off with her mom and the small pup hovers around her, trying to draw out smiles where she can. It seems like a dark cloud hangs over her and she does her best to try and lift it. When mommy finally follows after the boys, the russet girl bounds after her, short legs pushing her out into the cold, big world.

Bright green eyes blink in wonder at the white blanket that hugs the land and, since Haydée has not encountered it before, has no name for this strange, beautiful wonder. Stepping forward, she feels the frozen water droplets give and crunch slightly as she presses her paws into it. Along with the cover, there are small piles of the stuff scattered around the area and, where there is no white stuff, the green blades of grass are stiff and crunchy with frost.

With a squeal of absolute wonder and joy, Haydée charges a short distance forward to dive into a small snow bank. Her tiny body disappears for a moment as the soft, powdery stuff engulfs her but the pup’s head reappears a moment later. Some of the snow clings to her dark black nose and muzzle, giving the pup a white ‘beard’ as she looks up to her mom. Corbin and Dorian are fighting over some rock and her mommy seems worried about them, so Haydée gives a small bark of happiness to pull the woman’s attention to her.

Climbing from the snow, white patches obscuring her coat patterns, Haydée says, “Mommy, mommy! What is this stuff? Why is it so cold? Can I eat it? What’s it for?” Questions fly as the small pup, without waiting, turns back around and drives straight back into her snow bank, digging around and giggling before remerging to smile at her mom. Sharp ears listen for explanations to her questions even as she squirms and wiggles in the powdery stuff, thoroughly enjoying her first day out of the den.


"Haydée Kedieo"

Corbin had thought climbing a bush was a great idea.  It was huge and had lots of holes that seemed a good spot to put paws.  He could get a paw on a bit of limb and twig but it didn’t seem to want to hold him up.  It should!  The logic was he wanted it to work so it should work!  Dorian probably hadn’t needed to work at being overly quiet to not get caught as Corbin was already in a stubborn fight with getting what he wanted from the bush.

One of Corbin’s paws had just found placement on a slightly sturdier bit of brush, it was wobbling under the pressure of one paw instead of flopping right away.  This would work! Then there was Dorian with his challenge, and wrapping a paw about him.  Corbin gave a pup yip as his expressions ran quickly across his face, a surprise to irritation to joy and then surprise as the boy had tried to shove back at Dorian but hadn’t thought about balance.  His paws slipped right off the rock so that Dorian would have the help of gravity to get Corbin on the ground.

Corbin would show his great fighting skills by chomping at any piece of Dorian that was closest to his mouth with his best vicious snarl.  The pup hadn’t really paid attention to the fact that Bellamy or Haydee had come out just yet.  Dorian had to lose before he could notice the rest of the world around him.

"Family"