Tama had already taken quite the shine to mud puddles. He likes them. More than just the way it feels beneath his paws, more than just the act of playing in the mud itself. Tamago would coat his paws with it and wave them about, creating different paintings on the broad, flat rocks that populated the valley. He covers his paws in the mud, he paints with the mud. It's just the best time. "Mumma! Mumma, come paint with me!" Tama can see her at a distance. The child calls out happily, his gaze bright. He was happy, and he wanted her to come play too. Come play in the mud, and come sit where he could paint her too. Tama would paint them all, and they'd be gorgeous. He was certain of it.

Celeste loved all six pups equally. Even if only three of them were physically hers, the other three felt just the same. Especially when almost all six of them took on white and black pelts like her own. The koi marking genes must run strong in Oki as none of the babes were nearly all black like Cy was. Either way, it didn't matter because she was happy to spend time with all of them the same. There were no favorites here. She knew that for sure as she watched Tama play in the mud. As his paws became dirty and her nose wrinkled slightly at the idea of being so covered in mud, she smiled anyway. She would indulge the pup. While it perturbed her to get her clean coat so dirty, she would not upset any pup that requested her to have fun. Rolling up onto her paws, she wandered over to the two-toned pup and tilted her head in question at what he was painting. "What are we painting today, Tama?" Cel asked gently as she smiled and came to sit close beside the boy.

A messy and chaotic but overall well-meaning child. Really, the whole litter was a little wild. Tama was less pushy than some of the others, and less physical overall. Why be physical, working himself up int some sort of tizzy, when he could do... literally anything other than that. He sorta didn't get it, but that didn't matter. What he did get was how much he liked spending time with his family, especially the adults. Adult attention, that's the stuff! The muddy pup's eyes lit up as Celeste joined him, his tail wagging furiously. He bounces to meet her before leading her closer to the rocks he'd been using as canvases. They were broad and flat, and he was ready to fill them with all matter of wonderful things. "I wanna paint you, and dad, and mummy too!" Mumma Cel, Mummy Cy, and dad, all together. Not his siblings though, there were too many of them, and besides it wasn't even like they'd appreciate it. Tama scooped up a bit more mud with his paws, beginning to form the shapes that would make up his mom. Forehead creased intently, it was going to be perfect!

She looks at the flat rocks he's chosen and admits that the kid has a good eye. The smile on her face is bright and happy as she continues to watch the bouncy happy puppy that was all too eager to paint. A little laugh leaves her as he exclaims how he wanted to paint her and Daddy and Mummy Cy. Nodding, she sees him scoop up some mud and begin to form shapes. Humming quietly, Celeste glances around for something. "Tama, I think I have something that might help you," she said before nudging the top of his head with her nose. Standing up, Celeste wanders over to a bush with white flowers and red berries. Quickly plucking a few of both from the bush, she takes them to nearby puddles. Dropping the flowers in one and the berries in another, she smooshes them until the muddy water turned a slightly different color. One was now a murky grey which was meant to be white and the other a dark red like dried blood. "Tama darling, I think these might help you with your paintings," she calls over as she steps to the side so he can see what she's made him.

The smile-- it's contagious! Infectious, even. Tama is so pleased to make her smile, and he beams right back. It's such a pleasant afternoon, and he's enjoying himself so much. He worked away at the shapes of his parents, forming them carefully, building them as he went. He works away, the finger paintings of a child, but there's some sort of analytical mind at work here too. Carefully, he's at least captured the size difference between them. That's a start, that's something. Celeste brings him something-- oh! Colors! His eyes light up, his tail wagging furiously at his haunches. Tama moves to inspect them, then stuffs his nose excitedly into Celeste's side. Affectionate, excited, and happy. "Thank you mumma!" Wiggling as he does, excitedly adding the grey to the paintings of both Celeste and Kuroki. "Look, your spots!" Entirely, extremely, and incredibly pleased with himself, the child looks to his mom for approval.

Celeste loved all of the pups - all six of them. But if one were to ask who her favorite was… well, she would give the typical answer that she loved all of them equally. Yet, as she looked down upon that wiggling puppy with the wide smile, she knew exactly who her favorite was. The idea solidified more as he bumped into her side and continued to paint away the forms of herself, Oki, and Cy. Tears even began to bubble up at the corner of her eyes as she watched him. “Oh, Tama, it is perfect my sweet pumpkin!” Celeste crooned as she leaned down to place a motherly kiss upon the top of his head. “What else are you going to paint me?” She requests as her own smile envelops her whole face.