Oh, What a Beautiful Morning!
. . .
It had been about a month since the birthing of Ocena and Gargoyle's second litter. Bathed in the love and adoration from both parents, the pups were already aware of how amazing those affections could be for their childhood memories. In particular, Odette was rather fond of the licks and nuzzles she received from her daddy. True to her heart, Odette did love her mother. Ocena was the one who had given birth to her, after all, and she would forever be in debt to the small woman. However, she couldn't help but want to curl up close to Gargoyle at night. The strong male was definitely her future role model, and at such a young age, that was saying something.
One morning, before the sun had started to rise, a pair of mix-matched eyes quickly opened. Odette didn't know why she was up so early. Maybe it was because she had been dreaming about chasing some unknown piece of prey, explaining why she was laying on her side, moving her legs in a running fashion. It could also have been because she wasn't next to her father anymore. From where she had been curled up next to his massive frame, she was now a couple of body rolls away. Odette immediately pouted, but it disappeared faster than it came. Why be upset over such things when it wasn't intended to happen in the first place?
With a brighter outlook on what kept her from being close to Gargoyle, Odette rose to all four tiny paws. She stretched her little legs, wagging her small tail as she looked around the dark den. It wasn't as dark as it had been when she had fallen asleep, for some early morning night sky was slowly making its way to their chosen cave. Her gaze rested on her sleeping family and another kind of warmth rose in her chest: love. She knew she was blessed to be with her brother and sister, let alone the large canines that made her existence possible. (Odette wasn't quite sure how they did it, but she knew Mamas and Daddys were the ones who were responsible for her being there.) Such thoughts were too big for a small pup, but she didn't know about that, either!
After a few seconds, she padded towards the opening of the cave. Her eagerness to leave the den and see all there was to see was making her paws itch. She wouldn't go without her parents, though. The whole world was a complete stranger to her and she didn't like the idea. Maybe, when she was older, the concept of the world wouldn't be as bad. For now, she was content with being wrapped in the curiosity of the outside world, but still wary enough to be close to her family's security.
"Speech."
Blue puppy coloured orbs sighted the small dark shape and Oracles nose quivered, nothing new or strange, she was still half asleep and considered just returning to her warm spot against ma's chest, but curiosity got the better of her she could still feel Galahad behind her and so she assumed the shape must be Odette. Smiling sleepily she began to pull herself free of the pile of bodies moving as quietly as she could so as not to wake the others. Her large paws carried her quietly towards the cave mouth and just before she reached the other pup she spoke, ?Ode?why are you 'wake? she muttered plopping herself down beside the girl, she tilted her head and smiled, ? you going exploring,? she whispered keeping her voice low as a big smile began to creep across her face, ?can I come??
Her tail thumped behind her as she looked at her sis with excited eyes her ears standing proud on her head, suddenly she jumped back to her feet an idea striking her she had already snuck out of the cave once or twice playing with the rocks in the area just out side its mouth, never straying to far she did not want to get lost or stepped on, but with a possible companion... ?we can sneak out, and hunt mice, like the ones da brings? she yipped bowing down beside her sis her tail waging. A sound echoed inside the den and she froze realising her voice must have woken someone.
Curious eyes blinked open at the sound of his sister's voice, peering out around the black and white form of his mother to see the pair of small shadows that were his siblings standing at the den door. He watched them, seeing Ora bouncing excitedly and wondering what they were up to. He reluctantly got to his disproportionately large paws and padded away from his mother's side, glancing back at her form as he approached his sisters. He was a mirror image of her fur colors, a fact that he was very proud of. Turning his eyes back to his sisters he plopped down on the opposite side of Odette so that he and Oracle stood like bookends on either side of their black and tan sister. "Wha're you up to?" he asked, his words distorted a bit with his yawn. He looked at them with still sleepy eyes, wishing he was back cuddled up against his mom's side asleep. Speech Thought Others |
The morning sun rose in all it's hazy pink glory, shedding a meager portion of light upon the dark beaches and their stone cliffs. Only a stray ray or two made it into the den with Ocena and Gargoyle had claimed as their own. The massive male, though usually a light sleeper, had had a rough night. Usually he preferred to stay wrapped around his mate and their pups, but when he was uneasy he tried to give a little space to ensure that no one got squished in the night. Not that he had too worry too much - his children were quickly growing, all looking to be almost as large as he was himself.
And they were such beautiful things. Galahad, with his mother's coat and his grandfather's eyes. Odette with the perfect Clash family markings and the rare eye colors of her mother. And then Oracle. Gargoyle had been stunned as he saw that her coat was refusing to change from it's dark shades. She was a throwback to the doberman blood than was 1/4 of Gargoyle's pedigree, and 1/8 of theirs. Fierce little things they would all be in time. Perfect additions whom the father knew their older siblings would love.
The male drifted in and out of a fitful slumber, every so often straining a hind paw or giving a twitch of his tattered ear. At least he grew still. But it was not because of sleep. Gargoyle had heard the sounds of movement upon the earthen floor. He was awake. But the yellow, lizard-like eyes remained closed, still feigning slumber to the rest of the world. He was listening, and trying not to grin, as he heard the mumbling of his pups. His darling Odette was apparently up to something - encouraged as ever by her sister. Meanwhile Galahad was left somewhere in the dark. Gargoyle did not like them thinking they could rush off on their own, but neither did he want to curb their bonding time. He would remain perfectly alert.... but perfectly unnoticed.