Some time had passed since the birth of their second litter, the days seeming to blend into one pleasant hazy blur of excitement, love, and activity as the happy Carpathian couple had watched their puppies grow from squealing little munchkins into somewhat cognizant wolf nuggets. The half dozen little pups had known only the confines of the alpha's quarters so far, but now that they had grown enough to be able to navigate their environments (mostly) safely and were getting restless to be let loose to see the rest of the castle, the time had come to set the new wave of Carpathians out into the Hallows. After breakfast had been eaten, Artorias cleared his throat to get his pups' attention, the great sire wolf making his way over to the large mahogany doors that stood between them and the rest of the world. For a moment, he studied the doors, looking at them as if considering something, hamming up the moment a bit to build some suspense. Then, turning his fiery amber gaze back to his children, Artorias gave them all a grin and asked, "Who wants to go outside?"

While waiting for Briar to help herd the excited little ones over to the door, Artorias began to lay the ground rules. "Okay, little loves, listen closely! I know this is a very exciting day, but that doesn't mean we forget our safety rules. You are all to stay in our sight or with your older siblings or an adult at all times. You are not to play or run on the stairs, and you must stay within the castle walls. We can play in the gardens, but no one is leaving Hearthstone today, understood?" Of course, Artorias had already arranged for the front gates to be closed, so escape wasn't even remotely an option, but knowing how wily his first litter had been, he wasn't going to take any chances. Once all six had voiced their agreement, Art smiled wide, eyes shining with playful excitement, and he unlatched the doors and pulled them open, letting all six out into the wide world for the first time. "Fii liber!"

"Artorias & Briar Carpathius" | "Carpathian"

Briar lounged on the massive spread of furs that she and Artorias had prepared in the middle of their bedroom that had become the bed and play space for their youngest pups since they were born what felt like only days ago. Those first few weeks truly felt like a blur, the pups growing so rapidly that it felt like if she simply blinked she might miss it. She had realized this with their first litter, but it still surprised her just as much the second time around. Already it was time to let them out to explore their world now that they had gotten their paws under them, but oh how she wished she could slow down time and keep them as tiny little things for a while longer. She grinned as she playfully swatted at a couple of their pups, laughing lightly as they played keep away and wrestled with one another.

Their playing came to a halt though as their father cleared his throat, their eyes and hers lifting up toward where he was standing at the door. She grinned since she already new what was coming next, but still looked to see all of their reactions as Art questioned whether they wanted to go outside. She chuckled and rose to her paws and after a quick shake of her fur she started gathering them all up toward the door to join their father–and occasionally smoothing a tuft of ruffled fur or cleaning off a bit of dirt off of them here and there. She slipped over to stand beside Artorias as he laid out the usual ground rules and reminders about being safe and keeping with an adult at all times though she knew that if they were anywhere close to as mischievous as their older siblings then they would still find their way into some kind of trouble regardless. As soon as Artorias swung the doors open she began to follow them out with a little laugh. "Not too quickly now, darlings! Careful you don't trip!"

"Artorias & Briar Carpathius"

Days blended together. It was mostly naps and pestering his siblings, pestering his parents, soaking in their attention where he could get it. Pestering his siblings, letting his feelings get hurt if he perceived being left out-- regardless of the actual truth in that. Today it seemed that dad was inspecting the doors... why? Vendrick allowed his attention to linger on the man, studying him as he studied the doors. At the great reveal of the day's plan he perked up, nodding excitedly at the very prospect of being allowed out. They were going to play outdoors. Was he listening attentively to the rules? No. Half listening, half chomping at the bit to be let out, the boy shifted his weight over his paws. Upon their release, he takes off. It's not quite running, but he's certainly not walking either. Bounding down the stairs, the boy misses the last one rather spectacularly. For only a moment, he's a heap on the ground. After that moment he bounces back to life, giving a cheerful "I'm okay!" And he was. He was okay. He was so incredibly okay, and pleased to be entering the wider world.

For as long back as she could remember (which, in all honesty, wasn't very far) Ember's days had been easygoing and simple. Wake up, bother her parents for breakfast, play with her siblings, try to ignore Vendrick's whining when he inevitably got pounced or found some other perceived slight, hang out at her mother's side, eat, and sleep. Wash, rinse, repeat. Monotonous, but not unpleasant. Still, Ember was more than ready to see what was waiting for them outside those great mahogany doors that kept them sealed inside their parents' bedchambers. Any time her father or mother would step outside, the little midnight-furred pup would try to stick her head out to steal a peek before it was inevitably slammed shut, but to no avail. Gods, c'mon, she wanted to go explore!

Finally—FINALLY—it seemed like the day had come! While Ember was finishing up her breakfast with her siblings, she noticed their sire standing beside the doors, studying them with great intent. Swirling blue eyes locked to Artorias, barely contained enthusiasm in those bright jewels as she silently prayed and hoped that he'd say the words she longed to hear. After a beat, she got her wish. Artorias asked if they would like to go outside and Ember was scrambling for her paws, yipping and barking with excitement as she leapt from the bed beside her mother to skitter across the stone floor towards the doors. She and Vendrick were there in a flash, Ember's tiny tail wagging so fast across the floor she was kicking up small clouds of dust behind her. Their father laid out the rules for their first outing, and being the good girl Ember was, she was most definitely listening to every word he said. Yessir, no doubt about that! Something something no leaving the castle, got it!

"Yes, Dad, we understand!" Ember declared for herself and her littermates, hoping that by speaking for the pack, he would let them go out quicker. The moment Artorias opened the door felt like a whole new world had just been opened up to her. Little eyes went wide as a vast stone hall was revealed to her, and suddenly Ember was very much aware of just how big Hearthstone actually was! Barking with excitement again, she ran out of the bedroom with Vendrick, tearing down the corridors with peels of laughter echoing behind her. To the stairs the siblings went, leading the charge straight down as fast as their little legs could carry them. Everything was so big and grand! Where her brother came to a spectacular crash on his descent, Ember was much more graceful in her movements, practically gliding down the stairs until she reached the bottom and nosed at the crumpled Ven with a look of concern. Oh no, was he dead?! The moment the boy spring back to life, she breathed a sigh of relief. "C'mon, clumsy! Let's go see the gardens!" Ember grinned and took off for the front doors, rushing out into the outside world for the first time in her life.

"Ember Carpathius"

Nelu munched on his breakfast, doing his best to not make a mess but still the meat mixture managed to dribble down his chin and onto his chest. Well, poo. His little tongue lashed out and the fallen piece, stopping only when his father cleared his throat loudly. Nelu looked up, head cocking to the side just slightly. The boy watched quietly as his father moved toward the doors, there was something about the way his father headed toward them that marked the occasion differently. This wasn't the Aegis' usual departure to begin the days duties.

"Who wants to go outside?"

Both his ears flicked up alert. "Farther, I wish to go outside! May we go now?" He rose awkwardly to his paws, still uncoordinated in large frame as he bounced over toward the doors. Before they could go there were ground rules to lay. Nelu listened attentively before answering. "Understood!"

His father opened the doors and Nelu bounced out, pausing at the top of the stairs for a moment. He gazed down them, calculating the depth and spacing before tentatively starting his descent. Nelu paused as Vendrick surged past him only to wipe out on the last step. All the more incentive to move carefully. He wasn't worried at all that Vendrick and Ember were clear ahead, he focused on his movements and with each stair he gained confidence, moving more swiftly til he was at the bottom. Nelu glanced back up at his parents to make sure they were coming before following the others out into the gardens.