In Plain Sight [M] [DragonSong]

[Juno]

The shifter sighed happily, feeling a warm contentment in having her rest with him. He barely stayed awake himself, drifting in and out at the slightest sound from the outside world.

When the wolves began to file inside again the light coming through the door was much dimmer than it had been that morning. Perhaps afternoon. He found himself counting them off before he gently shook at his mate's shoulder. "Time to wake up," he whispered to her, in no hurry himself but wanting to give her time to wake slowly if she was still feeling drowsy.

[DragonSong]

With a sleepy grumble, Brenna blinked her eyes open and struggled to sit up, yawning. The pack greeted her with tired tail wags and a few soft huffs and she smiled at them, reaching over the edge of the bed to stroke ears and pat muzzles.

"How long was the hunt?" she asked softly, noticing that by the hearth Snowfur finally seemed to be getting some sleep, curled protectively around her pups.

[Juno]

"A few hours," he answered through a small yawn, shaking his head and leaning close to rest his chin on her shoulder. "Sun's out now, should be warmer."

Even as he said that though his arms were winding around her middle, gently trying to tug her back from the edge of the bed. He brushed a few lazy kisses up along her neck until he'd reached her ear to whisper, "But maybe we don't have to go today."

[DragonSong]

"Mmm." A soft smile curved at her lips and she arched her back, melting eagerly into his kisses. Despite all the fear and tension that had been with her he last few days, just being in his arms seemed to be enough to set her at ease. They were home now, they were safe.

"You keep doing that and Longclaw's gonna make us go outside," she chuckled lightly, shoving his shoulder playfully.

[Juno]

Chris huffed and rolled his eyes at that, though he did smile privately. He almost wanted to see the old wolf try, much as he knew how strong he was. "This is our den. He has no say," he pointed out in a playful growl, squeezing her closer for a moment and dropping a kiss on her shoulder.

His hands remained gentle, caressing fondly along her sides as he contently eyed the wolves over her shoulder.

[DragonSong]

Brenna laughed quietly and wriggled in his grip, his touch leaving pleasant trails of heat over her skin. "Maybe...but you're making me tingly." She pouted at him.

[Juno]

"Oh am I? Well I know how much you hate that," he teased, gradually loosening his hold on her but keeping his fingers loosely around her waist instead. Chris hummed happily, though, quite pleased with himself.

[DragonSong]

She squirmed, huffing softly when he released her-- though whether it was from relief or protest she wasn't entirely sure herself.

"I really need to go hunting," she sighed as she twisted to better face him, arms twining around his neck.



((Should we do a time skip? Maybe to getting the wolves settled in a new den?))

[Juno]

((OOC: Sure thing! ^_^))


As days rolled into weeks the pups were growing quickly and the pack as a whole seemed much stronger for the safe rest and good hunting the lands near his home provided. By the second week they'd scouted the surrounding area, finding a few suitable options woven along the base of the mountain range just within the bounds of Wendal and Faline's territory. It was close to them and certainly not too far from his own home but still he wrestled with thoughts about what he would do and where he would go once they were all settled.

About a month after they'd arrived they were finally setting out again to make the slow trek with the pups. They seemed strong for their age, but still he pitied them the hardships they'd already had to endure in their short lives.

Chris settled an arm around his mate as he watched them in their open curiosity, bounding ahead a little at a time with their ears tipped forward and shoulders square for just a moment before racing back to their mother's side. Their playful woofs and growls were endearing enough, but occasionally the shifter had to gingerly step over them as they stopped to tussle in the snow.

"What will you call them? Or are they too young for names?" he wondered aloud, certain he was beginning to see glimpses of their individuality shining through.

[DragonSong]

Brenna chuckled, bending to scrap gently with her newest siblings, the pack pausing up ahead of them. She looked up at Chris with a smile, a bundle of yipping, wriggling fur cradled in her arms.

“Probably won’t get names for a while,” as mused as the pup she held, the male, licked her chin. “Another month or so. Sometimes names are earned, sometimes they just...are.”

[Juno]

"I see," he chuckled, smiling subtly for the way they seemed to adore her. He bent to scoop up the other pup, arms firm as she wriggled and squirmed to be free of him, ignoring the way she mouthed at his hands with baby play growls.

"I bet you'll get something ferocious," he muttered in playful baby-talk, knowing full well the pup couldn't really understand him but feeling it necessary anyway.

[DragonSong]

Smiling as she watched them, Brenna got to her feet and moved to catch up with the rest of the pack, still playing absently with the pup in her arms. "'Course she will. She's a fighter," she murmured, reaching over to rub the little wolf's ears.

She didn't realize she was panting until Chaser moved up beside her and pressed against her side, huffing worriedly. She blinked, pausing. "No-- I'm not tired..."

Well...she was, a little. But they were taking an easy pace, there was no need for her to be winded, or even flagging.

[Juno]

Watching Chaser with his mate gave him pause and the shifter gave her a concerned once over, noticing the way she seemed to be struggling despite their slow pace for the pack's youngest.

"Didn't sleep well?" Chris slowed his pace a bit so they could lag a little further behind. "I can hold him," he offered, shifting the pup in his arms to one side temporarily as he offered an outstretched hand to Brenna for the male.

Silently, he worried for her. She'd had other days recently where she'd seemed so tired. At first he'd assumed it was the stress, but with plenty of rest and good hunting for the past weeks he began to wonder if she'd been overcome by some illness.

[DragonSong]

"Really, I'm fine." Brenna frowned at both of them, perhaps a tad more on edge than was usual. Pointedly, she hefted her tiny brother and strode forward, Snowfur and Bright-Eye pacing alongside her. "Come on. We want to get to the new den before sundown."

[Juno]

Chris frowned as he watched her push ahead, readjusting the squirming pup in his arms as he hurried to catch up to them.

"We will, don't have to rush," he reminded her gently, somehow feeling like he needed to particularly careful with his mate. She was certainly stubborn and headstrong for all she was worth but the wolves were evidence enough that something was a little off about her, they seemed to sense it too.

"Do you want to visit the pools again once they get settled? Hot water might do you some good," he suggested.

[DragonSong]

She was about to snap at him that she didn't need to be coddled when she caught herself. Why was she so irritated? She didn't like being treated like she was fragile, true, but she knew Chris was just worried about her.

Sighing, she ducked her eyes and nodded slightly. "Yeah, that-- that sounds good," she murmured.

[Juno]

Chris offered her a brief smile, comfortable enough with her acceptance to keep pushing forward with the pack. Maybe she was just feeling anxious to get them settled into their new home. He couldn't really blame her with the pups still being quite young and small even with the pair of humans to help carry them over the thick layer of snow on the ground. Exposure could still be a potential problem for their tiny bodies if they weren't careful.

As they neared the base of the mountains the shifter pushed ahead to lead them on, easily climbing the short but steep slopes that led further into a sheltered pass. It was so near his parents' den it felt odd to not continue along the familiar path home, but their destination was the largest and best-protected of the caves they'd scouted in previous weeks and he hoped it would serve as a good home for them.

The entrance was modest, the mouth barely tall enough for him to walk through without ducking his head but certainly wide enough for the wolves to come and go as they pleased and bring their kills home. Inside the main chamber reached tall and stretched deeper into the mountain. A few small alcoves tucked along the rear but the light from the sun outside became dimmer the further he stepped in. The narrower entrance would at least afford good protection from the elements, in his mind.

With the female pup squirming and whining to be put down he crouched to set her to her feet only to watch her bound away to explore the new space. He chuckled fondly under his breath, eyes adjusting quickly to the low light as he watched her dash along the whole perimeter.

[DragonSong]

The pup Brenna held wriggled eagerly, obviously wanting to be exploring with his sister, and she chuckled a bit as she bent to let him clamber from her arms.

She straightened up, looking around the cave. "This is good," she murmured as the pack began filing in, sniffing the air curiously and pacing the edges of their new home. "I think...they'll be safe."

[Juno]

Chris smiled tiredly, shuffling a little closer to slip an arm around her waist. "Mhmm... And if- I mean not that they'd need help exactly, but if there was any trouble for them my parents are close by. Should probably introduce them soon," he murmured the last thoughtfully, watching fondly as the wolves began to familiarize themselves with the new space.

[DragonSong]

"Mhm." She smiled and leaned into him a little, letting her head rest on his shoulder. "That'll be...interesting," she chuckled softly, imagining her family meeting the two shifters.

Ah well. It would be fine, the territory was big enough to support a pack of dire wolves and a pair of wildcats, they'd made sure of it before choosing the den.