300+



Savina and Kansas had taken the children outside the mansion for the first time the other day. It had been so rewarding to see their little eyes light up at the sight of the big, bright world just outside their door. Of course Amata had been the first to try and take off running, she hadn't gotten far though, stumbling over her own feet. That had made Cambria and Gotham burst into giggles. She had given her siblings a rather indignant look, but quickly forgot her embarrassment as a cricket had hopped by her face. The little family had spent a good few hours sitting outside the front of the mansion, playing together and mother and father answering the pup's questions.



Today the onyx wolfess had decided to take them out again. One by one she had carried her babes down the steps of the front porch. They still weren't old enough to try the stairs on their own and she didn't want any of them taking a tumble. It felt good to have grass and warm earth beneath her feet and she knew it must feel good to her kids as well. Their first month and a half of life had been so much different than her's. Still, the comfort and security of the mansion was more welcome than an earth den to her now. The Lt. General felt better having the whole pack around her and her precious babes.



Amata and Cambria were both following after bugs together. The two girls seemed to have developed quite an interest in insects. Though Amata seemed much more entertained by the ones that hopped and Cambria preferred the quietness of butterflys floating through the air. Gotham was in between his mom's front legs and Savina was tickling her son's tummy with her nose. His laughter filled the spring air as he pushed against his mother's muzzle with his oversized coal paws.

The Marino male was enjoying the springtime. The temperatures were much warmer now than those harsh winter days, and he was glad. Winter was the one season he could never really enjoy, simply because of the cold weather. He was quite happy now that spring was well underway and that winter was once again in the past. Ehno had spent the majority of the day so far in the manor, and as he passed by some of the large windows in the hallway, he longed to go out and enjoy that spring weather. He made his way to the front door, awkwardly pulling it open with his paws. He was greeted by the sight of his sister and her children playing outside, the sound of Gotham’s giggles immediately causing him to smile.



Ehno padded down the steps of the front porch to join his family. He smiled at the sight of his sister and her son, giggling and having a good time. His amber gaze traveled then to the two girls who were wandering a short distance away, searching for something. The Italian man’s smile widened, an idea coming to mind. He took careful, sneaky steps towards his nieces, hoping to walk toward them unnoticed. As he got closer, he lowered himself to a crouch before halting behind the duo. “Boo!” he said playfully, popping up suddenly beside the girls. "Lei è su un'avventura senza zio Ehno, lei è?" he teased in that same playful tone. The smile on his face was wide and bright, his tail waving happily in the air.

With his paws flailing in the air Savina gently took one in her mouth and growled playfully as she shook it. A little puppy-growl rumbled out of Gotham's chest and he pulled himself free from his mother's jaws getting to his feet. With a bark he pounced at her face, grabbing one of her ears in his tiny muzzle. The mother couldn't contain her laughter, loving losing herself in play with her son. Though she did hear someone come out onto the porch of the mansion. Emerald eyes flashed over to see who it was and she was joyed to see the chocolate form of her brother. She saw that mischievous glint in his eyes so she refrained from greeting him just yet.



She watched as he quietly snuck up behind her two daughters. Savina nudged her son, pointing her nose in the direction of his uncle and siblings. Eyes lighting up he relinquished his hold on his mother's ear to sit and watch the trick that was about to be played. The two girls were so engrossed that they didn't hear anything coming up behind them. Cambria's eyes were glued to a butterfly floating through the air while Amata watched a caterpillar. At the boo both of them jumped into the air, the darker pup giving a yelp. When they turned to see their uncle Amata enthusiastically attacked his leg in revenge. Cambria walked over to him with a scowl on her face and hit him with her paw. "Non ciò è Ehno di Zio buffo!" She didn't like being scared!



Savina got to her feet and Gotham waddled after her to join the rest of their family. "Faceva la stessa cosa al suo Ghita di Zia e me quando l'eravamo invecchia," she said, winking at her brother.

The Italian man couldn’t keep himself from laughing as his nieces jumped at his surprise entrance. The looks on their little faces as shock shifted to realization was priceless, and it brought his playful side out to its full extent. The girls immediately went out for revenge, attacking and reprimanding him for his actions. "Ehi ora, ciò duole!" His amber gaze shifted to Amata’s active form as he lowered himself to the ground to be eye-level with the pups. "Non farmi è venuto dopo che lei!" The playful ring was still in his voice, tail wagging behind him to show his excitement. Ehno’s gaze slid over to Cambria at her exclamation, his smile growing wider. "Aw, ma ho pensato era buffo." He playfully nudged her with his nose.



His attention quickly drifted in another direction as Savina and Gotham came to join them. Ehno laughed at his sibling’s comment, playful smile soon becoming a grin while he remembered their childhood. As a pup, he never missed an opportunity to pop up when it was least expected. Thinking back on it now, he almost had too much fun with it. "Ero sempre tale istigatore. Che è i fratelli fanno." He paused briefly, gaze shifting towards his nephew. "L'insegnerò come lo fare anche," he added with a wink. Wouldn’t the girls just love that?

Ehno's rich laughter filled the air and somehow made it feel even warmer out. Amata continued to gnaw on his leg until he became eye-level with her. When he spoke she growled and released his leg, but quickly jumped to nip at his nose. Her little tail was wagging furiously. She loved a good prank or game. Her sister was still not quite convinced though. "Non era!" Though a her frown turned into a smile as he nudged her. Stubby tail waved in the air and she gave his muzzle a lick. "Non amo essendo spaventato. Lei può spaventare Amata tuttavia, indovino l'ama," she said giving her rambunctious sibling a glance. She didn't get why it had made her so excited. Being scared wasn't fun. "Si, ma lei sarà spiacente!" Amata showed her uncle her teeth, but it was far from intimidating, considering she was still smiling.



Watching her children did remind her a lot of her own childhood. Especially considering the litter she and Ehno had been born into had been comprised the same way. Two girls and one boy. There were times she missed the carefree days of being a pup. Playing so long until it hurt to move. Savina loved her life now though and wouldn't trade it for being so young again. "Sì lei era, ma lei ha avuto l'aiuto a volte," she said with a wink. She had gotten in her fair amount of trouble beside her brother. As Ehno spoke to Gotham the boy only cocked his head to the side in a questioning manner. "No lei farà non! Il Gotham non mi spaventerà, è più piacevole di ciò!" It was true, her quiet brother wasn't the type to pull pranks and she liked that.

Ehno smiled at his nieces, finding a bit of amusement in their very different reactions to his little prank. Quiet Cambria didn’t seem to find his little prank very nice at all, but her smile and lick to his muzzle showed that she was still a good sport about it. On the other hand, rambunctious Amata nipped at his nose and offered him a playful threat should he attempt to scare her again. He laughed again, truly enjoying his time with the pups. "Bene," he began, a fake frown sliding onto his features, "mi indovino dovrà essere appena un buono ragazzo poi, nessuno più Zio Ehno pauroso." Then his amber gaze held that playful glint again. "Ma lei non sa mai… è pauroso è così divertente, non penso che possa resistere per sempre," he said with a laugh, forgetting his façade of sadness.



He turned his attention back to his sister at her comment, a grin sliding once again onto his features. "Vero, vero. Dove sarei senza il mio partner nel crimine?" The Italian man winked at his sibling. Looking back over to the children, he said, "Vedere, anche la sua mamma era istigatore a volte." He nodded matter-of-factly before sticking his tongue out playfully. Turning then to face his nephew, he cocked his head to the side in a similar fashion while he listened to Cambria once again. "Aw, lei sicuro lei non vuole essere istigatore come Zio Ehno?" He playfully swiped a paw towards Gotham.