'Souls RPG

The icy wind rattled the outside of their home, though thankfully the earthen dwelling was insulated against most drafts. It was much warmer than her former hill-house, and during her waking hours Colibri spared concern for her eldest daughter who lived there now. At that exact moment, however, Colibri dozed lightly with her nose tucked into the fluff of her bobtail, and her concerns far away. Her Lupus form was the most comfortable way for her to handle her litter of three, as it had been with her previous brood.

Russano and Ninian were pressed against her stomach, their warm bodies rising and falling with their snores. Fionna had wandered off in pursuit of a cat, which in their household was the easiest way to tire out the Stormbringer pups so they would return to napping. It was too cold to send them outside (in her opinion, anyway). Their little toes would get frostbitten, or they would fall ill from the howling wind. Somewhere in the recesses of her mind she knew that arctic wolves were made of hardier stock than that, but it did not ease her protectiveness. Her wolfdogs had been several months old before their first winter. Her wolves were not yet ready. The infants were outgrowing the need for constant rest, though Coli herself still needed it, and slept more than they did.

The deep exhaustion had never left her. She recovered slowly from anemia, though she still woke at the sound of her name. The small wolf raised her head, ears perking in the direction of the front door. "Come on in, Ascher," she called drowsily. The timbre of his voice suggested something more serious than wanting a babysitter for Orvar and Bel, and it worried her. She worried about everything, of course, but her anxious mind immediately jumped to terrible conclusions about puppy diseases, kidnappings, and Nomads demanding the return of their kin. Coli drew a deep breath to steady her nerves, and exhaled slowly as she rose to her paws. She would know what the trouble was momentarily, so she should not work herself up into a panic. Her legs wobbled unsteadily, but held firm enough, and she stretched to try and ease the tension out of her neck and back. Ninian and Russano remained asleep, and out of habit, she nosed them to make sure they were still responsive. They grunted at the intrusion, rolled over, and sank back into sleep.

Coli yawned as she padded toward the warmth of the fireplace, knowing Ascher would likely sit at the nearby table. On the way she spotted Fionna, the pudgy ball of fur having passed out on the floor. Dutifully she scooped her daughter up in her jaws and carried her back to her siblings before returning. She was glad to have Ascher around, all worries aside. He was good company, and she felt much closer to him since aiding him in his new fatherhood. She had been shocked to see poor Bel with her crooked tail, but other than that accident with the horse, Coli thought Asch had really stepped up to the role and kept his little ones safe. (She disliked that horse even more now – it was the same stallion who frightened Fiora into her first shift much too early. Stupid brute.) Honestly, Asch was a better parent than she had been the first time around. Perhaps all those books he read really did teach him what to do. The weary wolf settled on her belly and yawned again, waiting patiently for her Eljun friend.