10-28-2007, 12:44 AM
Phoenix
Summer had without a doubt run its course, and now the transitional season of fall was upon them. Phoenix looked forward to the winter, when the snows invigorated his arctic wolf heritage and allowed him to truly come alive, but this season had its moments of magic too. The pack lands had transformed completely: trees looked like they were afire, the ground crunched underneath his paws in most places when he walked. Phoenix anticipated membership to increase, as it always did when lone wolves sought a more stable lifestyle to survive the winter. While he would rather they come to stay, he could not deny them access when they gave him no real reason to. The world was a much different place looking through the eyes of an alpha. He had to think strategically, keeping two steps ahead in his planning before making any moves. If Phoenix had been familiar with the human game called chess, he would have thought it an apt comparison to the life of a leader.
One other thing that chess made a good metaphor for was parenthood. Being an alpha took time away from being a father, and it broke Phoenix’s heart that he was unable to spend every minute with his children and be there whenever they needed him. Already he could sense it creating tension between him and his mirror-image son Icarus. Kansas was the quietest of the children, the youngster who blended in with the others and didn’t do anything to stand out on his own. That only made Phoenix wonder about his light-colored son. Perhaps he had just been too busy to notice Kansas’ characteristics. That he would have to rectify.
Kansas slumbered peacefully, but Phoenix had always had a tendency to rise before the sun. As the first rays of morning beamed into the den, the father gently nuzzled the small boy. “G’mornin’, son,” he whispered, trying not to awaken the other four wolves in the den. “How would you like t’come patrol th’borders with your old man today?”
Kansas
Kansas had noticed that his father was busy, diligently tending to the duties of the pack. He didn’t yet recognize what exactly those duties were (curious as he was), but he did know that Phoenix took care of the large group of wolves Kansas lived among, as well as his immediate family. But the boy wanted more time with his father, wanted to connect with him in a similar way that Icarus did. Maybe it would never be the same; but though he wasn’t jealous, he wanted to be just as close to Phoenix. He truly admired his father for his calmness and devotion to his mother and his siblings, as well as to himself.
In the two months that had elapsed since his birth, he’d taken note of the chill that was settling within his home. It wasn’t his favorite thing, but at least he had sisters and a brother to snuggle against. Firefly was especially warm, or maybe she seemed that way because of his relationship with her. He didn’t sense the movement, so deeply was he sleeping, dreaming of oddly-colored, dancing leaves. But he felt the damp nose nudge his small back, and his stunning eyes flickered open. He lifted his head, recognizing the chill as he escaped the dreamy world. Next to him was the large, comforting form of his father, dim in the shadowed environment of the den.
The boy yawned, exposing tiny teeth as he stretched his jaws. His father’s words drifted into him, warming him. So they would have time together. He grinned with joy, rising onto still-asleep legs and moving a bit closer to Phoenix. “Mowning, daddy,” he returned. His words were almost tentative, though within he was overcome by elation. He’d get a sneak peak at some of those “duties” his father attended to. “R-really?” he murmured, the word broken by another yawn.
Phoenix
Thankfully the other wolves of Storm weren’t too needy. They could take care of themselves for the most part. But Phoenix still wanted more time with his mate and his children. Gibraltar couldn’t have left at a worst time, and now Phoenix was stuck with a mantle he had never asked for. But carry his burden he did, and without complaining aloud. He had to set a good example not only for the rest of the pack, but especially for his children. Everything he did, he did to make their lives as good as possible. They deserved no less from him.
That kind of devotion he hadn’t gotten from his father. Now, Anubis had been a good father up until he had disappeared. Phoenix didn’t resent his father for circumstances that had been out of his control, but as a pup he’d made a vow that if he ever somehow survived and become a father of his own, he would give his children everything he never had. A warm home, plenty to eat, and the safety and security that only a loving parent could provide. And Phoenix did love his children; he loved them for the fine wolves they were already developing into. Someday they would each make him proud, he knew that deep inside.
“Of course,” the patriarch said, grinning as he watched his son slowly rise to his feet. Deciding to help, Phoenixput his nuzzle under his son’s warm belly and pushed him onto his legs. “It ain’t nothin’ too excitin’; we’re jus’ gonna walk ‘round the borders an’ make sure nothin’ bad got in last night. You’ll be doin’ this job on your own someday, once you’re a big, strong grown-up. We might as well start trainin’ t’day, eh?” Hopefully those days would take their sweet time getting here though. “C’mon!”
Summer had without a doubt run its course, and now the transitional season of fall was upon them. Phoenix looked forward to the winter, when the snows invigorated his arctic wolf heritage and allowed him to truly come alive, but this season had its moments of magic too. The pack lands had transformed completely: trees looked like they were afire, the ground crunched underneath his paws in most places when he walked. Phoenix anticipated membership to increase, as it always did when lone wolves sought a more stable lifestyle to survive the winter. While he would rather they come to stay, he could not deny them access when they gave him no real reason to. The world was a much different place looking through the eyes of an alpha. He had to think strategically, keeping two steps ahead in his planning before making any moves. If Phoenix had been familiar with the human game called chess, he would have thought it an apt comparison to the life of a leader.
One other thing that chess made a good metaphor for was parenthood. Being an alpha took time away from being a father, and it broke Phoenix’s heart that he was unable to spend every minute with his children and be there whenever they needed him. Already he could sense it creating tension between him and his mirror-image son Icarus. Kansas was the quietest of the children, the youngster who blended in with the others and didn’t do anything to stand out on his own. That only made Phoenix wonder about his light-colored son. Perhaps he had just been too busy to notice Kansas’ characteristics. That he would have to rectify.
Kansas slumbered peacefully, but Phoenix had always had a tendency to rise before the sun. As the first rays of morning beamed into the den, the father gently nuzzled the small boy. “G’mornin’, son,” he whispered, trying not to awaken the other four wolves in the den. “How would you like t’come patrol th’borders with your old man today?”
Kansas
Kansas had noticed that his father was busy, diligently tending to the duties of the pack. He didn’t yet recognize what exactly those duties were (curious as he was), but he did know that Phoenix took care of the large group of wolves Kansas lived among, as well as his immediate family. But the boy wanted more time with his father, wanted to connect with him in a similar way that Icarus did. Maybe it would never be the same; but though he wasn’t jealous, he wanted to be just as close to Phoenix. He truly admired his father for his calmness and devotion to his mother and his siblings, as well as to himself.
In the two months that had elapsed since his birth, he’d taken note of the chill that was settling within his home. It wasn’t his favorite thing, but at least he had sisters and a brother to snuggle against. Firefly was especially warm, or maybe she seemed that way because of his relationship with her. He didn’t sense the movement, so deeply was he sleeping, dreaming of oddly-colored, dancing leaves. But he felt the damp nose nudge his small back, and his stunning eyes flickered open. He lifted his head, recognizing the chill as he escaped the dreamy world. Next to him was the large, comforting form of his father, dim in the shadowed environment of the den.
The boy yawned, exposing tiny teeth as he stretched his jaws. His father’s words drifted into him, warming him. So they would have time together. He grinned with joy, rising onto still-asleep legs and moving a bit closer to Phoenix. “Mowning, daddy,” he returned. His words were almost tentative, though within he was overcome by elation. He’d get a sneak peak at some of those “duties” his father attended to. “R-really?” he murmured, the word broken by another yawn.
Phoenix
Thankfully the other wolves of Storm weren’t too needy. They could take care of themselves for the most part. But Phoenix still wanted more time with his mate and his children. Gibraltar couldn’t have left at a worst time, and now Phoenix was stuck with a mantle he had never asked for. But carry his burden he did, and without complaining aloud. He had to set a good example not only for the rest of the pack, but especially for his children. Everything he did, he did to make their lives as good as possible. They deserved no less from him.
That kind of devotion he hadn’t gotten from his father. Now, Anubis had been a good father up until he had disappeared. Phoenix didn’t resent his father for circumstances that had been out of his control, but as a pup he’d made a vow that if he ever somehow survived and become a father of his own, he would give his children everything he never had. A warm home, plenty to eat, and the safety and security that only a loving parent could provide. And Phoenix did love his children; he loved them for the fine wolves they were already developing into. Someday they would each make him proud, he knew that deep inside.
“Of course,” the patriarch said, grinning as he watched his son slowly rise to his feet. Deciding to help, Phoenixput his nuzzle under his son’s warm belly and pushed him onto his legs. “It ain’t nothin’ too excitin’; we’re jus’ gonna walk ‘round the borders an’ make sure nothin’ bad got in last night. You’ll be doin’ this job on your own someday, once you’re a big, strong grown-up. We might as well start trainin’ t’day, eh?” Hopefully those days would take their sweet time getting here though. “C’mon!”