All except when 'neath the trees of Eden

[Onus]

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Lemme know if you want anything changed, this is kind of so-so ^^;      He couldn't believe how much they had grown in such a short amount of time. Not just physically either, but mentally as well. Onus had never been good with kids. It wasn't that he didn't like them, he just didn't know how to act. Their bubbly and excitable nature did not mesh with his calm and subdued one. Honor and Chastity where clearly the children of their parents though. They held that same reserved nature. They were quiet and observant. They would be smart too, the man could see it in their mismatched eyes. Cwmfen was away for the time being, attending to whatever tasks or duties she needed to, so the pups played with their father underneath the shelter of the great oak. Played as well as Onus knew how to anyway. He only held vague and blurry memories of playing as a pup and did not know the types of games they would want to play. So the father took cues from his young, following their lead.      The coyote was laying on his stomach while being propped up on his elbows. Chastity went after his tail as he moved it from side to side. At first he had started off slowly and then made the movements faster. It would help her learn good coordination and make her quick. Honor was occupied at his father's front. The man would strike out to catch his son with his hands and Honor was meant to dodge out of the way and then try to strike. A soft, nearly invisible smile was on the man's face as he play fought with his children. He had caught Honor a few times by the leg and the boy had nipped at his arm and growled and struggled until he was released. "Good." The father would tell his boy. As the play continued the pied hybrid became better at moving away from the coyote's quick hands. He had yet to land a hit though. Chastity batted at her father's tail with her paw but then stopped and watched the quickly moving blur of brown and tan and white. For minutes she studied the movement carefully. Then as Onus grabbed out at Honor again the girl moved forward and caught his tail between her small jaws. Simultaneous Honor dodged to the side and jumped, grabbing a hold on the man's large ear. His smile grew. They were learning.      "Very well done. I am proud of both of you." Smiling back at their father, the two children released their holds on him and he sat back up, resting on his knees. Chastity moved to sit beside her twin in front of their father, looking up at him with bright eyes. The male leaned forward and nudged them both affectionately with his muzzle, giving them both a quick lick. Their little tongues licked his face in return. Onus wondered when they would be able to shift, then he would really be able to teach them things. He would make sure they knew how to defend themselves. He leaned back and as he did he heard a fluttering behind him. It was the unmistakable sound of wings beating against the air and then settling. The man looked to the faces of his children as their intense gazes settled on something behind him. Imperceptibly he moved his head to the side to allow his periphery to see the avian. The hair on the back of his neck rose. It was the raven. That bird he had seen so often with Cwmfen before she had been raped. He had not trusted the creature and his mistrust had been proven by the mark that was now branded into his lover's thigh. His body stayed statue still for seconds that stretched on and on. He made sure the bird felt it was safe and then he turned and struck out at it. Its wings unfurled in surprise and it cawed but it was too slow, Onus had caught its leg. It flapped frantically against his hand and those dark eyes looked at the treacherous thing, something dangerous moving in those depths.

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