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They were bigger now, scampering along the floor, scooting themselves forward with their large and clumsy paws. One seemed to be gaining weight faster than the others and was much bigger, Caprica, but this did not concern the mother too much. Naniko was a large wolf herself, and her father Roman had been as well. The girl's eyes were open now and she could see the darkness in them, the bits of green within their striking puppy-blue. She would look like him, like Roman.
She had never guessed that her night with her friend Ehno would bring her something like this, a new family, a new purpose. The pups had brought a new sense of life to the jaded D'Angelo, though she would never quite be the same wolf that she had been in her more glorified days. The white wolf gave a small growl to Lucia as she jumped Harlowe, biting on his ear. The smaller, confused whelp gave a few pitiful yips before Naniko ended their small battle. Harlowe was a little slow with responding to most things, and she didn't like seeing him get bullied.
She stood up on her back legs to look out the window, trying to judge the weather outside. Was it warm enough to bring them out? She opened the front door and picked up Harlowe by his scruff, carrying him outside. The sun was shining today, warming the lands, and she set him down on the grass as the others came down the front stairs to join them in the greenery. "Maaa, whooyy dooo youuu carried Har-luw?" Rio asked.
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They skies were finally clear, and Ehno had been taking any opportunity he could to get out and enjoy the sunshine. He awoke early for once, yet instead of returning to his slumber, he slipped out of the cabin quietly to avoid disturbing his sleeping family. The Dreamer had gone for a serene little stroll, stopping briefly to admire the mirror lakes before making the decision to return to the cabin. He took the now-familiar path to the cabin, ears perking up as a familiar sound drifted toward him. It sounded like Naniko had taken the little ones out for some fresh air. Ehno picked up a quicker pace, excitement putting a little spring in his step.
He couldn’t help but smile at the sight of the little ones scampering around in the grass. They all seemed to be growing so quickly. It still felt as if he had only arrived in Phoenix Valley the day before, but time appeared to adapt a quicker pace for the growing family. “How are my favorite bambini doing today?” he called as he approached. A chorus of excited yips greeted him in return. He took a seat beside the D’Angelo lady, amber eyes regarding her for a moment. “And how about you?” He nudged her playfully, a goofy grin clinging to his maw. It was a beautiful day, made even more beautiful by the playful sounds of puppy games.
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They were miniature adults, with their various colorations. Rio's coat was a mixture of grays and browns with some darker parts over her head and a few places along her back. Lucia was a sandy brown with a cream colored belly. Harlowe looked much the same except for his darker muzzle, and Caprica was the darkest black she'd seen.
Naniko was trying something that she had never tried before with these children, raising them bilingually. She spoke equal amounts of English and Itallian to them so that they would be able to communicate with either side of the family. If there were any around who knew French, she would have tried throwing some of that in as well...but even Naniko was beginning to forget it a little bit, from months of not using the language.
Ehno was returning to the cabin--his scent got stronger with each second until he arrived. He seemed to be in a good mood--a successful hunt, perhaps? Or some other reason. She had been wondering about when he would be returning back to Crimson Dreams, having been in Phoenix Valley for nearly two months, but chose not to ask about it. These lazy, happy days had passed by so quickly with him here. What would she say to the children when he left?
"Papà! Papà! Siete casa!" The chorus of small voices came in Itallian as they greeted their father and the pups crowded around him, jumping up. She smiled as well, nudging Harlowe forward a little to join the group. He seemed interested but did not speak, as usual, keeping quiet and just observing what was going on. "Sono fare grande" She said, grinning. The nudge made her a little confused--but he was just in a good mood, that was all. She gave him a light nudge in return. "Ogni volta che ritornate pensano you' la VE ha portato loro qualcosa"
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[html] http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v515/ ... banner.jpg); background-position: bottom center; background-repeat: no-repeat;"> Funky, cuz my concentration when 'poof' partway through. x:
Ehno slipped easily into his native language when the puppies called out to him. He was overjoyed when Naniko had agreed to teach the little ones Italian in addition to English. The Dreamer loved the lyrical sounds of his first language and he was glad that he was able to share it with his children. “Sì, sì. Papà ha ritornato.” A broad smile clung to his maw as three of the little ones jumped around him, each vying for his attention. He gave each of them a playful nudge with his muzzle. Naniko silently urged their quiet son to join the others. Harlowe always seemed content to simply sit back and watch as things unfolded around him. Ehno smiled at the boy and offered him a loving lick on the muzzle.
Nani returned his nudge along with a grin and he smiled fondly at her. Ehno was always glad to find that the D’Angelo lady was doing well. He laughed when Naniko commented on the pups’ excited behavior. "Ciò è così?" he questioned them, tone light. "Poi dovrò portarli qualcosa cronometra vicino, vero?" The puppies bounced with excitement, their little tails wagging furiously. Caprica bobbed her head up and down excitedly. "Ma per ora dovremo piacere appena questo bel giorno." He lowered himself into a playful crouch, tail wagging excitedly behind him.
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[html] Tis ok! What shall we have them do in this thread? Teach the pups something?
She was glad to be able to strengthen her own knowledge of Itallian through teaching it to the pups. If she wasn't sure of a word, Ehno was always right there to help her if she needed it. Maybe once he went back to Crimson Dreams she could send him messages with her birds if she had any questions. "Yeah" She agreed, nodding.
The pups yipped with excitement as Ehno lowered himself into a play-stance, their small paws dancing over the grass as they weaved around each other. They went near to him then backed away, then came closer again, then backed away again. This seemed like a very fun game indeed--what would Papa do next? Harlowe was the only one not to join in on the fun. He stumbled around and was stepped on by his siblings a few times before Naniko picked him up, setting him down next to her instead.
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Maybe they can play a little hunting game? Ehno can be the prey, and Nani can give them tips or something, lol. XD Unless you had something else in mind?
The Dreamer major was always happy to be able to spend time with the children. It was important to him that he could be here for them, even if the circumstances were complicated. He knew that he could only spend so much of his time around Phoenix Valley at once before he would have to return to the familiar lands near Rabbit Lake. He was determined to get the most out of his time here with Naniko and the puppies while he could.
Ehno made an excited little hop toward the pups first, almost an imitation of their own darting back and forth. He smiled broadly at the pups, trying to decide what sort of game they should play together. He swiped a paw playfully at the nearest puppy, Rio, before pulling back out of reach. Then he sat up, a fun little idea for a game coming to mind. "Giochiamo un gioco," he said excitedly. "Voi dovete insinuarsi su sul papà e l'attacca insieme. Forse voi potete battermi." He grinned at the children before nodding enthusiastically. "Pronto?" he said just before taking off for a few feet. He slowed down soon after, shifting to a more leisurely pace as he pretended to be oblivious to his surroundings.
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[html] :3 sure! and LOL. I R lazy.
She had never thought that any place would feel like a home the way that this place did, not after leaving her old pack. It was amazing that she could smile and continue on with life. These children were the one thing that had saved her, Ehno too. He was a part of their being here, their father. Even though he was going home to Crimson Dreams without her and them, she still had him with her in a way. Through the pups. There were certain times when Lucia would look at her and she would see him in the pup's bright grin and shining eyes.
The three girls broke out in laughter as Ehno jumped at them, Rio and Lucia taking a few steps back. Caprica braved the encounter, standing with her shoulders squared. Naniko was a bit surprised to hear a playful growl coming from the plump puppy. Maybe she had misjudged the girl! She had some real spirit. As Ehno came forward, though, the little black pup backed up, pushing Rio forward instead. Haha!
The game that the large male suggested sounded both fun and educational. She looked to Harlowe, to encourage him to join, but the pup seemed interested in something else. A piece of dandelion fluff was floating in the air next to him and he snapped at it, trying to catch it. He always came up with his own little games when he was bored, instead of playing with the others. She shrugged and nodded to the other three.
"Doesn't that sound fun?" She asked in Itallian. It could help teach the little ones teamwork and also how to work together. The girls jumped up, Rio letting out a few loud barks of excitement. This game was definitely a go! Caprica, unsure of what to do next, looked back at Naniko. The white wolf motioned for the pups to go toward Ehno, then got up. She called an instruction as she went, heading into the bushes. "In here, girls! You have to hide really well so that the prey won't see you"
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lol, lazy is fine. Mine be short, though. o:
He marched his way down a familiar path away from the cabin, a light bounce in his step and a smile on his face. His amber eyes scanned the horizon absentmindedly as he walked and tried to look as unassuming as he could manage. Each time he looked around the lands near Naniko’s cabin, he was surprised to find how much more familiar they always seemed. The Dreamer male recognized easily the spattering of bushes around the grassy lands and the small cluster of trees off in the distance, separated by a short distance from the farther woods. Ehno realized how much more this place was beginning to feel like home, the thought both exciting and frightful to him. He was happy to be so comfortable in the pack his children called home, but he was also frightened at how this seemed to solidify his decision regarding his family: two packs, two homes.
A rustling of some nearby bushes brought his attention back to the little game the family was involved in. He paused mid-step, glancing around in mock-weariness at the sound. The male was determined to play the part of the little hunting group’s prey as best as he could. It was rather fun, actually. Soon after he paused the rustling stopped, the children in the bushes doing their best to not be spotted by papa. Ehno relaxed and continued his leisurely stroll. A few giggles came from the trio of girls as he moved on. They had fooled him! They could sneak up on papa for sure! The Marino man could only grin as he continued forward.
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They were stalking him just as a wolf would stalk its prey, but there was one difference. Most wolves were quiet. The girls giggled every few steps. One would stop and the others would run into it, laugh, then continue on. It was more of a game than anything else. After a short while, though one pup split off from the others. Caprica, trying to be sneaky, ran around to the other side of Ehno to size him up from that angle. She was bright, even if she did move a bit slower than the others.
Naniko watched the "hunt" with amusement, walking a ways behind Ehno with Harlowe at her side. Some day he would be doing things like this, hopefully. She had tried to get him to chase things, to sneak after smaller prey before...but the pup showed no interest in it. He didn't have the same vivacious look in his eyes as the girls did. She gave a glance down to him before continuing to watch the group.
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Wheee~!
The girl’s giggling gave them away often, but Ehno didn’t mind. He continued on his way as if oblivious to their cheerful bouts of laughter. The three girls were obviously having fun with this little game, if their giggling was any indication. He was glad that they could have fun and learn a few vital tips for hunting in the process. Making practice like this into a fun game was the best way to teach the little ones things that they need to know. The only thing that was missing was the sound of Harlowe’s own laughter, but his absence didn’t come as much of a surprise to him. They quiet boy had always been one to sit back and watch. Maybe he would join in with his sisters next time.
Their little hunt continued as he paced onward. One of the girls split from the group and Ehno kept his gaze ahead, pretending not to notice. He continued onward for a moment, but he came to a halt when Caprica went to cut him off, moving as fast as her little legs would take her. He grinned at her, saying, “Come and get me!” before turning around to escape. But the other two girls had come from their hiding place while he was distracted by Caprica and ran up behind him. “Oh, no!” he cried dramatically and fell to the ground. The girls pounced on him playfully, their best attempts at fierce growls mixed in with their joyful giggles. “You got me, you got me!” He joined them in their laughter.
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[html] <3 <3
She had never done something like this before with the pups, though she had explained to them about hunting and had been bringing them back little bits of food. It wouldn't be too long until the day that they would be going out on their own, hunting their own food, and she held these little moments with them dear to her heart. Naniko did not fully understand Ehno's need to go back to Crimson Dreams, as she was in a very different situation then he was, but she accepted it. She wanted him to have time with the pups as well, and for everyone to be safe.
She started to laugh as the pups ambushed Ehno, cornering him, shaking her head. In a normal situation the prey would not just give up and lay down and surrender, but they would learn that with time. She approached from behind and Harlowe came up beside the girls, whining softly. He didn't like it that his sisters were hurting his dad! He licked at Ehno's face, whining a bit louder as the girls jumped around on top of their father.
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<3! 287
The children’s mock-hunt had come to an end, and now all that was left for them was to savor their victory. His silly antics brought him back to his own childhood when he filled all of his spare time with little adventures and games to enjoy with his sisters. When he played little games like this with the pups, he almost felt like he as a pup again himself. He could think of nothing better than spending time with Naniko and the little ones like this. Their children would only be this young for so long, and they had to cherish every moment with them. Ehno especially wanted to spend as much time with the children right now, as his impending return to Crimson Dreams would put so much distance between them. He would have to miss out on some their younger days, but he was determined to make the most of the time he did have with them.
Amidst the giggles of his daughters, Ehno heard a soft whining and he realized that Naniko and Harlowe had come from where they watched the little hunt moments before. Ehno turned over to face his son, a smile on his features to show he was alright. Harlowe provided quite a contrast to his rambunctious sisters, already seeming to prefer quietly observing rather than becoming too hands-on with anything. Eventually the boy would have to try his hand at little practice games such as this, but Ehno knew he would grow into it in time. He gave the boy a playful nudge with his muzzle before giving him a reassuring lick. “Hey, don’t you worry, champ. Papa’s just fine. I’m made of tough stuff,” he said with a grin.
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[html] end? wc: 500
Naniko hadn't had the most normal childhood. And with everything that had happened to her before Twilight Vale had turned into Crimson Dreams, she was surprised that she hadn't gone to drugs or alcohol sooner. Her first major issue when she had been a child was her parents leaving and her sister running away. Naniko had missed Roman and Kaelyn so much...and then when Ponti had left her she hadn't known what to do with herself. At barely three months old, the pup had ventured out of Chimera to look for them herself. She had been convinced that they wouldn't just leave her and that if she were to look hard enough she would find them.
But those puppyish notions had left her soon enough. The child had wandered to a very dangerous territory without knowing it and had attempted to scale the cliff side, certain that Kaelyn or Roman would be there at the top of it to take her home. All that she had found in that territory had been heartbreak and horror, as she had tripped, falling off of the edge of one of the ledges. She had ended up with a lot of memory loss and one very painfully broken leg. Iskata had argued with Laruku to allow her to join Clouded Tears so that she might get better and have someone to look after her.
There were times when the female wondered where she would be if Iskata hadn't found her. She probably wouldn't have had so much drama in her life, that was for sure...but she wouldn't have gotten the experience of raising Davinci and might not have met Conri at all. She would have been a very different wolf, indeed. Maybe she would have ended up in Phoenix Valley anyway, though.
Dark green eyes smiled with laughter as their little hunt ended. She wanted to know how often he would be back, if they could make some kind of a schedule....or if he would just come back whenever he felt like it or had time. He was welcomed to visit, but Phoenix Valley wasn't his pack and she didn't want him to get into any trouble or anything, if she wasn't the one that met him at the border. There were many Phoenix Valley members who she hadn't even met yet, and one of them could possibly find him and not let him in. She wanted to be sure he could see them when he wanted to.
"I've got some dried beef to snack on when we get home, kids. Let's get off of Poppa and head back" Once the children were all back on solid ground she gave Ehno a nudge, tail waving back and forth. "You're invited too, of course. I have some extra food for us...we could cook it over the fire, if you'd like" They could use that as a lesson to the children about fire, perhaps. But she would think on it more once they got back home.
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Mhmmm. 520
Slowly the girls began to slow their playful attacks on their father and their giggling faded into bright smiles on their faces. Ehno still felt that fatherly elation from playing a silly little game with his children, but he could see that playtime would be over soon. His smile was just as bright as his daughters’ and he gave each of them, including the quietly worried Harlowe a loving nudge with his muzzle. He was happy to spend whatever time he had with them playing like this. The Marino couldn’t be sure just how much time he could have with them in the future, and they would be growing up so quickly. He savored these moments as if they were precious and vital to his life.
As Naniko called an end to their playtime, Ehno himself was suddenly once again aware of the reality of their situation. He had horribly conflicting thoughts on the split state of his family. He had grown to slowly accept that he would essentially be leading two lives within two packs, yet something about it still bothered him, something he could not quite put his finger on. It was particularly odd considering that he had never really taken the time to consider how his life would end up playing out. He had the vague image of a perfect little family, spending each day together and loving the company of one another. But the thought had never truly progressed further than that vague, shadow of an idea and perhaps that was why the Marino man could adjust to this lifestyle, though not fully.
Ehno realized then that he had been living his life up until now one step at a time, taking things as they came. As a youth, he had never expected that he would be leaving Italy nor did he imagine that he would wind up travelling so far from his homeland and his family. Somehow fate had been kind and reunited the family, though now they faced a different sort of separation. The Marino simply went along with things as they came, almost on a whim. Perhaps this was the case with his fleeting romance when he had first begun travelling through Italy. He could only recall the pull of the great unknown and strained goodbyes. Certainly that wouldn’t be the case anymore, right? He wondered if he would ever truly settle down and plan his life accordingly. Fate seemed too fickle with him to allow such a thing to happen.
But he could look upon his small family and have hope that everything would work out. This wasn’t something that he could simply decide for himself. It was quite ironic, now that he thought about it, that the one thing he wished he could decide and plan on was the only thing he had to wait to see how it would turn out. The puppies yipped happily at the prospect of food and looked excitedly to their mother. Ehno stood and nodded his agreement at Naniko’s idea. He smiled fondly at the snowy-pelted woman and returned her playful nudge. “That sounds great.”
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