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It's finally up! 
Word Count: 382
Nimble fingers danced above the flames for a moment, and Dawali's face carried a gentle smile as his eyes stared into the fire. He sat outside his hut in the southern part of the Village. The Windy Moon had just started; he could feel it in the weather. Still the air, and its currents, was cold, but not quite as heavy with winter as it had been some days before. Snow still lingered on the ground, it had looked like blanket that would never go away; now it looked like it was clinging to the ground, trying to find foothold where there was none. Or perhaps that was just his mind imagining things. Still, spring had come, and this cranky male was happy for it. He had always preferred the warm seasons to the cold, partly because his pelt was not made for snow and ice, but mostly because he preferred the sun. He simply adored sun, with its heat and life and ability to make everything beautiful. Sure, snow was also pretty to look at, but snow was never quite so magnificent-looking as it was when an unrelenting sun shone onto it and made it sparkle like stars.
Time had come to kill the hearth that had been his sun, his source of heat and comfort throughout the winter. He would kill this winter fire, and he would create a new one, one for the spring. Around him lay objects, some which usually hung on the belt around his waist. Today, they didn't, for they were about to be used. Most notably, a large, flat stone was on the ground next to him, and on it some five or seven glowing embers in a cluster. Taken from the ceremonial fire, he would use them to rekindle the fire of spring. This was the way it was always done in AniWaya, and though he was among the only ones to do things the old way, he was not deterred. He smiled as he slowly prepared for his little ceremony, thinking of the first time he had witnessed it in detail, performed by his father. Every family had done it eveyr season, and he had always thought that it was a very important thing to do; to continue the work of one's family.
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Awesome sexy table by Kat! [/html]
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Table by Frost.
OOC: 756 words; Sorry it took so long.
All the pup knew was snow and winter weather. So to him the snow was a thing of beauty simply because he knew of no other. The snow was cold yet soft, which he knew of by having leapt into the piles over and over again. It was such a simple game yet it entertained him for a great while. At least until he finally tired. That was a feat in and of itself. After all he usually had energy to spare. One really had to praise Ember for being able to put up with the boy and his quirks. And especially for remembering to refer to him as a girl and treat him as such. That certainly had to be a challenge. Especially when others were destined to look at you strange for referring to your adopted son as a daughter. That was even if any knew of him. She might have decided to not even acknowledge him being under her care because of his quirks. Not that she could be blamed. He really had no ties to her at all. She had ended up just getting stuck with him because he had no one else and nowhere else to go. In that aspect alone Ember could be seen as a saint.
Though Ember had made mention of another leader. To Lotus this automatically meant that this other leader had to be his Daddy. And of course that means that there were plenty of questions rambling about in his mind. Like why Daddy wasn’t at home with Mommy and him. Ah, if only someone except the co-leader had taken him in. If so the Kalona wouldn’t have to worry about being bothered. But that simply wasn’t so. In fact Lotus had made it a point to set this day aside just to find him and bombard him with questions. Usually he spent his time wandering about and exploring but after prodding his Mommy for information about where the other leader was and what he looked like Lotus was determined to find him. And luck had it that the other was outside so that the pup wouldn’t have to barge into the homes of others in search of Dawali.
“Hi Daddy!” The greeting was called out excitedly as Lotus quickly raced over. Of course he failed to notice that he looked nothing like either of the wolves that he claimed were his parents. Genetics were simply beyond his understanding. To him it was simply a male and female leader meant they had to be his Daddy and Mommy. To him it made sense even if others wouldn’t see it in such a way. With the vocal greeting came the attempt for a physical one as well. He tried to climb into the leader’s lap in an attempt to lick at his face in way of an affectionate greeting. “What are you doing all the way over here Daddy? Were you sick and had to stay away? Are you coming home soon? Mommy misses you at home. Please come home, please?” The words came out in quick succession. Clearly Lotus already had his mind made up about the situation. Even though he had never met this wolf before he had no doubt that this was his Daddy. After all he had only met his Mommy not long ago. The information had been passed on that his Mommy had gone on ahead to find somewhere that was free of sickness and had sent for him once such a place has been found. He was simply too young not to believe what he was told. To him it all just made sense and was easily accepted.
“What are you doing? Can I help? I want to play too!” Again a barrage of words as he finally noticed all of the items laid out upon the ground. Without having even been given the approval, or even knowing what exactly was going on, his tail wagged excitedly at just the thought that he would get to help his Daddy with some project or another. Just wait until he told his Mommy what he did today! Wouldn’t she just be so proud of him? He certainly liked to think so. After all he did want to make his Mommy proud of him. And now his Daddy too. And wouldn’t his Mommy be even happier if he got Daddy to come back home where he is supposed to be? Of course his mind was jumping way ahead of anything that was going on.
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Sorry for the wait
Word Count: 537
His little ritual was suddenly interrupted by a racing bullet; a ball of fur thundering his way with an excited face. It was Ember's little adoptive kid. Dawali always liked children, adored them even, but he wasn't quite so sure about this deal. He wasn't quite so sure what he thought about Ember having this kid with her. And he definitely wasn't so sure what he thought about him calling him Daddy. Oh, what twist of fate had brought this naive belief into the child's head? The Chief's one eyebrow was raised automatically as he observed the child racing towards him and naming him as his dad. This only lasted until the child climbed onto him, extending his tongue and "washing" his face a little in greeting. While the Chief was not uncomfortable with displays of affection, and not uncomfortable with children, he was uncomfortable with this, and so he grabbed the child firmly with both arms and lifted him off of himself, though maintained a smile and a kind face. The child did not understand, and he would not want to hurt his feelings. Giving a little chuckle (for it was a little charming, after all), he put the boy down onto the ground. A series of questions that made him no less uncomfortable flew from Lotus as he was in the air, and Dawali's chuckle died abruptly. Masking this feeling, he gave the little boy a pseudo-explanation. "Now, Lotus? I live here, Dawali's home is here in this hut, and your home is with Ember." His thoughts brushed the one sentence; Mommy misses you at home. Was it the child's imagination, or was his sub-leader still walking around with such thoughts? He hoped not. Uncomfortable, he coughed to clear his voice and continued. "You see, we don't live together." His forehead wrinkled, hoping this explanation would silence the boy, and not send him into another deep stream of questions he could not logically answer. If this child thought they were a family, it could be very sad for him to realize they were not, at least so directly. It was better to avoid the subject and let him realize it on his own, Dawali thought.
The child wanted to help, and now the Chief grew more comfortable. This was more normal interaction, and he could do that. "Dawali is going to put this fire out, and then make it burn again." He found that he simplified his own language to suit the boy, and wasn't sure of what he thought about that. And what was with the speaking of himself in the third person? Ignoring this sudden atypical behavior, Dawali continued. "You can help me; we should throw sand on it so it doesn't burn anymore." Showing him with his hand, moving dirt from next to himself and throwing it on the fire. Still moist with the remnants of winter and the freshness of the morning and spring, it caused the fire to hiss a little, before looking quite the same. More sand would be needed. Good thing Dawali had help! He had never met a child that didn't think it was fun to throw dirt around; and better yet, being allowed to do so.
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Awesome sexy table by Kat! [/html]
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Table by Frost.
OOC: 568 words; Sorry, life has been hectic
Lotus was just an overly affectionate child. He simply didn’t know better. It was the exact way he greeted Ember so he didn’t see why he should treat his Daddy differently. There hadn’t been a pause to think about his assumption. He knew of Ember as his Mommy and she was a leader. Dawali was the other leader so to him it just made sense that Dawali was his Daddy just because he was leader. And honestly he didn’t actually know that Ember had feelings for the red wolf. Lotus had simply been saying something to try and get the older male to return home with him. He just simply assumed that they had lived together previously. They were leaders and so he figured that they had to live together. It wasn’t right for his family to live in different places. That just meant that he had to convince his Daddy to come home and live with them again.
“Mommy and me have room for you too. I’ll move all my toys and you can fit too.” He gave his own semi explanation in return. He figured the reason that Dawali thought to live elsewhere was because there might not be enough room. If it wasn’t sickness keeping him away then it had to be the worry about not all of them being able to fit. “Or me and Mommy can move in here with you.” Yes, Lotus was already making plans without consulting anyone. But then again that was just one of the charms of youth. He just automatically assumed that Dawali wanted them all together. He didn’t seem to grasp the concept of there not even being a family to try to bring back together. So what would prove to be worse? His questioning or his planning?
Though luckily his attention drifted off to something else. But that was just to be expected with someone his young. Attention always drifting to the next interesting thing. But as inquisitive as ever the answer he was given only made way for another question. “Why?” It was that simple one word question that tended come before lengthy explanations. But certainly he could be forgiven for not realizing it was a custom. That there was a special meaning behind it. This was his first time experiencing any of this. So being allowed to help with something so special was a real joy. Especially since he wasn’t being turned away and told to go play. Just wait until his Mommy heard about the day that he had spent with his Daddy. Wouldn’t she just be so proud? Lotus could prove that he was a big girl.
The pup watched as the sand was picked up and tossed on the fire. He tried to mimic what was done but was unsuccessful at it. He just wasn’t able to gather up to sand in his forepaws or balance on his hindpaws long enough to toss it on as Dawali had done. A concentrated frown landed upon his features as he attempted it again but was still unable to do so. That just left him doing it the old fashioned way. Back was turned towards the fire and hindpaws become firmly planted with his little legs spread. Forepaws dug at the sand and scooped it between his legs and back towards the fire, trying to make it on the flames and not everywhere else.
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