The pups' eyes have opened, and it means Dimitri's got work to do. Finding Fiadh food is one of the few reasons she leaves the den. Otherwise, her time has been occupied, every moment, by the tiny bodies around her. She speaks to them constantly, mostly in Russian, wishing them to know her voice. She adores them so much, and it hurts. It's scary to think that so many terrible things could happen to them at any moment.

It's also scary to think that she's not going to be a good Мама to them. With a rabbit in her jaws, she remembers the distance Amaranth had when they were young. Her siblings, Alder especially, had never been particularly close to her. Dimitri had noticed that, sensitive and empathetic as she is, and writhed over the fact that Amaranth may have resented them. She's determined to never let her children feel that, but would she... would she hurt them in other ways?

Мама had never hurt her-- not until recently, when the visions came and chased them from Elysium. And being told that Valeska would say nearly destroyed Dimitri's resolve. Had Fiadh not been so close to birth, would she have even left?

For Valeska's sake, Dimitri hopes the visions are overblown.

And yet, the universe seems to have ways of knowing what she's thinking. The festival is around the corner, so of course visitors would be coming, but for this visitor to carry familiar silver fur?

Dimitri drops the rabbit. "Мама." But she doesn't step away from it, as much as she wants to rush to her mother and make sure the water hasn't destroyed her. The seven lives in the den depend on Dimitri's vigilance. "Мама, you came."

Skill: Blabbermouth

"I will stay behind."

She'd said that. She'd said that a number of weeks ago and she'd meant it, but there was also the matter of grandchildren, and she would be gods-damned (Houtu forgive her) if she would miss this for anything - end of the world or not. Short legs carried her with the swiftness of eagles as she hurried across the landscape, kicking up wads of half-melted snow in her wake with an almost feral look to her eyes.

Grandchildren.

Grandchildren.

Valeska knew she had been created to love and care for children. Other people's children, specifically - two litters on and she felt quite finished with the whole pup-rearing ordeal, but this, this was the tangible fruits of her labor, the great reward for her long years spent desperately trying to raise up eight (mostly) functional adults in the world.

She thought the idea of renting babies was just delightful. You could play with them, coddle them, spoil them, and then hand them back to their parents at the end of the day.

So consumed by her own thoughts, Valeska hardly noticed the passage of time, and suddenly she found herself standing in front of Dimitri heaving like a bellows and thoroughly out of breath. It had taken all of her strength to resist the plagued lake's pull in the Respite, but no force could have kept her behind.

Dimitri, she rasped, throat raw from both the journey and the acidic effects of the plague-water, Of course - haannhhh - I came! I would not miss this - hhaaagghh - for anything!

Valeska staggered forward to wrap her neck around Dimitri's much slimmer one, beaming thoroughly from ear to ear.

You are a parent! Oh, how does it feel? she said excitedly, pulling away. I must see them! May I see them? Oh, I know they must be so beautiful; it runs in the family, you know - my parents were both so lovely, and even despite the terribleness of her own family situation it is clear that Amaranth also hails from attractive lineage - ah, I hope one of them has your eyes, you always had such a beautiful shade of lavender -

She prattled on, and the universe begged her to be stopped.

Mama looks like shit. And she sounds like shit. This isn't good. Fiadh's doomsaying might hold some weight. And is Valeska really that out of shape, or is she sick? That's not good. Either way, Dimitri lets her come close. Being the first child to have grandchildren, this is a heavy responsibility. Her daughters cannot disappoint.

And she would ask more about Valeska's health later. Perhaps she'd recruit Fable to give Valeska a look, though she feels like she asks so much of Fable.

Maybe Koyuki wouldn't mind a trade, then...

Eeeh, don't think about it. Instead, lean into her. Sigh. Remember Mother. Try not to think about the fleeting nature of life.

"I barely sleep." Dimitri doesn't know how to hold back the inside thoughts, the ones she's been stifling. "I don't know what I would do if anything were to happen to any of them, and it makes me sick." With a wan smile, she tilts her head towards the den. "But I'm sure Fiadh wouldn't mind seeing you, too." She leans down and grabs the rabbit. With a steady stride, she leads Valeska to the den. Fiadh's let people in all the time, so Valeska shouldn't be an issue.

First thing's first, Fiadh's dinner. With a quick headbutt to Fiadh's shoulder, Dimitri leaves the rabbit near her jaws. The pups, so small, with their eyes just opening, are the second order of business. Dimitri speaks aloud, sure the children are listening. "Girls, your babushka is here. She is my Мама, like me to you." She'll explain that to Valeska later. "Son" is a fine thing to be called, but "Father" feels unnecessary.

First, the golden child, shining in Amaranth's tones with a bit of Fiadh's greens. "This is Ksyusha," and to the ever-present shadows at her side, "Cian, Sasha," to the ones in Dimitri's silvers, "Siobhan, Éabha," and finally, the brilliant red, "and Darragh." She watches Valeska hawkishly. Sure, that's Mama, but anything could happen. "Darragh was named for Fiadh's father, and the others were names we liked."

Skill: Klutz [1/5]

---

Sasha could smell the stranger before she showed her face in the den. Her damp little nose twitched against the strange smell, ears pricked at the muffled sound of... something. It was a voice, yet it sounded more like the creaking of an old tree than words.

Yet, more importantly, she could hear the soft sounds that would always come from the grounding presence of the gray-brown blob that never left the mouth of their den. It was, perhaps, one of the two only comforts she'd learned to know in the short days she'd been present here, in this strange world.

Something garbled rumbled in the depths of Sasha's throat. Perhaps each sound, each little squeak, truly held meaning to her—that, or it was to her the same as it was for everyone else. Mindless, soft babbles of raw emotion that she didn't know yet how to process. All she knew was that the towering form of the figure she'd come to know as comfort, as protection, was now here. Standing with the strange-smelling form of something at the maw of the den, where the light was too bright, making her squint.

The pup's vocalizations did not cease; in fact, they grew with a steady crescendo as the gentle hum of Dimitri's words continued to purr through the den. She spoke. She stood at the den, by the mother's side. Yet, she did not come to her. Sasha yelped. Something a cross between anguish and ire—and suddenly, she was standing.

When had her legs grown so long? The little girl froze, stubby ears pricked as high as they could be (which was not high at all). Since when could she stand, like her two Мамаs can? A brave motion brought one disproportionately large paw in front of the other, and the dark pup was moving—walking! Revolutionary!

One paw over the other, slowly, steadily. This wouldn't be hard to get the hang of—at least, it would've been if there wasn't the slightest of bumps in the den's ground. Sasha's toes caught on the mound of earthen floor, and down she did tumble.

She could cry. She could sit there and squeal until attention would gravitate towards her—yet, that didn't work. She learned that a few seconds ago. So, just like before, unsteady limbs hoisted the round body up. Stumbling like a drunkard, she advanced again, until finally! She stood just beside Dimitri's long limbs. Her tail flew like propellers as she prodded at the tall figure's legs. She made it here, all by herself—so, surely she deserved some cuddles for that?

Skill 1/5: Bulldozer

My Darling, You will never be unloved by me, you are too well tangled in my soul
1-0-1 OC

---

speech emotional actions thoughts

The silver pup wasn't quick, nor eager to venture from the confines of the den. It was warm and cozy, sheltered from the elements and from the dangers that lingered beyond what she understood. Her chunky paws stumbled, barley keeping her upright and hardly able to handle the heavy head on her shoulders.

Beyond where she ventured normally, she could hear a voice, two of them actually. One she knew oh too well, the other drag on with a hoarseness that seemed to hurt. Unsure, the round pup, stumpy and wobbly, wiggled around to get to chunkier paws. Vibrant citrus eyes staring at Dimitri, Sasha and..Babushka? Dimitri's mother..

Without a second thought, although falling several times, The silvered pup was hauling herself as quickly as her paws could go. Caring not that she was beelining straight into Sasha, rounded body moving like a slow motion missile. Body colliding with the dark furred pup, rolling slightly then staring at her for a mere moment. Questioning on her actions and then looking to the big silver wolf, was this Babushka?

Whilst just small, the pups entire body wiggled with excitement that was hard to contain, writhing and due to this, falling over. Instead of whining, she just played with it and rolled to her back, paws stretching for the sky and towards Babushka.

Skill:

---

She'd lagged behind. Not because she didn't want to be in the forefront, more so that she did not know how to be there. It had never been her place. Amaranth had never been the parent that her children had gone to for kindness or advice.

Perhaps she'd been a little too distant — a little too sharp. (Scary? Was that the word? Hmm.) She'd learned only recently how to soften her edges to those around her. Previous to that, only Valeksa had truly ever known what little warmth Amaranth could give.

And so she lagged, watching from a distance as Valeksa and Dimitri exchanged words and smiles. Valeska was practically glowing, her voice incessant between bouts of tremendous coughing. Dimitri, too, shimmered with the light of parenthood. It was a side of Dimitri that was new, and yet there was a certain note about it that felt natural.

Amaranth slowed, keeping her distance as pleasantries were exchanged.

Her gaze scanned, seeking the little ones, but the denning area was already a bit crowded. So, instead, she simply rested on her haunches and listened.

Ksyusha. Cian. Sasha. Siobhan. Éabha. Darragh.

The next generation of Callosums.

---

She woofed a gentle, quiet greeting to Dimitri when she returned to the den, her tail wagging as she curled around the sleeping or eating pups. Wouldn't do to wake the little eaglets would it? Hey! You're not dead! Fiadh said in a way of greeting, cheerful as ever, when she saw the pair follow in after Dimitri (so much for not waking the kids). Bumping her nose against hers when Dimitri set the rabbit down, uncurling from the pups (dislodging the feeders! Aggression! Jail for mother!) and standing to take the rabbit further from the nest to keep it from getting bloody. Sound like shit though aye? She could only imagine, as she tucked into the rabbit, some of the whining children she left behind toddling forward towards Dimitri and their mothers.

She should tell the pair about Sparrow, the little wolf's burns, maybe it'll make the pair stay.

...later though, let them meet the kids.

Skill: Orator

The second Fiadh stood and dislodged the golden puffball from her teat, there was an uproar. High pitched, baby uproar. Ksyusha did not yet have a grasp of words but by the five she was going to give the world a piece of her mind, this was an outrage! Injustice! She was going to wither away to nothing! (Lies, she's the fattest one of the bunch)

Her sisters were leaving her too!

Well that just won't do, so on little, wobbly footsteps, Ksyusha went forward. Towards the sound of Мама, sniffing at the air for direction and overcompensating her steps, she has crawled this way before but this thing called walking? New, exciting! Now the sharp nose of Ma surely won't push her away from the fresh scents and bright lights of the unknown, she's too fast! (it's taking her forever to even get to the trio)

Seeing this as her chance to explore further than she's ever been before, she toddles past Dimitri , past Valeska, pumping into the golden fur of Amaranth that she had thought was the exit of her little world. Ksyusha babbled up her complaints, looking up at the figure she couldn't see clearly. What was this, the 'babushka'? Ba. Bab Bab

You're bab now, Amaranth.

Skill: Warrior 1/5

Her fur stands on-end. The little red demon kicks another sibling in the face, bullying them away from the nipple, but then Ma moves and she screams. Ah, but Mommy is here? With someone that smells new? Darragh stands up, stumbles, and then screams again. She'll keep these weird ladies away! Mommy says some words she doesn't understand, in a soft voice, and Darragh can already see the weird lady outside.

Ksyusha is going for her. Well, if the weird lady is nice to Ksyusha, Darragh won't chew her toes off. Because that's something she could do, clearly.

Skill - Warrior

Life had been going well, well enough that the child knew no better. Food was available throughout the day, warmth was constant, and if she wanted attention, which she often did not, she could get it. On just another day, things seemed to be different, with more voices and hustle and bustle in general that seemed to flatten the girl's ears to her head. It was much too much.

And then she was kicked.

Siobhan couldn't help but raise her head with the sourest look on her wrinkled puppy face. It was locked onto the one in red. When the warmth of her Mama rose from the crevices of their hideaway, Siobhan did not cry. Not unlike that one, the one who screamed and screamed. IT was the same one who had kicked her, trying to flee the scene with the rest of them.

She ignored the others in their brood, extending her frumpy stumps (legs), and began to stand. It was unsteady, the girl wobbling left and right with the occasional stumble back to square one, but once she was up, there was no stopping her. She took charge and waltzed towards the squealer.

Her intent was obvious, the integrity of her actions shining true as she socked the child with her body weight, hoping to silence their outrage.

It might not be much, but it was honest work.