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For Yelena

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While most of their children were off gallivanting and presumably destroying alliances by the minute, one of the Callosum children remained suspiciously quiet.

Alder frowned. He suspected he knew what the matter was.

Finding Yelena's scent led back inside the guest den, he bent down and thrust his head inside with a soft woof.

Yelena? he called into the darkness. Everything alright?

Maneuvering himself into the entrance, Alder descended into the den's cool air and waited for his eyes to adjust. It didn't take long for him to spot her fiery coat even through the inky darkness - she looked so much like him, he thought. It filled him with pride as much as it did fear for her future. He sighed.

Just because it happened to him, doesn't mean it had to define her future, too.

Yelena. His voice was softer, lower. He padded closer to her and knelt down close by, not touching, but enough to at least offer his presence if she chose.

It's okay to be anxious. I was, too, when I was your age, he offered. Your father was very much the 'black sheep' everywhere he went. It was lonely, but as much as it had to do with others, I think I made it even lonelier for myself as a result.

It took every ounce of his strength not to reach out and pull her close, but he wasn't - good with that sort of thing, even still. Solvi had been the only creature who wanted his touch, and it was difficult reconciling that perhaps their children might also enjoy being near him; hells, even seek him out for comfort. It was a foreign feeling, but one he hoped to get used to.

If you want, I can help introduce you to some of the other pups around here.

A rush of warmth spread throughout his chest as she gently laid her head upon his arm. It was like witnessing their birth all over again; that inexplicable tightening of his throat, that overwhelming feeling of love which seemed to fill every inch of his body so tightly he thought he might burst.

Alder's tail wagged very subtly behind him, despite his best efforts.

Fatherhood was incredible.

He bent down to give Yelena a reassuring lick, nibbling affectionately at her nape before he withdrew. I didn't know I could either, he said truthfully. I always thought everyone was laughing at me, or they would find something wrong with me. He carefully chose not to specify the something wrong was very often his bright, flame-red coat, which she also shared in part with him. It wouldn't do any good to make her feel insecure about something that wasn't an issue - and heaven help the wolf who tried to make it one, he thought bitterly.

You're not a problem at all. You're my little spark, he said, and Alder couldn't resist the urge to give her another nuzzle even if it risked being smothering. But you don't want to be like your dad was. No one to play with, no friends, taking long, boring walks at the edge of the territory... talking to yourself gets old after a while.

Lifting his other paw, he propped it up beneath his chin and pretended to look very pensive.

I could use some more friends. You could help me make some, you know - you're pretty cute, much cuter than I am, he said, And everyone loves talking to cute little pups like you. What do you say?