Life was simple for little Faolán. All he knew was the warmth of his mother, the steady presence of his father, and the comforting press of his sisters curled against him. The world had once been nothing but darkness, but now things were changing. Eyes were opening, ears unfolding, and suddenly everything felt so much larger, so much more overwhelming.

The fuzzy figures around him were strange and uncertain, though their scents were comfortingly familiar. He blinked his newly opened blue eyes, caught between fear and curiosity. His mother noticed his hesitation and soothed him with gentle nuzzles and a soft lick atop his head. He decided he liked that very much.

Mmm. Bahbah. Hmph. He tested his voice for the first time outside his cries for care. The sounds felt odd on his tongue, but his mother’s delighted reaction drew a sloppy little smile to his face.

Something wiggled at his side, and he turned to see the hazy shapes of his sisters. With a happy squeak, he wiggled closer and playfully nibbled at Eilidh ’s tiny ear. But Saerlaith was just out of reach, so tantalizingly close, yet too far for the little bean.

She knew nothing if life. She wasn’t even sure when her existence exactly started. She felt the warmth of her mother, the movement of her siblings, and the waxing and waning of hunger. The tongue of her mother could be felt, and she felt comforted by the affection.

Time had passed, and she too opened her eyes for the first time around the same time as her brother. The light was new, but the world was making more sense now. Her world was limited, but she needed this time to figure out her body and what was going on.

She saw the white of her mother, but felt something to her side. It was her brother, nipping at her ear. She made a cry, her little paw clumsily slapping at her brother. Slap is perhaps a generous description, but her little paw did bring itself to her brother. Her focus was completely on him, and she knew not at the moment of his sister to her side.

[lestan goggled at the little ones in delight. he had not known quite how fast their eyes and ears would open. when the first new eyelids lifted, his tail began to beat against the floor of the den, then more loudly as little eilidh joined her brother. l-look! oh, goodness! you c-can see! their excitable father exclaimed, settling saerlaith a little closer if she woke. it's da, lestan murmured, lowering his muzzle to brush with utmost softness against each tiny head in turn. his breath washed over them, warm and rich with the scent of meat. the mayfair was giddy, glancing at them all and then to kirain in a pure welter of joy. f-first the sun, then the m-moon. and the w-wind, oh, you will l-love it!]

lestan goggled at the little ones in delight. he had not known quite how fast their eyes and ears would open. when the first new eyelids lifted, his tail began to beat against the floor of the den, then more loudly as little eilidh joined her brother.
l-look! oh, goodness! you c-can see! their excitable father exclaimed, settling saerlaith a little closer if she woke. it's da, lestan murmured, lowering his muzzle to brush with utmost softness against each tiny head in turn.
his breath washed over them, warm and rich with the scent of meat. the mayfair was giddy, glancing at them all and then to kirain in a pure welter of joy. f-first the sun, then the m-moon. and the w-wind, oh, you will l-love it!

A slap—from his dear sister?! Faolán was utterly aghast! In truth, it came out as a series of indignant squeaks before he wiggled away from her rudeness. He had more important things to focus on anyway.

His wide eyes fixed on the fuzzy brown shape before him, the scent warm and familiar. The giant was making noise, his voice a melody to ears that had only recently awoken to sound. Faolán blinked up at him in wonder, curious about what he was doing.

The little bean decided imitation was the best course of action. He pushed himself up as far as his tiny body allowed and babbled proudly back: Brr. Ahhm. Nem. Surely that was fair enough to say!

His mother’s soft, melodic laugh chimed through the air, amused by the exchange between her mate and their son. Faolán loved the sound, until suddenly he realized just how very small he was. How could he possibly defend himself against the likes of them?

His confidence wavered. A fresh string of squeaks burst forth, full of distress, though even he wasn’t certain who he was calling for.

Eilidh felt the touch of her father, noticing how BIG he was…yet she enjoyed the soft, comforting touch. The sounds were foreign, but she knew deep inside they were good sounds. Sounds she liked. The pup of white and brown yipped softly in response.

She crawls next to her brother, her form wobbly and not doing exactly what she wanted. ”...d….d…..d….da….brrrrr” she copied, from her father and her brother. Her grey- blue eyes looked from the smaller form of her brother, back to her father.

She feels then the distressing sounds from her brother, and she pushes her form against him. Her mouth reaches for his cheek to nip gently, before her eyes quickly get distracted by the large brown form of her father. Slowly, she crawls towards him, wanting to find his warm fur to snuggle in.

[they burbled! they squeaked! they crawled to and fro. brr! imitated their father, thrilling to see eilidh moving his way. he carefully guided her into the crook of one arm and held out the other for faolan. da! brr! lestan went on nonsensically. kirain's lovely voice became a laugh, and he found one of his own, chuckling at both himself and the vocal little pups between he and she. the witch nuzzled faolan, seeking to comfort him, and began to direct the boy into his other arm. perhaps their son might feel reassured if he was piled with his sisters as they often slept, lestan completely overlooking their interplay in his delight and awe.]

they burbled! they squeaked! they crawled to and fro. brr! imitated their father, thrilling to see eilidh moving his way. he carefully guided her into the crook of one arm and held out the other for faolan. da! brr! lestan went on nonsensically. kirain's lovely voice became a laugh, and he found one of his own, chuckling at both himself and the vocal little pups between he and she.
the witch nuzzled faolan, seeking to comfort him, and began to direct the boy into his other arm. perhaps their son might feel reassured if he was piled with his sisters as they often slept, lestan completely overlooking their interplay in his delight and awe.

His father spoke back to him! If not for his distress, he might have marveled at the miracle of it. Perhaps there was hope for the gentle giant after all. Then came movement, and the little bean froze. What was happening? Where was his sister going? Panic would have overtaken him again, his fuzzy gaze darting, if not for the soothing nuzzles that quickly followed from his father. Quieted, he pressed his face against the warmth of his broad furred cheek.

Brr… D… d… a… he murmured, his tiny heart finally beginning to settle. Then he was guided into an arm, into his sister’s embrace. With a happy yip, Faolán crawled over to her, nestling close in the crook of his father’s arm. This, he decided, he could get used to.

Eilidh felt the encouragement from her father, and snuggled into his arm. She felt safe, despite not really know what was going on, and who those large creatures are. All she knew was her mind felt good here, and she wanted to stay here.

”Mmmmbrah,” she murmured, nipping at her father’s arm, searching for milk that was not there. She then felt the closeness of her brother, a form she was quite familiar with at this point. ”Ah brrrr…aaa” she babbled, her mouth nipping now at her brother’s ear…once again, no milk to be found.

[faolan came close, and then eilidh. the girl appeared rather hungry, and slowly, ever so slowly, lestan rolled her into his paws and slowly tipped her toward kirain. but not before he ensured that his wide happy eyes met the blurry vision of the baby who wore a namesake once starring in mayfair. he cradled faolan thereafter, prepared to set the boy at the buffet once his sister had settled. bliss! i do th-think i am qu-quite happy, kirain, lestan murmured aloud. beyond them, the honeysuckle scent blurred with the whir of cicadas, and the desultory tones of birdsong; he heard the cooing of doves somewhere in the canopy above, the splash of otters in the nearby stream. summertime, one of peace. one of love. one of healing.]

faolan came close, and then eilidh. the girl appeared rather hungry, and slowly, ever so slowly, lestan rolled her into his paws and slowly tipped her toward kirain. but not before he ensured that his wide happy eyes met the blurry vision of the baby who wore a namesake once starring in mayfair. he cradled faolan thereafter, prepared to set the boy at the buffet once his sister had settled.
bliss!
i do th-think i am qu-quite happy, kirain, lestan murmured aloud. beyond them, the honeysuckle scent blurred with the whir of cicadas, and the desultory tones of birdsong; he heard the cooing of doves somewhere in the canopy above, the splash of otters in the nearby stream.
summertime, one of peace. one of love. one of healing.

Despite his sister’s absence, he was quite content nestled in the warmth of his father’s arms. He would have gladly remained there, if not for the hunger that seemed to haunt him endlessly. Much like his sister, he sought the familiar source of nourishment that had comforted him since entering this strange new world. But Father did not possess what he craved, and so he began to wiggle and squeak in protest.

Kirain watched the scene with adoration, her heart full at the sight of her child and her mate together. These were the moments she longed for, precious memories to hold close forever. Leaning over, she brushed her muzzle tenderly against her husband’s. "Me too, Lestan,” she murmured softly.