[their little children were able now to climb from the lip of the den, and lestan busied himself in the clearing beyond. he picked up twigs, cleared any pebbles that might invite a choking mouth, cleared puddles of high dirt and any lurking briars. trees hung over in a fringed shade, but past them lay a vast sunspill of open land. the mayfair had not feared hawks, eagles, falcons, or ospreys before -- now each morning he paced with his head tilted back, buttoned to the sky in case of such talon-heavy birds. in time the pups would be out of such reach, but they were vulnerable now. he often worried of this to Kirain, in whose words he always found assurance and the consistency of a wholesome love. he had just completed a third anxious circuit of the clearing when a sound snapped his attention sideways, honeyblue eyes focusing hard.]

their little children were able now to climb from the lip of the den, and lestan busied himself in the clearing beyond. he picked up twigs, cleared any pebbles that might invite a choking mouth, cleared puddles of high dirt and any lurking briars. trees hung over in a fringed shade, but past them lay a vast sunspill of open land.
the mayfair had not feared hawks, eagles, falcons, or ospreys before -- now each morning he paced with his head tilted back, buttoned to the sky in case of such talon-heavy birds. in time the pups would be out of such reach, but they were vulnerable now. he often worried of this to Kirain, in whose words he always found assurance and the consistency of a wholesome love.
he had just completed a third anxious circuit of the clearing when a sound snapped his attention sideways, honeyblue eyes focusing hard.

Kirain watched from the den as her husband paced and fretted, clearing and preparing with restless energy. His anxiety tugged at her heart, yet at the same time, it made her profoundly proud to call him her mate. Their children were proving to be anxious little things, much like their father. She wasn’t sure whether to find it amusing or heartbreaking that they had inherited such indecisiveness.

For now, they simply watched their father work, wide-eyed and curious. Lestan seemed so certain that the threat from the sky was of the utmost concern, but Kirain tempered his fear as best she could.

Then, little Faolán stumbled forward, surprisingly brave, all things considered, and Kirain smiled encouragingly. She had only just turned her gaze to reassure her daughters when a shadow flickered at the edge of her vision. Her head snapped up in time to see a bird diving, talons outstretched.

With a deep, guttural growl, she lunged to cover her son, every protective instinct flaring to life. The hawk thought better than to challenge teeth with talons and veered sharply away. Kirain’s heart thundered in her chest, a new and terrible fear rooting itself within her. Grabbing Faolán by the scruff, she retreated swiftly into the den, urging her other two deeper inside.

[for lestan, this was the equivalent of confirming all anxieties past and present. time slid to a horrified slowness; he felt his limbs numb and useless as he tried to swing toward kirain, toward their son, toward the plummeting raptor. but the lady mayfair moved far more swiftly, her challenging rumble seeming to shake lestan, to tremble in the very sky. lestan's own instinct veered against the dirt left behind by his mate's paws, a spray as he snapped in the air after the wheeling bird. then, moments reclaiming themselves; skin hot and all commontongue driven right out of his mouth, he trotted forward on shaking legs and lay beside the den. he would not enter, not while the sun was high enough to see any errant preybirds soaring in shadow. a bheil thu ceart gu leòr, a kirain? (be you well, kirain?) he panted, eyes moving between shelter and the not-so-inviting fall of sun pouring into the grass. agus a faolán, a bheil thusa ceart gu leòr cuideachd? (and faolán, are you well also?) lestan shut his eyes, leaned back his head. his heart raced, and he was a bit helplessly angry, though at no one in particular.]

for lestan, this was the equivalent of confirming all anxieties past and present. time slid to a horrified slowness; he felt his limbs numb and useless as he tried to swing toward kirain, toward their son, toward the plummeting raptor.
but the lady mayfair moved far more swiftly, her challenging rumble seeming to shake lestan, to tremble in the very sky. lestan's own instinct veered against the dirt left behind by his mate's paws, a spray as he snapped in the air after the wheeling bird.
then, moments reclaiming themselves; skin hot and all commontongue driven right out of his mouth, he trotted forward on shaking legs and lay beside the den. he would not enter, not while the sun was high enough to see any errant preybirds soaring in shadow.
a bheil thu ceart gu leòr, a kirain? (be you well, kirain?) he panted, eyes moving between shelter and the not-so-inviting fall of sun pouring into the grass. agus a faolán, a bheil thusa ceart gu leòr cuideachd? (and faolán, are you well also?)
lestan shut his eyes, leaned back his head. his heart raced, and he was a bit helplessly angry, though at no one in particular.

She stood protectively over her children as her heartbeat gradually slowed from its thunderous pace. A prickling of shame crept through Kirain as she recalled dismissing her mate’s warnings about the hunters of the sky. The image of talons sinking into soft flesh before vanishing into the heavens with their prize nearly brought her to tears.

She checked Faolán, then checked him again, even though nothing had touched him but her. He was in surprisingly good spirits, and that small fact washed her in relief. Turning toward the den’s entrance to check on her husband, she called out softly, Tha sinn gu math, a ghràidh. Na gabh dragh, ma ’s e do thoil e. (We are fine, my love. Please don't worry.)

As she spoke, the little ones wriggled free from her embrace, tumbling toward the entrance and calling out for their da. If not for what had just happened, she might have melted at the sight of their adorable determination. She allowed them to wander closer to their father, hoping that seeing them safe and whole would bring him peace.

That… was certainly an adventure, don’t you think, mo ghràidh? Not quite how I’d hoped our day would go, but I suppose there’s not much we can do about that. Are you okay?

Her tone was gentle, with a playful lilt meant to soothe the tension lingering in both their hearts.

[had kirain called in any other language, lestan would still had felt the exultant rush of relief. but hearing the scots made his heart sigh, just a little, and the tautness fled almost in totality from his shoulders. when the children bounded close, he opened his arms to them, hiding the unsurety on his face with a brief smile. i am all right, dove. and he meant it, that truth standing in his face before he turned to the pups. th-that was a hawk. they h-hunt things smaller than themselves. squirrels, r-rabbits, other b-birds. the mayfair peered seriously into all three small faces. little wolves. he did not want to single his son out for a scolding, as what had almost just occurred was frightening enough. so lestan sat back to address them all. wh-when you are sm-small, you m-must never leave these trees. where the sun t-touches the earth is not s-safe for you alone. not yet, he added, wanting to cheer his children. there would come a time when they could venture thus with much little danger; when they emerged from the shadowy cocoon of their den, they would transform into something far more dangerous than that hawk which had threatened faolán. r-remember that you are w-witches, and witches pay attention to what h-happens around them. the honeyblue eyes were gentle once more, some confidence returned.]

had kirain called in any other language, lestan would still had felt the exultant rush of relief. but hearing the scots made his heart sigh, just a little, and the tautness fled almost in totality from his shoulders. when the children bounded close, he opened his arms to them, hiding the unsurety on his face with a brief smile. i am all right, dove. and he meant it, that truth standing in his face before he turned to the pups. th-that was a hawk. they h-hunt things smaller than themselves. squirrels, r-rabbits, other b-birds.
the mayfair peered seriously into all three small faces. little wolves.
he did not want to single his son out for a scolding, as what had almost just occurred was frightening enough. so lestan sat back to address them all. wh-when you are sm-small, you m-must never leave these trees. where the sun t-touches the earth is not s-safe for you alone. not yet, he added, wanting to cheer his children. there would come a time when they could venture thus with much little danger; when they emerged from the shadowy cocoon of their den, they would transform into something far more dangerous than that hawk which had threatened faolán.
r-remember that you are w-witches, and witches pay attention to what h-happens around them.
the honeyblue eyes were gentle once more, some confidence returned.

Stepping forward just enough to brush her muzzle against her husband’s, she offered him reassurance in the way she knew best. As he began explaining the threat to their little ones, Kirain kept her expression composed, nodding along and adding the occasional sound of agreement. She couldn’t help but think, in moments like these, what a wonderful father he was.

When he spoke of their safety directly, she leaned in with a teasing glint and offered the pups playful nuzzles and light nips.

Little wolves!

All three pups squealed with delight before settling back down to listen to their father.

We know you want to explore, she added. There’s so much for you to see in this world, but we must be safe. Be mindful of your surroundings at all times. Not only will it protect you, but it will let you see things you might have missed otherwise.

Kirain couldn’t help the soft giggle that bubbled up at the witches’ comment. Her eyes shone with pride, her tail wagging happily behind her.

Our wonderful little witches, she said more softly, before pressing a kiss to Lestan’s cheek. Now, what can we do safely that would still be fun, hm?

Her silver eyes danced over their children before meeting her mate’s honey-blue gaze.

[they would grow up into silent hunters and skilled trackers, lestan believed. silence in the underbrush was the first way to achieve these things, and by taking their time to enter the bright world, they would learn this. i c-can teach you now, in the shadows, to follow scents wh-where the plants are most tangled. to demonstrate, he gestured up at the canopy above them, dozens of branches all working in unison to shade the ground below. or perhaps that had not been their attempt; perhaps they were only too old to disengage now. lestan kissed their mother for the wish of it, smiled into her eyes. he straightened then, standing, lifting a paw to trace the air. he showed them where the trees thickened at their bases as well, where foliage grew closer and closer together at that juncture. wh-what lives in grass and leaves? m-mice. rats. little b-birds. go and see, the mayfair encouraged, motioning their pups toward the cluster of trees in the middle of this copse which shielded them. their legs would strengthen, elongate. their minds would sharpen. he and kirain were watching the young become wolves before their very eyes.]

they would grow up into silent hunters and skilled trackers, lestan believed. silence in the underbrush was the first way to achieve these things, and by taking their time to enter the bright world, they would learn this. i c-can teach you now, in the shadows, to follow scents wh-where the plants are most tangled.
to demonstrate, he gestured up at the canopy above them, dozens of branches all working in unison to shade the ground below. or perhaps that had not been their attempt; perhaps they were only too old to disengage now.
lestan kissed their mother for the wish of it, smiled into her eyes. he straightened then, standing, lifting a paw to trace the air. he showed them where the trees thickened at their bases as well, where foliage grew closer and closer together at that juncture.
wh-what lives in grass and leaves? m-mice. rats. little b-birds. go and see, the mayfair encouraged, motioning their pups toward the cluster of trees in the middle of this copse which shielded them.
their legs would strengthen, elongate. their minds would sharpen. he and kirain were watching the young become wolves before their very eyes.

They listened with rapt attention to their father’s words, eyes wide and little tails wagging. It was an adorable sight, and Kirain did her best to imprint it into her memory, to hold on to this simple, fleeting joy.

When Lestan rose and directed the pups toward the shaded trees, hesitation rippled through the group. It was clear that Faolán’s earlier adventure had shaken his confidence. The girls, however, seemed a touch braver. Kirain leaned down and gave them gentle nudges forward. They glanced back at her with a flicker of uncertainty, and she offered a soft, reassuring smile.

Go on now. Your father and I are right here. You’re safe.

At her words, both girls began to wander hesitantly toward the trees. Faolán, on the other hand, refused to move. With a quiet giggle, the new mother leaned down and caught him gently by the scruff, carrying him over to rejoin his sisters. Once she set him down and gave him an encouraging nudge, he finally began to move on his own.

She was hardly a master tracker or hunter, so rather than risk getting in the way, Kirain settled off to the side, lounging comfortably as she watched the trio’s curious exploration. Flashing her mate a playful grin and a wink, her tail swayed lazily behind her.

[it seemed the witch-children would listen, and listen well if lestan and kirain had anything to say of it. fondly the man watched as the children, unsure at first, began to find confidence with each step. parenting was much harder than he had remembered, or perhaps it seemed harder because his presence had been accepted all through the months. he had discovered his own suiting in self, and though decisiveness still was a stumble for him at times, he was learning. but his son had been shaken. a frown overcame him, then smoothed away. lestan approached the boy with waving tail in response to kirain, for whom he flung a fond grin before attention came back to faolán. th-there are m-many frightening th-things in the world. knowing about th-them t-takes some of th-that fear. kissing the pup's forehead, he too stepped back, surprised at the reluctance he felt not to hover. falling to his haunches, lestan gave each a long look, trying to make a game of ascertaining for himself what strengths they might display on their first official hunt.]

it seemed the witch-children would listen, and listen well if lestan and kirain had anything to say of it. fondly the man watched as the children, unsure at first, began to find confidence with each step. parenting was much harder than he had remembered, or perhaps it seemed harder because his presence had been accepted all through the months. he had discovered his own suiting in self, and though decisiveness still was a stumble for him at times, he was learning.
but his son had been shaken. a frown overcame him, then smoothed away. lestan approached the boy with waving tail in response to kirain, for whom he flung a fond grin before attention came back to faolán. th-there are m-many frightening th-things in the world. knowing about th-them t-takes some of th-that fear.
kissing the pup's forehead, he too stepped back, surprised at the reluctance he felt not to hover.
falling to his haunches, lestan gave each a long look, trying to make a game of ascertaining for himself what strengths they might display on their first official hunt.

Watching the trio explore, first with hesitance, then with growing enthusiasm, their individual personalities were beginning to shine through. Eilidh was proving to be quite curious, leading the charge into the brush with playful yips at her siblings, sweet and endearing as ever. Saorlaith was quieter, almost dreamy in the way she wandered. Despite her size and youth, she moved with surprising grace. And then there was Faolán, the anxious little one. Curious and eager, yet hesitant to fully commit.

Kirain smiled adoringly as she watched them investigate their surroundings. They were going to grow into such interesting characters, no doubt. Her gaze shifted to her husband, wondering how he was taking it all in. Was this what he had experienced with Blossom? Did moments like this make him ache? He was so present, so gentle... but was he hurting beneath it all?

On the surface, he seemed steady and content, but who could truly know what stirred beneath his skin? Kirain worried her bottom lip in thought, not realizing she was staring rather intently.