Quilo || Ash Warrior || 3 Years, 5 Months || M: Chinook, Night (Ref), Luna (Ref), Mishka

The fluffy mutt listens to his leader intently, hanging on to his every word. He remained tense in anticipation, hoping to be picked for a job – any job. At the mention of Night – the poor pup – he relaxes, bowing his head in respect for the fallen being. Welcome her with open paws, Ancestors, he prays. His thoughts make him miss what exactly the alpha said next, but he mindlessly agreed with him either way.

At the next pause, Quilo tenses once more. His tail curls along his back like it would for his Norwegian ancestors. The mention of patrols causes even more anticipation to fill his body, his paws tingling in excitement. Oh please be me! Choose me! I want to help! I can do anything you need me to! Oh please let me be one of those chosen, his curled tail begins to wag along his back – ruffling his fluffy fur.

The black and white mutt nearly jumped in glee when chosen for the evening patrol. He was actually chosen, and he had a partner! He was slightly saddened that it wasn’t Luna who he’d be traveling with, but someone was better than no one. I won’t let you down, Sir!

Quilo’s tail lifted into the air, wagging so fast it was nothing but a blur of black and dirty white. Turning, the energetic canine goes to find his patrol partner… only to nearly run into said partner, Mishka. He skids to a stop, almost falling flat on his snout for the second time today. Legs shot forward, the male ends up in a sort of sitting position. A rather uncomfortable one at that.

The husky-mix knew very little about this packmate, having barely interacted with her. However, from what he could tell, she could be rather intimidating when need be. Her amber hues gave him an odd feeling along his spine, like he should be worried about that odd glare. Though, he paid it little mind. She was a packmate after all. There was no need to worry. Heck, maybe they could even become friends.

The canine’s fur puffs up in embarrassment as he quickly corrects his stance – shaking out his fur. She dips her head to him in greeting, which he responds to with a wagging tail and a tilt of his head. At her verbal greeting, he gives own “good morning.”

“I’m pretty good. Saddened over Night’s death, by pretty good. How about you? Wait no, I shouldn’t ask such things. It’s quite obvious that you’re upset, much like everyone else. Wait, no! I shouldn’t assume things either! Um, how are you, Mishka?”

Wonderful way to start this friendship, he scolds himself. His tail stills after his rambling and his head straightens.

He perks up at her next question. “Yes. Yes, I would like that. Got any ideas? Or should I say any of mine first? Do I even have any? Shoot, nevermind. You go first,” the mutt bows his head as he waits for the neutral colored female to respond.

Gosh, I must look like a fool.

Pastora shook her head, wondering why and who would kill a pup? Pastora then heard Chinook's loud voice and trotted toward him. She was reminded of the apprentice Night once more. Who would kill a poor pup? No murderer is tolerated and will not be shown mercy. Pastora growled slightly looking back at her alpha. She listened for her name to be called. Then she heard it. A morning patrol with Luna. Pastora nodded at her alpha. No outsiders or rouges. Chase them off. Got it. Pastora thought to herself. She looked toward Luna then turned, watching the little pups play. Pastora saw as how they were being groomed and playing with each other. She looked up to the morning sky. Our ancestors know who did this murder. I hope no wolf in our pack is a traitor. I feel as though it was the Oak tribe. C'mon Pastora, don't make assumptions. Pastora shook her head, standing up. She saw Luna laying on the ground. Pastora trotted to her. "Sorry to disturb you, Luna. If you'd like to talk about the patrol this morning, I would gladly join you. If you are busy, I understand." Pastora barked, calmly.

Azure would lift her head off of her paws. She would hear Alder and River playing around. So, she would look over at them and she would grin some. She would get up and stretched after laying down for a long while. Azure would then slowly walk towards her 2 pups that were playing. She would then sit down a small distance away from them. She would give them some room so they could continue to play. Azure would then lay back down now in her current spot. She would wrap her tail around herself as she gazed at her pups. Azure would then lay her head down on her paws. She would watch Alder and River closely so she would know when they are getting to rough. Azure would keep her ears perked as she watched her pups so she would know when someone was coming their way. She would glace over at the others and then turned her attention back to her pups. Azure would huff happily as she watched River and Alder playing around.

Tanzanite || Ash Pup || 1 Month || M: Sapphire, Alder, River, Night (Ref), Azure

The pup woke with a gentle start, whining as the soft lapping of a tongue cleaned her fluffy body. She always hated bath time. However, it did not take long for her to drift back to sleep, the grooming becoming more of a soothing movement than an annoyance.

The next time the young pup woke, authoritative words were strung throughout the camp’s clearing, speaking of some sort of night – which made the young pup very confused – as well as patrols. At the entrance of the den, her older cousin, Alder, sat. She appeared to be listening to, what she assumed to be, the Alpha’s words with a thoughtful expression.

Behind the brown fluff ball, Tana’s other cousin and Alder’s brother, River, was crawling towards his sibling. He soon pounced on his aforementioned sister with a high pitched bark – tumbling over her. The sudden attack caused the young female to turn to her brother and complain before joining in on the fun. The young pup’s blue orbs looked on at her siblings with apprehension. Oh how she hoped they wouldn’t involve her in their play time.

All the while, Sapphire, who had been grooming her sister, Azure, had walked off. The “husky” pup’s Aunt soon did the same – walking over to her own pups. The youngin now laid in an empty nest with no warmth.

With a huff, Tanzanite stretches and waddles over to the entrance of the den. She pauses beside her aunt – the black of her fur shimmering in the sun’s light while the white (especially the diamond shape on her forehead) glistens like freshly fallen snow – before plopping herself down against her tail. The pup’s own fluffy tail curls around her back legs while her front two are stretched forwards. Her still floppy ears flick for just a millisecond as she closes her eyes, prepared to fall asleep once more.

River || Ash Tribe || Pup || M: Alder

River couldn’t help but feel smug after hearing the noise that his sister made as he jumped onto her, proud of himself for being so stealthy. If only everyone saw it, it proved he could totally go on a hunt with them. He wasn’t too small or too young, at least that's what he told himself anyway. In reality that was never going to happen. Alder sounding annoyed only made him more pleased with himself. As she batted her paws at him, River rolled around in the dirt, getting his fur muddy while trying to get up onto his paws, the batting of his sister's paws making it hard to concentrate on actually getting up.

After a few attempts, the pup finally got up. Snapping his jaws playfully at the small paw that swiped at him, trying to pull his ear free from her clutches. River refused to lose this little playfight, even if there weren’t really any losers or winners when it came to such things. His tail was held high, wagging feverishly in excitement. Soon enough he got his chance to make his move as she let go of his ear. Sure it was to sneeze and it might be a cheap shot but it was his shot nonetheless. In nothing but a moment, River pounced forward again, this time using his front legs to push Alder over so she was pinned beneath him.

With a little high pitched bark of self proclaimed victory, he leaned his head down to gently capture her own ear with his teeth, tugging at it as she had him.