A Pack's Journey Home. Private (2) with tenebria

[Abbster]

Aurora stiffened a little bit and then nodded. “I…I can be quiet.” She said, as her tail flicked back and forth a little bit. Quiet….she could do that….quiet….she gazed around and then suddenly saw a leaf. Her tail wagged hard and she leapt on top of it, barking happily. She flattened her ears as she saw her father looking at her. “S….sorry dada” Aurora muttered.

Snowflake nodded. “Let me ask him” she said. She trotted up to Duke and tapped him with her tail lightly. “Hey, do you want to spend time with Coco today? See what she does” Snowflake said.

Bella looked at her mate. “It’s…it’s not that” she muttered.

[tenebria]

Fang kept an eye on her as they began walking down the path. This would be the first test. If she could actually keep silent and keep her focus on the path... his thoughts were interrupted by her joyful bark. Part of him wanted to smile, but he was back in guard mode, and he looked over iwth a small frown on his brow. "Let me give you something to do, it will help you concentrate on silence. To guard, you must be able to look, listen, smell, and feel, all at the same time. You look by turning your head to the side slightly, scan your surroundings" he said, demonstrating. "Listen by tilting your ears towards every direction at the same time, and scent every moment you change your angle" he said, doing exaggerated ear tilts and sniffs to prove the point. "And feel, keep your paws grounded in the earth, keep your muscles loose. You will be able to feel thunder, or a groundscurry digging, or a longleg herd running, or even the rushing of water" he said,shifting his paws in the earth and letting the entire essence of the forest soak into him as he half closed his eyes for a moment, letting it all just sink in. "Every few minutes we always stop and after taking an entire scan, we close our eyes halfway, and let our other senses take control, it will make them sharper, and make all your senses sharpen" he said, opening his eyes again and looking over to see if she had paid attention at all.

Brutus gave a relieved nod as she padded over. Duke tilted his head "OH! Maybe! I'd love to! But the Alpha did tell me to go with you two... right?" He said, tilting his head. Was this not that one... oh what was her name... Softdrake?

Thunder tilted his head and nuzzled her "What is it then?" he asked gently. 

[Abbster]

Aurora sat down and listened to her father. She swished her tail back and forth and then stilled it as he was talking. She stood to her paws and did everything her father did. She stood beside him and angled her ears a little bit. She nodded to him. “Ok dada” she said.

Snowflake smiled. “Well, yes, he did. But I’m sure he won’t mind if you want to spend time with your mate.” Snowflake said.

Bella looked at her mate. “Thunder, everything with ginger and Remus….there pups….I’ve gone into over protection mode again.” She whispered.

[tenebria]

Fang smiled proudly and nodded "Ok, now let's start moving, i want you using all your senses!" he said as they set out again.

Duke frowned then grinned happily with a nod "I think i'll do that then!" He said with a joyful look. "Thanks SnakeFlow!" He said, turning and loping away just as Brutus let out a disgusted snort. Snakeflow? What even was that? The large dog shook his head, then nuzzled his mate. "Alright, let's get going on this hunt" he said with a relieved expression.

Duke loped along until he reached Rebel and Coco. "Coco! The other two hunters said they have hunting under control, so i can scout with you!" he said happily.

Thunder nuzzled her "Well of course, all the mothers have. I know that darling" he said understandingly with a soft smile.

[Abbster]

Aurora smiled big and she nodded. "Ok!" She said as she followed her father. She flicked her ears back and forth and let the scent of the earth waft over her nose. She suddenly froze. "dada?" She asked. "Whats that?" she pointed with her nose to a giant paw print in the ground.

"Snakeflow?" Snowflake muttered as Duke left. She rolled her eyes. "That dog" She muttered. "Yes, lets" She said, happy she could do some one on one hunting with her mate.

Coco looked up and she smiled eagerly. "Oh, Yay!" She said, licking her mates nose.

Bella pressed into him. "I'm so....scared" She finally said

[tenebria]

Fang caught sight of the paw print while it was still in the distance of the path, the scent extremely primal. He waited for Aurora to notice before moving to it and scenting, his ears pinning and a growl rising in his throat. "Intruder. That's what it is" he said, his hackles raising. "Last night" he added.

Brutus gave her a look "I've told you, he's a strange one" he said, the nodded and nuzzled her and set off at a trot.

Duke smiled with a wide grin, even as Rebel looked over at them askance. "Well, i'm heading out" the german shepherd said, spinning and racing off down his path. Duke barked a happy farewell, then nuzzled his mate. "Ok, what do we do now?" he asked.

Thunder hugged her, nuzzling her. "I know you are, but we'll get through this together. They will be ok. I promise you they will be ok"

[Abbster]

Aurora froze. "intruder?" she echoed. "Dada, what do we do?" She asked, eyes wild with fear. She sniffed it. "is it a dog?" she asked. "o....or another type of animal?" she began whining. "IS IT A COURGAR?" She asked, suddenly pressing into her father.

Snowflake laughed. "yea I know." She said, licking her mate. "lets get going on our hunting date" she said, now treating this as a date that they were alone.

"Well, we just need to scout." Coco said pointedly. "Kinda go around and make sure everything is ok" she added.

Bella looked into his eyes. "promise?" she asked

[tenebria]

Fang quickly nuzzled her, remembering that she was still a pup. "It's ok sweetie, it isn't around anymore, we're safe for now. It might be a dog.. or.. some other canine, but definitely not a cougar, it would have no claw marks if it were" he said reassuringly. "Come, we must continue our patrol. And when we get back, I want you to make the report to the Alpha" he said.

Brutus smiled and nuzzled her "That's a nice idea" he said ,referring to the date part.

Duke tilted his head. "Ok! Let's go! Where do we go?" he asked, bouncing slightly with excitement as he glanced around.

Thunder nuzzled her "I promise a thousand times over" he said firmly

[Abbster]

Aurora felt her heart pound in her chest. “You want….me to yell alpha thunder about the law print?” She asked her father. “A….are you sure dada?” Aurora asked him. Eyes wide with excitement.

Snowflake blushed a little bit. “Two long legs” she said. “That should be easy” she said.

Coco chuckled. “Just follow me” she said.

Bella nodded. “Ok” she said.

[tenebria]

Fang gave a small smile and nodded "I'm sure. I'll help you to know what to say, but you can do the initial announcement to him" he promised as they moved onwards.

Brutus nodded and nuzzled her "Easy Peasy" He agreed.

Duke gave an eager flop of his head, trotting after her. "Ok! Are we looking for anything in particular?" He asked curiously.

Thunder licked her nose. "I Do promise darling, and I know i can't ask you to stop worrying, but please don't worry AS much" he said gently.

[Abbster]

Aurora blinked nervously. "o-ok...if you're sure" She said, looking at her father with nervous eyes.

Snowflake nodded. "Should be, yeah" She added.

Coco chuckled. "Nothing really, just gotta make sure there are no trespassers."

Bella nodded. "Ok, I promise to TRY not to worry as much" she said

[tenebria]

Fang smiled gently "Don't worry, i'll be right beside you" he assured her.

Brutus gave a nod, then focused on catching the scent. A moment later the trail caught his nose and he gave a gruff bark, heading down it eagerly.

Duke tilted his head then nodded "ok!" he said as they moved into the forest.

Thunder smiled "Thank you darling" he said.

[Abbster]

Aurora nodded slowly. "if you're sure.." she said as she continued to follow her father through her first lesson.

"Well look at that" Snowflake said with a smile as she bounded after her mate. The scent of long leg strong on her nostrils, it made her mouth water.

Coco sniffed the air and gazed around, thinking about which way to go as her mate was beside her. She chuckled and then her eyes landed on a trail. "this way" she said.

"What kind of mate would I be if I didn't trust you?" Bella asked him

[tenebria]

Fang nodded firmly "I am " he said, focusing on the trail again.

Brutus sped along the path, his muscles rippling as his eyes flashed with focus. Suddenly he dropped to a crouch, moving forward at a stalking crawl to poke his head through the bushes. And there was the herd of longleg.

Duke tilted his head as he waited, then bounded after her. "Ok!" he said happily, glancing about.

Thunder nuzzled her "You are a wonderful mate, no matter what" he said.

[Abbster]

Aurora squeaked happily. “Ok dada!” She said. “What are we doing now?” She asked, gazing at him with curious eyes now.

Snowflake let out a growl and then she launched herself forward at the long leg, the entire herd gazed up and began to run, but Snowflake had one eyed. She kept onto its back and she clawed it hungrily. Growling as she nipped at its neck.

Coco chuckled. “Calm down” Coco said, licking his nose.

Bella gazed at him and she smiled before she looked back at her pups. She sighed. “Do they know I’m worried?” She whispered