Post by Hitoban no Fokkusu on Dec 30, 2009 21:54:55 GMT -6
The sun beat down on Dawn's back as she and her pups made their way through the meadow. She was keeping a keen, watchful eye all around as usual, making sure nothing could possibly happen to her babies. At the first sign of danger, they knew what to do. She would grab Kazuko and take off toward the forest, making sure her pups were in front. Kazuko always seemed to fall behind in running, so in emergencies it would be up to Dawn to see her safely away in the trees. Once they were all up high in some tree, she would return to face the aggressor. No hunters had ever been allowed on Reikoku, but there was always a chance of bears or mountain lions, or even alligators. It was better to be safe than sorry.
And with this ideal in her mind, the group carefully made their way to the lake. It was the pups' third trip out of the den, and by far the farthest they'd ever gone before. Some of them were already looking a bit tired, especially Kazuko, so Dawn figured it was ample time for a little break. She scanned the area, then flopped down on the water's edge, letting the cool water lap at her feet. The pups followed her example, laying or sitting by or in the water. They had been around the entrance to the grotto before, so they knew bodies of water, of course, but never had they seen something so boundless as the lake. Of course, Dawn could see to the other side easily-after all, it wasn't that big of a lake-but to the innocent, wide eyes of the pups, it all had to be quite overwhelming.
After a few minutes of basking in the midday sun and lapping at the clear, cool water, some of the pups began to play. They chased the tiny waves, then ran giggling as the waves chased them back. A few, like Kazuko and Dusk, hung back, only joining in part of the revelry. Dawn always was more of a watch and learn type of pup, always making sure his siblings were being good and staying safe. He was very much able-bodied, but he wasn't much for fun, it seemed. Kazuko...well she just didn't have what it took to keep up with her siblings. While the others jumped and wrestled and tried out swimming for the first time, she hung back, just at the water's edge, making sure her paws didn't get too wet. Dawn wondered briefly if she would always be this way-afraid to try new things, hindering her skills even further. She hoped she wouldn't. She hoped with all her heart that Kazuko would get over her fear and be just like a normal pup. But then, she wasn't a normal pup, was she?
After the angel saved Kazuko, he'd said something that hung in Dawn's mind to this day. One day, he would come back for her. He would take her away. The thought made her stomach twist and tie all up in knots. Take one of her babies away? Just the idea of it was simply unbearable. But she had to comply-after all, he'd given her life when she wouldn't have had any at all. That isn't a gift to be given lightly, and it isn't one to go without thanks. So she would have to give up her precious little flower, whether sooner or later, she did not know.
For now, it was time to fish. She hauled herself up off the sand, shaking the grains from her fur. The pups all gravitated toward her as she stood. They knew playing time was over, and it was time for a lesson. She had told them before they'd left that today they were to learn how to fish. She would save the hunting lesson for when they were older, and Kage could be there with them. For now, fishing seemed a harmless enough thing to teach. She padded about knee-deep in the water and turned around.
"Okay children, today we will fish. All of you come out here now. Don't be frightened, I won't let any harm come to you. You're all nice and big, so it shouldn't be a problem." And it was true. They were all a year or so old, and they were growing like grass! Dusk was the most muscular-manly boy that he is-while Vespera was the tallest-wispy and lean. They would both easily be the most beautiful of all her pups. But they were all beautiful in their own way, and who better would know that than their mother?
They catapulted into the water, Vespera's cheek at Dawn's shoulder already, and stood watching their mother. They knew better than to interrupt her, so no one spoke for quite some time. They were all looking at Kazuko. She was standing with barely one paw in the water, her eyes fixated on the lazily lapping waves. Finally, Dusk spoke up, his child's voice already filled with wisdom beyond his years.
"Come now, Kaz. You heard Mother. There is no need to be frightened. Mother will protect you." Dawn felt no need to add any words to her son's, so she simply smiled at her daughter, beconing her to the water. Finally, after one last long look at Dusk, she stuck the tip of her stump in the water. She let it fall, leaving her slightly lopsided, and stood there a second. Finally, as if she was learning to walk again, she inched closer and closer. When her paws would no longer hit the ground, she began to paddle her way over. She made it to Dusk and promptly put her front legs on his back. Her back legs could touch solidity now, and she smiled. It was obvious she was proud she'd made it so far, and so was everyone else. They cheered for her, making waves as they bounded around Dawn. She smiled and moved closer to Kazuko and Dusk, and began her instruction.
"Okay children, here's how fishing works. You must be completely still," they stilled instantly, all eyes fixated on Dawn, "or you will chase them away. Fish are very timid creatures, and if they think they are in danger, they will swim away with much haste. Now I know you all all just pups, so this may be a bit hard for you, but you must have patience." She explained before they had the chance to ask. "Patience is when you wait for as long as it takes, without getting frustrated, to get what you need. Fishing takes a lot of patience. You will get frustrated when you don't catch one, but the key is not to show it. If you show it by stomping around and yowling like a bitten cat, no more fish will come. So, here is how you fish. You must watch the water closely. When we have been quiet enough, you will start to feel things around your legs. Don't get excited, and don't get frightened. They are the fish you are aiming to capture. When you see the water shift in front of your teeth, you grab it."
She looked down at the water, her nose half an inch above the surface. Her eyes were sharp. No one was moving, no one was making a sound. As she glanced up, she noticed they were all doing the same. As she studied the surface of the water, she saw it shimmer and move. She struck, inciting shocked yelps from the pups that were concentrating hardest, and met solidity. It did not squirm between her teeth, but merely filtered away through the water.
She resurfaced, spitting the sand out of her mouth. Her children giggled as she lapped at the water to clear the taste from her palate. She smiled up at them. "So you see, not everyone will catch a fish today. Keep trying." She went back to studying the water, looking for fish. The one thing she wasn't looking for, however, was the danger all around them.
And with this ideal in her mind, the group carefully made their way to the lake. It was the pups' third trip out of the den, and by far the farthest they'd ever gone before. Some of them were already looking a bit tired, especially Kazuko, so Dawn figured it was ample time for a little break. She scanned the area, then flopped down on the water's edge, letting the cool water lap at her feet. The pups followed her example, laying or sitting by or in the water. They had been around the entrance to the grotto before, so they knew bodies of water, of course, but never had they seen something so boundless as the lake. Of course, Dawn could see to the other side easily-after all, it wasn't that big of a lake-but to the innocent, wide eyes of the pups, it all had to be quite overwhelming.
After a few minutes of basking in the midday sun and lapping at the clear, cool water, some of the pups began to play. They chased the tiny waves, then ran giggling as the waves chased them back. A few, like Kazuko and Dusk, hung back, only joining in part of the revelry. Dawn always was more of a watch and learn type of pup, always making sure his siblings were being good and staying safe. He was very much able-bodied, but he wasn't much for fun, it seemed. Kazuko...well she just didn't have what it took to keep up with her siblings. While the others jumped and wrestled and tried out swimming for the first time, she hung back, just at the water's edge, making sure her paws didn't get too wet. Dawn wondered briefly if she would always be this way-afraid to try new things, hindering her skills even further. She hoped she wouldn't. She hoped with all her heart that Kazuko would get over her fear and be just like a normal pup. But then, she wasn't a normal pup, was she?
After the angel saved Kazuko, he'd said something that hung in Dawn's mind to this day. One day, he would come back for her. He would take her away. The thought made her stomach twist and tie all up in knots. Take one of her babies away? Just the idea of it was simply unbearable. But she had to comply-after all, he'd given her life when she wouldn't have had any at all. That isn't a gift to be given lightly, and it isn't one to go without thanks. So she would have to give up her precious little flower, whether sooner or later, she did not know.
For now, it was time to fish. She hauled herself up off the sand, shaking the grains from her fur. The pups all gravitated toward her as she stood. They knew playing time was over, and it was time for a lesson. She had told them before they'd left that today they were to learn how to fish. She would save the hunting lesson for when they were older, and Kage could be there with them. For now, fishing seemed a harmless enough thing to teach. She padded about knee-deep in the water and turned around.
"Okay children, today we will fish. All of you come out here now. Don't be frightened, I won't let any harm come to you. You're all nice and big, so it shouldn't be a problem." And it was true. They were all a year or so old, and they were growing like grass! Dusk was the most muscular-manly boy that he is-while Vespera was the tallest-wispy and lean. They would both easily be the most beautiful of all her pups. But they were all beautiful in their own way, and who better would know that than their mother?
They catapulted into the water, Vespera's cheek at Dawn's shoulder already, and stood watching their mother. They knew better than to interrupt her, so no one spoke for quite some time. They were all looking at Kazuko. She was standing with barely one paw in the water, her eyes fixated on the lazily lapping waves. Finally, Dusk spoke up, his child's voice already filled with wisdom beyond his years.
"Come now, Kaz. You heard Mother. There is no need to be frightened. Mother will protect you." Dawn felt no need to add any words to her son's, so she simply smiled at her daughter, beconing her to the water. Finally, after one last long look at Dusk, she stuck the tip of her stump in the water. She let it fall, leaving her slightly lopsided, and stood there a second. Finally, as if she was learning to walk again, she inched closer and closer. When her paws would no longer hit the ground, she began to paddle her way over. She made it to Dusk and promptly put her front legs on his back. Her back legs could touch solidity now, and she smiled. It was obvious she was proud she'd made it so far, and so was everyone else. They cheered for her, making waves as they bounded around Dawn. She smiled and moved closer to Kazuko and Dusk, and began her instruction.
"Okay children, here's how fishing works. You must be completely still," they stilled instantly, all eyes fixated on Dawn, "or you will chase them away. Fish are very timid creatures, and if they think they are in danger, they will swim away with much haste. Now I know you all all just pups, so this may be a bit hard for you, but you must have patience." She explained before they had the chance to ask. "Patience is when you wait for as long as it takes, without getting frustrated, to get what you need. Fishing takes a lot of patience. You will get frustrated when you don't catch one, but the key is not to show it. If you show it by stomping around and yowling like a bitten cat, no more fish will come. So, here is how you fish. You must watch the water closely. When we have been quiet enough, you will start to feel things around your legs. Don't get excited, and don't get frightened. They are the fish you are aiming to capture. When you see the water shift in front of your teeth, you grab it."
She looked down at the water, her nose half an inch above the surface. Her eyes were sharp. No one was moving, no one was making a sound. As she glanced up, she noticed they were all doing the same. As she studied the surface of the water, she saw it shimmer and move. She struck, inciting shocked yelps from the pups that were concentrating hardest, and met solidity. It did not squirm between her teeth, but merely filtered away through the water.
She resurfaced, spitting the sand out of her mouth. Her children giggled as she lapped at the water to clear the taste from her palate. She smiled up at them. "So you see, not everyone will catch a fish today. Keep trying." She went back to studying the water, looking for fish. The one thing she wasn't looking for, however, was the danger all around them.
