A child? A Daughter? A Monster.
2-0-2 OC

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Speech Emotional Actions Thoughts

The thunder of waterfalls never stopped, vibrating through the earth beneath Lorelei’s paws as she wandered along one of the narrower trails awayfrom her family’s den. Fog clung thickly to the ground tonight, weaving around her legs as dusk settled over Cerulean Falls in muted blues and silvers.

Most wolves stayed near the safer paths.

Lorelei didn’t.

She climbed over slick rocks with careless confidence, pale green eyes wandering curiously over every hidden crevice and strange patch of earth she could find. Her stocky frame moved steadily despite the uneven terrain, tail flicking behind her as she sniffed at the damp air.

The falls smelled alive tonight — riverwater, wet stone, fresh fish.

And beneath it all, her familiar scent of sugar and cold glacier melt lingered warmly against her coat.

The young wolf shoved through a curtain of reeds at the edge of one shallow stream, squinting suspiciously at the fog ahead of her.

There’s gotta be somethin’ hidden out here, she mumbled under her breath

One more step.

Then the earth vanished beneath her.

Lorelei let out a sharp bark of surprise as the muddy ground collapsed inward, sending her tumbling into darkness alongside loose dirt and stones. She hit the bottom hard with a splash of shallow water and a very offended grunt.

The roar of the waterfalls muffled everything overhead.

For several seconds, she just sat there.

Dripping wet.

Covered in mud.

Confused beyond belief.

…Excuse me?

Her voice echoed faintly off the stone walls surrounding her. Pale green eyes blinked upward at the jagged opening far above her head where fog drifted lazily past as if nothing had happened.

Lorelei slowly stood, shaking water violently from her fur.

What kind of place just has random holes? she demanded at nobody in particular. That feels unsafe.

She narrowed her eyes at the wall beside her like it had personally insulted her family.

A small stream trickled through the bottom of the pit, likely carved out from years of underground runoff from the falls above. Moss coated the stones slickly, glowing green in the dim light filtering down from above.

Lorelei stared, then shrieked like a banshee

MOMMMM

Would Apple even hear her over the thundering falls?

Training was helping the young prince immensely.

His forelegs were getting stronger quicker, no longer did he fall behind at such a drastic distance.

Soon, it will almost be like he had all four legs, he hoped at least.

But he was practicing climbing when he heard Lorelei shriek, not too far from him actually, the boy skittering into a dash towards the sound like he was a man on a mission. Brows furrowed in anger, he charged....to nothing.

But a hole.

Lore? he questioned, oh so carefully padding to the hole and sticking his head over to look down. I don't think I can help you out of this one... he pulled back, took a deep breath, before shouting himself. MUTTER!

Dante had merely been patrolling the borders when Apple’s desperate cry shattered the air.

The sheer panic woven into her voice sent him instantly on edge. Fur bristled violently along his spine, emerald eyes widening as adrenaline surged through him. Without a second thought, he launched himself toward the sound, every instinct roaring to life.

Protect the Oasis.

Protect his family.

The second cry only drove him faster, the ground blurring beneath pounding paws as he tore through the territory without hesitation.

When he finally burst through the trees, his gaze landed immediately upon a sobbing Apple and a visibly distressed Pomegranate. It took every ounce of restraint he possessed not to barrel straight past them in search of blood.

Instead, he skidded to a harsh halt beside Pom, positioning himself protectively over the young wolf as his chest heaved for breath. Emerald eyes snapped wildly across the surroundings, searching frantically for whatever threat had reduced his mate to such obvious panic.

Teeth remained bared, every muscle taut and ready for violence.

Yet nothing revealed itself.

No attacker lunged from the shadows. No scent of immediate danger struck him.

Only then did he become dimly aware of Apple climbing down into the hole nearby while his damaged ears flicked toward her voice.

Apple? he called sharply, still scanning the treeline for danger. What is going on? Concern and tension bled heavily through his tone now. Did something happen?

A child? A Daughter? A Monster.
2-0-2 OC

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Speech Emotional Actions Thoughts

Lorelei nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of paws rushing toward the hole. For one brief, horrible moment, she thought the pit itself had decided to come back for round two.

Then Pomegranate’s voice drifted down toward her.

Lore?

Relief flooded through her so quickly it almost made her dizzy.

Pom! she barked back, muddy paws splashing lightly in the shallow water below. I fell into a murder hole!

She peered upward just enough to catch the silhouette of him leaning carefully over the edge. Her ears twitched at his hesitant words.

I don't think I can help you out of this one...

Well not with that attitude—

She didn’t even get to finish before he suddenly screamed.

MUTTER!

Lorelei physically recoiled, flattening herself against the wall with a startled squeak.

Stars above! she yelped. Why are you so LOUD?!

The pit swallowed the sound and threw it back twice as strong.

But then came the answering howl.

Apple’s voice tore through Cerulean Falls sharp with panic, and Lorelei’s expression immediately crumpled into guilt.

…Oh no.

She could hear her mother coming before she saw her — crashing recklessly through brush and stone with enough force to sound like an avalanche. Lorelei scrambled awkwardly backward as Apple suddenly appeared at the edge above them, looking absolutely terrified. Not that Lorelei could see it.

Mutter, wait, I’m okay—!

Another frantic cry cut her off.

And then Apple was crying.

Lorelei froze completely.

The young girl’s ears folded backward as her mother dropped down into the pit beside her without hesitation, immediately fussing over her with trembling breaths and hurried sniffs. Lorelei sat stiffly at first, wide-eyed beneath all the attention.

Not because she disliked it.

Because she wasn’t used to it.

I’m okay, she repeated quieter this time, almost sheepish now. I just stepped wrong and the dirt collapsed.

Apple kept checking her anyway.

Lorelei’s gaze dropped toward her muddy paws.

…Sorry, she mumbled after a moment, the apology soft and genuine. I didn’t mean to scare you that bad.

She shifted awkwardly before finally leaning just a tiny bit into her mother’s chest, careful and uncertain.

I was just exploring, she admitted. I thought there might be somethin’ hidden over there.

A pause.

Then, stubbornly:

…I still think the hole wanted to eat me..

It didn't take very long for mother to arrive, her panicked howl during her approach making the boy's ears go back in worry.

Oh...he should have solved this on his own...

When Apple arrived, looked down into the hole and started sobbing, that thought hammered itself into his young mind. It was all this hole's fault, clearly! If it hadn't been here, Lorelei wouldn't have fallen in! He froze in confusion, momentarily, when Apple gently pushed him away from the edge, the red boy glaring at the edge of the hole and growling lightly as Dante skidded to a stop beside him.

The tripod moved forward, to the edge, and started digging furiously. Stupid hole! He went in, mouth as wide as he could get it, grabbing at the dirt at the edge and yanking it away, again and again as if it was something that could be beaten. His mouth tasted like dirt, but he wouldn't stop unless...well, stopped.

Dante peered down into the hole, concern written plainly across his features as his brows furrowed tightly.

No injuries? he asked softly, worry heavy in his voice.

These children mattered to Apple, regardless of where her mind currently stood or how difficult things had become. And because they mattered to her, they mattered to him as well.

Slowly, carefully, Dante had been trying to integrate himself into their small circle, allowing the children to grow familiar with him without ever pushing too hard or overstepping boundaries.

When it became clear there were no immediate threats lurking nearby, some of the tension finally eased from his muscles. A quiet sigh escaped him.

At this rate, these children were going to give their mutter a heart attack.

The thought had barely crossed his mind before Pomegranate suddenly launched himself toward the edge of the hole, claws scrabbling furiously at the dirt while snapping his teeth wildly at it.

It clicked instantly.

Apple’s worried voice followed close behind, fretting about Pom tumbling in after his mother and sister.

Without hesitation, Dante surged forward.

Large jaws carefully caught the boy by the scruff before he hauled him firmly away from the edge and deposited him several feet back onto his rump with surprising gentleness.

Hey now, Dante rumbled softly, moving quickly to position himself between Pom and the hole to block any further attempts at scrambling toward it. We already have two wolves in the hole. We certainly do not need a third, hm?

Though his tone remained calm and patient, there was unmistakable concern lingering beneath it as emerald eyes flicked cautiously back toward the hole once more.