Gottadigahole!

[Pavane]

Bristlecone - male coyote
Sanuye - female coyote
Maize - female adolescent coyote
Dilana - female deer

---Merging Tributary - Early Spring---

Winter games are fun! Astoundingly, however, certain winter games have effects that reach out beyond the season in which they began! The snow has started to melt, and it's now that the signs of certain of those... winter games... are becoming obvious enough on Sanuye that even /Bristlecone/ can see them. It's weeeeeeird. But... he knows what to do! He's got a plan! Den-digging. That is the plan. That's what you do! He's found a nice shady little spot, up above the flood-plain, and he is digging like a mad thing. It might go better if the ground wasn't still half-frozen, but... persistence! Yes!

Sanuye has been sniffing around and searching for things, though at the moment it is for sure something to eat. Her ears perk forward, sharp gaze settling upon a hare that is a good many feet up, the smaller animal busy eating on some newly sprouting grasses. Shifting on her paws the coyote lowers to a crouch, her tail twitching about, muscles tensing and if it wasn't for her growing belly she would totally look more the sleek hunter part. She starts to creep forward, ears lowering back and tail holding still as she gets ever so close to the unsuspecting hare. Another few steps and there will be a nice warm fuzzy hare dinner for Bristlecone and herself..

Digdigdig! This has to be a good den. No! The best den ever. It's gotta have a sloped entrance, and the little final drop so the pups can't climb out too early, and the big enough but still cozy insides, and... it's gotta be JUST RIGHT. Or else! ...no, Bristlecone has no idea what the 'or else' is. Or else Sanuye will be mildly disappointed? Oh, no, that'd be tragic! Or, worse, his mother will come down from /her/ den a little way down the river and Say. He. Did. It. Wrong. Nooooooooo!

The hare seems to figure out that he isn't alone anymore, which really Sanuye isn't that hard to spot thanks to a certain winter game.. She pounces forward and misses the hare, by well a hair. With the hare fleeing the 'yote is quick to follow after it an so the game of chase starts. It last for a few moments with the hare turning and heading towards where Bristlecone is busy with the real work at the moment. Sanuye skids to a stop and peers down as the hare basicly slides down and smacks into Bristlecone, well she didn't expect this to happen.

Gottadigahole! Bristlecone is definitely making progress - he can stick his entire head into that hole now! Which he's done, body crouched down and forepaws scraping vigorously against the half-frozen dirt. ...thump-THUMP. The first is the hare, striking his side. The second is his head, striking the roof of his little proto-den. "Yalp!" -alp-alp-alp. Bristlecone scrambles back hastily. Did anybody get the name of that hare that hit him? No? It's okay. He did! It's named _dinner_, at least once he grabs it by the neck while it's still stunned and gives a vigorous shake!

Sanuye can't help but grin as she watches Bristlecone take care of the hare, darn slippery fuzzy thing! She makes her way down to where he is. "Well, at least one of us doesn't have a problem hunting anymore." She eyes him playful like and then sticks her head into the hole to peer within, her tail swaying about behind her and she soon settles to her haunches. Her belly has indeed grown and they will be needing that den fairly soon it seems. "Can I help?" Is questioned, ears perking as she looks back to Bristle with a smile.

Slippery and fuzzy. At the same time! Yes, that's right, through the marvel of being a tricksy hare, this one has managed to combine roles! "You were hunting just fine!" insists Bristlecone with a grin, as his gaze keeps flicking involuntarily down to her growing belly. "Oh? Uh! I'm doing fine! I mean, I wouldn't want you to strain yourself. I mean, worry. I mean, it'll be fine!" Uh-huh. Sure. "Here, uhm, how about we have some dinner? And we can talk about what you need. I mean, what we need. What we're going to need!"

Sanuye grins, her tail swaying a few times and she titls her head as he goes on. A slight glance is offered to her belly and she takes in a breath before peering at him and smirks. "I don't think digging a bit will put much strain on me if I can hunt." She points out before settling herself down upon the soft earth, some snow clinging to her fur. Her ears perk and she ohs, a sheepish look seen for a moment. "Yes, I suppose we should get a few things together." There is a pause before she leans over to nip at the hare and pull it towards her so she can work at getting off one of its legs. "Possible...sooner then later."

Bristlecone's ears flip back briefly. "Oh? Oh. Yeah. I guess so." He stares down at the hare, then grins up again. "Yeah. Well, I think it's going pretty well," he says as he lowers himself down to help brace the hare while Sanuye tugs, then pull off a piece hims -"Sooner?" he yelps, eyes going wide.

Sanuye grins slightly and nods. "Well of course its going well. Your doing fine dear." She pauses while peering up at him as she chews on a bit of hare leg, a soft oh escapes her before she nods. "They.. tend to come when there ready after all." Her ears slowly perk forward. "So I've been told." Not like she can tell them not to come!

"Ah," says Bristlecone. Well of course that makes sense. Flit go eyes to her belly. It makes perfect sense. Flit go eyes again. "So, uhm... are you doing okay? I mean... like... ah... well, I remember one of the foxes was always hungry and she kept rolling around and never felt comfortable, and so if there's anything you need, I mean anything I can do..."

Sanuye is almost done with the rabbit bit she got hold of, all that is left is some rather clean bones and she peers up while still crunching on one of them. "Oh! I'm fine.. Other then.. Hungrey.." Well she has a belly full of pups here it shouldn't be a surprize that she is hungrey! "Well they move around a lot but, its not painful at least." She sends a glance back towards her belly, which is a bit wiggly at the moment, a slight grin seen. "Like now.."

Eating is good, yes! Bristlecone perks up, watching that... then looks down just a little bit to the belly. D'aww! There are puppies in there, and they are wiggly! His tail thumps the ground, and he scoots closer on his belly in order to look more closely... and to rest his nose against the belly, like he's gonna sniff right through it and see what's inside! Sniffsniff.. eep! One'f the puppies bapped his nose! He brings up his head sharply with an astonished expression.

Sanuye lifts her head as she curiously watches him, amusement clearly seen across her face and she can't help but giggle. Her eyes widen as his nose is bapped by a wiggling puppy! "Already bapping you." She leans over and bumps her nose against his chin as her tail thumps against the ground a few times.

Bristlecone shakes that astonished expression off his face, and grins. He leans back, nuzzling at Sanuye warmly and licking her muzzle and cheeks. "They'll be wonderful. All of them!" The pups aren't even born yet, and already he's got the proud papa grin down!

Sanuye wrffles out softly, a warm smile seen as she crawls herself closer to Bristlecone and snuggles there against him looking rather happy. "Of course they will! Just have to keep them away from flash floods.."

Bristlecone curls his body against Sanuye's, cuddling up close. "That's right," he says, and peers at her belly. "No floods until you're at least a year old, you got that?" A playful stern look, then a glance to the river. "None of that from you, either!" He grins, and nuzzles Sanuye again, resting his head against her.

Sanuye blinks and laughs out at this. "If it was only that easy." She offers with a shake of her head and half eyes the water. "It won't get up this far, will it?" Well after there past expierence with water she is a bit cautious of it, espically now!

"Don't think so," says Bristlecone. "There was a whole bunch of snow the winter I was born, and even with all that, it never got up this far. Only just about to that rock there." He points to one somewhat closer to the water. "So we should be okay here."

Sanuye hums softly and nods while she lets her head settle against Bristlcone's shoulder. "Just making sure." Is murmured out softly. She would rather not wake up to a den full of water!

Bristlecone chuckles, and nods. He tilts his head and gives Sanuye's round belly a lick, then settles down comfily to be a suitable pillow. If a pillow's what she wants... well then, he can definitely be a pillow! Finishing up digging that den can wait. Maybe it'll be easier once the ground thaws, too. Details!

Sanuye does indeed what a pillow! Her belly is not both full of food and puppies and that equals snuggling and sleepy time in her mind! "At least spring is just around the corner. Then all the snow will be gone an...well there be some new additions to the area." She grins slightly at the thought, her tail swaying a few times.

"There... totally will!" Bristlecone nods to Sanuye, grinning with equal parts glee and terror as he cuddles her. Pups. Yes. He can do this thing! Pups need... a den, partial check. Mama-milk, presumably check. Love and attention, check. Baths, he tests with a lick for Sanuye... check. Yeah, they should be good. This will all work out!

Sanuye chuckles softly at the lick. "Going through a check list?" She questions with a slight tilt of her head to peer at him. "When /we/ get the den done we're get some soft stuff like fur to line it." A slight nod is seen before her ears perk and she lifts her head slightly as she snuffles out once she catches a new scent on the passing breeze. Gotta love mommy-senses!

Maize ponders.. Den, and more yotes.. hmm.. It does get crowded. Not one to be scared, she walks down into the open. "Hello?" she calls out to the others, wondering who they are, why they're here.

Bristlecone flitters his ears. "Just... want to do this right!" he says, and nods. Because doing it wrong would be... what if he licks the fur the wrong way? Or the den is too long in proportion to width? TRAGEDIES. Maybe travesties? He's not sure. It's - whoa hey another coyote! "Yarp!" He shuffled up a little, still close to Sanuye. "Hey. Hi. Who're you?"

Sanuye smiles to Bristlecone and turns back to nuzzle and lick at his cheek. "Your do everything right." Is murmured out softly to him. The voice gets her attention and then looks over curiously to the owner. A soft smile seen and she nods while shifting up onto her haunches. "Hello there." She is settled near Bristlecone, an with a rather pudgey looking belly.

Maize realizes they are a couple, but she bows some. "I'm Maize, I guess I live here now." She cocks her head. "Who are you?" she counters as her tail flicks noting that they are happy like so there's no reason to be defensive or anything.
It is now your pose.

"Huh," goes Bristlecone, peering at the new coyote and sniffing curiously. There's something kinda familiar there... y'know, more familiar than coyote in general. "I'm Bristlecone. This's Sanuye." He nods to indicate her. "This was my dad's territory."

Sanuye ohs at this and smiles while nodding to Mazie. "Nice to meet you Maize." She offers while glancing to Bristlecone. Though with Maize not seeming like much of a threat she settles herself back down next to Bristlecone with a yawn escaping her in the process.

Maize blinks a few times. "This was my dad's territory for a short bit, but was my grandfathers' territory." Could she know this yote, or something. "I just recently found this area, I thought by accident, but I think something was guiding me here. Or at least that weird fox seems to think something guided me here."

Bristlecone laughs at the mention of a weird fox. "Felix, right?" he asks, head tilted to the side. Because really, who else could it be?

Maize nods.. "Yeah, that's him. So, who is your dad." she has her thoughts that it's the same as her grandfather, but wants to know for sure. " He is deffinatly... interesting."

Bristlecone settles down a bit, letting Sanuye shift and cuddle against him more as she sleeps. A bellyfull of pups sure does make for tired as well as hungry. "Rye," he answers Maize. "And my mother's Satinka."

Maize blinks several times again. "That's my grandmother, my dad is Micah." she cocks her head. "so that would make you like my Uncle or something right?" She isn't fully aware of how all these connections work, but she never really felt threatened by the older yote in front of her.

Bristlecone tilts his head sidewise, then wise to the other side. "Suppose it would," he agrees. "Hey, speaking of me bein' an uncle... you seen a 'yote named Kai around here? He'd be... oh, I guess around your age, really."

Maize tries to think back. "Name could be familiar.. is he family too?" She asks wondering how many yotes she actually was related to." She does have to ask, "So what brings you back here?"

"Yep," says Bristlecone. "My sister Lenaha's kid. Dunno who his dad was, some desert 'yote. Anyway, he ended up living here a while after she ran into some trouble." A bit of a shrug at the second question. "Oh, the usual. Went out, did some stuff, met some people," A fond glance to Sanuye, "-ended up here again and decided to stick around." Or maybe it's to do with that big pregnant belly on his mate!

Maize nods.. "Well, when I did make it here, it did have a sense of ... home, if that makes any sense. I do know I've been having some weird dreams lately." her tail flicks as she stretches. "So, I see you're going to be a daddy.

"Maybe you got dad's mystic stuff," says Bristlecone with a bit of a laugh, and a shrug. "Felix is better t'ask than me about that." He shrugs again, then grins proudly. "Yep! Sometime. Soon!"

Maize laughs.... "But that would mean I would have to try to understand what he was saying." She then smiles.. "well, I know your father's den is still there. THe foxes are using their grandfathers den."

Bristlecone glances to the den-attempt he made in the half-frozen earth, then back to Maize. "I'll see what Sanuye thinks," he says. But he's not waking her up to ask that question, oh no. He chuckles. "Aww, Felix isn't so bad." Course, he saw the fox back before all that mystic wisdom got figured out!

Maize nods.. "no, he's not bad, just hard to understand sometimes." She looks over at where Bristle glances. "Besides, there's always the time when the ground is softer to dig a new one. Though from what I'm told there's a lot of rocks around here." She ponders.. "Come to think of it, I haven't seen him in a while.

Sure, the time will come when it's easier to dig, but... what if the puppies come tomorrow? What if they come today? What if they're already coming? What if they're already HERE? Bristlecone stares suspiciously as Sanuye's belly. A puppy kicks. Conspiracy! It must be! Oh noes! "Well. Uhm. We'll figure it out. Somehow."

Maize blinks a few times.. seems to be something she does often as the male yote stares at his mate's belly for a long time. "You're new to this aren't you." Though she doesn't know anything about it either. "If your mother treates you like she's treated me, I'm sure you could use the family den."

Who? Him? New? Nah. Bristlecone is a total expert. A total and complete expert. He knows all about this. Totally all about this. Him, new. Hah! As if. As. If. ...yeah he is totally and completely new at this zomg what is he even doing. "Well, yeah. I mean... I know mom wouldn't mind."

Maize nods, "Well, you probably know your mom better than I do, but I"m coming to know her and somewhat about this mysterious grandfather of mine." Her tail flicks around some. "I did learn all about how we came here, and why we're friends with those foxes there.

Bristlecone laughs. "I did live with her for some years," he says, and grins. "I mean... when I left, she was still talkin' about how, if I came back..." He trails off, and shakes his head. "Oh, yeah. Rye'n Braxton went back."

Maize wonders what he meant by that. "If you came back what?" she's curious now, she's always curious. "That's what I was told, that there was a close connection between those two .. but now, it's new generations, and looks like cousins for me to play with."

Dilana having seen some deer tracks heading this way during her wandering, she comes to the merge. She stops at the edge of the clearing leading up to the tributary, peeking out into the open, spotting only a pair of coyotes. She had been here once before, and found herself welcomed by a coyote named Satinka, and hoped these two would be as friendly as she slowly steps out into the open, watching the two smaller predators closely despite feeling that they would be little threat to her without some additional help.

Bristlecone hehs. "How if I came back, I could have the territory after my dad." He shrugs, and leans down to nuzzle at the sleeping Sanuye again before glancing up to see a deer approaching. Oh, look, a deer. Seeming unafraid. That... does seem to happen, around here!

Maize ahhhs.. "Well, are you thinking of doing that? Do I have other Uncles, I mean there's my dad, but he's not coming back here. He's said that a few times." She then notices the look and looks as well. Hmmm a Doe. Kinda strange to have one come down where there's obvious scents of preditors.

Dilana sees from their reactions that these two obviously didn't know her, and that made sense, as she couldn't remember seeing them among the few that were here during her last visit. She feels a little awkward speaking to them, but asks her question anyway. "Haven't happened to have seen another deer around here have you? I noticed signs of one nearby, wondered if it may have been my mother or my sister."

Bristlecone barks a laugh. "Beats me. I mean, I guess I am for now, or something..." Another glance to that pregnant belly. "But I dunno what I'm doing, really. We never did get around to see the top of the waterfall..." He trails off, and shrugs. "We'll see. As for others... well, my aunt Algoma had a couple kids with Rye, and there's my sisters Zalia and Kaliska... but none of 'em come by anymore, mostly." At the question from the deer, he perks an ear then shakes his head.

Maize cocks her head. "Wow, I have lots of relatives." She then ponders, "What waterfall?" But the question from the deer catches her. "well, I just recently returned back, so I haven't seen one. I take it my grandmother knows of her? She might be the one to ask when she's up.

Dilana nods to Maize. "If my suspicions are correct, then yes, though I can't say I remember my sister ever speaking of coming down this way, so it's likely either my mother, or some other doe." She states before making her way to the edge of the river and taking a drink.

"Oh, there's one up the river a ways," says Bristlecone. "Only there's a bunch'f wolves around there, so be careful if ya go. They had a kid Kai used to play with."

Maize ponders.. "So Kai is my cousin who used to play with some wolves. Well, I think there's a new wolf family just north of us, but I think they aren't going to bother us." She turns to the Deer. "I"m Maize." Have to be polite. "So your mother came through here. What does she look like?"

Dilana nods to Maize and Bristlecone, thankful that they are being helpful. "I am Dilana. My mother is called Foxglove. She would probably look a lot like me mostly, with her most distinguishing feature being a light tan ring around the end of her muzzle."

"Aww, there's always been wolves up north," says Bristlecone. "Whole pack of 'em." He shrugs, unconcerned coyote being unconcerned, and leans in to rest against Sanuye. To Dilana he shrugs. "Haven't seen her."

Maize shakes her head some. "No, this is much closer, like just on the other side of the river there. But they are friendly.. at least much better than what I've encountered on my way here." she turns back to the deer. "well, Okay, we can keep an eye out, are you worried about her?"

Dilana raises her head from her drink and shakes her head at Maize. "No, my mother is starting to get on the older side, but I'm pretty sure she can still look after herself well enough. My sister even more so."

Bristlecone takes another look over there, and hmms. Wolves. This close to where he's going to have - well, where Sanuye's going to have - pups. A little worrisome, but... well, if they're friendly? Peace, love and understanding? Also the fact that it's too late to move now?

Maize notices the look. "Just remember that though they might be closer than you would like, It's very hard to get across the river except for a lot of back tracking." She then looks over at the deer. "So, are you going to stay in the area while looking for her?"

Bristlecone hahs! "Nah, it's easy. Y'just swim. Used t'do it all the time." He grins brightly.

Dilana nods to Maize. "I may stick around and see if I see her, yes. Assuming that is alright." She replies, then chuckles a bit at Bristlecone. "I can easily swim across, and I'm pretty sure wolves can swim just fine too."

Maize laughs.. "Yeah, I was taught to swim. But I think this is a very safe area. It feels that way to me for some reason." Her tail twitches some as she looks to Bristle. "It would be his decision if you can stay, I wouldn't find it a problem from what I'm told, there are a lot of strange creatures that stay here. I guess my grandpa was a very interesting yote."

Wait, what? His now? With the thing with the being friends to all creatures, or at least the ones that weren't dinner, with that ever-changing list - he doesn't even know how it's changed, who his mother has added since he left to go eat whatever it is he wanted to eat without checking their names first! Bristlecone blinks, considering for a long moment, then laughs. "I don't care. Stick around if you want, but I'm not gonna be your protector or anything."

Dilana smiles and nods to Bristlecone. "Thank you, and I wouldn't want you to worry about being my protector, I'm nearly four, and I think I can look after myself by now." She says as she steps back away from the river and lays down on her belly, folding her long legs at her side.

Maize doesn't really know what her grandfather had set up for who can be around or not, but knew she didn't want to deal with it, and her grandmother was asleep so..."We won't eat you much, "she winks

Okay. Good. He settled that. Yeah! Bristlecone let sout a sigh of relief, then chuckles at Maize's comment. Okay, maybe this niece of his is okay. "It's those legs. Too bony!"

Dilana chuckles at the comment about not eating her much, and having bony legs, taking it in stride as long as they didn't come running over to attack her. "Well, that's the way us deer are I suppose, long bony legs."

Maize looks over at her uncle, "but the marrow in the bones is very tastee." She then smiles at the deer.. "But it's okay, I've eaten today, so we're alll good." She does wonder then, to try to find a mate, she'll have to make sure she's not related to them... hmm.

This is why it's important to recite family trees with every coyote you meet! Or... not. Hey, maybe that one coyote chasing Sanuye - okay, maybe not. Let's stick with /desirable/ mates. Bristlecone chuckles.

Talk of mates causes Dilana to gaze thougtfully up at the stars in the sky. "I wonder if there is a mate out there for me somewhere. The only buck I have ever met is my father..." She shakes her head and looks back at the two coyotes.

Maize shrugs, "Well, yeah There should be someone out there for everyone." She looks up then back as well. "My dad found someone, my uncle found someone. So I"m sure there will be someone for everyone." Her uncle does a lot of time thinking, she has decided.

Bristlecone has big thoughts! Important thoughts! Thoughts that have thoughts inside them, like little mental matroishka dolls! Thoughts made up of thoughts, that are like fractal or something. WHOA. It's so meta. He probably thinks this thought is about him. Oh wait. It is. Gasp! "Hey, sometimes more than one! I had a girlfriend when I was young, but then she left, and now I've got Sanuye... and my dad had two girls, just at the same time! It's all good."

Dilana nods trying to be optimistic. "Well, if that swan could find a mate even after losing her flock and becoming a resident here, I guess there is hope for just about anyone." She says with a laugh.

Maize nods, "there see, everyone can get one." She has a good attitude on life so that helps. She ponders.. "That's right, he manged to find two .. well, they were sisters." her tail twitches some. "I'm sure I'll find some nice yote."

"Does it make them easier, if they're sisters?" asks Bristlecone with a curious expression. What? Sanuye's asleep, it's all good!

"Well, whoever is the right one for me, I hope I find him soon. I'm certainly not getting any younger here." Dilana says with a light sigh, then begins ruminating over the food she's eaten earlier in the day.

Maize ponders.. "makes what easier?" she asks. Not sure. There is a lot she needs to learn. She glances over at the deer wondering about what she's up to now, but now she's now curious.

"Getting two girls!" says Bristlecone, with a 'duh' sort of tone. He thought /that/ was obvious!

Dilana is pretty obviously chewing, but hadn't been nibbling on the grass at all since she got here, so what she might be chewing on would be more of the question. For now she is quiet and listens to the coyotes.

Maize takes a few more glances at the deer... then turns back, not sure if she does want to know. She blinks.. "but... I think it would be better maybe for a couple of guys." she smirks.

Bristlecone hmms. He ponders a moment, then shrugs, nuzzling in at Sanuye affectionately and resting his head against her. "Could be." He half-closes his eyes, listening but not saying much.

Dilana catches that Maize is looking at her funny, and wonders what that is about as she swallows and speaks. "Curious about something?" Honestly though, Maize probably doesn't want to know.

Maize shudders some, "somethings, yes, somethings no." she answers the deer before turning back to her Uncle. "I think I'm going to turn in for the evening."

Bristlecone mmhmmms, or at least the sleepy noise he makes could be interpreted as such.

Dilana nods and grins a little. "If you were wondering what I was just doing, trust me, you really don't want to know the details. I'll just say that eating plants is not as simple as you might think... Anyway, seems we're all getting sleepy, so I guess I'll go find somewhere to bed down myself. Probably won't be as comfortable as back at the glade, but it'll have to do." She says as she stands up and walks off into the forest.