Post by Ahiga on Jan 28, 2009 18:38:05 GMT -5
Characters Involved: (Alsoomse, Female Dog), (Raiza, Female Dog Pup), (Allegro, Male Dog)
Setting: Cherry Grove
Alsoomse is finally feeling a bit more like herself, well before the run in with the elk at least. At the moment she is settled outside the den grooming across a forepaw. A half eaten rabbit can be found some distance from her, showing she either went hunting or got lucky. Either way she was happy to get it as the pups were taking a lot out of her during the time she was healing.
There are some rather interesting things out in the forest. Things like food. Scraps. Animals that he's never seen before. And animals that he's seen before, and there likely isn't much question as to what animal Allegro might've run into when he gets nearer to his pseudo home. The ... aroma of skunk lingers on the dog. Luckily for him, it doesn't seem as if he's been sprayed dead on, else that ... fragrance of his would be much, much stronger than the hint that it is. And so, the musky canine lopes back within the colorful orchard, a smug looking smirk on his face as he nears the densite. "Evenin'. Hey, you're lookin' better," he notes brightly.
Alsoomse blinks at the smell and makes a face while lifting his head to peer over at Allegro, a faint huff escaping her. "What you do?.. Try talking to a skunk and piss it off?" Nice greeting huh? Her tail is swaying a few times though. "Ya I'm feeling better."
"Y'ever try talkin' to one've them things?" Allegro says as he pause to give his fur a brisk shake, as if somehow he can banish the smell that way. "Hard /headed/ I'm tellin' ya. I jus' had a few things to ask. Couple've questions, but then it had to go an' act like I was tryin' to eat it or somethin'. Startin' mouthin' off. Even had words about my momma." He snorts before smirking crookedly at her. "You ain't gonna send me off cuz I smell a lil', huh? What dog don't smell a little? Means I'm ... hard workin'," he says as he lifts his muzzle slightly, failing to hide a smirk even as his eyes glance to her kill. "You do that yourself?"
Alsoomse makes a face and soon snickers as she hears this. "Right.." She says with a shake of her head. "Personally I stay away from things that will shoot stuff outa them at objects." A faint huff escapes her and she glances to the rabbit. "Well ya.. I do know how to hunt you know?" This said with a grin. "You want the rest?"
Allegro chuckles as he shakes his head. "Naw. I jus' meant, if you got that all by y'self, you must really be feelin' better," he says with a small smile, sounding pleased. "...Good. Cuz I hope you weren't expectin' me to go huntin' for you all the time," he says with a languid streeeeetch and a subtle smirk. "You're gonna have to start pullin' your weight around here." He grins, winking in a show of jest as he straightens up again. "Naw, you keep it." He settles onto his haunches as he gives a look to the side, a single ear turning back. "Er...Surii seen you yet?"
Voices outside of the den rouse Raiza from her slumber. Now that the pups are more than a month old, their eyes have opened and they are learning to socialize. Thus far, the lone girl-pup has proved to be the most active--which is a nice way of saying she gives mom the biggest headaches. Wriggling out from under her snoozing brother, she follows her ears, soon poking her head out of the den's entrance. Her nose wrinkles almost immediately. Hey, something smells good, but... Ewww! Something else /stinks!/ More curious than repelled, she barks and bounds out onto the open without bothering to look around first, as her eyes are still adjusting from the darkness of the den.
Alsoomse chuckles at this and humms. "Right.. I'll remember that." This said with a playful tone as she glances around at the other dogs name. "No.. Why?" She questions before looking back towards the sudden attack of her loveable daughter. A chuckle escapes the female while she lowers her head to try and snag hold of Raiza's nape before she goes charging off to far.
Allegro shakes his head little in answer. "Nothin'. Well, she stopped by a lil' while back and wanted to talk to ya," he says offhandedly, his ears raising again. "Er, she..." Hey, what's /that?/ Bi-colored eyes blink widely as a ... mini-Jette comes bounding out of the den. The resemblance of the aforementioned dog has Allegro somewhat recoiling. Apparently, he didn't get that good of a look at them when they were some days old. But now, here it is, plain as day. One of his offspring. Admittedly, he recovers quickly and rises to his paws, glancing from mother to newly restrained daughter. "Uh ... 'ey." Pause. "Does it talk?"
In her excitement, Raiza would have gone barreling past Alsoomse, but as she zooms by she gets snagged by the scruff. Darn! Disappointed though she is, instinct forces her to go completely limp, hanging from her mother's jaws. The fluffy pup blinks rapidly several times, and then her honey-brown eyes focus on Allegro. Those eyes widen dramatically. "'Oodat, momma?"
Alsoomse eyes Allegro slightly at his reaction, really.. males. She sets her daughter down upon her forepaws and licks across the girl's neck a few times. "That is uncle Allegro, or uncle Ally." Yes she just told her daughter to call him Ally.. HA. "An her name is Raiza, not /it/." This said towards Allegro. "What did Surii want to tell me?" She is rather sure that he knows..
HA! Look how it goes all blah when it's being held like that. Allegro snickers as Raiza's body fuully relaxes in her mother's jaws, obviously amused, then raises his brows as the pup utters words. It /does/ talk! He clears his throat a little as he gradually lowers back down into a sitting position, eyeing the youngster as if it's something ready to sporadically explode. "Uncle who?" said suddenly with a blink to Alsoomse. "Don' tell i- ... /her/ to call me that! Name's 'Legro," he says, speaking to Raiza now. "Er...nice to meetcha pup." He grins slightly s his eyes are drawn back to Alsoomse. "She wanted to say bye."
Raiza is back on her paws as soon as her mother sets her down. She is far too curious about the big male dog to pay attention to the licking, squirming and wagging her tail with furious excitement. "Unca' Alleee!" she repeats joyfully. "Allee Leggo!"
Alsoomse winks at Allegro. "Why not?.. I call you that." She says with a innocent tone. A glance is offered to Raiza as she bounces out of her paws before she peers at Ally hoping he won't freak out again. "What do you mean.. Where is she going?"
Oh, yes this is perfect. "Alleggo works jus' fine with me, pup," Allegro replies with a crooked smirk. "..I stink," said as if he's just remembered this, and he blinks as he eyes Alsoomse. "It ain't gonna hurt her or nothin', right? She got a little nose," he remarks as he takes a half step back to "diminish the stink" to the small nosed youngster. He lowers his head some as it twists from one side to the other, considering her thoughtfully. He answers Alsoomse without looking at her. "She...says she's leavin' the pack. She was gonna go off lookin' for her pa, but, I don' think she is anymore. Kinda convinced her to stick around. With us." He pauses there, stealing a hesitant glance at her.
Raiza moves closer to Allegro, tilting her head back to view him. Whew! So this is where that stinky smell is coming from! She sniff-sniffs curiously, oblivious to the serious conversation going on over her head, and counters his backward step by padding closer still. "You /stink/!" she agrees enthusiastically.
Alsoomse grins at Raiza as she moves closer to Ally. "No, she'll be fine. Its just a smell." Well at least she is sure the girl will be alright, hopfully.. She frowns as she hears Allegro now, her ears lowering as she thinks about Jette. "Did she say anything about Jette?" Her gaze drifts towards Allegro and she watches him a few moments, suddenly seeming a bit unsure, if everyone leaves Jette what will happen to him?
"Uh huh, I sure the heck do," Allegro agrees with Raiza, sitting perfectly still. "I stink bad, huh? S'called skunk, and skunks ain't no fun. So if y'ever see a bushy tail critter struttin' towards ya with its tail-end stuck your way, you turn tail an' the other way, y'hear?" he advises. "Else, you'll end up smellin jus' lke me," he warns with a crooked grin. His tail wiggles at her, taking in her scent, but his attention is drawn back to Alsoomse and his expression falters. He's no mind reader, but he can see something on her face that hints at trouble. "Naw, she didn't, but that don't make no difference, does it?"
Raiza tilts her head, trying to absorb the lesson from the male dog. Whether or not she understands all of what he said, she nods vigorously when he is done. Bushy-tailed things that stick their tails out at her = stinky. Hopefully she will remember this, and recognize the skunk for what it is, if she ever happens upon one.
Alsoomse lets her gaze rest on Raiza a few moments before she looks off. "I can't just leave him on his own Allegro.." This said with a soft tone. It would have been so much easier to leave with Allegro if Surii was still with Jette. Now what does she do? "Raiza and Sarge need to be with there father too." Even whe she says this she isn't fully sure, she wants to be with Allegro but at the same time worries about Jette.. Darn confusing males.
"On his what?" Allegro snorts now, brows furrowing in obvious frustration. "He ain't exactly alone, Moose. Y'forgot about all them new females he already got? That spotty one was the newest. Kole's stuck around. An' that pup. Don' make'm out to be some sorry lil' runt that can't make it on his own an' needs your motherin'. He /ain't/ alone. He even come out here to see you more'n once?" he asks with a snort, eyeing her with a quirked brow. "Or t'see her?" a nod is given to Raiza, the poor kid. He exhales a breath and turns his head at her, voice lowering. "C'mon, we already done talked about this. He ain't worried about you, so why the heck're you wastin' your time worryin' about him?"
Raiza pays no attention to the adults' discussion. Most of it is far beyond her understanding--and thankfully, what she does understand does not interest her. Fluffy tail a-wag, she trots in a circle around Allegro, looking him over with bright, curious eyes before sneaking in close for a better sniff.
Alsoomse head lowers slightly, her maw twitching as she thinks of what to say but comes up with nothing that could counter that, his right though.. Still she feels like she is the one causing the problem here. A faint sigh escapes her while her head lowers, her gaze following after her pup to keep an eye on her. When she was on her own she never had to worry about any of this stuff, and for a few moments she actually missed that. "I don't know Allegro.." Is all she can finally come up with.
"Yes, you do," Allegro says rather clearly, his brows lowered. "You jus' think who's been there for ya, and who ain't been." He watches her for a long moment, his expression somewhat stoic. But then his gaze turns towards the curious Raiza, and a faint smirk curves an edge of his muzzle. "You." He bounds backwards a foot and bends his fronthalf down in a characteristic show of play. "How good are ya at pouncin'?"
Before Raiza can reach Allegro's foreleg--which she'd been planning to taste--the dog returns his attention to her. She stops short and blinks when he bounds backward, gaping at him in surprise. The pup recovers in an instant, dropping her forequarters to mimic Allegro. "Rrrr!" she growls playfully, before fearlessly launching herself at the much bigger dog.
Surii has connected.
Alsoomse lets her gaze rest on Allegro a few moments before she goes back to watching Raiza. Well he does have a point there. She takes in a slight breath before grinning as she watches the pup. "Just like her mother.." Al seems to find this amusing.
Woo! Allegro snickers and barks out happily as the youngster bounds his way. Playing seems to be a thing that comes naturally, and his plumed tail waves from side to side as he traipses backwards, then theatrically stumbles beneath the pup's superior strength. "Argh!" he flails theatrically, eyes squinting. "What've ya been feedin' this lil' monster, eh? She's heavy! And she ain't nothin' like you. You ain't never play with me not once!"
Raiza has had a lot of practice pouncing her brother, and she does not let Allegro's size discourage her. She is a bold pup, willing to take on any challengers. Tackling the male's ankle, she clomps her jaws around a mouthful of his fluffy coat--and lets go immediately, looking disgusted. Lesson learned: stinky things taste /bad/!
Alsoomse chuckles and grins at Allegro. "I don't mean by playing.. I mean by how she is going after you and the fact that you're bigger isn't bothering her." This is what her past owners would have been looking for for the next fighting dog you know. "Oh I've been feeding her a lil this and lil that.." She chuckles as Raiza really goes after him before standing up and moves over to the pair to bump her maw against the girls side. "Raiza.. Don't bother Uncle Ally to much now alright?"
Ankle! Ankle! Allegro theatrically, yet gently enough not to harm the pup, thrashes as the small teeth dig into the fur and skin of his leg, but the attack surprisingly doesn't last long. Blinking in a miffed way, he perks his ears and rolls onto his stomach to eye her. "Wha-...oh.." He snickers and wrinkles his nose. "S'right, it don't taste too good either, huh? Already done forgot.." He chuckles and makes an apologetic face. "Forgive me?" he asks before glancing towards Alsoomse, making a face. "Don' /call/ me that! She's gonna start rememberin' and then she ain't never gonna stop."
Raiza rolls over on her side when bumped, but this does not appear to bother her. She looks up at her mother with her tail still wagging. "Unca' Allee-Leggo taste bad," she informs Alsoomse matter-of-factly. The pup opens her mouth as if to say more, but it's interrupted by a wide yawn. Energetic as she is, she still tires out quickly, being so young. Her eyelids begin to droop.
Alsoomse grins at Ally. "But its cute when she says it.." She states in her defense before moving to pick the girl up and carries her back near the den. Here Al settles back down and places Raiza between her forelegs once more, her forepaws curling around her. "I know he taste bad.. He needs a bath in the lake don't he?"
..Ok, so even Allegro has to admit that it /is/ sort of cute when the pup says it, but it's not like he's going to admit that to Alsoomse. So he only snorts and rolls his eyes, but he says nothing more about it. As Raiza yawns, there's a slight change in his expression. A vague...softening? A subtle smile that's soon erased from his muzzle. He sits up now and rolls his shoulders slowly, chin lifting in response to Alsoomse. "I don' need no bath. She jus' don't have a sense've good taste yet."
"Needa baff," Raiza disagrees sleepily, and yawns again, wider than before. Her eyes slip shut before she curls up between her mother's forelegs, and in another moment she is already snoring.
Alsoomse chuckles again and grins at Allegro. "Go get a bath.." She says with a playful tone before lowering her head to nuzzle at the now sleeping pup. Aww how cute. "I saw that smile Ally.." This said with a teasing tone.
Blink whaaat? Allegro turns a blank look towards Alsoomse. "Y'saw a what? I didn'...You didn't see nothin'. What do I got to smile about?" He snorts again and plops down on his stomach, eyeing Raiza once more as she falls asleep. "..That was quick," he notes with a flick of an ear. "They all shut down like that?"
Alsoomse humms faintly. "Gee.. I dono.." This said with a shake of her head. "Oh pretty much when they're tired. You worn her out it seems."
"Oh." Pause. Pause. Pause. "She gonna wake up again soon?" Allegro asks, sounding almost /almost/ hopeful about that. Seems like somebody likes one of the pups a lot more than he expected, though he isn't overtly too obvious about it. He hopes. He crosses his paws and grins, glancing ot the den. "How 'bout the others? How're they doin'?'
Alsoomse smiles. "No.. I get the feeling she'll be asleep for a while. Sorry you'll just have to deal with me again." A glance is offered to the den an her ears lower slightly. "Her older brother is doing fine, the younger one is still somewhat sickly." Which she knows is all her doing, it must be.
Allegro grins and winks at her. "Hmmm, I /guess/ I can deal with ya for a while," he says playfully, tail waving from side to side. He looks to the den again and hmmms a little. "The little'n will be fine," he says, sounding sure. "It's the littlest ones that'll surprise ya the most. Should've seen me when I was a young'un. Was a lil' runt of a pup, but look at me now." He puffs out his chest a little as he raises his head. "I'm a /beast/" ... *snerk*
Curled up beneath one of the trees, Surii begins to stir stretching her front paws out. Pushing up she pushes into a stretch from front to back with a light growl to release the tension. Stepping forward she shakes off a few of the stray blossoms clinging to her fur. Glancing around while blinking the sleep from her eyes she doesn't see the pair yet.
Alsoomse sighs a tad before she looks back to Allegro, a faint chuckle escaping her. "Gee, that makes me feel better.. All I need is for him to take after you." This said with a playful tone." Her ears perk and she glances over towards Surii at the moment, she watches her a moment before speaking up. "Hello Surii."
"If he does, he's gonna be one heck've a dog," Allegro retorts proudly. Any dog that's like him is a dog worth having around! Grinning again, he begins to spea, but then pauses at the sound of a growl. His attention turns to the awakening Surii, and then glances to Alsoomse as she greets her. He smirks slightly before exhaling a breath and barking his own greeting. "About time y'got your lazy bones up."
Surii looks towards them, "Hey!" Moving towards them slowly looking between them, she moves to offer Alsoomse a light nuzzle of greeting. "How you feeling?" she asks not recalling if she knows if the pups are born or not. Tail wagging happily she settles to her haunches glancing towards Allegro with a light smile, "Hey...."
Alsoomse smiles a moment and gives Surii a nuzzle back. "I'm alright.. Just somewhat tired from trying to keep my daughter from chewing on a smelly Ally.." This said while she grins over at Allegro.
"I don't smell...well, I do a lil'," Allegro admits with a grin. Darn skunk. But at least he wasn't sprayed too badly, and the smell is light. "But like I told Moose, the smell jus' means that I'm a hard workin' dog." He grins broadly, then nods towards the pup nestled between Alsoomse's paws. "You seen the pups?"
Surii wrinkles her nose up, "Can tell who won that battle." she giggles then looks to the pup. Tilting her head she blinks examining, "Awwww.... it's so cute!!" Tail thumping against the ground rapidly, "How many pups you got?"
Alsoomse grins and nods to Surii. "Ya.. an it wasn't him." This said with a playful tone before she looks to her daughter and smiles. "There's three, two boys and little Raiza here."
Allegro snickers and rolls his eyes. "That dang skunk was jus' lucky I was in a good mood," he says haughtily. "Plus, I don' think skunk meat would be very good. Bet it tastes jus' like they smell.." He watches Surii's reaction to Raiza with a look of amusement dancing in his eyes. "The boys ain't made their grand appearance yet."
"She is adorable!" the lab mutt grins warmly. Being a little envious, she looks towards Allegro with a smirk. "Hopefully they won't meet you. She don't need you teaching her boys how to lose to a skunk! Good mood or bad mood I think you would have lost." She of course would give him a nuzzle of greeting but she can't get past the scent.
"They're jus' bidin' their time, that's all. Bidin' their time." Allegro grins as he stands and then arches his back to stretch, claws digging gently into the earth. After straightening, he tosses Surii a smirk and nods to Raiza. "Gotta watch out for that'un though. She's pretty good at jumpin' on ya already." He pauses to shake. "The two've y'all should talk, an' I should get to scoutin'. Make sure everything's quiet. And .. you both better still be here when I get back."
Surii watches as he turns to go, "Be safe." Steeling to her stomach she sighs a little continuing to watch as he fades off on his scouting.
Alsoomse chuckles again and grins before shrugging. "She takes after her mother what can I say." This said as she grins before nodding to Allegro. "Alright.. Stay away from anymore skunks ok?" She looks over to Surii and leans over to nose her. "You alright?"
Surii looks back over at Alsoomse, "Yeah.. I'm fine." she smiles lightly. There are just /things/ she doesn't feel that they can talk about. Especially when it comes to Allegro since she hasn't a clue how Moosie feels about him lately. "Just glad to be among friends."
(Fade to black here since Allegro's gone and I had to disconnect to get some sleep! What they talk about, I dunno, but maybe /somebody/ will post the conclusion) *nudge poke* Mwuaha!
Setting: Cherry Grove
Alsoomse is finally feeling a bit more like herself, well before the run in with the elk at least. At the moment she is settled outside the den grooming across a forepaw. A half eaten rabbit can be found some distance from her, showing she either went hunting or got lucky. Either way she was happy to get it as the pups were taking a lot out of her during the time she was healing.
There are some rather interesting things out in the forest. Things like food. Scraps. Animals that he's never seen before. And animals that he's seen before, and there likely isn't much question as to what animal Allegro might've run into when he gets nearer to his pseudo home. The ... aroma of skunk lingers on the dog. Luckily for him, it doesn't seem as if he's been sprayed dead on, else that ... fragrance of his would be much, much stronger than the hint that it is. And so, the musky canine lopes back within the colorful orchard, a smug looking smirk on his face as he nears the densite. "Evenin'. Hey, you're lookin' better," he notes brightly.
Alsoomse blinks at the smell and makes a face while lifting his head to peer over at Allegro, a faint huff escaping her. "What you do?.. Try talking to a skunk and piss it off?" Nice greeting huh? Her tail is swaying a few times though. "Ya I'm feeling better."
"Y'ever try talkin' to one've them things?" Allegro says as he pause to give his fur a brisk shake, as if somehow he can banish the smell that way. "Hard /headed/ I'm tellin' ya. I jus' had a few things to ask. Couple've questions, but then it had to go an' act like I was tryin' to eat it or somethin'. Startin' mouthin' off. Even had words about my momma." He snorts before smirking crookedly at her. "You ain't gonna send me off cuz I smell a lil', huh? What dog don't smell a little? Means I'm ... hard workin'," he says as he lifts his muzzle slightly, failing to hide a smirk even as his eyes glance to her kill. "You do that yourself?"
Alsoomse makes a face and soon snickers as she hears this. "Right.." She says with a shake of her head. "Personally I stay away from things that will shoot stuff outa them at objects." A faint huff escapes her and she glances to the rabbit. "Well ya.. I do know how to hunt you know?" This said with a grin. "You want the rest?"
Allegro chuckles as he shakes his head. "Naw. I jus' meant, if you got that all by y'self, you must really be feelin' better," he says with a small smile, sounding pleased. "...Good. Cuz I hope you weren't expectin' me to go huntin' for you all the time," he says with a languid streeeeetch and a subtle smirk. "You're gonna have to start pullin' your weight around here." He grins, winking in a show of jest as he straightens up again. "Naw, you keep it." He settles onto his haunches as he gives a look to the side, a single ear turning back. "Er...Surii seen you yet?"
Voices outside of the den rouse Raiza from her slumber. Now that the pups are more than a month old, their eyes have opened and they are learning to socialize. Thus far, the lone girl-pup has proved to be the most active--which is a nice way of saying she gives mom the biggest headaches. Wriggling out from under her snoozing brother, she follows her ears, soon poking her head out of the den's entrance. Her nose wrinkles almost immediately. Hey, something smells good, but... Ewww! Something else /stinks!/ More curious than repelled, she barks and bounds out onto the open without bothering to look around first, as her eyes are still adjusting from the darkness of the den.
Alsoomse chuckles at this and humms. "Right.. I'll remember that." This said with a playful tone as she glances around at the other dogs name. "No.. Why?" She questions before looking back towards the sudden attack of her loveable daughter. A chuckle escapes the female while she lowers her head to try and snag hold of Raiza's nape before she goes charging off to far.
Allegro shakes his head little in answer. "Nothin'. Well, she stopped by a lil' while back and wanted to talk to ya," he says offhandedly, his ears raising again. "Er, she..." Hey, what's /that?/ Bi-colored eyes blink widely as a ... mini-Jette comes bounding out of the den. The resemblance of the aforementioned dog has Allegro somewhat recoiling. Apparently, he didn't get that good of a look at them when they were some days old. But now, here it is, plain as day. One of his offspring. Admittedly, he recovers quickly and rises to his paws, glancing from mother to newly restrained daughter. "Uh ... 'ey." Pause. "Does it talk?"
In her excitement, Raiza would have gone barreling past Alsoomse, but as she zooms by she gets snagged by the scruff. Darn! Disappointed though she is, instinct forces her to go completely limp, hanging from her mother's jaws. The fluffy pup blinks rapidly several times, and then her honey-brown eyes focus on Allegro. Those eyes widen dramatically. "'Oodat, momma?"
Alsoomse eyes Allegro slightly at his reaction, really.. males. She sets her daughter down upon her forepaws and licks across the girl's neck a few times. "That is uncle Allegro, or uncle Ally." Yes she just told her daughter to call him Ally.. HA. "An her name is Raiza, not /it/." This said towards Allegro. "What did Surii want to tell me?" She is rather sure that he knows..
HA! Look how it goes all blah when it's being held like that. Allegro snickers as Raiza's body fuully relaxes in her mother's jaws, obviously amused, then raises his brows as the pup utters words. It /does/ talk! He clears his throat a little as he gradually lowers back down into a sitting position, eyeing the youngster as if it's something ready to sporadically explode. "Uncle who?" said suddenly with a blink to Alsoomse. "Don' tell i- ... /her/ to call me that! Name's 'Legro," he says, speaking to Raiza now. "Er...nice to meetcha pup." He grins slightly s his eyes are drawn back to Alsoomse. "She wanted to say bye."
Raiza is back on her paws as soon as her mother sets her down. She is far too curious about the big male dog to pay attention to the licking, squirming and wagging her tail with furious excitement. "Unca' Alleee!" she repeats joyfully. "Allee Leggo!"
Alsoomse winks at Allegro. "Why not?.. I call you that." She says with a innocent tone. A glance is offered to Raiza as she bounces out of her paws before she peers at Ally hoping he won't freak out again. "What do you mean.. Where is she going?"
Oh, yes this is perfect. "Alleggo works jus' fine with me, pup," Allegro replies with a crooked smirk. "..I stink," said as if he's just remembered this, and he blinks as he eyes Alsoomse. "It ain't gonna hurt her or nothin', right? She got a little nose," he remarks as he takes a half step back to "diminish the stink" to the small nosed youngster. He lowers his head some as it twists from one side to the other, considering her thoughtfully. He answers Alsoomse without looking at her. "She...says she's leavin' the pack. She was gonna go off lookin' for her pa, but, I don' think she is anymore. Kinda convinced her to stick around. With us." He pauses there, stealing a hesitant glance at her.
Raiza moves closer to Allegro, tilting her head back to view him. Whew! So this is where that stinky smell is coming from! She sniff-sniffs curiously, oblivious to the serious conversation going on over her head, and counters his backward step by padding closer still. "You /stink/!" she agrees enthusiastically.
Alsoomse grins at Raiza as she moves closer to Ally. "No, she'll be fine. Its just a smell." Well at least she is sure the girl will be alright, hopfully.. She frowns as she hears Allegro now, her ears lowering as she thinks about Jette. "Did she say anything about Jette?" Her gaze drifts towards Allegro and she watches him a few moments, suddenly seeming a bit unsure, if everyone leaves Jette what will happen to him?
"Uh huh, I sure the heck do," Allegro agrees with Raiza, sitting perfectly still. "I stink bad, huh? S'called skunk, and skunks ain't no fun. So if y'ever see a bushy tail critter struttin' towards ya with its tail-end stuck your way, you turn tail an' the other way, y'hear?" he advises. "Else, you'll end up smellin jus' lke me," he warns with a crooked grin. His tail wiggles at her, taking in her scent, but his attention is drawn back to Alsoomse and his expression falters. He's no mind reader, but he can see something on her face that hints at trouble. "Naw, she didn't, but that don't make no difference, does it?"
Raiza tilts her head, trying to absorb the lesson from the male dog. Whether or not she understands all of what he said, she nods vigorously when he is done. Bushy-tailed things that stick their tails out at her = stinky. Hopefully she will remember this, and recognize the skunk for what it is, if she ever happens upon one.
Alsoomse lets her gaze rest on Raiza a few moments before she looks off. "I can't just leave him on his own Allegro.." This said with a soft tone. It would have been so much easier to leave with Allegro if Surii was still with Jette. Now what does she do? "Raiza and Sarge need to be with there father too." Even whe she says this she isn't fully sure, she wants to be with Allegro but at the same time worries about Jette.. Darn confusing males.
"On his what?" Allegro snorts now, brows furrowing in obvious frustration. "He ain't exactly alone, Moose. Y'forgot about all them new females he already got? That spotty one was the newest. Kole's stuck around. An' that pup. Don' make'm out to be some sorry lil' runt that can't make it on his own an' needs your motherin'. He /ain't/ alone. He even come out here to see you more'n once?" he asks with a snort, eyeing her with a quirked brow. "Or t'see her?" a nod is given to Raiza, the poor kid. He exhales a breath and turns his head at her, voice lowering. "C'mon, we already done talked about this. He ain't worried about you, so why the heck're you wastin' your time worryin' about him?"
Raiza pays no attention to the adults' discussion. Most of it is far beyond her understanding--and thankfully, what she does understand does not interest her. Fluffy tail a-wag, she trots in a circle around Allegro, looking him over with bright, curious eyes before sneaking in close for a better sniff.
Alsoomse head lowers slightly, her maw twitching as she thinks of what to say but comes up with nothing that could counter that, his right though.. Still she feels like she is the one causing the problem here. A faint sigh escapes her while her head lowers, her gaze following after her pup to keep an eye on her. When she was on her own she never had to worry about any of this stuff, and for a few moments she actually missed that. "I don't know Allegro.." Is all she can finally come up with.
"Yes, you do," Allegro says rather clearly, his brows lowered. "You jus' think who's been there for ya, and who ain't been." He watches her for a long moment, his expression somewhat stoic. But then his gaze turns towards the curious Raiza, and a faint smirk curves an edge of his muzzle. "You." He bounds backwards a foot and bends his fronthalf down in a characteristic show of play. "How good are ya at pouncin'?"
Before Raiza can reach Allegro's foreleg--which she'd been planning to taste--the dog returns his attention to her. She stops short and blinks when he bounds backward, gaping at him in surprise. The pup recovers in an instant, dropping her forequarters to mimic Allegro. "Rrrr!" she growls playfully, before fearlessly launching herself at the much bigger dog.
Surii has connected.
Alsoomse lets her gaze rest on Allegro a few moments before she goes back to watching Raiza. Well he does have a point there. She takes in a slight breath before grinning as she watches the pup. "Just like her mother.." Al seems to find this amusing.
Woo! Allegro snickers and barks out happily as the youngster bounds his way. Playing seems to be a thing that comes naturally, and his plumed tail waves from side to side as he traipses backwards, then theatrically stumbles beneath the pup's superior strength. "Argh!" he flails theatrically, eyes squinting. "What've ya been feedin' this lil' monster, eh? She's heavy! And she ain't nothin' like you. You ain't never play with me not once!"
Raiza has had a lot of practice pouncing her brother, and she does not let Allegro's size discourage her. She is a bold pup, willing to take on any challengers. Tackling the male's ankle, she clomps her jaws around a mouthful of his fluffy coat--and lets go immediately, looking disgusted. Lesson learned: stinky things taste /bad/!
Alsoomse chuckles and grins at Allegro. "I don't mean by playing.. I mean by how she is going after you and the fact that you're bigger isn't bothering her." This is what her past owners would have been looking for for the next fighting dog you know. "Oh I've been feeding her a lil this and lil that.." She chuckles as Raiza really goes after him before standing up and moves over to the pair to bump her maw against the girls side. "Raiza.. Don't bother Uncle Ally to much now alright?"
Ankle! Ankle! Allegro theatrically, yet gently enough not to harm the pup, thrashes as the small teeth dig into the fur and skin of his leg, but the attack surprisingly doesn't last long. Blinking in a miffed way, he perks his ears and rolls onto his stomach to eye her. "Wha-...oh.." He snickers and wrinkles his nose. "S'right, it don't taste too good either, huh? Already done forgot.." He chuckles and makes an apologetic face. "Forgive me?" he asks before glancing towards Alsoomse, making a face. "Don' /call/ me that! She's gonna start rememberin' and then she ain't never gonna stop."
Raiza rolls over on her side when bumped, but this does not appear to bother her. She looks up at her mother with her tail still wagging. "Unca' Allee-Leggo taste bad," she informs Alsoomse matter-of-factly. The pup opens her mouth as if to say more, but it's interrupted by a wide yawn. Energetic as she is, she still tires out quickly, being so young. Her eyelids begin to droop.
Alsoomse grins at Ally. "But its cute when she says it.." She states in her defense before moving to pick the girl up and carries her back near the den. Here Al settles back down and places Raiza between her forelegs once more, her forepaws curling around her. "I know he taste bad.. He needs a bath in the lake don't he?"
..Ok, so even Allegro has to admit that it /is/ sort of cute when the pup says it, but it's not like he's going to admit that to Alsoomse. So he only snorts and rolls his eyes, but he says nothing more about it. As Raiza yawns, there's a slight change in his expression. A vague...softening? A subtle smile that's soon erased from his muzzle. He sits up now and rolls his shoulders slowly, chin lifting in response to Alsoomse. "I don' need no bath. She jus' don't have a sense've good taste yet."
"Needa baff," Raiza disagrees sleepily, and yawns again, wider than before. Her eyes slip shut before she curls up between her mother's forelegs, and in another moment she is already snoring.
Alsoomse chuckles again and grins at Allegro. "Go get a bath.." She says with a playful tone before lowering her head to nuzzle at the now sleeping pup. Aww how cute. "I saw that smile Ally.." This said with a teasing tone.
Blink whaaat? Allegro turns a blank look towards Alsoomse. "Y'saw a what? I didn'...You didn't see nothin'. What do I got to smile about?" He snorts again and plops down on his stomach, eyeing Raiza once more as she falls asleep. "..That was quick," he notes with a flick of an ear. "They all shut down like that?"
Alsoomse humms faintly. "Gee.. I dono.." This said with a shake of her head. "Oh pretty much when they're tired. You worn her out it seems."
"Oh." Pause. Pause. Pause. "She gonna wake up again soon?" Allegro asks, sounding almost /almost/ hopeful about that. Seems like somebody likes one of the pups a lot more than he expected, though he isn't overtly too obvious about it. He hopes. He crosses his paws and grins, glancing ot the den. "How 'bout the others? How're they doin'?'
Alsoomse smiles. "No.. I get the feeling she'll be asleep for a while. Sorry you'll just have to deal with me again." A glance is offered to the den an her ears lower slightly. "Her older brother is doing fine, the younger one is still somewhat sickly." Which she knows is all her doing, it must be.
Allegro grins and winks at her. "Hmmm, I /guess/ I can deal with ya for a while," he says playfully, tail waving from side to side. He looks to the den again and hmmms a little. "The little'n will be fine," he says, sounding sure. "It's the littlest ones that'll surprise ya the most. Should've seen me when I was a young'un. Was a lil' runt of a pup, but look at me now." He puffs out his chest a little as he raises his head. "I'm a /beast/" ... *snerk*
Curled up beneath one of the trees, Surii begins to stir stretching her front paws out. Pushing up she pushes into a stretch from front to back with a light growl to release the tension. Stepping forward she shakes off a few of the stray blossoms clinging to her fur. Glancing around while blinking the sleep from her eyes she doesn't see the pair yet.
Alsoomse sighs a tad before she looks back to Allegro, a faint chuckle escaping her. "Gee, that makes me feel better.. All I need is for him to take after you." This said with a playful tone." Her ears perk and she glances over towards Surii at the moment, she watches her a moment before speaking up. "Hello Surii."
"If he does, he's gonna be one heck've a dog," Allegro retorts proudly. Any dog that's like him is a dog worth having around! Grinning again, he begins to spea, but then pauses at the sound of a growl. His attention turns to the awakening Surii, and then glances to Alsoomse as she greets her. He smirks slightly before exhaling a breath and barking his own greeting. "About time y'got your lazy bones up."
Surii looks towards them, "Hey!" Moving towards them slowly looking between them, she moves to offer Alsoomse a light nuzzle of greeting. "How you feeling?" she asks not recalling if she knows if the pups are born or not. Tail wagging happily she settles to her haunches glancing towards Allegro with a light smile, "Hey...."
Alsoomse smiles a moment and gives Surii a nuzzle back. "I'm alright.. Just somewhat tired from trying to keep my daughter from chewing on a smelly Ally.." This said while she grins over at Allegro.
"I don't smell...well, I do a lil'," Allegro admits with a grin. Darn skunk. But at least he wasn't sprayed too badly, and the smell is light. "But like I told Moose, the smell jus' means that I'm a hard workin' dog." He grins broadly, then nods towards the pup nestled between Alsoomse's paws. "You seen the pups?"
Surii wrinkles her nose up, "Can tell who won that battle." she giggles then looks to the pup. Tilting her head she blinks examining, "Awwww.... it's so cute!!" Tail thumping against the ground rapidly, "How many pups you got?"
Alsoomse grins and nods to Surii. "Ya.. an it wasn't him." This said with a playful tone before she looks to her daughter and smiles. "There's three, two boys and little Raiza here."
Allegro snickers and rolls his eyes. "That dang skunk was jus' lucky I was in a good mood," he says haughtily. "Plus, I don' think skunk meat would be very good. Bet it tastes jus' like they smell.." He watches Surii's reaction to Raiza with a look of amusement dancing in his eyes. "The boys ain't made their grand appearance yet."
"She is adorable!" the lab mutt grins warmly. Being a little envious, she looks towards Allegro with a smirk. "Hopefully they won't meet you. She don't need you teaching her boys how to lose to a skunk! Good mood or bad mood I think you would have lost." She of course would give him a nuzzle of greeting but she can't get past the scent.
"They're jus' bidin' their time, that's all. Bidin' their time." Allegro grins as he stands and then arches his back to stretch, claws digging gently into the earth. After straightening, he tosses Surii a smirk and nods to Raiza. "Gotta watch out for that'un though. She's pretty good at jumpin' on ya already." He pauses to shake. "The two've y'all should talk, an' I should get to scoutin'. Make sure everything's quiet. And .. you both better still be here when I get back."
Surii watches as he turns to go, "Be safe." Steeling to her stomach she sighs a little continuing to watch as he fades off on his scouting.
Alsoomse chuckles again and grins before shrugging. "She takes after her mother what can I say." This said as she grins before nodding to Allegro. "Alright.. Stay away from anymore skunks ok?" She looks over to Surii and leans over to nose her. "You alright?"
Surii looks back over at Alsoomse, "Yeah.. I'm fine." she smiles lightly. There are just /things/ she doesn't feel that they can talk about. Especially when it comes to Allegro since she hasn't a clue how Moosie feels about him lately. "Just glad to be among friends."
(Fade to black here since Allegro's gone and I had to disconnect to get some sleep! What they talk about, I dunno, but maybe /somebody/ will post the conclusion) *nudge poke* Mwuaha!