The Couple's Relocation (10.06.2012)

[Hiruko Koudo]

<<OOC - I thought it would be about time that the cubs are beginning to walk and talk >>

Hiruko had made the effort to hike up the steep, snowy hills of the Hrauni Mountains along with the two cubs, Lena and Lios, following closely at his heels. When there was a rock too high for the cubs, he would lift them over, one by one.

The trek seemed longer this time as he had to watch the cubs carefully. They were old enough now to stand and walk without teetering and it was good to get them some fresh air.

"Daddy, these mountains are very high," Lena cried out. "I can see our den from all the way up here!"

"I know, you can see almost all of the mainland," Hiruko said glancing out at the vast surroundings. Lios said nothing and climbed the rocks with caution. He was quite a timid cub but willing to climb for his dad.

Once they had reached the opening to Mira's cave, Hiruko called inside. "Mira? Are you in here? I need to talk to you."

"Muuuuuuuuuuuuuummyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!" Lena shouted, copying her father's calling.

[Mira-Neiva Fadiele-Koudo]

Mira chuckled as she exited the cave. "I'm right here, you know," she said, giving her daughter a lick on the head, making Lena giggle happily.

"Mummy!" Lios said, bounding over to Lena's side, happy that his climb had given Mummy as a reward. Mira licked Lios' head as well.

"What was it you needed to talk to me about?" she asked Hiruko as she cuddled her cubs, who were babbling about their climb up to the cave.

[Hiruko Koudo]

Hiruko watched as they rushed into her welcoming embrace. It was nice of them to be joined together rather than separated all the time.

"I was just thinking," he said with a serious tone. "Things with us being separated to do our jobs is becoming...a little difficult. I need to protect the mainland whilst you have your place to stay here in the cave for the Tialkians." He began scratching his tufts of fur, brushing the wet snow from his cheeks.

"I was going to suggest a relocation," he said outright, curious at her response to his suggestion. "Somewhere we can all stay together without disrupting our duties. And with that, I had an idea. Maybe, we can live in one of the huge pine trees up here in the mountains. That way, you can be close to your cave and I can look out over the mainland."

[Mira-Neiva Fadiele-Koudo]

Mira mulled over the suggestion in her mind for a few moments. "It's a good idea," she replied. "Though what are you going to do about the tree in the Forest?" Mira wondered whether or not the tree would become a normal tree, or if it would be a place where any future arrivals could stay for a while before finding their own place, or if it would remain their home if they happened to be in that area of the Forest late at night.

"Are we moving?" asked Lena, who had been listening to the conversation.

"Moving?" repeated Lios. "I don't wanna move," he added with a pout - he didn't particularly like change.

[Hiruko Koudo]

"The tree can be used for whomever may need it," Hiruko answered. "A place for the new arrivals will be most suitable. And in time, when the little ones grow up, they may inherit it if they wish."

Lena leapt up and down with excitement. "I own a tree! I own a tree!" She chanted loudly. Lios was not so welcoming of the idea.

"But it's cold up here..." he said quietly under Lena's loud voice. "What was wrong with our old home?"

Hiruko felt bad for making Lios uncomfortable but in the long run, things would be much better. They could stay together as a family and protect one another. He knelt down on the floor close to him and put a paw on his shoulder, staring deeply into his son's emerald green eyes, reflecting a part of himself.

"I promise you'll come to like it, Lios," Hiruko said softly. "It will take some getting used to, but it means we can all stay together more often." Lios perked up a little but he still didn't seem overly convinced. Standing up, Hiruko turned back to Mira. "I can begin moving preparations whenever you are ready."

[Mira-Neiva Fadiele-Koudo]

Mira smiled at Lena's enthusiasm, but placed a paw on her shoulder to calm her down. "Careful, Lena," she said softly.

Lena looked up at her mother briefly and nodded, knowing that Mummy wouldn't ask her to calm down unless it was necessary. Mira ruffled her daughter's fur, and Lena squirmed. "Heyy!" she giggled, trying to smooth it back down.

Mira responded to Hiruko's quuestion while Lena sorted out her fur. "We could begin preparing now, if you want."

((OOC: in the Universal Characters section, Lios' eyes are blue xD ))

[Hiruko Koudo]

<<OOC - Hmmm...I didn't realise they were in the Universal Characters section I thought Lios was going to have green eyes and Lena's were blue?>>

"Sure, first we'll need a suitable location within the mountain range," Hiruko said stepping out of the cave and staring into the open space. "We need somewhere close to the cave but overlooking a great deal of the land." He looked out for a moment: it was no use being right next to the cave, there were no trees around. They would have to look further. Seeing Lios shiver slightly, Hiruko had another factor to consider.

"We also need somewhere that is a little less exposed to the blizzards that occur up here," he said, kneeling down and giving Lios' sides a rub to keep him warm. "Now, I need you two to stay here whilst mother and father go and look for a new home for us, okay?"

Lena nodded excitedly whilst Lios showed his understanding in his eyes. "Don't move out of the cave, understand?"

Positive that they would do as they were told, he left with Mira. "We won't leave them long, sweetie," he whispered into her ear.

[Mira-Neiva Fadiele-Koudo]

((OOC: I can change the UC post if you want haha))

Mira knew the cubs would stay safe, but still she worried - she was a mother after all. "Let's make this trip as quick as possible then," she said to Hiruko. The two of them wandered down the moutainside before they reached several trees that grew randomly around the first third of the mountain.

"This is where the more sturdy trees grow," Mira said to Hiruko. Although her love was more attributed with the earth, Mira knew these parts of Tialka like the back of her paw. "I couldn't tell you which is the best for living in, though."

[Hiruko Koudo]

<<OOC - Whatever ya want I dont mind ^^ >>
Looking at the strongly built trees ahead of him, Hiruko felt the trunks of each individual one with a touch of his paw. Each time, he shook his head. "Hmmm...these trees do not hold the warmth well," Hiruko told her. "And besides, I cannot see the mainland as clearly from here." He moved south a little and came to a tall cliff where he could see out for miles.

"Now this is more like it!" Hiruko said, staring out into the wonders of the horizon. "But we should definately head just a little lower. I wouldn't want the cubs to have an accident..."

He climbed a little way down where the cliffs weren't as steep but rolled downwards towards the ground far below. "These trees are perfect!" Hiruko announced. He approached one of the largest pine trees and touched it with his paw, feeling the warmth and the very living essence of the tree flowing through him. This particular pine tree was very tall, a potential rival to their previous hometree. The needle like leaves were lightly covered in snow, as were the thick branches that petruded from the trunk in all directions. At least he still had something to climb. The trunk seemed to be thick all the way to the very tip but it was substantially slimmer than their previous home.

"Perhaps I can build a bigger living space within the tree," he suggested, a paw stroking his chin. "The needled branches hide the inside very well so it would look no different on the outside."

[Mira-Neiva Fadiele-Koudo]

Mira watched fondly as Hiruko inspected the trees, and followed when he went a little further down the mountainside. When he seemed to have chosen one (he'd been staring at it for almost a minute), she approached.

"Done?" Mira asked, a smile on her face. She looked the tree up and down. It was very unassuming, but that would only help.

[Hiruko Koudo]

"I think so," Hiruko said, still staring at the tree and calculating what to do next. "We can go back to the cubs now. I will begin work on the tree shortly."

They walked back up to the cave where Lena and Lios were play-fighting and laughing happily. "Got your ear," Lena spoke through a mouthful of fur. Lios rustled until she let go and took a playful swipe at her.

"Mummy! Daddy!" they both shouted when they spotted their parents walking towards them. Lena and Lios both clumsily bounded towards them, rubbing their fur up against them as a sign of affection.

"Did you find us a new home?" Lena asked.

"Is it warm?" Lios said with a hint of worry in his voice. Hiruko bent down, putting each paw on both of them.

"It will be perfect once I have set it up," Hiruko reassured them.

[Mira-Neiva Fadiele-Koudo]

"When will it be ready?" Lena asked excitedly, grinning up at her parents.

"Whenever your father says it's ready," Mira replied. "Though, thinking of it, when will it be ready?" she turned to Hiruko. Lena and Lios giggled. A cold breeze ruffled their fur, and the two cubs cuddled up to Mira's fluffy fur for warmth.

[Hiruko Koudo]

"You can all still stay at the old home until it will be done," Hiruko said, seeing the cubs cuddled up for warmth. "It shouldn't take more than a few days. I'll need to collect some wood a begin building the inner part of the tree to make it roomier. If it doesn't work out, we always have our old house. I just thought it would be an idea since we could be closer together that way."

[Mira-Neiva Fadiele-Koudo]

"Let's go further down," said Mira, which was greeted by grateful smiles from her cubs. Neither of them had inherited the fluffiness that Mira took for granted.

"Thanks Mummy," said Lios as Lena began to make her way down the mountainside.

"Be careful," Mira called out to Lena before turning to her son. "You're welcome, sweetie."

[Hiruko Koudo]

Hiruko followed beside them, his thoughts preoccupied on plans for the relocation. He would miss living in the forest but it had to be what was best for the children. When they were old enough to fend for themselves, Mira and Hiruko would be able to live in whichever place they pleased.

Lena trotted happily through the snow, leaping into huge mounds and sinking into patches that were especially deep. Lios was a little more cautious however. Their personalities had really come through now and it was interesting to see them learn and blossom.

"Perhaps Hayashi can stay in our old home," Hiruko suggested, worried to leave their home abandoned. "He hasn't made a place for himself yet because I don't think he feels part of the group. Maybe this will make him feel more welcome."