one blood,

Babies are a month old (30 days!).

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First to rise this morning, Hydra observed the slumbering bodies of her cubs. The first rays of morning had yet to pierce the veil of their den, but the morning was here all the same. They each had grown so much, now, and Hydra instinctively knew that a new day for them had come. Extracting herself from them, the matriarch exited the den and surveyed the nearby surroundings. Sniffing the air and noting no signs of danger there, her eyes continued to work along with her ears to ensure just that.

All was clear, though, as it always had been. She was grateful as to that; those delivering the food had ensured as much, she was certain. And so she settled, knowing no threat was present to disturb the peace. The matriarch lay just outside the mouth of the den, and this day, her youngest would be permitted to join her there. In the meantime, the matriarch enjoyed the silence, taking to grooming her foreleg. More than just her young, should any of the pack want to look at Empyrean's firstborns, she would not chase them away either. A more formal introduction for all would come, she had already decided, in the coming hours. First, though, for them to wake—Hydra selfishly clung to these quiet moments.

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Carrying a peasant within her grasp, she trotted onto the mountains peaks. To where that of the Empyrean royals may reside, the trusted individuals as Hydra given birth, and not many would be allowed near. She too though was allowed closely, but kept a respectful distance as a mother should have gained. Sometimes watching the father and her other children come through, but usually remained afar, diligently guarding or trading places with @Osiris as she would venture back down to the mountains.

Continued in that distance, she let out a short bark to announce her own presence, as Desdemona brought food.

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Early to rise it seemed he would be the first of his siblings to rouse from their slumber, though as he yawned with bleary eyes it soon became apparent that their mother was not with them. His innocent blues swept the confines of the den cautiously before he squirmed out of the pile of bodies that made up his siblings. It wasn't often that she left them so naturally, he wanted to know where she had gone, but another temptation caught his gaze instead.

The light.

Several times before had he tried to reach it, though with teetering paws and at least one of his parents on watch, he never so much as had the chance to poked a nose out. Casting another quick glance back to his siblings ensuring they slumbered without interruption, Raiden shuffled slowly to the den mouth, his nose sniffing the fresh air before the rest of his head stuck out like a mouse. He squinted in the morning light, one paw reaching out to unexplored soil when he finally saw her.

The young boy froze as he stared wide-eyed at his mother. Had he been caught? Maybe it wasn't too late to slink back into the confines of the den, or perhaps if he was quick and quiet he could hide and explore on his own? Fortunately, his mind was several steps ahead of himself and he still hadn't found the will to move lest he risk being caught.

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Osiris and Desdemona would not trade places today. The activity within Hydra's whelping den had increased as his siblings grew, and he anticipated that he would meet them soon enough. 

Osiris had kept watch since the previous evening and was about to retire from his shift when he smelled Desdemona. He picked himself up from the underbrush and began to follow her, wanting to fill her in on the night's events before she took over. 

When he arrived where she had gone, he stopped a length behind her and wuffed as he didn't want to startle her. The prey she carried in her jaws smelled divine, reminding him of how hungry he was; his stomach growled in yearning, but he ignored it. 

Looking past Desdemona, Osiris noticed that Hydra was outside ... and one of his siblings was peeking out of the den. He felt his heart leap as he looked at Raiden, noticing his similarities with Dirge and himself. Another strong Ostrega to carry their legacy and lineage—Empyrean's future. At the thought, he forced himself to look away, recognizing that Hydra may not want him to stare.

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^^
He was unaware of much, his dreams occasionally making his limbs twitch into a sibling. He didn't notice Hydra's stealthy slip from the den and his mother's reprieve from the endless needs of his litter. They'd gotten better the older they'd gotten, able to entertain themselves and orient themselves a bit better. Still, it wasn't until Raiden had started to move that Draco felt the chill left by his brother's departure, and it drew the sleepy little star from his rest. He released a squeaking yawn before he swung ins head around and found no familiar figure of Hydra to curl up with or feed from. He looked more cat than he did young wolf as he stretched, legs curling back towards his face at the end of his little stretch.

He smacked his gums as he yawned and then got himself to his feet and toddled after Raiden. It wasn't with much thought specifically, not until he realized that they were now outside when they might have instead been inside. Nothing out there had drawn his attention before, not when he'd had Hydra or @Dirge instead to focus on. His parents were about the most interesting things to him - they were so big! But the entirety of the world? That was impossibly huge and he froze the moment his entire body was engulfed in the newness of it all - unaware of a larger brother there, too. ^^

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The first upon the scene was not any of her children. Rather, it was the dutiful Desdemona. Hydra rose to all fours for a moment, assessing her demeanor; it was the way of every mother, to do so, especially at the start. While Hydra did not believe Desdemona would ever act against her or her young, it was instinct and the matriarchs nature both that caused her to check all signs that alluded to nonaggression. And when none were found, the matriarch drew nearer to her with a whuff of her own. She paused not too far from the mouth of the whelping den, not wanting too much distance to be created, and it was then one backturned ear caught the sound of movement from within that space.

She turned on her heel and moved toward there, seeing the tawny furs of one of her sons. Raiden, she saw and scented as he peeked outward. When his gaze found her, the matriarch saw the shift; it meant her son was capable of knowing right from wrong, at least, and thought he might be doing the latter now. And soon, the starkissed Draco was alongside him. Both hesitated, both knew the threshold—or, perhaps it was the newness of it all that caused such a reaction.

Hydra liked to think, though, they were beginning to learn.

“Come to mother,” she invited, knowing this was what they would know her best as. The scent of Osiris on the wind came to her, and so she spoke, “your aunt and your older brother have come to meet you. We must not be rude to our guests,” her low voice coaxed. The matriarch would never be one to hold their hand except on the day of firsts; she was a terribly patient woman, and had ample time to wait. In case The Eagle came to observe, she also felt it best to stay near until he saw them for himself, too, and knew these ones were not to be touched. Each looked healthier than the last, but he himself might simply see food. He had been kind in delivering several matters of avian prey in particular, so for his part she trusted his intentions were good.

But The Eagle, like herself, was no domesticated, tameable thing. Nature could win out, and Hydra would never risk it. If when he saw them he could not ignore it, then until they were too large to carry off, he would need to keep his distance. Her ears listened for any indication of that approach, though nothing indicated as much. Her attentions looked to be entirely upon the mouth of her den, even if they were divided to be observant of any and all nearby threats that might present themselves.

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Nysa stirred as Raiden and Draco left the puppy pile. It was chilly now that they were gone, and she began to shiver as she woke up. Her vision was blurred, but Nysa could make out the shapes of her siblings at the den's entrance. Slowly, she picked herself and stretched before she made her way to join them. It was strange that they stood there and mother was gone, but she soon saw Hydra lounging outside. 
 
The area outside their den was massive; trees surrounded the clearing, and the sky was clear and blue. She was overwhelmed in the best way possible, and she examined the clearing until Hydra spoke. 
 
"Come to mother," the matriarch invited, "your aunt and your older brother have come to meet you. We must not be rude to our guests." Nysa glanced around, not seeing either of their visitors. Their scents were familiar, but she hadn't met either of them. 
 
With her body lowered, Nysa crept forward in a feline-like crawl. When she made it, she crawled and wiggled into place between Hydra's outstretched arms, making room for her to be held.

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Ara continued to hold a grudge against @Scorpius, as she often attempted to seek him out for that vengeance. Though she unknowingly did learn from her brother, for his snake-like attack had grown an interest to the dark pup, she enjoyed making herself disappear into the shadows, and attempt to lunge for that strike. Though facing off had it's fair share of challenge, she couldn't help but feel some sort of thrill to the awaiting and striking, and often enjoyed playing 'hit and run,' except usually she came back right away, and demanded that of a fight. 

She wanted to do that against @Nysa, snacking from behind her so, though rather, their mother had called them forth. It was unusual to leave their cavern, any attempts were met with displicine and a stretching back to the darkened den. She gave up on protesting and rather simply took her days playing.. So when the chance came forward, she pushed herself out and attempted to stand before all her siblings. She didn't make it out first, but she'll claim that spot.

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Desdemona carefully stepped closer, though kept that inching distance. She dropped the prey before her paws and slide it slightly before Hydra - an offering as jade eyes glanced toward the bundle of children. It was duly noted that many looked like Dirge, almost all if not for the two black bundles that stood around. Desdemona thought momentarily at the previous litters, glancing back at Osiris in thought that the previous times - they had taken after their mother. Though this time destiny said otherwise.

"They are big."

Though said nonchalantly, she felt awkward. Absent within the previous litters, this was perhaps one of the first time she met them at this stage, and generally, Desdemona wasn't sure what do with pups.

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His absence seemed to have alerted his siblings as soon one by one bodies would press in next to him. Hydra would make eye contact with him seemingly seeing through his "don't move and she cant see you" camouflage, a warry lick of his lips all he could muster until she spoke inviting them further. Nysa happily scooted over pressing into their mother's arms while Ara, brash and annoying as ever, bulldozed through causing him to get bumped to the side as she paraded out.

A single snort would be his only response to her desire for the spotlight as he too moved further. First steps were cautious as he looked to the ground. It was so much harder out here and immediately could he feel the chill despite the sun shining brightly. The two new figures would be what caught his attention next. One was dark, though not as dark as their mom while the other looked a bit like himself and some of his siblings. It was this one that he would approach first.

Raiden came with his head lowered, nose twitching as he sniffed at the ground and at the man's paws. He almost looked like he could be their father, but he knew by now this wasn't him...though the smell was there... Of course, he had already been introduced, but his brothers were small so how could this guy be his sibling. Eventually, he'd crane his neck back, pale blue eyes looking to Osiris with a quiet woof.

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When Desdemona stepped forward, Osiris followed. There was excitement drumming in his heart, and he felt his breath beginning to catch in his throat; he had waited what felt like forever to meet his siblings. Now that the time had arrived, Osiris was at a loss of words. They were perfect.

He noticed that most of the children resembled Dirge, and he felt an unexpected pang of grief, thinking of Vega. The feeling passed quickly, though, as he couldn't help but admire the view before them. 

"They're perfect," he said, voicing his initial opinion as he looked at Hydra. His head and ears were lowered, deferring to his mother's every word and whim. Osiris stole another glance of them and realized that one of them was approaching. Raiden toddled over and began to explore the new sights and smells. "Hello," he greeted in a hum, watching as his tail wagged slowly behind him. He would be careful, as he knew the situation he found himself in was precarious; Osiris didn't know how Hydra felt about her young son wandering away. When his brother craned his head back and woofed, his heart melted, feeling a distinct longing for fatherhood; the feeling was new and strange. 

"You are quite brave for wandering over," he praised, resisting the urge to place a kiss on his brother's forehead. "But you must be careful," he warned, "Not all strangers are as kind as I am."

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^^
The crooning of his mother was welcome and his attention immediately focused on going towards her. He burrowed into the plush of her chest, nuzzling in to watch Raiden as he took his first big adventure. Draco was curious; but he was also using his littermate to see what happened. Once assured that Osiris wouldn't eat him, Draco looked to his mother as if asking permission before he stepped away from her. Osiris looked like he did, like Raiden and Daddy too - it was logical to the small boy that he might be related.

He tipped his head to give his nose more space to gather the scents now that he could smell so much more. They both smelled familiar in the way that Empyrean did, and yet, they were new and unique and this was intriguing. He let out a little sound as he bumped up against his littermate, shoulder to shoulder to stare up at Osiris in wonder.^^

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Wrapping this one up <3

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For now, few came... which was alright by the matriarch. Her husband was no doubt hunting, and perhaps her brother and nephew with him. She was always well fed these days, and the cubs showed as much themselves with their sizes. While some were leaner, not one could be called frail. Hydra's gaze panned toward the horizon with her nostrils flaring as the scent of those approaching came to her. Her heart warmed to detect the scent of Desdemona and Osiris both. The matriarch was always pleased to see her family, and it had been a good while since she had any true interactions with them.

Sniffing at the wind, her nose sought out other scents; Keres, Nyx, her nieces Ciri or Elke... but none of those nearby then and there. Keres and Nyx both had not neglected to deliver food to her, at least, and she imagined that perhaps they might be joining their brother should he be hunting. It was too soon for the entirety of the pack to come all at once, but little by little they would come to know Empyrean. Hydra settled, as to show them these wolves were safe to interact with—though listened for her sons provided lesson.

“Your older brother speaks the truth,” she drawled, “you must always be careful with new wolves you meet. Take note of the way that they smell, and if they smell as our family—Empyrean—does. Someday, you will come to learn old scent from new scent, what might be manufactured by those who would pretend,” she informed. Whether or not they understood all that she had said, that fact was true. She would teach them. “But these two are of Empyrean. Your aunt, Desdemona, and elder brother, Osiris,” she hummed with a wave of her tail.

Hydra then went on to introduce her youngest by each of their names. Her gaze warmed to her company's compliments, proud in the truth of both things. “You are much to thank for their continued good health, and my own. I thank you,” her low voice came. She was grateful to them both, and Empyrean as a whole, for as much. Settling down herself, Hydra would rest her head on her forelegs, content to watch and linger with her young, and her family, for now while they adjusted to this new freedom. Should one think to go too far, herself or Alya would be swift to rise and correct this... with the added help of Osiris and Desdemona now, too.

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