[event] Mind,

this is optional, but encouraged!
@Remus @Teodora @Nikitas @Niklaus @Alcott @Buck @Cynefrid @Calliope 
@Warwick @Edith @Calhoun @Rohesia @Aldritch @Maral @Vermillion

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It felt as if may do, in but a time of but a joyful event. As she saw pumpkins grow within the forest, she of course knew of them.. Tasted them! Though they weren't a favorite flavor, they still held but a taste to them. As long as one carved it out, that was, for she didn't like what was on the inside. String-like substance connected with seeds, not only did it feel disgusting to the touch, she couldn't stomach it within her mouth. Though when she saw that of a patch growing in one part of the forest..

Celnes ushured her children, though some protested and others kept asking what they were doing out, she told them it all but a surprise, and continued bringing them out. A delightful smile hung upon her face, mischievous that it was she was rather pleased on the surprise — and hoped the rest may like it as well. Perhaps but a time of bonding, a hope to bring some together..

As she called forth the pack as she sat in the pumpkins with her eight children.

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In tow, the mischievous prince very much obliged. His mind raced as quickly as his paws pedalled him through the forest. Wondering what surprise, indeed, had mother put in place today for them all to see?

Staying at the front, he wanted to be the first to see, racing any who tried to overtake him, or playfully nipping at whoever did succeed if only briefly.

A glow much akin to the orange of mother eyes, were dotted amidst the forest up ahead. Unusual shapes and sizes, Warwick didn't know what to think of them at first, until they were close enough, and he went to find the largest of the bunch, nearly double his size.

'WhoOoOaAA. This is so cool!', already sussing a way to climb to the top of it, leaning on back legs and placing front paws on his rigid sides.

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Like Warwick, Edith wanted to be the first one to see the pumpkins. So she stayed at his side, keeping pace, craning her neck every so often to see if they could get a glimpse of their destination. But, as always, Edith felt the need to be better than the rest of her litter. So whenever her brother nipped at her, she returned the favor in full. 

When they arrived, Edith's eyes lit up. She had never seen anything like them and wanted to know what they were. Without asking Célnes, who could have probably answered all of her questions, she bounded after her brother. 

She went for the closest pumpkin, which was average-sized, and dropped to a play bow. Then, with a growl, she reached out and batted it. It made an interesting noise, and Edith jumped back in surprise. She pushed her ears forward and growled, seeing the noise as a challenge. With the provocation she received, Edith lunged towards again and hugged the pumpkin, digging her claws into it and gnawing at it. 

She would show it who was boss.

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^^Despite having been demoted for no reason whatsoever, Nikitas answered the call that brought him to a part of the forest that had filtered lighting and interesting orange growth that he’d never seen before, though it looked like very strange looking eggs.

By the time he arrived, there were children afoot - likely Celnes’ own, and couldn’t help but to chuckle warmly as one of the heirs tried to fight the pumpkins. He watched for a moment, shaking his head. Not because he was judging, but realizing that these were not eggs. Eggs didn’t make weird sounds when struck -- or… did they? Truth of the matter was that Nikitas had never slapped an egg to know, really.

So he could come, nodding his head to the queen and whomever looked in his direction, as the guard came to select the smallest of these weird lookin’ eggs, and coming to settle down off to the side, to which he’d give the weird egg an awkward sniff.

^^
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Like his more competitive siblings, Calhoun was at the front of their little band, his body often slamming into the sides of his brother or sister while they tried to get ahead despite not truly knowing where they were going. Everything was turned into some sort of competition, even if it was stupid and small, but as children their concept of just how petty they could be had yet to set in.

In the end, it was hard to tell who made it there first, though as the weird orange things broke into view it was safe to say all three had been distracted as they moved in separate directions. Compared to his siblings' more aggressive approach, he was slower, curious as he sniffed and squinted defensively at the gourds. Their colors were brighter than he, or really anything he had ever seen and it was almost offputting aside from childish wonder.

Like Edith, he too wacked at the side of the pumpkin, leaning back as a noise reverberated from its inners. Nothing he had hit before made that noise, not even the sides of his siblings (though they could sound slightly hollow depending on where he wacked them). “What the—” His ears flattened back against his head, almost in disgust as he glanced to his mother for answers.

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Curious that their mother brought them somewhere. All her siblings went around curiously finding their own pumpkins — a name she still did not know. It felt out of place within her world, yet suited the forest just rightly as autumn bloomed ahead. A pretty picture she would think, as watching her peaceful family enjoy that was ahead and a man she meet briefly. She liked him — found him silly, enough where Vermillion didn't squirm uncomfortable anymore for he wasn't a complete stranger..

She too though then followed curiously, wondering what the objects were. Except when the ruby-eyed princess pawed one — it grew loose, and started to roll. Yipping that she was, running away from the boulder-pumpkin that chased after her, even though the size wasn't as big as herself.

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Though not many would come, she did not mind.. Which was a lie, she scorned her eyes through and mentally noted those who did not come to her call except for Nikitas, and the forceful whim of her own children. Those who did not hear her call — she would remember that day. It was a shame though Celnes desired so and tried to interact, it was hard to gain true loyalty amongst many. Especially since of tense moments months ago, it wasn't settling nicely. 

"These are pumpkins," she announced to her children and Nikitas who spelled it curiously. It brought a chuckle to the Queen, for she would know her children knew not of him, but thought the gargoyle of strange origins would perhaps know. An eye watched toward one of her youngest who was being followed by one of the pumpkins, and unfortunate twist of fate to be tumbling through one.

"Cracking open is difficult, but the insides are delightful." Orange and round with curves, when she tapped one with her paws a faint hollowed sound could be heard.. But no breaking — that was a task quite difficult and normally given to a roll of a hill. She wondered if any of her children would successfully rip the outside to shreds though.

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With paws up on the sides, he squatted onto his hind legs and tried with all his energy to catapult himself up onto the top of the pumpkin. In doing so, he failed and gripped onto its side while it tipped with his weight and rolled onto him.

'Ooof', he grunted as he hit the floor. Shoving two back paws against it, he pushed it off him as their mother elaborated on what they were. With its secrets spilt, he wanted to beat his siblings in getting into its fleshy goodness. The duke got back up, and immediately lunged at the sealed skin, biting at it awkwardly, moving his head in different directions attempting to get the best grip on it, to break it open. He thought of Vaskian in this moment, believing their tall, antlered friend could easily stamp on it to break it open, and thus Warwick could've cheated at this task.

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