You know you can't even slow me down,

Her mother commanded and spoke, did not ask politely but had a force within her tone. She thought slightly upon this more now that they were allowed to venture around the mountains.. But not without a guard though. Her mother was busy with the other siblings at the moment, and she grew tired of constantly fighting them to no avail — for in general she felt she was ontop of the heirechy, whether that was true or not. More focus was now to the outside, what she could see..

Except she needed a guardian.

Approaching a figure she knew not of, "You," Ara said, before pointing toward the outer fields of the mountain — and indication she wanted to go there. Her voice held though tried to hold an intimidation and a chill, was ever so puppy-liked and lisped slightly. She was like a mini-muncher, with all the attitude but nothing to back it up.

Nontheless wanted @Taurus to take her over yonder.

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He had absolutely no business denying someone so cute anything, so he didn't. When the young pup waddled up to him with a demanding air about her, oneword leaving her mouth and the clear indication of wanting to go, Taurus grinned toothily. "Aye," he greeted her as he changed his direction to make a beeline for the little girl, smelling Hydra clear on her fur and supposing that this must be one of her little hellions. Quite obviously, too, because she was swathed in the same darkness that coloured her mother. "Taurus," the behemoth cooed as he looked down at her, intrigued by the youth. "Ya just a wee thing, ain't ya? Gotta get them manners early." He couldn't help it, though, because she had ruffled herself up with the idea that she was intimidating, or that's what he thought the little tot wanted to look like but all he saw was an adorable, round ball of baby fur.

Taurus snickered as he cast his gaze towards the mountain, "adventure time? Wicked." He nodded in approval and supposed that if this was how is day was going to go, he'd happily spend it accompanying the little one on her trek. That and he wasn't about to let any kid, especially one of Hydra's go venturing alone. Would she want a nap, he wondered? ^^

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He spoke weird, and she squinted at him. Definitely wasn't family, for he didn't hold the pure blacks like herself and her mother did, and yet wasn't the same shade of brown like Raiden or her father. He was also big, where Ara had to crane her neck upwards just to look at him in the eye, and stressed her neck. She would've commanded him to lower himself was it as an annoyance, but instead she wagged her tail just slightly as he agreed to her request.

Wasn't really expecting it to work, and touched a part of her ego that shouldn't be unlocked at her age. The commanding worked — just like her mother does to herself and others.. Does that mean she could do the same? The mere' thought alone caused her tail to wag quite more, but she tried to not let that appear onto her face. Plans like those must be kept hidden away, unseen and locked for another time.. 

So she turned, waddling away from the plains itself and aiming for the forests.. She wanted to see the trees, or perhaps if another eagle was within the area. Ara had only seen the golden one who circled around her family, but a curiosity brought if there was more within the slopes of these mountains. Obviously so couldn't venture further, but surely now with a guardian, she could wander inside the pines.. Right?

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One post cameo, unless otherwise tagged!

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It did not go unnoticed that Ara meandered off; Hydra was quick to switch places with her mirror image, prowling mutely after her daughter. First and foremost, Hydra was a protector... and her brood never escaped her attention. Ara did not get very far before she ran into one of her newest subordinates, and she watched with some amusement as her daughter sought to command him. There was no reprimand, gentle or otherwise, from him... which would enable her daughter and her behavior, toward him at least. Hydra imagined that some others would correct this, nipping such a thing in the bud for themselves to deal with. Ara was a quick study, and knew it an impersonal thing that had more to do with instinct than dislike. After all, Hydra had needed to correct each of her cubs... but her love for them was quite clear.

Hydra strode forth from her cover and concealment as Taurus accepted, looking to her daughter and nipping at the tip of her ear gently. “Be sure to tell me when you want to go,” she hummed, though did not demean the girl that did not yet know any better. It was clear Hydra was not upset with her; the matriarch had expected the cubs to see what was alright, and what was not. She would assist in helping them figure it out.

She looked to Taurus, “I see you have met Ara, my daughter,” her sharp eyes upon him. He had been good and gentle with the girl thus far, causing Hydra to believe he had some sort of instinct for looking after the young... but she could not know for certain. “They cannot go beyond the borders yet,” she informed, “but you are welcome to take her elsewhere throughout the territory. Do not let any harm befall her,” she drawled, knowing such was in his capabilities. She entrusted the pack to assist in the caretaking and rearing of her children, at this point in her children's lives.

Here she looked to Ara. “Listen to Taurus, Ara,” she hummed, voice brooking no room for argument, “as he will protect you from danger. One day, when you are grown, you will surely defend Empyrean at his side,” here her tail swayed behind her as she imagined the day. Hydra did not mind if Ara commanded him about otherwise, but should he prompt her to take cover, or to adjust her technique in something that might save her, she expected that Ara would. Once she was certain Ara understood, she nosed her daughter toward Taurus and then moved to nip the mans shoulder companionably.

“Should you run into any trouble, do call,” she advised him. Empyrean was large; he need not worry about being alone at all any longer when facing such things. Hydra lingered only long enough to see them off before returning to her brood.

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The girl didn't get too far, because her ma came bleeding from behind her like she had been there all along. She likely was, trailing after the bundle of fluff for being so bold as to wander away alone -- Hydra didn't strike him as an uncaring mother. She sought to ensure their survival, not hinder it. Hydra corrected the little girl, much better than Taurus' own mention of manners and he withheld the amused snicker, knowing that it was difficult for one so young to be able to speak, let alone know she was meant to give more than a 'you' when wanting to go somewhere. 

Upon the comment towards him, Taurus quirked his lip as he looked at the girl then her mother and nodded, "looks like ya spittin' image." The titan mused as he drew his attention back to the girl, swathed in darkness and every bit as demanding as she wanted to be. "It's me you should be worried about, she's going to surely devour me," Taurus teased to the Sovereign but it was the sharp tilt of his head in a nod and the set of his jaw after that would tell her that he'd not let anyone harm her. "She'll be right as rain with me," he promised lowly, he knew he had a rather soft spot for the younger generation -- letting them get away with more to him than what he'd allow an adult but that furthered his protective bull-headedness that would ensure no matter what stood in his way, he'd devour the threat and look for seconds.

Hydra drew her attention back to her young and told the girl that she must listen to him and he wondered how much that would stick but given the nature of the mum-tone, Taurus thought that even Ara, demanding little Ara, would know that her mother meant business. At the mention of defending Empyrean at his side, the titan wagged his tail and peered to the girl, his grin on his lips as he nodded in affirmation to Hydra's words. "Ya gonna be alright, ain't you?" He encouraged her, wanting her to enjoy herself on this excursion but also wanting to know that Ara took in her mothers words and would listen to him when it mattered. Hell, he could teach her a thing or two! Start her off young, see. Better to learn before you got too stubborn, after all.

The girl was nudged then by her mother and Taurus seemed to beam with the nip to his shoulder as he grinned toothily, bumping Hydra when he could and gave a nod. "But of course," he agreed, already planning to include Hydra in his cuddle-antics but it was an answer specifically to say he'd call if he needed to. "Off we go, young one! To new lands," Taurus would nudge her similar to how Hydra did, though "new lands" was simply part of the territory the girl had not yet seen. Still, he was excited. ^^

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Mother had noticed and spoke to her. It felt warm to at least be noticed in that way, even if she was busy with the rest of her siblings at time. Not that she was ever neglected, and given plentiful attention — Ara was just greedy for more recognition then the rest. But she nodded, listening so and making a mental note to tell of her absence when the latter was too busy otherwise. Now being out of the done there was a a lot to explore, and she wanted to know it all before the rest of her siblings could. Eventually she would hope to go beyond their realm, for she could see the slope going down.. It brought a wonder, for what was below their reigns? At the time being, the small daredevil did not know the concept of 'mountains.'

Then she looked back at Taurus, and a small twist of here face to form the slightest pout. She did not want to listen to him, but didn't totally reject it — just showed she didn't like to. He seemed.. Weak, despite how big he was. Reminded her vaguely of her father and his kind smiles, but she too found him weak — not strong like her mother, who held a presence over them. A quick correction when Ara would spiral a bit of control, and with so, there was always an underline of fear that came toward her troubles, as well as respect. For she wanted to be like Hydra.

But, her mother acknowledged him. And her father. So surely there had to be something, right?

Yet a small growl was given when nudged by this man, for she wanted to lead. Except that was forgotten once actually started to move, for it was one of the few chances she got to move beyond her mothers eyes.

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She was certainly going to be something to watch as she would grow, likely to become more of a demanding spitfire than her tactical mother. Taurus found it amusing, though, and would snicker at the girls back as she seemed fairly put out that he had nudged her forward. "Gonna need a nap, little one? This explorin' stuff is real adult business, y'know," Taurus drawled from behind her, his darkened lips edging out in a teasing smirk as he had a feeling she would tell him just how much she wouldn't need a nap 'cause she ain't no little one. His brown ears would twitch upon his head as he kept himself alert, forest green gaze making sure that nothing was out of the ordinary.

It was their land but it would be stupid as to assume there wouldn't be some bold, stupid fuck who'd readily ignore the boundaries. "You been swimmin' yet, kid?" the bull questioned the little shadow, a brow quirking as he wondered if she would like to see the little falls by his resting nook. He wouldn't actually let her go in the water 'cause he was thinkin' maybe she was still too young but she could still look, right?^^

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There was a glare from the daredevil as she looked at the large man who mocked her. To vent her frustrations.. Ara, headbutted his leg. Though being so small ; and knowing that the usage of her fangs were not allowed to packmates, it was a rather sad attempt of just a child venting her frustrations. If she were a cat, surely the girl would be hissing at the man.

Even his question, she just.. Ignored and continued to headbutt his leg.

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