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set later that day after being with @Faust

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The sun's arch was beaming at its highest, and the duke already longed for a bath in the lake he frequented on those days he would leave The Elks Crown for a day or two. Alas, a brook weaving its course through the dense thicket of their home would be sufficient to cool the heated, leathery pads of his paws today. 

Taking to one he would often plunge into with both @Edith and @Calhoun in their young days, playing up until the hour they were summoned home before darkness loomed and peril lurked behind every tree. He smiled, entering the lively, trickling rivulet. The gushing water now barely reached his knee caps as he stood there, enjoying the lapping water caressing and chilling his legs.

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@Weirs

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It was getting typical enough for the young Déorwines to splinter off and explore independently sometimes, like now. Some days they seemed to overlap more than others when they just scattered across the woods. The growing whelps were easily interested in many things, and unknowingly still grappling with the good and the bad of their loose freedoms. Point being, they were inevitably pulled in many directions.

Weirs at first had been distracted by chasing a really big dragonfly. That turned into a good game, and a hunt after sparkling quarry, but the winged bug eventually sped off without him some time later--leaving him there to feel the heat. He was at least thankful for the forests and all their shade despite the huff, and still continued on in the direction his quarry had gone in, though: towards a piece of creek.

This let him find Warwick, which was much better than some bug. He was feeling brave about his explorations today still so didn't worry, instead silently waving his tail to himself, satisfied.

With mischief in his pale eyes, he clicked shut his panting jaws and tried to stalk up behind his russet brother, closer.. and a little closer... until there was no containing it anymore, not even over the burble of the waters. With all of the grace a very-growing puppy was to be granted, Weirs playfully tried to pounce towards his sibling and the brook he inhabited with a happy yap.

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The duke dipped his crown to lap at the cascading water, quenching his thirst before he would leave and return to the shade of his chambers for a nap whilst he waited for the sun to inevitably dial down. Only, a rustling behind and thunderous paws involuntarily inclined his ear to twitch in the direction in whence trouble loomed. Head springing up to look around, observing the young Deorwine charging from the midst of the woodlands, with an eye of determination. 

Warwick curled his lips into a fashion of a knowing sneer just as they yapped and lunged toward him and the duke reversed further up the brook so that their line of aim would then target the water instead of colliding with him. Warwick barked back, in a playful delight, though the volume would've been tenfold to the pups. He flicked water at the child with a sodden paw, aiming to drench them too just as he once did with his full siblings. 'You'll need to learn to be quieter if you want to get me in future', and a rumbled half-laugh fell from him after his words of warning.

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Feeling quite playful and not to be deterred so easily, delight glimmered in his pale eyes when he saw his brother engage back with him. Even if he was thwarting the sneak-attack's bold efforts, and stepping casually out of reach when the pup had come barrelling with momentum already. Weirs should have to settle on an obnoxious splash, especially to retort against his brother's efforts too, but he didn't mind an ounce. Along the way, he laughed between growls, even as he got splashed back, now thoroughly soaked.

At his brother's warning, he reared up and smacked the water with both of his front paws. “Next time!” he yipped, very much the opposite of quiet now that all the cover was demolished. “So what were you doin'?” he asked next, settling back somewhat and taking a bit more care to take in the scene he had happened to find--central focus on his stalwart older brother, of course.

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With the harrowing months of last, a rebirth of his unsophisticated and childish wild side would emerge when engrossed in his second sibling's presence. Only worrying seem to occupy the duke's mind most recently, and duties seemed to overpour on any of his downtimes. So when he'd seek out their games or vice versa on this occasion, he was only more than happy to unhinge that wagon of uptightness and fool around for the meanwhile. 

A cacophony of sounds rang through their range of the woodlands, with agitated water echoing when propelled in one another directions, and with their barks and laughter. Subsiding only when the younger of the duo sat back and disengaged. Warwick then lay down in the small pool of water, simmering the heat of the day away and bathing himself to cool off faster.

'I'm finished with my few rounds this morning and have just been to see Faust, to see if she is well after what happened. The lake I would normally go to on such heated days such as today is too far for me to go to, to cool off, so this little stream will have to do', he smiled with his tongue lolling with panting breaths. It was perhaps not the most exhilarating story his brother sought. He watched them look around, as though it was the first time drawing into this area. 'I used to come here often when I was your age'.

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Content with the bit of ruckus he had managed to stir, he appreciated the waterway in a different way now. For the cooling waters, their ambience, and beyond. There, Weirs let his tongue fall from the side of his jaws, happy to bask in his brother's attention--and all ears, too, for whatever he may share.

The unexpected mention of his sister pricked up said ears more than before. While Weirs did not understand the finest details of it and his sister hadn't shared much, he had picked up on the fact of something having gone wrong. Instinctively, he just didn't like it. Little he did he know the ripple effect it could have on the lot of them. “Hope she's good..” he said, albeit quietly while he watched the waters a moment, and maybe felt an ounce guilty for he had not seen her since maybe even before this morning. Instead Weirs had been eager to wander off onto his own solo explorations for today. But at least Warwick was there to check on her.

As for that lake mention that definitely was not escaping his interests: “Ooh but what lake is that?” he asked, naturally baited by the possibility for the future.. since today was too hot, and too far. That could come later. At least they had this stream already, right at their very paws. He did like it here, especially the more comfortable he got about it, and finding that his brother had frequented the place when he was his size also quite pleased him--like a confirmation of good tastes, perhaps, the young Déorwine thought. “Here is nice.” he agreed outright.

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He couldn't mistake the quiet voice, for it replicated the child within himself. Warwick looked at his young brother, and his heart sunk at their words. They were all so fragile, so innocent and naive about everything. Yet Edith was so vicious to have attacked their sister, it was an action he'd never considered and couldn't fathom why she wanted to in the first place. They were all descendants of the same name. The duke was not so ignorant to not know the true reason though. 

A small encouraging smile appeared along his lips, 'She is well and in good spirits'. And in truth, she was, despite what had occurred. The attack was brief and only a few minor scratches are all she suffered physically, but mentally the scar was perhaps a little deeper. 

Warwick feigned a built-up enthusiasm when asked of the blue serene lake he'd seek for his days of relaxation. 'It's massive, bigger than any lake you've ever seen here in our home. It's very deep though, so until you know how to keep your head above water and swim, that is when I shall take you'. The duke, himself, only began to frequent the large water area recently. It would take a good day or so for him to reach it, let alone a young pup. 

The prince sloshed the water playfully at his young brother again, 'It is nice', he agreed. 'You should bring Seaver, Faust and Selwyn'. Just as he had with his brothers and sisters. 

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Faith in his brother's details quieted that bubbling worry well enough. He trusted Warwick's assessment, and would postpone his concerns for later. He was too young to fully grasp the entire impact of what had happened to his sister yet, but that vague enough awareness of something wrong still got right under his skin--in the simplest way of someone still so new to this life, he just wanted his littermates safe, well--happy.

Listening on about a great big lake served as perfect distraction. Weirs widened his frosty eyes, desperately eager to take this in. Even already, anticipation tickled at him; he wanted to see more, see it for himself. One day he knew he would.

Weirs beamed when Warwick said he would take him--on a condition of being able to keep his head above water. He wagged his sodden tail and then nodded. Yes!! “I will work on my swim,” he said toothily, like making a note for later and easily agreeing to such terms. Much like many other things in life, he just assumed he would figure it out, or not. If he played in and around the waters long enough, some knowledge would have to rub off on him.

He didn't have any intention on stopping such riparian explorations, anyway, and only half-heartedly moved away from the water his brother sent him. “Yeah, I should.” he agreed about his littermates. He wanted to share this with them, and then smacked the water with his front paws, sending a scattering of droplets. “They might like it too,” he had not pressed them on the topic before.. nothing beyond getting a drink, maybe a toe-dip. “Wonder if they would wanna swim too...” he mused thoughtfully because it was a very good idea to take to them next.

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There was a brewing boldness within his brother that Warwick could see, and he hoped this lived on and evolved further over time, for being part of a pack of such high religion, it was something they would require to keep them going. Those that lacked it seemed to disband from the Elkshire and evaded their religion. A thought stemmed from a couple of his siblings, as living examples. 

He already looked forward to those special moments of bonding with his brother, taking him on daily adventures, since he lacked such a relationship with his own full brothers. Calhoun was of course close, but he prefered to do his own this most of the time. And Aldritch was the lost cause. 

'I hope you do. If you follow this brook, you'll find water that's slightly deeper and can buoy your weight enough for you to pedal your paws', this would be the equivalent of a baby's shallow paddling pool. Safe enough for him to gain momentum and muscles to keep him afloat. 

Warwick was definitely a water child, and so were a few of his siblings, but that was a question best served for his own littermates, for they may not share his bravery, 'Not everyone takes to water. Sisters are sometimes precious about getting their hair wet', he voiced this mockingly, as he received a few splashes to his uncovered face, letting the water soak his cheeks.

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He soaked up the coordinates, attempting to stow them for later with a serious nod: noted. Weirs could surely find his way to such waters with that in mind, and an easy satisfaction glowed on him. His brother had given him objective, and the details to help bolster his young confidence just enough. He wanted to see further lands and this was potentially a good gateway to doing so.

Then, he snickered about sisters, adding this unexpected wise advice away as well. “I will look out,” he nodded deeply, in case he accidentally incur his own littermate sister's wrath over the matter. Of course, it was all too easy to assume Warwick knew a lot about the topic from real, visceral experience. Weirs was young, sort of kept at a distance by many, but he was not blind to the personalities in their family. Once again: very noted.

He punctuated this all with a few more splashes back, and maybe some lazy dodges if he got any returned onto him. Either way, Weirs was glad to get to bask in the company of his older brother and all his wisdoms until all was said and done. He didn't care what they talked about, or really much else. Even once it would have to end and their ways part, he could do so satisfied. It was an easy day for him, one to look back on fondly.

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