Got a figure like a pin-up, figure like a doll

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 She’d been playing outside a lot lately, Even though it’d been getting colder. While her siblings slept and cried for food, Droplet was more.. quiet, more all-or-nothing, either silent or making the mountain shake with how loud she could truly be.

 But, this was a quiet day, at least, for now, until someone came up to her and began talking. Or they could just play… or Droplet could be alone. Honestly she sort of liked being alone sometimes, but other times she’d die for that serotonin and affection her father would give her. A shame that he was asleep right now; lazy bum. Droplet paid no mind, though, and continued to play, chasing a little crawl-y bug that attempted to get away from her.

 “Back!” She demanded with a little puppy-snarl, jaws snappibg forwards to try and gobble up the little bug. “Back here now! No run! Stop!” Her tone was as serious as she could make it out to be, though, unfortunately, her voice was still that of a little puppy, which seriously undermined her frustration with the creepy-crawly.

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sorry for the wait :'^) busy season

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Ira had spotted the young girl long before she would spot herself. Ever since...the man...woman's? arrival she had steered clear of the obvious whelping den they had settled in. It was by Hiero's mercy that she was allowed here, but birthing without a reputation would come at a cost. Her husband had already outlined such to...him, but it would fall to her to outline what such entitled once they were able. She had once been confused when Hiero suggested this wolf was man yet woman, but there was no denying the confusing scent that lingered the site. Somehow he did smell of...both.

Nevertheless, she was curious even if her mind rejected the possibility. The children birthed proved to be less interesting. Average, though she supposed that was a good thing. At the very least, they were more paws promised for Vanderfell's future and ones not birthed by herself. All she had to worry about now was how willing they all would be to serve for such generosity and free resources. One played alone at the den's maw, a bug flittering between oversized paws as the girl barked demands. She reminded her of @Petra or maybe even @Cleo when she was younger.

Approaching slowly, Ira would place a paw over the frantic creature as she kept a watchful eye on the pale child. “If it will not listen, make it wish it had.” Scooting her paw forward she'd unveil the bug again, this time much closer in Droplet's favor. Of course, her advice was useless for a bug, nor would a bug ever be competent of understanding the world it lived in, but the advice stood all the same. She was but a girl after all...in what many would claim a man's world.

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 It didn't take long for the bug to be cleverly hidden by a purple paw, and Droplet looked up to the massive lady, who was just that – purple! Droplet's jaw gaped at her large structure, and she felt a glimmer of admiration in her heart; woah. She was massive, maybe Droplet could be like her! “If it will not listen, make it wish it had.”

“Yes, Ma'am!” She growled with delight, before pouncing on the bug as soon as the lady revealed it once more. Immediately – filled with a new sort of strength, one could say – she took in in her teeth, fangs pressing down on it as it squirmed. Okay, wait, no, that felt gross. Droplet spat it back onto the stone floor, quite physically disgusted.

Looking back up to Ira, she'd turn to pounce on it once more. “Am good?” She asked hopefully, eyes shining bright as she stalked her prey.

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There was clear child like excitement as the small girl look up upon her. It was an expression she knew all too well at this point, as the girl was quickly revitalized in her hunt attempts. The next go at stopping the bug was far more acceptable as she pinned and scooped it in her jaws only to be disgusting by the tiny creature and spit it out. It was amusing to say the least, and a pleased smile sat upon her lips. The girl was almost a natural as she quickly pinned down the poor creature once more before looking for praise.

“Very good.”She'd offer the words with a nod as she glanced to the girl's paw. “Have you an interest in hunting?” It was difficult to tell at this age. Some children just loved to play, but she seemed to want to improve from her games. Vanderfell would gladly take a skilled hunter if that is what she chose to bring to the table. “You may be a natural, but only time and practice will tell. Perhaps when you are older you may come to watch the adults hunt.”

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“Very good. Have you an interest in hunting?” Yay! She'd done good, and now her love for hunting and fighting had been recognised by the high queen purple lady! Droplet grinned. “Yes! Am do!” She yipped in a puppy-like manner, totally mastering the english language and spilling poetry out of her blasphemous gob. She was so good at this.

“You may be a natural, but only time and practice will tell. Perhaps when you are older you may come to watch the adults hunt.” “Why not watch now? Has to be bigger?? Why.” It made no sense! Surely it was obvious that this was her calling, that the gods and nature and the earth itself was trying to tell both her and Ira that her skills in hunting would be more than perfect, so why couldn't she tag along now?!

It seriously made no sense!!

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The girl seemed overly pleased with her praise, but naturally she would become confused and frustrated as she placed limitations for her own protection. Children so young had no concept of harm and once they were in their adolescence, they believed to be invulnerable to such tragedies. “A fair question.” She did not wish to squander the girl's spirit nor drive her to taking matters into her own paws with her refusal, “You are young and the prey we hunt is very large. It can be dangerous, and even adults are harmed at times if any one of us makes a mistake.”

Of course, that went exclusively for pack hunts. There were much smaller creatures to prey upon in the meantime, even if she would not be swift enough to catch them now. “I'll tell you this, wait a moon or two, just long enough to have the energy to travel our claim, and I will see to it that you may sit in on my children's hunting lessons. We will start small and work our way up to pack hunts.” The answer would likely be unsatisfying anyway, but she hoped the girl would take her offer as if it was exclusive. “Will this do until then?”

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 Ira seemed all too keen on keeping her from hunting, and while Droplet wanted to scream and cry and shout and hit, deep down she knew that the High Queen was no one to mess with; “You are young and the prey we hunt is very large. It can be dangerous, and even adults are harmed at times if any one of us makes a mistake.” She narrowed her brows in frustration, but nodded nonetheless.

 “I'll tell you this, wait a moon or two, just long enough to have the energy to travel our claim, and I will see to it that you may sit in on my children's hunting lessons. We will start small and work our way up to pack hunts.” Ooh, wait, that didn't sound too bad! Though she was an impatient lass that could barely understand even the concept of day and night, she could most definitely understand "you do this & I'll do this." “Okay!” She smiled eagerly.

 Ira gave her a question, to which Droplet listened; “Will this do until then?” “It will! It will! Thank you!!” And with that, she stood, her tail wagging back and forth, though she gave Ira one last look in case there was anything else she wanted to say. Droplet wanted to hunt more bugs!

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It was clear how her words were taken the moment she began to refuse the girl's interest, as the pale one's brows quickly knit into a frown. Fortunately, it seemed she would not linger on the immediate refusal and lock onto her promise instead. Ira smiled lightly at the girl's excitement, but decided it would be best to not stand idle when her presence may alter the child's willingness to wait. It seemed, both would be on the same page, as Droplet's interest in her seemed to waiver as well. The gaze she gave was hesitant and knowing, as if suggesting she knew better than to walk away without a farewell. “Go on—” She'd gesture with her muzzle showing that it was fine for her to leave, “Practice what you know, so that you might surprise me further.”

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“Go on—” Ira assured, and Droplet quickly popped up with a grin and started using her sniffer once more, until the purple-roan lady spoke again and Droplet was quick to refocus. “Practice what you know, so that you might surprise me further.” The pup gave a firm nod, though her smile remained posed among her features. Quickly she'd turn and prance away, her tail giving a small "wave" in good-bye as she went to go track down more bugs.

Once she was a few ways away, she gave one last look to the High Queen, before properly hurrying off; she'd go to find one of her siblings, and see if either they or any of the other pack-puppies wanted to hunt bugs with her!

 Yeah!

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