I got the sunset in my pocket,

@Hydra @Dirge

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 It had been some time since they arrived in the world, and slowly she could feel her legs long for movement. Though attempts were but a small crawl away in the curious world that was the ground, she would always be pulled back by her dame. Not without a squeal though, but no one truly knew if it was joy or protest, for Ara would always snuggle back to her mother when this happened.

But now that time would be, her attempts to move further continued. Her own eyes were opening, oh the joy! Yet, the world was blurry. No more darkness that there was, but when she looked at the large person she often sought toward.. They were black like the world they always knew. She mewled at the continual shadowy figure. 

An attempt to walk toward only resulted in a moment of standing, before toppling over and an awkward turtle movement to readjust self.

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The matriarch had been awake, grooming @Draco at that moment; she paused when her daughter shifted, though elected to let her shift. Ara, like the rest of them, always determined she did not like the cold... and Hydra would be remiss if she did not give the child a harmless moment to feel it. Actions had consequences, and she would let them learn as much; she was not sure what processed, and what did not, but someday such a lesson would click.

But Ara emitted a new note, which caused Hydra's attention to shift to her entirely. Not one of danger, which Hydra would feel in both her blood and her bones, but something different. Something that Hydra would come to learn and know the meaning behind, as she had the rest of her broods sounds. Hydra saw the cause of it quickly enough, and her heart soared to know of this success in her development. As she saw her daughter work toward a stand, and then a step, it took no expert to see the imbalance there. Hydra lowered her head to catch the girl with her muzzle, exhaling a warm breath against her little one as she felt the weight of her.

And then she withdrew, just to sweep her tongue across her daughters face to rid her gaze of whatever filmy residue might linger about it. An ear twitched, listening for any cues from the others that indicated they, too, were experiencing something new. None, yet.

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She didn't know what 'pride' was at the moment, but was overjoyed when her mother was giving her attention. It caused but a bark in happiness as she rubbed against Hydra and accepted the bathing that there was, frankly pleased that the dirt covering her face was no longer there. Was this affection due to her simply moving forward? A tail was wagging lightly while closely to her mother, though it was obvious she continued to move around while unsteadily nudging her head against Hydra. To her head, to her belly, to anywhere she can appropriately reach. A smothering of affection while 'showing off' Ara can do more!

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Her daughter seemed receptive toward her mothers doting, and Hydra could not help the spark of amusement and satisfaction both that lit within her. At least Ara would not dispute being well-maintained, looking as neat and prim as she herself presented. The girl seemed to press back with affections of her own, and Hydra nosed her gently.

They were still too fragile to be too rough with, though when vexed enough Hydra had come to learn just how resilient her spry little beasts were. They could withstand some gentle force, she had found, but there was no cause for it then. Ara had opened her eyes, and seemed to be content to launch herself at every part of her mother she could see with kisses.

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She was no stranger to her mothers affection and adored so. Often giving back and with a few happy yips involved, though sometimes Ara became a bit too carried away as though the energy soared through, it now resorted where she started to 'play fight' with her mother. Receiving in kisses, but now she was being a bit bitey and was trying to grapple onto Hydra's nose to drag about.

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The matriarch accepted her daughters affections, though when milk-teeth struck Hydra withdrew and rumbled deeply in a manner that demanded the cub settle down. Should she not abide the first warning, the matriarch would loose a snarl that could not be missed. Educating her young on what was acceptable, and was not, started as early as now, though it was not done to cause harm or hurt as surely as her daughter had not intended. It was a note that would resonate deep within her children's core as they came to learn it, one that would sound when they made an error that would warrant consequence if not listened to. Gentler at their age, but by no means fun. So young, it was still all instinct for them, and so the noise would strike a chord where words would not.

While Hydra did not bleed from it she never had enjoyed being accosted by milk teeth, and so had never permitted it. If she did not teach it now, as their jaws grew stronger it would only ever continue. The message would be clear enough that Hydra was displeased with the way her cub had thought to use her milk teeth there. Her cubs were learning how to use these things, and Hydra would surely guide them—but would not be a chew thing in the interim. Wanting to see that Ara would heed this and be given pause before doing anything else, the matriarchs stern gaze lingered upon her. Hydra already had an idea, but would not suffer disobedience as well as milk-teeth.

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Though she knew not of what would incur if it was happened - Ara was a fast learner, and knew that though her mother was kind, the growl she spoke was more of a warning. Only rarely would her mother show such a signs against them, only when wildly roughhousing with her or another, and so Ara backed up. She slinked downward, a prowl to the ground as she looked up to her mother with both a fury, a sorrow, and a scare. She wanted to play more of course, to continue on, especially at the large appendages the other has.. Yet, she wasn't allow to at the time being.

Though no whine came to be, just a stand still, and waiting.

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