Are you here to distract me,

Sometimes in wandering through the Frostfang, Aries could hear the sound of @Archon singing. It looked he had taken up a hobby of music, and sometimes she couldn't help find herself humming along or to herself. A hobby she had long forgotten since arriving to here.. Far too pre-occupied with often the little ones as she tried to help, or other duties attending. But Aries was a court woman, she enjoyed the ladyships such as singing and dancing, and the balls that came. How she mourned and wished for them once more, a cheerful feast and what was to come.. Oh the galore, she was nostalgic.

As the night had fallen, she could hear the rustling of the children, far awake within this time. Aries ducked her head into the den, a politeful greeting to the Priestess, @Olive, as a light hum came through her voice ; but just for a few seconds, to demonstrate what could, "perhaps I could sing a lullaby." Polite in words, the woman was far willing to back off if needed so, it was not her place to over-step, but to help.

---

@Dalmatia @Tiberii @Aurelia @Euphemia

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^^It was true; ever since he had found a voice, he hadn’t stopped. He sang about the clouds; about the stars, and sometimes, he even sang about Hawking. There, too, he would sing to the children; in a gentle voice that wasn’t too loud, to wake them.

More liked whispered singing.

They didn’t really have neighbors to worry about, so in the evening, when the pups were usually asleep, Archon tried to keep his voice low, in respect for the babies. He’d come to check in on the kids, when he heard Aries’ suggestion.

“I’m sure they’d love to hear a voice that isn’t mine.” Archon chuckled from behind her, tilting his head. “Maybe we can work on something together. I didn’t know you could sing..? What else can ya do, Aries?”

^^
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The transition of day to night went by gradually, and Dalmatia settled in as daylight began to wane. She snuggled up close to her mother and basked in the warmth, the affection that oft came with bed time, and fully expected her sisters to follow suit.

The speckled child did not seem to lead by example, however, for some of her siblings had energy to spare. Dalmatia held out for as long as she could, parting her jaws in wide yawns and trying to blink tiredness from her eyes. Ultimately she felt drained and frustration began to rise, though anger was rare in the spotted girl. Instead, she emitted soft little whimpers to herself and was on the verge of tears.

Aries' arrival in the den returned some sense of serenity to Dalmatia, and she pulled herself up into a slumped seating position to turn her half-lidded gaze toward the music. She was fascinated by it, drawn to the low sound, and she focused on that to drown out the carnage caused by wild sisters around her.


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Olive was many things these days; and one of those things was never alone. Late evening was the time that she was not alone the most, seeing as all her children and all other were winding down their day at the same time, in the same place. It was usually a raucous time of transition, where stifled energy needed to find its final outlet, and this night proved no different. Some pups squalled while the others attempted to sleep, and not a single desire seemed to line up with another.  Olive attempted to cajole them into stillness with the help of their older brother @Archon, when Aries offered to lend a paw, in the form of a lullaby.

The mother, somewhat exasperated by her brood, threw the other silvery figure a look that was akin to help as she grabbed @Tiberii by the scruff, pulled her close, and then did the same with @Aurelia. "Children, children,” she tittered, accepting Aries's offer without a single word towards her. Archon was right; he was generally the voice that lulled the four little princelings to sleep, but perhaps a different octave was what they needed that night.

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She was not ready for sleep.

The child hissed audibly as she felt her mother's teeth at her scruff, gently tugging her backwards, away from the pebble she was trying to knock around. Aurelia had been attempting to roll it between two larger stones without it touching the sides - she loved solitary games, particularly those that involved skill - and she wasn't done.

“But I'm busy!” she grumbled, looking back toward her playthings. “I don't wanna lullaby.”

Yet Aurelia didn't pout beyond that, instead settling dutifully between her mother's paws as she should, but still looking a great deal put-out by the whole thing.

Sigh.

Being a kid was awful.

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Euphemia was also awake, buzzing lightly within her spot ; refraining from playing to avoid her mothers grasp, but she looked wide-eyed between the brother in browns and the woman in whites. A lullaby was sometimes sung, but lately the twinset were awfully noisy and staying awake, refraining from the rest and destined bedtime.. She very much wanted to look outside, as she tried to peak past the walls of adults, and gaze. She could see the stars twinkle.. Just enough, until the tail of Aries covered so.

She whined lightly.

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"I like to dabble in all the arts," she said, smiling at Archon. Although to say she couldn't find an adoration for the more.. Physical ones such as the warrior-path, the pain that supplied was not as refreshing as some of the guard in Winterglade would say. A spar would be a bruising for a while, where she could feel it in her bones as she foraged, not something, that she particularly would try again. Though like any wolf, it was destined to know but a bit for the occasional defense. 

"Singing is another love to give. My mother would hum one to me, although there was no lyrics.. It always brought me comfort." 

So she brought herself down to their level, laying down lightly in front of the den, a golden eye sweeping over the young. A tail lifting up and swaying lightly, unknowingly covering the view of one child from the sky.. Her paw was patting the ground in a rhyme, as the song she was humming earlier now continue on.

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^^Watching his Ma be a Ma to smaller children was interesting to him. He had been much older than they were, then his path had crossed with hers, becoming entwined forever. He watched his Ma with them for a time, grinning over to Ares with the nod of his head.

The children didn’t want to sleep, it seemed. Perhaps they were bored with their usual bedtime routine? “Well, if you don’t want a lullaby, why don’t we compose a new song?” Archon offered, trying to think of ways to tire them that sounded enticing for them. Aries was already humming and patting her feet, and now all they needed were words to their new song.

“Once, there was a.. ..? ” Archon sang, wiggling his brows at them and nodding his head, looking at them expectedly, in hopes they’d fill in the blanks.

^^
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Her sisters didn't want to sleep, but she did. Dalmatia dwelled on the unfairness of it all as she sat, half-lidded and eager for peace. Aurelia complained loudly when the tone of their mother's voice demanded silence and obedience from them and she failed to notice Euphemia's eager yellow eyes attempting to steal a glance at the world beyond their visitor, likely considering escape into the night.

She blinked, and parted her jaws in yet another yawn as Archon suggested a joint effort in creating music. Dalmatia would not join in, absolutely not, but she was thankful for something more organised than the out-of-control environment her sisters had created.


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Just as it was strange for Archon to see Olive as a mother to his younger siblings, it was strange for Olive to see the once-boy as a yearling, now a young man with a matured attitude and a desire to serve. Whereas she loved him before for his youthful, eternal sweetness, she now valued his skills and mind (as well as his sweetness). He took charge in situations where before he might not have, giving her another leg to lean upon;

and, in consequence a renewed sense of trust that she could release control a small bit (at least where the younger pups were concerned) and all things would be fine.

Aurelia, Dalmatia and Euphemia, at least, were distracted by the efforts of the three caretakers. Olive leaned back on her side, propped up on one elbow, allowing a deep sigh to fill her and then be released. A green gaze, veiled behind a thick row of lashes, swept up to Aries as she suggested that singing was a form of love. Olive felt that same sensation of warmth and support whenever she looked upon the snowhare, the Priestess was somehow inspired to sing — in perfect timing, Archon began the verse.

♫ once upon a time…

Her children had been born in the frigid north, and had yet to truly see the beauty of southern lands in the height of the verdant spring. Without attempting to put much logical thought to it, Olive followed the words that came first to mind. She wanted the puppies’ little minds to be steeped in the beauty of the world before the drifted off, and became engaged in their dreamworld.

Her soft voice picked up, a gentle lilt. “...in a field of blooming flowers,” she sang, looking suggestively towards Aurelia, knowing that the twin and her restless mind might have something wonderful to add.

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Lullabies were boring. Sleep robbed her of precious time, and she had no problem putting herself to bed when it was finally and absolutely necessary; lullabies were wasted on her. They were for babies, and she wasn't a baby at all.

Aurelia snorted. Mother was trying to sugar-coat things and make them seem seem 'fun', which yes that tactic usually did work, but only because Aurelia allowed it to, obviously. This time, however, she would have none of it, and Aries wasn't helping the situation either, and Archon - who was supposed to be on their side - betrayed them right there, suggesting the group compose a new lullaby to foolishly distract the children into sleep.

Never! Death before dishonor!

The ashen pup rallied herself defensively, bristling only slightly within the cradle of Olive's arms, scrunching down into a grumpy ball of fur as she fought against their valiant efforts with her own steel will.

She would not yield.

... And yet.

Although she was not at all intrigued by the humming, or by the frustrating sing-song notes that pervaded the air around them like an oppressive fog of impending sleep, she couldn't help but feel interested in the lyrics. They were completely making them up on the fly, and Aurelia liked these sorts of games where she had to use her mind and stretch her already-forming skills to try and piece together something new.

She bit her lip, frowning, knowing she was walking into a trap.

But still.

“... that all had magic powers...” Aurelia added quietly in her own puppyish version of song, her voice high and girlish.

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Unlike her twin Euphemia was humming along, enjoying the light whims of it. There was no lyrics to it, but somehow it felt comforting ; a light difference then either Archon or Olive gave that was with songs of so. She enjoyed hearing something different, but when they started to add lyrics to it, Euphemia started to enjoy it even more. However she realized, she too, fell into a trap.

Bullets were sweating as she started to feel uncomfortable with the realization she had to join — and for a few moments fell flat in silence with the backdrop of Aries humming quietly. She wasn't sure what to say, even her sister found something but Dalmatia didn't.. It felt wrong to stay silence, but now her mind was growing rampant on struggling of what to give, "and a world with another..?"

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Aries smiled as she continued, the hum of her backdrop as Archon started with the quiet drums of a lyrical collaboration. It started upon him and like a circle of so, the rest slowly would add lyrics. Whimsical to the sounds she thought, pleasant to the ear as within the distance the twitter of the birds followed along. Singing within their own voices of the night, it but another music to the already songs. For a moment she paused within her singing, "where their magic fell with another," she rhythmed it lightly to the twins in a match, before settling back to the hums.

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