[ P ] A Step In The Right Direction

Their puppies grew faster than weeds in Etherea's Garden and Merrin could only flounder as she tried to grasp onto the time that continuously slipped through her grasp. Lenora and Riften were a rather rambunctious pair already, the duo finding their clumsy footing, toddling around the cabin to explore their home. Atlas, however, had remained as comfortable where he was as a toadstool upon a log. He seemed content to remain nearest his mother, glad to always be the first one there to nurse when it was feeding time.

Merrin felt an odd kinship to this behavior as Atlas simply observed the other two, not wanting to race after them so eagerly. He seemed to enjoy watching them in their play, every now and then piping up with excited squeaks as he found his voice. She knew her youngest boy would find his wings when he was meant to and selfish, as it may be, she cherished his closeness as the others were more apt to wander now than they were to snuggle.

Then came the fateful day that the fledgling began to explore his own capabilities. Lenora and Riften were keeping their father more than busy while Merrin lay with her chin on her paws, fondly watching Atlas as he began to study his own paws, lifting his roly poly body and setting it down. Eventually he held himself in a standing position for a prolonged period of time, swaying on his small legs as they supported his weight and then he lifted one paw, setting it down in front of him.

Atlas turned his head, looking up at Merrin as though he were seeking her approval where he would find nothing, but a loving gaze and encouraging smile. "You've got it, darling." She coaxed him, glancing over at the rest of their family. "Do you want to go walk over to your Papa? I'm sure he'd love that." Silver-laced lilac gems seemed to light up with fierce determination as her baby boy turned his attention back on the others and then down at his feet as he took a few more wobbling steps in their direction, looking back at Merrin with a wide grin before he continued on his way, squealing to alert the others he was on his way.

@Argent

table ; bunny - - art ; Raven

T

he doting father watched his eldest two pups tussling with each other while Merrin kept Atlas company. Their youngest was still trying to find his feet and his siblings didn't quite understand what an unfair advantage they had during their games when they tried to wrestle with him. He'd never had a sibling to pester him when he'd been a babe and he was happy that they had each other.

He couldn't help it when his silvery gaze shifted from the wrestling duo to Merrin's soft words of encouragement. He felt his heart flutter with the same joyous anticipation that came when Lenora and Riften had taken their first wobbly steps. Seeing the plush round body of Atlas triumphantly trying to push himself up was enough to make his tail begin to thump in applause. It was special moments like this that made all the sleepless nights worth it.

He flopped down on the ground with his front paws splayed out in welcome when Merrin encouraged him to walk towards Argent. You can do it, he cheered him on, beaming over as he witnessed Atlas begin to wobble over to him, squeaking excitedly. There were a few times when Argent barely held himself back from reaching over when it looked as if he might tumble before he reached his destination, but Atlas was determined to make it. Argent's tail continued to wag happily, jaw parting into a wide grin as the puppy made it halfway there. Argent couldn't bring himself to look away for even a moment.

When he made it within the last few inches and toppled into a tired puppy sploot Argent swelt him up with a large paw and drew him close to his chest in a great big fluffy hug, swallowing him in a mane of white.

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck