"Stop nagging me! I told you yesterday I was moving them today. I'm fine." Kyra glared at her father, as he made to protest once more that she should be resting still. It had been two full weeks of bed rest and caring for the little buggers, and being alone on this stupid island. Why in the black moons hell did she decide to sleep on the water that day?

She picked up Silverwing, trying to ignore the instant screeching from the infant and the sorrowful whines of Kalli at their separation. If she could pick them both up at once she would, but Kalli was just too big already and Silvi was just too tiny. She nodded for her father to pick up Kallistrate and she headed down out of the den and towards the water. She couldn't spend an iota of thought about the momentous day and what it would mean for everyone to finally see these babies because of the ear piercing squalling. She nearly ran to the little basket on the shoreline with her red ears plastered to her head.

She had asked her father to find a way to carry the babies over the water and he had known just the wolf to ask. He had commissioned Shimmah with the job of creating a basket that floated on the water to keep them dry. It would also keep them close together and less stressed on the trip. She didn't want them breathing in water while Silverwing screamed like the banshee she was. Her father was right on her tail knowing full well that they would stop once they were placed together again. Kalli was more of a whiner grumbly squall, while Silverwing was trying to break your eardrums. Hopefully the kid would grow out of it.

When they were finally placed together in the basket, Kali first, then Silverwing, the mother took a relieved sigh as they started to settle into each other and grumble their little greetings.

She watched them for a moment, it would be nice if she was the one who could comfort them instead of each other? Hopefully they can find a way to live without each other when they grew.

"Did you tell him I was moving them today?" She asked her father after a moment of taking a breather. He knew full well who she meant.

"No, he was sent on an errand. He will visit you when you're all settled in. He'll want to check in on his favorite patient, I'm sure." Hakan replied, a twinkle in his eye. Alex was on an important mission to gather cottonwood buds, dandelion flowers and stinging nettle. The stinging nettle would be a challenge for the boy, thus keeping him very busy.

Everyone else though was waiting on the shore, Hakan had told nearly everyone else that his grandbabies were finally going to be moved to the castle, though he wanted Kyra to rest longer. He would be grateful to have her closer to the castle as much as she would though. The daily swimming was a hassle on his own health and the isolation was probably more detrimental to her than less bed rest.

She huffed at his answer, refusing to look at him, instead looked up at the mid morning sun.
"Nothing to it then. Here we go." She looked down and saw the gathering crowd on the opposite shore and she was more than a little excited to see them all up close again.  

She pushed the basket ahead of her and waded into the water. She paddled along, feeling strong, leaving her father behind her as she pushed ahead.

It was starting to get harder and harder to push them ahead of her and swim at the same time. She had been out of practice with her training. Panting, she gave them one more big push with a short bark of "Help!" (they were fine, mumbled a little,) and she trusted someone to wade in and grab the basket to pull them in as she veered away to swim on her own and scramble onto shore. She panted and laid down. She was so going to be running every damn day after this to get her stamina back up! This was pathetic! How was she going to be Ursa Major while she could barely swim across the lake without getting winded!?!?

ooc: Open Season!! Come on in Packmates! Except Alex, you're still banned

It was a day of glorious apprehension.  Like the others who had congregated, The Dark Moon stood on the shore of Moonstone Lake, staring out at the water.  Hakan had told them the details.  Surprisingly, her bother was absent, but the Prodigal Prince was still being somewhat reclusive. Still, she thought that the pups' arrival would be something he'd be hard pressed to miss...  Mercury's seafoam eyes narrowed as she glared at the invisible presence of Hakan across the water.  What had been going on over on that isle?  Strangely, aside from Jase's odd nickname for one of the pups, there had been very little personal information about the new family.  Kyra hadn't intended to whelp on the island.  She'd had complications.  The pups were healthy, alive, but wouldnt be moved... Not until today.

Sparing a glance at Jase and Shimmah, she couldn't help but smile.  The girl had made the instrument of today's event, and she was probably as apprehensive as the mother putting her creations inside it.  The azure healer was speaking to her in soothing tones, although Mercury was politely out of earshot of the conversation.  What she, nor any congregated, was not out of earshot for, was Silverwing's screech.

"That high squealing would be the dulcet tones of Silverwing. She has a good pair of lungs." Jase commented, loud enough for them to hear.

The wince was collective. Mercury raised her brow at the newest of their band, a small hellion fox who had been met at the border by Arik, of all of them. The Dark Moon was loath to admit that the fox's original assessment of the borders was correct.  She did not have the strength of bodies to patrol it.  They were a gentle sort, her people.  Healers, caregivers, providers.  Arik had surprised her with the very bold move of patrolling himself. It gave her a fluttering kind of pride, thinking of it.  Sadly, it had been necessary. Their warriors had been claimed by battles, space and time...  The spirit and tenacity that presented itself in the small body Arik had encountered was a flame very like the one in her own heart. Despite the clear handicap, Mercury was keen to see it burn bright.

"Come on ya lazy lumps, get yer butts in here!"

Mercury chuckled, having also moved forward when Kyra struggled into the shallows.  Would the fox realize who she had spoken to, or would the moment be to0 exciting for any of them to be concerned with pleasantries? Hakan was swimming up behind Kyra, and Jase, all business, moved to assist her.  The mother would be fine.  So it was the Queen herself who waded into the water, grabbed the bow of Shimmah's flagship in her strong jaws, and hauled them ashore.  Her head bent to the task, she did not immediately look within the basket where the two infants were mewling together.  Instead, she had a clear view of Jase, and the suspicious, Cheshire grin that spread across his smug face.

Oh, she knew that look.  That wasn't the smile he'd use for mere accomplishment, his own or otherwise.  Oh, no, that was his prank face. Mercury's head snapped up, and she rounded her gaze onto the children, hence unseen by any except their immediate family and healers... Specifically: Jase and Alexander.  At first, she saw the chimeric pup, big as she was.  In the morning sun, her kaleidoscope of colors was striking, but not the most unique thing she had seen.  It was not her first chimera.  But then the pup rolled to reveal her sister, and Mercury's eyes went wide.

"Mother Night." She exclaimed in shock, staring down at the glowing white pup nestled in the bottom of the basket boat.

Jase's comment whispered back in her mind. "- a little white glowbug girl." She had thought he meant her coloring would be pale like the moonlight.  The sun was up.  This pup glowed.  And he'd known it. The Dark Moon turned her head back to the blue healer and shot him a glare, despite knowing he would only widen his grin in response.  The jerk.

Mercury was a humble woman of grounded means.  She was not a paladin of the moonlight, and was unaccustomed to the Mother being so insistent in meddling in her life.  A glowing pup?! What did any of this mean?!

Where was Arik?  She scanned those assembled, looking for him.