[PRP] Strong Heart, Floaty Head (Eppie, Josepi & Veena)

[hibi-tea]

Eppie was allowing her some of her children to play just outside the den today. She felt that they had enough balance in them that actually getting to the mouth of the cave and back after play time would not be a difficult feat for her young cubs. She only hoped they'd conserve enough energy to take themselves back into the cave, though she wouldn't bet anything on it. They were cubs, after all. They had no concept of restraint yet and wouldn't for some time. Till than, she would enjoy the simplicity of their lives.

"Come on you two. We're gonna play outside the den today. Try not to wake your brother and sister, they're feeling very sleepy right now," Eppie said, watching as a clumsy ball of light colored fur tried to whirl past her, giggling like a little nut as he stumbled over his own paws.

Josepi was very happy with the fact that their mother was allowing them to go outside today. For the beginning portion of their lives they were confined to the inner sanctum of the den, and though that wasn't usually a bad thing as most cubs could see the outside world from their dens, Eppie's children could not. Her den wrapped around a rock slab, creating a nice cozy little cubby, but at the same time keeping them from seeing the world without having to wander off and upset their mama, so the fact they were going outside now, it made him so happy.

"Look! Look! The outside! The outside!" Josepi said excitedly.  

[Amryx]

The second of the cubs Eppie had called, Veena, didn't hesitate to follow her brother and mother out of the den at all. As her mother instructed, she was very quiet and tried not to wake up her sleeping siblings. How could they sleep though, when they had all of this time to play? And now, they were even gonna go outside! Veena quite liked the idea of having some fun adventure. Of course, their mother worked very hard to make the inside of the den fun, but the bossy cub sometimes grew a little... impatient and demanding with her siblings.

For now though, Veena had a more important task in mind. That particular task became clear when she sprinted forward, jumping out in front of Josepi and raising a paw in a warning motion.

"Didn't you hear what Mom said? Be quiet, Josepi!" Veena scolded her brother with a loud voice to match his own. "Or else you're gonna wake everyone else up!"  

[hibi-tea]

Josepi could have jumped out of his own fur at the speed in which Veena had managed to show up in front of him. He had been sure he left his younger sister in the dust, trailing behind their mother, but he was apparently mistaken and felt a twinge of denial spark in him. He was a boy. Boys were supposed to be better than girls in everything. Veena was makin' him look bad.

He looked away from his sister with a pout spreading across his face before pointing out the obvious, "You're being loud too."

Eppie couldn't help but smile at them both. So young and yet they both had such strong and identifiable personalities. Veena was stuck to Eppie's hip, or shadowing behind her any chance she had, dictating like a drill sergeant the things Eppie had already told the other children. It was funny. She'd make an excellent warrior in the future.

On the other hand, Josepi was a bit of an innocent, but blunt, wafter. He liked to go wherever his will took him, and didn't hold back his observations or comments, even if they happened to upset the person. His goals were never to hurt anyone, but you could see that dangerous truthfulness in him that would get him in tight spots in the future.

"Now, now, you two. We're almost outside, you can have shouting matches than, ok?" Eppie said, giving them both a smile and nudging them along with her maw. She really was surprised by the character within them both. Traces of mother and father in both children, while still managing to be their own entities.  

[Amryx]

The triumphant look on Veena's face for successfully upholding her mother's rule quickly slid off the cub's face when Josepi reminded her that she was being loud too. It turned into a scowl when she realized that her brother had a point and she tried to come up with some sort of retort to prove her superiority over her sibling.

"Well.... uh.... you were walking really loud. So there," Veena insisted, sticking her tongue out. The tongue quickly slipped back in when she heard her mother urging them on and the young cub happily trotted alongside her mother, though at a slower pace; it seemed like she had paid a little for her sudden sprint but she seemed adamant about not falling out of step with her mother.

She also seemed a little offended (or maybe saddened) at Eppie's remark about shouting matches, looking like she had been scolded herself (perhaps in a way, she had been).

"Mom, Josepi an' I weren't having a shouting match, I was just trying to follow the rules!"

You had to follow the rules! It was very, very important.  

[hibi-tea]

Josepi rolled his eyes to his younger sister. Loudly walking? That was the best should could come up with? Sometimes he thought her actions were simply silly, but he wasn't going to argue with her about it. Their mom had already reprimanded them and they hadn't even reached the den's entrance. The last thing he wanted was another reprimanding. What if Daddy found out? That would be terrible...

"Yes Mommy," Josepi said, hurrying along until he managed to bolt out of the den's entrance and out into the bright world around him that managed to leave him blind momentarily. Maybe he shouldn't have bolted out of the den like that.

Eppie smiled to Veena and leaned over to give her a lick on her head, "It's alright Veena. Go play with your brother, mnnkay? Just make sure you two stay where I can see you."

When Veena and Eppie reached the mouth of the den, Eppie stayed back by the entrance. She couldn't go the whole way out with her little ones and play like she wished. Her other two were still sleeping and she needed to remain close by incase they woke up or needed her. She was content with watching them play, regardless. They were her little blessings and all she would want from them is to live their lives to the fullest.

"Oh! And be careful of the big dirt hole you two! You could get hurt if you fell in!" Eppie said, calling after her son. Eppie had almost forgotten about that dirt hole. She had made sure to avoid it so many times that it was simply second nature to her not to notice it.  

[Amryx]

Once Veena saw that her mother wasn't mad at them, she immediately regained her haughty demeanor and chased after Josepi. Someone had to make sure that he stayed where their mom could see them, after all! Veena was a little too hasty in her exit though, but she could still hear her mother's warning about the hole. Another command that she felt like she had to relay on Josepi. Being a big sister was hard. Nevermind the fact that Josepi was born before her and she was actually the third oldest among the cubs. Veena knew she was the oldest in her heart....

"Yeah, Josepi! Make sure you watch out for the -"

FWUMP!

One moment, Veena was up on the ground trotting towards her brother, and the next moment she was gone from sight, after falling in the hole that her mother warned them about. Though the cub wasn't hurt, she nervously flexed out her paws to make sure all limbs were in working order. Ow, that really hurt though! But it was just a stupid hole, so Veena was sure she could get out. And so, she tried... only to slide back down with each attempt to jump out, her tiny claws digging uselessly into the loose soil. Actually, she might have made the hole a tiny bit bigger. Eventually, it became clear to Veena that she was trapped!

"AHHHHHH!!!! HELP!" For such a little cub, Veena sure could roar.  

[hibi-tea]

One minute Josepi heard his sister's annoying voice reminding him of the words his mother had only said moments before and the next was filled with absolute silence. Josepi was curious as to why his sister went suddenly quiet and turned to find that she was no longer there among them. His hackles shot up quickly as he began to panic internally, OH GOD THE MONSTERS GOT HER. I TOLD HER TO BE GOOD AND NOW THE MONSTERS HAVE HER. OH GOD, OH GOD, OH GOD, OH GOD.

Josepi's internal panic attack was quickly cut short by Veena's ear shatteringly loud scream for help, which caused the first born male to jump clean off the ground a few inches. His sister was alright and not dead, therefore he had to go help her before their mom heard and got mad at them both. The last thing they needed was their mother to actually be upset at them for what had ended up happening.

"Veena?" Josepi said looking around, "Where did you go?"

Just like Veena, Josepi had not managed to pay attention to where he was going and quickly found the ground was no longer underneath him. Instead he felt this rapid falling sensation and than the soft 'plunk' from where he had just fallen on top of his little sister.  

[Amryx]

Thank goodness, someone had heard her! Even if it was stupid Josepi, at least he could call Mom or something! Veena raised her head, about to roar at Josepi some more when... Hmm, what was that thing blocking the sun?

"OW!!!" It was Josepi himself, something Veena only realized when saw his tail hanging in front of her eyes. Which meant his butt was on her head, and that was unacceptable! The little cub grunted and did her best to wriggle herself out from underneath her brother. She tried to do so in a manner that would throw his stupid butt off her face, but she wasn't quite strong enough to do so and instead contended herself with shoving him away from her.

"Josepi, get your stupid butt off of my face! How is Mom supposed to call us now?" The little cub grumbled, shaking her head and looking back up with a worried expression. Oh no, what if she thought they ran off on their own, and she left, and didn't check the hole, and they were left down here? Not only would she be mad at them for disobeying, but they'd be further breaking the rules by missing supper! And she didn't want to miss supper!