A/n:It’s important to keep in mind that these characters come from beastial bloodlines and as such they develop at a far faster rate than humans.

Howling Thunder 7: Before the Weight

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With a sigh I get to my feet, I resist the urge to wince. My everything is sore, bed sounds very nice about now.

Mother has other things in mind as she sets down the black pup and sends him towards the den.

We watch as he shifts into a small black cloud and disappears.

She turns back to us, “Hurry inside, bath, rest for a little bit then get ready for tonight's ceremony. Red darling come to my room, Black go to your brother’s.”

As we head into the den I spot Grey near the stables standing next to a brown bear the size of a wagon. It’s large head is maned with darker fur. The fur on its back and forearms are matted and hardened to the appearance of armor plates. The teeth are so large most don’t seem to fit in the mouth.

Walking up to him, “Nice bear brother.”

“Dire Bear.” he corrects.

Red puffs out her nonexistent chest, “Not quite as impressive as my alce however.”

Feeling the pangs of a headache, “Our alce, sister.”

Surprisingly he laughs, “Ya, not bad you two.”

We lightly chuckle, glad that the event is over.

Grey has more than a few scratches in his armor, I can spot the twins napping against each other at the base of the barn. They’re no doubt responsible for the several puncture wounds on the bear’s side from their ice magic.

Noticing my gaze Grey points at the holes, “I should learn magic, my sword couldn't cut most of the hide. They brought it down while I kept it busy. Then it’s so big we had to make an ice path to slide it home.”

Not helping it I grin, “Guess there’s a bit more to it than sneaking up and being fast huh?”

He raises an eyebrow, shrugs his shoulders and leads the way inside, we pick up the twins on our way.

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Sitting in the bath large enough to swim in, it is almost too relaxing. The steam rising from the hot water swirls in front of me. Nevermind excitement for receiving a name tonight I actually begin to drift off to sleep.

“Wake up fuzzy.” whispers a sweet female voice.

My eyes bolt open to look around, Mother is busy with preparations and sister left before I dozed off. The voice didn’t belong to either of them and yet it felt familiar.

The steam  swirls as if a wind had somehow managed to reach this deep in the cave and from somewhere I hear a faint laughter echo.

It’s been too long of a day.

Returning to my room I find Grey waiting, he must have got impatient waiting for me.

With a grin I tease, “Hey brother I think you need to try harder at this perfect hunter thing if you can’t even wait up a bit.”

He scowls and jerks his head at the outfit waiting on my bed, “Hurry, I don’t want to look bad for Mother by being late.”

“Fair enough.”

The leather jacket is black with a black rabbit fur collar. A set of black cotton pants and shirt to match as well and a black sash. The whole get up is opposite the white outfit that grey is wearing, except his doesn’t have the right sleeve.

He’s not the most muscular fellow, “Who are you trying to impress big guy?”

I laugh as he leaves the room without response. I already know he’s trying to look impressive to the twins.

Surely the twins Mother dressed them up, now I’m getting excited.

Meeting brother in the hall, we wait outside of mother’s room. Eventually she and Red step out in matching red, silk kimonos. Mother’s reveals some of her chest and is patterned with white and pink flower petals.

Red’s sleeves end at her elbows and the bottom ends just above her knees. The pattern is of black flowers I don't recognise, as the candle light catches the dress is almost looks like the flowers shimmer in red flames from the silk. I would be nice if she wasn't so tall and kept her hair short and layered in spikes.

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Red smiles, “Are your tales wagging for me?”

Grey and I, “As if.”

He turns down the hall.

I say as I turn to follow, “I bet the twin’s mother will dress them to compete with sister.”

It isn’t hard to notice as he almost trips, Mother can be heard giggling from behind.

Red pipes up, “I’m obviously going to be the best dressed in the den.”

I sigh, “Sister it's obvious that such dresses aren’t suited to you.”

Mother disagrees, “My darling daughter looks radiant no matter what she’s wearing. I’ll curse any boy who attempts to steal her from me.”

The only one dumb enough to even try to chase the tail of such a barbaric girl is Copper, speaking of.

There he stands next to his mother and Ptah.

While Copper lets his mouth hang open at Red, Ptah pounds the top of his head and says, “Get in the front pups, it is time to start.”

My ear twitches at being called a pup but before I can say anything something brilliantly white catches my eye.

The twins are in the group of pups, a space separates them from the others who are too nervous to accidentally brush against the perfectly white dresses.

Their white hair is cut very short in the back at the neck but then from the top it makes a curve along the sides coming to a point with the bangs to either side of their face being down past their shoulders. Their bare shoulders, a line of white fur connects the flowing sleeves across the top of their chests to the pure white gown that tightly fits them.

As always the only way someone could tell them apart is by the way one tries to make herself seem smaller so not to stand out while the other is scanning the crowd on her toes without a care. She spots us and pulls her sister along over to us.

She looks at me with a stunning smile, “Glad to see you in one piece Fuzzy.”

Surely I have a stupid grin right now, the shy one is playing with Grey’s hair.

Red growls from behind, “So this is why your tails were wagging.”

I notice Wild’s face blush slightly as she sees that mine certainly still is swishing back and forth.

…..As if I’m ever going to let Grey have her.

Wild doesn't let it get awkward however and moves to admire sisters kimono.

The lights begin to dim and we straighten up, on either side of me is Red and Wild, opposite her is her sister and then Grey. He takes her arm in his causing her skin to turn pink against her white dress.

Wild sneaks her hand through her folded arms and pulls me closer to her, she’s trying not to look directly at me as she smiles.

Worried Sister might get angry and possessive like usual I look at her. To my surprise however, she’s fidgeting and biting her claws.

She whispers to me, “What if I get a stupid name? I’ll lose all respect.”

“You’ll be fine. …Maybe.”

She glares daggers, “What if I’m cursed for hitting the other pups?”

With a shrug I tease, “I wouldn’t be surprised, but don’t worry your pretty head, I’ll still let you use my tail as a hug pillow. Unless, you’re stricken ugly and forever flat chested, in such a case please don’t touch me.”

She is slowly becoming a mirror image of mother, a tall, fiery, red beauty fitting a queen.

Wild pinches me and gives me a sheepish grin as if to tell me to stop teasing my sister.

Grey whispers at the surprise of everyone, “Don’t fret sister you are surely already blessed and as Mother has said countless times, you will be father’s pride and joy.”

A hint of jealousy is visible in the shy twin, I imagine Grey has been keeping up the silent act with even them.

Red seems to once more glow with pride and self confidence. I can’t help but wonder if what she said about the gods cursing someone for their behavior might have some merit.

I guess we’re about to find out.

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