Magnolia got one taste of the outside world, one glimpse at freedom, and now she longed for it. As the young girl grew older, she grew bolder, meaner. Spite ran thick through her veins, a Fox through and through, and she was all too happy to punish others around her in attempts to get what she wanted. She pitched fits, she tried running, she fought, and when none of that worked or Saga scruffed her back to the den, she sulked. The time had yet to come where she could plan, or escape, but the anger was alive and well.

And she would use it.

It was hard to tell whether it was night or day, frankly, because it was always just red now, but her lack of tiredness and the adults bundling them in the den but not to the nest seemed to indicate close to but not quite bed-time. Why did it always seem to come before she was ready to close her eyes, when her paws still itched to run and explore and find things to get into? They were all forced to mill about, and while some, like sickly stupid Frigi, were already in the moss-lined corner of the den, Mags felt like the majority of them were still awake and in the den. Sure, Saga was crunching on a meal and focused on simply guarding the entrance of the den, but if it wasn't time for bed, why call them in?

Someone, obviously, didn't understand the wind-down-and-eat period before sleeping.

This someone grumbled unhappily and trotted off towards the aforementioned sleeping cubby that conveniently separated her from the vision of the adults; sniffed around until she was somewhere in the middle, circled, and lifted a leg to mark the nest. Yes, it was a spite pee, and also yes, it was also a claim of power. No, she did not care that her brother was already sleeping at a far corner of the nest, and that eventually he'd feel the damp soaking across.

Magnolia finished her tinkle and moved towards the opening that would take her back to the family.

Skill:

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Jaxxon was sitting right outside the den mouth on his perch, the scuffling of little feet behind him catching his ears and swiveling them towards the noise when the scent of piss crossed his nostrils. Wrinkling his nose the man turned his head over his shoulder just in time to see Magnolia finishing her spiteful urination and he scowled.

Mag! The man shouted, standing up and turning around to trot over to the smaller babe. Scowling with disapproval the man looked down at her and huffed through his nose. We don't piss in the nest... Go outside... He growled his amber optics gazing down at her. She knew better, he just assumed she was testing boundaries.

Testing boundaries is something he didn't really understand as he was mostly absent from his first second litter. He let them raise themselves and these babies he was actively trying... As much as he could...

Laurel too longed for the outdoors, the moment someone's eyes were off of her she always tried to make a break for it. She was a northern woman at heart, the yearning to wander was in her blood, to explore the great unknown.

She didn't have the words for it just yet, however.

But at the moment she was close to Saga, making an attempt at gnawing on her mother's meal in an attempt at self weaning, her little milk teeth doing very little but oh how she tried. For a moment it seemed as if the little adventurer was settling, until the shouting started her.

Her own bladder releasing in fright, though she wasn't the one in trouble, peeing right on Saga as she tried to hide her silvers in with hers.

Perhaps it was bold of Jaxxon to assume two month olds would know better.

Saga just wanted a peaceful dinner. Was that so much to ask for? Currently, it was mostly Magnolia getting on her nerve. The little wench kept trying to vault herself over her mother into the outdoors, but she was too short, too uncoordinated, too weak to make it. Did that stop her from trying, flinging herself into Sagas flank, her stomach, her chest?

What do you think?

She knew there would be some sort of tantrum, but when Mags skulked off, she was just happy to continue eating. Laurel was there, chewing on the other side as Magnolia often did but not really getting much. If it kept them occupied, fine, Saga didn't care.
The scent reached her nose, too, but not until after her mate had headed for the nest where their daughter had vanished into, followed by his thunderous shout. Saga herself quailed, ears pinning, and she peered over with a worried pinch to her brows. She didn't think Jaxx would hurt the whelps, but she didn't want them to grow up afraid as she'd always been.

And, as if to prove her point, poor Laurel wasn't just shaking but had created a wet spot of her own.

Jaxxon, she stressed softly, quietly, swallowing a lump in her throat. She didn't linger to see if he acknowledged or even heard her admonishing, just shifted her silver daughter to between her paws and set to grooming her.
Now she had a kid to clean, a bath to take, and a nest to clean. >:(

Magnolia turned around, and there he was in all his fury; the guardian of the den screaming at her, yelling they she was supposed to piss outside and looking down his large nose at her. She paused, processing, and seemed to appreciate his growl even less than his yelling; straightening and baring her little teeth up at him.

No 'loud ou'side, she snarled back, parroting back what Saga had been telling her for the last hour AFTER coming inside.

Testing boundaries? Yeah, that's what Mags was good for.

She bounced up on puppy paws as if to beg for food, and snapped her little milk teeth at her father's face.

Skill:

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Saga said his name, Laurel pissed in place, Mag spat back and snapped at his face. Jaxxon scowled and furrowed his brows as he stared at the three of them. Hmph... He snorted as he plopped his heavy ass down, eyes shifting between them as he looked down at the defiant puppy. Try that again... I dare you... He growled, bending his head down to stare at the little one who had tried to take a piece of his nose.

Saga might have been their mother but he was their father and they would learn to respect him in one way or another... Or so he hoped, and he didn't know how to do this father thing, it was new to him, but he wanted to try. Try for Dulcie, try for Saga, try for them.

Saga... You should teach the whelp some respect... He grumpily told their mother as he frowned down at Mag specifically. He wasn't worried about Laurel or Frigi, but Mag was something different entirely. He should love her free spirit. Instead he was only fighting it.

OhForFucksSake.

Jaxxon grumbled, but sat, and Magnolia... the little wench of a Fox she was turning out to be... the tiny hellion.... she sprang up and Saga couldn't mistake the snap of her teeth for anything more than what it was. She paused mid-lick of Laurel to stare wide-eyed at the frosted girl, eventually hissing out a stern Magnolia! in surprise. Jaxx, bless his stupid heart, leaned down to dare her to try it again.

She saw the second snap coming before he'd even finished speaking, could see it brewing in their daughters glare. He growled at her to teach the kid some respect, and Saga just snorted a quiet laugh.

You see how that's working for me, she grumped back, glaring daggers at Magnolia in an attempt to field off her next vicious attack. She knew it would only keep her at bay for moments, but Saga's priority had to be cleaning up poor Laurel.

You give it a go. Watch your nose.

And she went back to her task, watching warily. Truly, she had faith he wouldn't hurt her... but she didn't know what the sharp little child would do in return, either. Respect a show of strength? Become afraid? Fight harder? Who the fuck knew.

A miss. Her teeth met air and she landed back upon the ground with empty jaws, and it was entirely Saga's incredulous call of her name that kept her from an immediate second bite. The girl glanced over, growling under her breath at her Mother's silent bidding beneath the weight of her stare. She didn't care if it was inside time, or if they didn't bite people --she didn't need the warning said to hear it bounce inside her skull---, or whatever the rules were. She WANTED to go outside. She LIKED biting things, especially when they gave a reaction.

And then he dared her. Now, she wasn't quite old enough to know what the words really meant, but the challenge was clear in his quiet, dangerous tone.
Magnolia rose to meet it, paused only by her Mother's continued stare. Then... it seemed as if she passed the torch. What fresh hell was this? Magnolia didn't care who he was, what they called him, or what he did for them, no other figure would tell her what to do.

The moment Saga's attention went back to Laurel, Mags leapt up for another bite -- right for the nose. She would be teaching him, thank you very much.