Snowberry had been sniffing around at the carcass of some lesser gembound. He was looking for something to chew on for his teeth ached. He found himself having trouble with losing teeth and then having the pains of growing his new ones. Chewing bones seemed to do the trick! He had just found a good sized rib bone when an ear splitting screech reached his ears.

Hie head snapped up,at first he had no idea what that sound was. But he figured it was a call from Blackberry. No creature would call so boldly into Tunnel N unless it was their home. The young polar bear turned and trotted at a brisk pace to the source of the call.

Once he arrived he saw Blackberry and Jayberry. And, what was this? It looked like a freshly hatched gembound. Snowberry tilted his head to the side, unsure of how to go about the situation. He remained a small distance away, observing until it was appropriate for him to approach.

@blackberry
@cloudberry
@jayberry

Cheerful warmth bubbled up inside xir as xir family gathered. They had come at a moment's notice, just to meet xir. It made her feel important- no, more than that, loved.

Jayberry caught xir attention first. "Hello. I am Cloudberry." xe replied in a neutral, algid tone, as if this was some stranger, and wasn't xir sister. A faint confusion stirred inside them- weren't xe trying to welcome xir presence with the love she gave xir?- but xe brushed it aside. It was fine, just a slip.

Xe turned to the polar bear next- he had not introduced himself yet, but xe decided, personally, to call him White, the color of his fur- acknowledging his presence with a tilt of xir head. Xe turned xir attention back to Jayberry. "Thank you. I will protect you too, sister." There it was again, that frigid, even tone. That wasn't right. What was happening?

@Blackberry (if you wanna respond)
@Snowberry
@Jayberry

Huckleberry heard mother's cry and flinched. He was curled at that moment, not bothering to stop the flood of tears rolling from his eyes. She hadn't even let him be there at his own child's hatching. It was cruel, so curl, but a part of huckleberry pushed them to accept that this was just. It wasn't their child anymore, it was blackberry's. They had given it to her and forfeited the right to call themselves a parent.

But when her cry came he couldn't help but be excited and scared. It was an invitation to come see, to greet the newhatched. He didn't care that he wasn't personally invited - he was still part of the family and he would answer the call.

He scrambled to his feet, shaking away the remaining tears and hobbled forward, trying to keep himself steady and appear collected. If he gave himself away, Mother would be furious.

They came into sight and huckleberry did everything in his power not to cry out with joy at the sight of the baby. It looked just like him besides the magpie features. They looked as perfect as he had dreamed.

Each step felt forcibly slow as he walked up near the family and moved himself next to Jayberry. Mother had demanded she watch him so it would be better if he stay near to keep her happy and to show his submission. He dipped his head towards Cloudberry, awkward and flustered. He barely could manage the words. "Oh you must be...oh, hi, I'm your sibling Huckleberry. Um..." He glanced towards Blackberry and went quiet, lowering his head.

Blackberry watched Jayberry and Snowberry make their way forward. She was a little disappointed that others had not shown up, but it was okay for now. She hadn't, after all, demanded their presence. She continued to watch until Huckleberry made their way forward. She kept her eyes on them, narrowed to let them know that they had better watch what they say. It seemed that they got the message and kept their greeting short.

She nodded gratefully towards Jayberry and beckoned Snowberry to come closer. "Don't be afraid. It's just the family." She flashed Jayberry a look, glancing towards Huckleberry in an obvious message to keep an eye on them. She didn't want to have to think about them the whole time.

When she heard the new child's tone, she looked down, a little perplexed. She could almost feel the affection coming off of them but they betrayed no such emotion. Once again, the fear that something was wrong returned and she wondered if she should really be worried.

@Jayberry @Cloudberry @Snowberry

The wolf's ears twitched, and she looked up to see the white cub - Snowberry - approaching. He seemed hesitant to approach, so she waited until she could meet his gaze, and offered him a friendly smile, and a wag of his tail.

The newborn's voice drew her attention, and she returned her gaze to it. She smiled, and inclined her head. "Thank you."

However, then, Huckleberry approached. The wolf raised her head, and eyed him warily but, it seemed, that he would behave, as he did as commanded, staying by her. She nodded at mother, the fur of her mantle bristling.

"She speaks." 'She thinks.' She does.