Ask Dorian; Pulling over his Pups.

 

Dorian: Two thangs I never did while them boys were growin' up. One, was use my position at the station to mess with them...

Audrey: *Chuckles* Ya'll saved razzin' 'em fer the house.

Dorian: *Raisies a second finger* And two, I didn't do them boys any favors iffin' they got into actual trouble themselves. Iffin' they were caught speedin' they got a ticket. Iffin' they got caught intoxicated, they ended up in the drunk tank fer the night...No slap on the paws.

Audrey: Dori wanted it ta always be clear to the rest of the North Meadowland's that just cause the boys were ours, didn't mean they was gonna get special treatment. *Chuckles* My Darlin' Dori was a public servant above all else...

Dorian: That said, I think Zach caught a parkin' ticket off duty once, other than that, *Winces* we had two...drunk in public issues with Yuri before he left fer school...

Audrey: I...try to be a little soft on them incidents cause it was so close to when yer Pa died Dori...Aldus meant a lot to Yuri and...even though I'm mad he went and drank underage...I get that he was hurtin'...

Dorian: Hey, ain't like I wasn't dealin' with it myself...still, Yuri spendin' those nights in the drunk tank was probably fer the best...made sure ta' keep him from makin' a few more dumb decisions while he was wallowin'...*Chuckles* Aside from callin' me every name in the book in the process...

Audrey: *Chuckles* I remember that, I swear them words ya'll told me...I don't think I'd ever heard curse words like that before or since 'iffin' I'm bein' honest.

Dorian: *Places a paw to his chest, flashing his mate a surprised glance.* Don't look at me! I ain't never heard most of them words he picked up before either...*Chuckles* What are they teachin' them pups in school these days?

Ask the Femme Canines; The 'B' Word

 

Audrey: I think the short answer is, it really depends on species...and maybe tone? Iffin' I recall, it was the technical term fer a long while....but around the time I was hittin' my early teens it was already startin' to be frowned upon bein' used due to it bein'...tainted from usin' it as a slur. At least in terms o' wolf social circles...Although I've heard it's still pretty liberally used with native wolves...

Val: I've only ever been called a bitch with a negative slant...which I guess is technically wrong since I'm a vixen. But it's not like that's ever stopped a guy from using it... *Snickers*

Dawn: So use of that 'term' spread to foxes?

Qali: I mean...we've always been included under the 'B' word umbrella...at least for as long as I've been alive...

Val: Probably cause we're closely related to canines...pretty sure coyotes get it too...wild dogs...probably any mammal that's vaguely related to canines has heard it at least once in their lives, in a technical sense or otherwise...*Val shrugs* I dunno, I'm no expert in this stuff...

Dawn: I guess that can probably be chalked up to the evolution of language...

Ada: Personally, I take pride in bein' called a bitch...

Dawn: Aren't Hyena's technically related to felines? I...I believe you told me that, didn't you...?

Ada: Technicallys yes...but I can be a bitch when I need tas...*Cackles*

Talia: In Grrussia, bitch, or сука, is all slur...it has been slur since turn of century...and anyone who calls me the B 'word' gets snapped in half...

Audrey: See, it's...real touch and go territory...so I'd recommend y'all don't go about usin' it unless yer aimin' to insult...cause most shewolves are probably gonna take it the same way a bunny takes bein' called 'cute'...As fer with other canines...I really couldn't tell ya...

Talia: It's probably for the best you just don't use the word at all...your life may depend on it...

Ask Zach and Vanna; Zach's Cool Down Corner

 

Audrey: No more than the rest of my Pups...*Chuckles*

Vanna: It only works because it's so ingrained in him...And even then I do think he fights me more on it...I generally have to resort to the...erm...tiger grip, rather than the ear pinch. I sort of...I mean, that's more of Mom's thing.

Dawn: Tiger Grip?

Vanna: *Winces* I erm....well, if he puts too much of a fight I sometimes...grab his shoulder and...squeeze...

Ada: *Raises brow* Full force?

Vanna: Almost...*Blushes* Sometimes he just blacks out right there...

Ada: *Cackles* I wish I could pull a Wofcan neck pinch like dat! It'd shut ol' Mookie up dat's for shoi. Even if he goes to sit in da corner, he still mouts off!

Audrey: That's because you girls haven't landed the glare yet. With a bit more practice you'll have them boys scurryin' to the cool-down corner with their tails between their legs.

Vanna: As for the Nyantendo switch...I mean, we don't exactly have one. Zach games a little on PC, but he's not much of a...gamer per-se...outside of the occasional trip to the arcade. And he's more of a skiball mammal when he's there.

Ada: Yuri and I prefer da go-karts if dey have 'em...do we get kicked out of dem places a lot for treatin' dem like bumper cars! *Laughs*

Dawn: We have a switch, it was Vernon's, then ours, and now the families. That said, taking it away isn't exactly the first thing to come to mind when Vernon and I don't see eye to eye on something.

Ada: Does ya do dat ting where you swear off ruttin' him?

Dawn: *Laughs* What? Are you kidding? I'd be punishing both of us!

*The girls, save for Audrey, share a cackle*

Dawn: I find simply threatening to not talk to him is more than enough...Puppy can only go about an hour before he's begging me to talk to him again.

Audrey: Ah! Now that there was one of the most effective weapons in my punishment arsenal. Always worked way better than takin' away personal effects er' groundin' 'em...Not to say I didn't ground them, but I only did that in the most extreme cases....and almost all of those cases were strictly Yuri. *Snickers*

Ask Gus and Melly; Renaissance Faires

 

Melanie: Oh hell yeah, I rutting love me some Renaissance Faires!

Gus: I didn't like them much as a kid, but the fact that my family was always involved in them, and my developing love for roleplaying got me into them really quick by the time I was hitting puberty.

Melanie: I just...I love the period clothing, and speaking in old Kinglish...

Gus: The food is also pretty good.

Melanie: All the revamped culinary delights of the Medieval times without the health code violations and violent bouts of dysentery. *Snickers*

Gus: Clearly not very accurate to the period, I demand a refund. *Chuckles*

Melanie: Generally, unless one of us is sick, we'll hit both Renaissance Faires that come around Zootopia each year. First, there's the huge one in Downtown Savannah Central.

Gus: The 'Zootopia's Founding Renaissance Faire'. Heavy on both the history of early Zootopia and the festivities. Food's top-notch, and the 'actors' are real professionals.

Melly: *Groans* We've been trying desperately to work as players at that one, but the waiting list is so long we'd probably be in our fifties by the time we ever get a shot at performing in the Faire.

Gus: You've been trying desperately...I'm already quite satisfied with our in at the "North Meadowland's Renaissance Faire."

Melly: Hey now, just because I want to perform at the inner city Faire doesn't mean I don't absolutely love acting in the North Meadowlands Faire! Plus it gives us an excuse to visit your parents and Vernon's Mom. *Chuckles*

Gus: I should explain. With my Dad owning a gardening shop, and my Mom teaching at the North Meadowlands Elementary school, both my parents had incentives to get involved with the local Ren Faire. So my Mom plays the role of a tour guide and talks about the history of the North Meadowlands and the mammals who settled there. And my Dad plays the role of a farmhand, selling his vegetables at a stall and talking to folks about ancient agriculture and crop growing methods...while low-key advertising his gardening center...*Chuckles*

Melly: And Vernon's Mom runs, as you'd probably expect by now, a baking stall where she'd sell strawberry, blueberry, elderberry, and a bunch of other spring fruit pies.

Gus: Generally, like when I was a kid I'll go and help my Mom and Dad out, more often than not helping Dad at his stall, so I got to play as an 'apprentice'. As for Melly...

Melly: Well, Gus' Dad generally has enough help with Gus, and...to be honest Gus' Mom doesn't really need a teacher's aid shadowing her all day with no real commentary to add, so more often than not I'll find myself helping Audrey and Vanna at her stall slinging pies...which I have to admit is super fun. 

Gus: That's unsurprising. Anything you have to roll up your sleeves for is usually something you end up enjoying.

Melly: *Giggles* Audrey said I was a natural...Oh, she also wanted to let you know she's adopted me...*Snickers*

Gus: *Chuckles* Makes sense, that she-wolf was like my adopted second Mom once I met Vernon. As far as she was concerned I was one of her pups, albeit the awkward looking one. *Snickers*

Melly: Oh hush! * Melly swats at him playfully* You're adorable..., no surprise she'd make you an honorary Hunter Pup...

Gus: Considering I spent half of my teenage life at that Ranch, it's almost a gimme. *Laughs*

Melly: Regardless, considering what my Mom is like, it's nice to have not one, but two adopted Mom's to back me up...

Gus: So....considering Audrey has taken us both in as her Pups, does that make us related now? Surely that means we can't get married...

Melly: *Scoffs* Nice try Gussie, but you already proposed. The date is set, and there's no way I'm letting you out of our wedding now!

Found AU Ask; Progress with Marcus

 

Dorian: Well, the obvious place where the boy's still stalin' is his incessant need to do chores and work on Zach and Vanna's behalf...but I think that's somethin' that the poor boy's gonna be stuck with fer a while.

 Zach: To be fair...it's kinda a hard line to walk fer me and Vanna...I mean, y'all don't want to not give yer teenaged pups a chore or two to instill responsibility and structure into 'em...

Vanna: Though I'd say Marcus has had more than enough responsibility instilled into him for a lifetime...in the cruelest possible ways...

Zach: But y'all want him to be able to look after himself when he grows up...to take care of his own pups and pack...Still...if I ask him ta' clean his room, 'er wash the dishes, er' take out the trash...I'm real scared he's gonna fall right back into overdrive, and I'm gonna catch him redo'in wallpaper fer the whole house, 'er Winterizin' the sidin'....*Shakes head*

Ada: Wells, disregauwdin' Marcus' incessant need to please his folks, and possible chronik OCD, I tink da kid has made a lotta progress...

Trenton: Yeah, he really seems like he's grown real comfortable with everyone...

Audrey: More than comfortable! That boy fit right into our pack like he'd always been a part of it. It's like it was meant to be!

Vanna: It's such a relief to see him really start to open up and just...thrive. Whether he's playing in his band with his friends or just watching him interact with his cousins...it just... makes my heart swell with joy...

Zach: Even watchin' er' playin' sports with him, despite the risk o' bodily harm...I mean...it's worth the trip to the ER just to see that boy smile.

Vernon: Me and Dawn know how that feels, we feel the same sorta joy and pride lookin' over our pups.

Audrey:*Laughs* Now y'all know how it felt raisin' y'all...there wasn't a day that went by where me and yer Pa's heart wasn't burstin' with love just watchin' you boys thrive...and now I'm burstin' with pride all over again seeing y'all rear pups of yer own...

Zach and Vernon: Thanks Ma. 

Audrey: That said, I think y'all were worried fer nothin', all four of y'all took to bein' parents like a fish to water. And I know in my heart y'all can handle whatever trouble y'all come across along the way.

Zach: Well...I wouldn't say me and my Kitten don't still have our worries and misgivin's and all...but I don't think I'm too alone in sayin' I think we've grown a bit more confident in terms o' raisin' Marcus. 

Vanna: It's true...of course, a lot of our initial fears evaporated rather quickly as soon as we got to know Marcus.

Zach: Yeah, I think our fears quickly shifted from 'are we ready fer this?' to ' How can we do  our very best by this boy?'

Vanna: And at this point...despite my Goofball sometimes taking his...parental paranoia too far, I feel like we've adapted to something...well...something comfortable. Something that works. And I really believe that we are doing our very best.

Zach: I take offense to that...

Yuri: This from the fella who was seriously talking to me about usin' a tracker anklet on the boy.

Zach: You were supposed to keep yer trap shut about that!

Yuri: Honestly, I'm surprised Vernon weren't the one to tap me about that first, mostly cause Lily's the one always pullin' Hoovdini's on him and Dawn.

Wade: That's because he asked me about sneaking one out of the station fer him.

Dawn: Puppy!

Vernon: *Ears splay against his head* Wade, I was merely considerin' that! And you promised you'd keep that muzzle o' yers shut over it...

Dawn: A tracking device!? She's our Daughter, not Princess Calibre!

Vernon: I-I mean we'd only use it fer when she's bein' pupsat! Or when we take 'er to the park!

Dawn: *Shakes head* I'm disappointed in you...at least we could have talked about this in private before you decided to go to Wade...I-I'm not necessarily against keeping tabs on Lily with something....a bit less intrusive than a leash....but a tracking anklet?

Vernon: Well, I thought it was better than a chip implant...I mean, that's literally what ya use on pets...er' Ully...

Yuri: Ha!

Zach: Oh Mam', looks like yer in the doghouse now there Vern...

Vanna: Well, that would make two of you then...because don't think I'm not upset with you for considering tracking our kitten without consulting me...

Zach: *Ears splay against his head* I-I just wanted to make sure the boy was safe!

Vanna: *Holds up a paw* We will discuss this when we get home.

Yuri: *Laughs* Better make room in that doghouse fer one more Hunter...to answer that follow-up question you have. Yes, Ully tried to take samples just today...and after I tuned him up over it, Ma put him to work cleanin' the whole ranch...without any help.

Audrey: *Shakes her head* Speakin' of, I best go check on yer brother...if I go leavin' him alone fer too long he might make a bigger mess outta them chores then before he cleaned 'em...

Found Ask; The Kartakka Tapes; Part 1

 

Dorian: I feel like we've answered thissun' before...

Audrey: Me too...but iffin' we did, it was a long while back...and I honestly can't remember it.

Dorian: Sufficed to say I saw it well before it ended up in that petflix special on the city he hailed from. Zach and Vanna, too, what with them bein' his caretakers at the time...Auddey also soldered through it despite me insistin' she avoid it like the plague.

Audrey: I had to see it...I had to see what they did to my poor grandpup...and oh- it wa-was *sniffle* I just...I still can't believe they d-did that to a poor p-pup! *Whine* With his own Pa orderin' it no less!

Dorian: Auddey...

Auddey: And watchin' it...watchin' the whole time s-stoned face...l-like he felt nothin' fer his own son! *whine* What a monster!

Dorian: *Hugs Audrey*There there Darlin' he's safe now...

Zach: Naturally we had...we each had our own powerful reactions to the footage...I couldn't see nothin' but red myself. Made me want to hunt down Marcus' sorry excuse fer a Pa and tear him limb from limb. And my Kitten...well....while she wasn't as...expressive as Ma was, she was definitely cryin'...

Vanna: I think...I was just stunned really. Horrified by the violence, by seeing our Marcus suffer like that...I...honestly don't remember too much of what was going on around me once the footage started playing...I...only realized after it was all over that not only was I crying, but I had been digging my claws so sharply into my own thighs that I ended up having to put a few stitches in to get the bleeding to stop...

Dorian: I had a burnin' ball o' rage in my stomach the whole time. Could barely keep it swallowed with my stomach rollin' over and over again. I don't think I've ever had my fangs clenched that hard fer that long in my life...surprised none o' my teeth pressure cracked from the strain...

Zach: When it came to the rest of the family seeing it, it was sorta an elected thang...Yuri and Ada opted to watch it and it had...similar results.

Yuri: Ada was practically out the door with that baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire from her office after sittin' through that horror show. She was fixin' to walk all the way to that there city and beat Marcus' former Pa to death in the street.

Ada: Mookie had to assure me up and down dat he was long dead already a few times before I finally was willin' to let go ah' dah Equilizer.

Yuri: Then I had to stop y'all again cause you was fixin' to find his grave and desecrate it.

Ada: *Huffs* O' Course dey had to go a burn dat guys body, so dere ain't nuttin' to desecrate! 

Zach: Dawn and Vern also watched....what with Dawn bein' an abuse victim herself, she felt she needed to see what Marcus suffered through...And ol' Puppy wasn't gonna let her suffer through that alone.

Dawn: It was...so much worse than I...I even imagined...and...it really brought me b-back to some...really d-dark moments of my life. I...

Vernon: My poor Honey lamb started tremblin' somethin' fierce about half way through...shakin' and whimperin'....b-but she wouldn't let me stop the tape...not fer a second.

Dawn: I-I had to do it for Marcus', I w-wanted to be strong for my nephew!

Vernon: I ended up holdin' her close fer the whole veiwin'...Her sobbin' and shakin'....me growlin' and cryin'...we-we were a real mess...

Dawn: And then after the video we went to our lambs and held them so close and so tight...*sniffle* *Swab's eyes* I-I'm sorry, I'm gettin' worked up again...

Vernon: *Wraps his arms around Dawn, scooping her up into his chest.* It's alright Darlin', it's okay...

Dawn: I-I just...I both can't believe some mammal would do that to their own lamb, and yet I know from experience just how cruel and monstrous a parent can be!

Vernon: Dawn couldn't stop huggin' Marcus the next time we saw him neither...Y'all think she woulda been all hugged out after we spent the rest o' that night swaddlin' our pups...

Dawn: You act like you weren't right there with me, hugging us both just as tightly...

Vernon: *Chuckles* I never said I wasn't...

Zach: Xavier watched it too, but Malcolm opted out...so did the rest of the family...at least until the Petflix special aired. 

Xavier: Malcolm didn't have the stomach for it...and to be honest I barely got through it myself. I thought my years in court would have better prepared me for...seeing this sort of thing...but in all honesty, I don't believe you ever truly get used to seeing abuse like that...it was...some of the most reprehensible treatment of a pup I've ever seen in my life...and while my Gingersnap didn't watch it, he did console me after my own viewing.

Zach: Qali and Giselle have remained adamant that they never wanna see that tape, or the Petflix special. And Trent and Wade have watched the special but skipped the scenes involvin' Marcus'...er...Public floggin'...

Vanna: And Ulric and Honey have watched the full special. Honey's response was similar to Ada's, and Ully apparently moped about it fer days...it-it really shook him...

Dorian: It shook all of us really...

Yuri: Then he goes and sends a 300-dollar Junior science and investigators kit out to the boy! Tryin' to make a stab fer the title o' best Uncle right from under the rest of us while we was all distracted...

Ada: Oh can it Mookie, youse and I's both know we's also sent him a big present after watchin' dat...pretty much all of us did...

Zach: It was like a surprise birthday fer the boy. *Chuckles* He was so confused....real happy, but confused...*Flashes Yuri a half-lidded gaze* By the way, I fergot to thank you fer the professional baseball gear you sent...

Yuri: *chuckles* Gotta make sure the boy keeps his batten' arm strong fer them big games don't I? Sides', I know he's gotta great catch partner...

Dorian: Anyway...I mean...it should go without sayin' seein'...what we saw makes us see the boy a bit different.

Audrey: Although we don't love him any less!

Dorian: O'course not! It's just...seein' what he actually went through instead of just...havin' an idea...*sighs* It can be purty agonizin'...

Zach: I was hurtin' so powerful fer my son...fer what he went through...I think me and Vanna were kinda sick over it fer days...Havin' nightmares about bein' there...unable to stop it from happinin', forced to watch....*shudders*

Vanna:  Sometimes I would look at Marcus... and my mind would go right back to that video...

Dawn: Lamb Shanks! Me too!

Vernon: I could tell every time that would happen, cause y'all would immediately scurry over and ask iffin' was alright to hug him a'fore nearly stranglin' the boy with the tightest and longest hug y'all could muster. *Chuckles*

Dawn: P-Please Puppy, Marcus is nearly twice my size...I can barely get my hooves around him let alone 'strangle him'. *Cracks a weak smile* Doesn't mean I didn't try though. *Chuckles weakly*

Yuri: Fact o' the matter is we all love that pup to death, and all that video did fer us is make us love him even more...

Ada: As for how we's feel about humans in general afta seein' all dat, I mean...I tink most of us can agree dat one bad group of humans does not mean da whole species is like dat.

Vanna: It shouldn't surprise you, considering that our pack is quite a menagerie that have a variety of different species-based chips on their shoulders, that we aren't going to just blanket blame a whole species for Marcus' mistreatment.

Dawn: There are plenty of good humans out there, we've been meeting increasing numbers of them while Puppy and I are out on my book tours, and of course through online correspondence.

Vernon: The podcast is surprisingly popular with humanfolk...*chuckles*

Dawn: It's a lesson I already had to learn the hard way...and it's not a mistake I'll be allowing myself to make again, about any species. And after all, how could I look all humans with a negative lens? I have a wonderful nephew who just happens to be human himself, and I love him nearly as much as I love my own lambs!

Zach: Alright, settle down now...remember Marcus' is my pup, not yers...

Vanna: *Glares at Zach*

Zach: E-Er...I mean our Pup Kitten. Our Pup!

Hunters: *Laugh*

Found Ask; Ask the Hunters and Felidaes; Bruno the Pie Thief

 

Audrey: I'm just surprised a woodpecker would even want a pie at all, let alone multiple ones. *Laughs* But it is funny in retrospect.

Yuri: I just wanna know how somethin' that small could put away so many pies on his own.

Ada: To be's fair, Qali's can put away a lot o' pie for how small she is. *Cackles* Dat's why it was so easy to finga her for da crime in question.

Qali: Yeah, great detective work guys! A house full of cops and not one of them gave me any due process! They didn't even look at the clues!

Zach: I don't think there's a single one of us that woulda been able to guess by the grace o' the gods that a bird did it. It's too out there! Y'all can't blame us fer lookin' to Occram's razor for the simplest solution.

Ada: Side's, y'all did have pie fillin' all over yas paws when it happened.

Qali: For the last time, I HELPED BAKE THEM! *Pouts*

Trenton: It's alright Snowball...*Pats her head affectionatly.* Thanks to ol' Lucero over there, y'all were proven innocent...and I mean, I always believed ya...

Qali: Says the wolf who was so silent when everyone was pointing claws...*Huffs*

Vernon: To be fair, Trent's quiet a lot o' the time...it's sorta his thang.

Lucero: Still, no one should feel bad for the mistake. While I am surprised someone didn't chalk it up to field pests of some kind, it is rare...though not out of the question for a bird-like bruno to steal food. *chuckles* Many birds have hoarding traits, especially when it comes to shining things. So the tin itself would be attractive to a bird such as Bruno. And of course, with the sweet mashed fruit acting as a sort of enticing nectar it would only double his incentive to take them. That said, I can't imagine he ate all the pies himself. Considering where we found the tins, it's quite likely that some other field pests kept stealing the pies from him, not to mention a good portion of the pies probably spilled out in transit, since there was no way he could carry it evenly...naturally this would drive him to seek out replacements.

Yuri: Still, that bird ain't no raven. He fits in most of our paws. How in the heck did he carry it off? He can't be more than a pound wet!

Lucero: There are some mysteries in the ornithological world that even I can't solve my friend. *Laughs*

Ask the Hunters; Problems with Pups

 Dawn: Ooh...I'm...I mean I'm sorry for what you and your la-er...pups are going through...but...I mean...are we really qualified to give parental advice Puppy?

Vernon: I dunno...we've only been parents fer a little over a year and a half now...Wait..."Mr. and Misses Hunter.."

Dawn: Oh, I just assumed that was a typo. But yes, that makes much more sense. I was about to suggest going to Audrey and Dorian for advice on such a weighty email.

Vernon: Well if anyone's qualified to take a crack at it, it'd be my Ma and Pa. They survived a household o' seven pups fer more than two decades, so I'd think they'd have a purty good idea on how to handle stuff like this better than us.

Audrey: Well, first I wanna thank y'all dearly fer the compliments about our pups.

Dorian: Considerin' y'all didn't make an exception fer Yuri when y'all mentioned up raising 'fantastic pups', it means we musta done somethin' right. *Chuckles*

Audrey: Well, I'd be lyin' iffin' I said we never worried about him...

Dorian: I was mostly worried about him endin' up on the wrong side of the bars...thankfully I was able to channel that rough and tumble aspect of his personality into police work while he was growin' up...

Audrey: Enough Darlin', he may be listenin'! Don't make our pup feel bad about himself now.

Dorian: Just tellin' it how it was at the time...the boy's come along way since then, and I'm really proud of him...I'm real proud of all you boys.

Vernon: Thanks Pa.

Audrey: When it comes to your oldest son...I....well I wouldn't want to run to the therapist just yet. Even mentionin' that might make him feel worse in his current state, as I hate to admit it, but there's still a big stigma when it comes ta' needin' therapy fer anythin', especially when yer young and insecure enough already...

Dorian: Yeah, a lotta' young fella's and ladies feel going to therapy is like...admittin' bein' damaged, or a weirdo...it's a hit to their confidence...which is real er...permeable when yer young. Like a soap bubble...one wrong move and it bursts.

Audrey: Ta' me, it sounds like the boy is just...takin' on a bit too much fer his own good, even if he isn't aware he's doin' it. It might be good to have a sit down with him, and talk to him about it bein' okay iffin' he wants to cut somethin' out of his life fer a while, or at least dial some of the time spent on such thangs fer the sake of his physical and mental well-bein'.

Dorian: I'd make sure to stress it's ultimately up to him what he does, but that you'll support him regardless. And iffin' he's still resistant, just tell him yer merely askin' him to think it over. It seems like yer boy has placed himself under a lotta pressure, so y'all don't want to end up dumpin' more on him. That's why reinforcin' that yer merely askin' him to think about things instead of tryin' to force his paw is yer best bet...I think.

Audrey: When it comes to yer youngest, well...to be honest, I mean...in the grand scheme o' things poor grades don't exactly mark y'all so badly fer life that y'all can't turn it around in college er' a technical school. It does strike me as odd that yer boy says the class he's failin' is one of his favorite subjects. Somethin' tells me he's not tellin' y'all the whole truth there.

Dorian: He may be tellin' ya'll that cause he believes it's important to y'all that he likes that subject...afraid that...er' showin' interest in somethin' else might...make y'all think less of him. The gods know I sorta...fell into that trap myself.

Audrey: It might be worth an earnest talk askin' yer boy iffin' he's 'really keen on the subject', and reassurin' him y'all won't think less of him iffin' he isn't. Sometimes y'all don't realize goin' into somethin' that it ain't as fun as y'all thought it would be.

Dorian: As fer his friends...that's tricky. Iffin' y'all start advisin' him to turn away from 'em, or come down hard on him seein' them at all, it stands a good chance of drivin' him toward them.

Audrey: Again, a lighter touch might be good for this sorta situation. Just tellin' him to be mindful of iffin' a situation feels...uneasy to him, and encouraging to go with his gut iffin' something feels wrong. Reassure him that y'all know he's a good pup, and he's got a good head on his shoulders. Iffin' his friends are bad enough, he'll eventually drift away from 'em. If not, then that troublin' behavior should start to even out.

Dorian: As fer how yer boys get along...that's the trickiest of all really.

Audrey: Some pups grow up real tight, and some...well that competitive wolf streak might get in the way and drive 'em apart.

Dorian: I'd say y'all made the right call puttin' their rooms farther apart. It's...somethin' we honestly shoulda' done with Yuri and Vern growin' up.

Audrey: Yeah...I...I mean, I'll admit I feel we took the wrong approach in tryin' to push them closer and closer together and figurin' it would work itself out. Sometimes distance can make fer a better relationship in the long run.

Dorian: O'course, y'all also have to accept that maybe y'all can't mend that bond...just cause someones blood-related don't mean they'll like each other.

Vernon: Like me and Yuri.

Audrey: Oh hush, y'all get along fine now.

Vernon: Well, we tolerate each other, if that's what you mean.

Dorian: However, case and point that yer pups are young. They're hot-headed and flush with hormones. When they get older, and that starts to even off, they'll probably end up gettin' along again...just like Vern and Yuri do now. Although considerin' you said yer boys had a good relationship before that, I imagine their prospects are better fer bein' good friends again in the future.

Vernon: Yeah, Yuri and I hated each other since we were barely out of diapers...our feud was purty long by comparison to yer boys.

Audrey: And just look at how far these two have come. Trust me, iffin' Vern and Yuri can at least learn to play nice after everythin' that's gone on between 'em, I think yer boys odds are purty good.

Found AU Ask; Lily as a Hall Monitor

 

 Vernon: Sweet Sawgrass *Sighs* Truth be told, I ain't a fan...both of Lily's current stint as a Hall Monitor, or their lil' AV club webisodes...and especially not goin' around gettin' themselves into dangerous situations as junior detectives...but...there ain't much I can do iffin' I don't wanna alienate my lil' princess from me.

Dawn: Well, to be honest...I do worry when Lily stumbles onto...er...much bigger schemes than 'who's been selling fountain sodas under the table'. But other than that I mean, I'm just glad she's happy.

Vernon: Oh don't get me wrong...I'm happy fer her bein' happy too. That smile o' her's makes my heart swell up with love. But...It's gettin' harder and harder to hold on to my hope that this is all just some phase she's gonna grow outta eventually. And if I gotta let that go...well...then I gotta move onto learnin' to accept it.

Judy: Not to...twist the knife that much deeper Vernon, but...I mean, I was obsessed with policing since I was a kit...

Nick: And look at old Carrots now! *Chuckles* She's probably the top cop at the station...and...I've heard whispers that if Bogo retires, Carrot's is looking like his top pick to replace him.

Judy: Psh! Bogo isn't retiring for a long while, and even so, I'm probably the last mammal he'd want to put in his place.

Nick: Stranger things have happened...like that 'narcotics ring' your daughter stumbled onto...

Vernon: *Places a paw over his face and groans softly*...

Dorian: I would maybe chalked that up to dumb luck, if not fer the whole 'caught that neighbor plannin' to murder his wife and defraud and insurance company' thing too. At this point I'm thinkin' that lil' Miss is so gifted she ain't even aware of all the cues she's pickin' up on a subconscious level...it's like..it's beyond Hunter's intuition at that point...*Chuckles*

Vernon: *Lets out a soft, sad whine...*

Dawn: *Wraps her hooves around her mate, nuzzling his cheek.* There, there Puppy...

Vernon: I'm supposed to protect Lily....I'm her Pa! How am I supposed to protect that pup iffin' she goes off workin' a career that throws her in harms way every day?

Audrey: Vernon, I've felt what yer feelin' believe you me. *Audrey sits down next to the couple, also wrapping her paws around the wolf and hugging him* Between yer Pa, and yer brothers I've been afraid for 'em every day. Still am...

Vernon: *Whimpers*

Audrey: But at the end of the day, what was I gonna do? Trap y'all in the house and never let y'all go outside? *Audrey shakes her head* That'd be selfish fer me to monopolize yer lives like that, to keep y'all from spreadin' yer wings and figurin' out who y'all were and what ya loved...not to mention it'd woulda' made y'all hate me.

Vernon: I-I know Ma...but...

Audrey: Y'all gotta be supportive Honey, even iffin' what yer pup's doin' scares you to death. Because at the end of the day, it's their life to live...not yers. Y'all need to decide whether or not yer gonna turn away from that because of the pain, 'er iffin' you'll grin and bear it as y'all stand on the sidelines cheerin' her on...

Vernon: I know yer right...I just...*chuckles softly* I just want a few more years to lie to myself is all...just let her be my lil' princess fer a lil' longer...

Dorian: *Chuckles* Now that sounds just like yer Ma..., askin' the gods fer just a few more years of puphood to coddle you boys...

Audrey: *Glares at Dorian*

Dorian: *Shrinking back slightly* O-o'course I wasn't all that much better...whatchin' yer pups grow is probably the most beautiful and painful thang a parent can experience. It feels like it just zips by sometimes...and before y'all know it yer pups are off gettin' tithed. In the end, y'all are torn between pride and sadness. But I think it's safe to say that pride and joy always wins out. Personally, I think that Lily will shine when she grows up, regardless of what career she ultimately chooses to go into. But fer now, y'all still got plenty of time left to watch her grow into that spectacular mammal one day, and be there to help her reach that goal.

Audrey: That was beautiful Dori...*Sniffles*

Vernon: T-that was...and thank y'all...that actually...helped a lil'...

Judy: Nick, are you crying?

Nick: N-No? Of course *Sniffle* n-not Carrots...I j-just...*Sniffle* got some sand in my eye is all...

Judy: We're nowhere near Sahara Square right now Nick, what are you-

Nick: Who is chopping onions!? *Snort*

Ask Dorian; Too tired for Law Enforcement

Found AU Ask; Marcus' Adoption Hearing

 

Dorian: I think I can safely speak fer the pack by sayin' that we were purty much over the moon about Marcus' officially becomin' part of the family.

Audrey: We were hootin' and hollerin' so loud I'm surprised we didn't bring the courthouse down! *Giggles*

Dorian: Even Yuri, who swears he ain't big on pups seemed purty happy fur the boy.

Audrey: He can swear up and down pups don't get to him, but actions speak louder than words. All it takes is a few moments with Marcus er' Lily and that boy melts. *Snicker* even iffin' he refuses to admit it.

Dorian: What can I say, that boy has mine and my Pa's stubbornness all rolled up into one mammal. But he's still got a Hunter's heart.

Audrey: And his Ma's too...

Dorian: Y'all know what I meant! *Smooches Audrey* Wouldn't have it any other way either...

Audrey: Well, all that aside, I am sorry y'all couldn't be there fer the hearin' Luce and Pascha...

Padaprascha: Yes, I do wish we could have been here to see it, but I feel spending time with our new grandkitten has more than well made up for it.

Lucero: He's an amazing boy! Reminds me so much of myself when I was younger!

Padaprascha: You? *Shakes Head* No, Marcus is a sweet boy. *Giggles*

Lucero: Ah, you've got me there...I'll freely admit I was a bit of a hellion growing up back in Mane. *Chuckles* Still I'm so proud of Marcus, and how far he's come. And that goes double for our daughter and son-in-law!

Padaprascha: If I'm being honest we...were getting a little antsy to get grandkittens. We were beginning to wonder if we ever would at the rate things were going...

Lucero: Not to speak ill of our little Myra, but she's...well we've never seen her as the type of girl that would....settle down and raise cubs...She's a...hmm....a 'free spirit'.

Padaprascha: Yes...that is one word for it.

Lucero: So naturally when we found out about Marcus we ourselves were, as the Hunter's put it, "Over the moon!"My only regret is that they don't live closer to us! Zootopia is quite a far distance from San Furnando, and now that we have a grandkitten to fawn over not being just a stone's throw away from being able to see him feels like we're doing him a disservice!

Padaprascha: I must admit, it's quite heartbreaking to leave after each visit.

Lucero: Perhaps that settles it! I think we should look into moving here!

Padaprascha: M-Moving? From San Furnando?

Dorian: Lookin' to settle in the North Meadowlands eh? I think I can get y'all in touch with a few realtors I know iffin' yer really interested.

Padaprascha: But what about Myra?

Lucero: Myra is an adult, she can take care of herself. Marcus needs in Grandparents now!

Padaprascha: But moves are always so stressful...and we'd have to sell our house and move across country...

Lucero: Think of the kitten Pasha!

Padaprascha: A-Alright...I'm willing to move if you are my Love.

Lucero: Then it is settled, we will begin looking as soon as we get home!

Audrey: That's...a purty big decision to make that quickly...

Padaprascha: That's my Lucero...when he sets his mind to something, he does not second guess, he simply moves forward. For better or worse. *Giggles*

FOUND AU ask; Marcus' and the Piano

 

Audrey: As I said before, it's just more time spent with my grandpup, so I can't get enough! *Giggles*

Dorian: I mean, of course we love havin' our pups come home to visit. Our door is always open to 'em and their packs, so havin' Marcus visit so often to practice piano with my Darlin' Auddey is always a treat. And o' course I already loved the piano, so havin' not one, but two experts around to play really somethin' else...

Audrey: Aww.... Always so sweet my Suga' Wolf...

Dorian: That said, I hopin' I can find something to share with the boy myself...maybe somethin' like fishin', or archery er' somethin'...

Audrey: Archery!? Don't y'all think that's kinda dangerous what with Marcus bein' so shy and all?

Dorian: I meant later o'course...when he's more comfortable. Besides, Zach tells me the boy is a crack shot when it comes to baseball...

Audrey: A crack shot in baseball?

Dorian: In the same way Wade was a...er...real crack shot at hockey...

Audrey: Oh...OH...Oh my...Now I understand why Zach was sportin' them bandages...

Dorian: That's why I figured archery might be a good fit...somethin' that redirects the boys...natural talents where hittin' a target is the goal...

Ask the Parents; Lovey Dovey Talk

 

Audrey: Oh we used to terrorize the boys with our lil' 'lovey dovey' talk.

Dorian: I remember Yuri used to always start fake retchin' whenever we'd be getting' affectionate in front them. *Shakes head* That boy used to put on such a performance, I swear.

Vernon: He really gave it his all, so much so that I'm pretty sure he actually threw up that one time.

Yuri: Don't act like y'all were so much better! We was all gaggin' whenever the 'pet names' came out....I was just...already kinda sick that day...so pushin' it wasn't the best idea...

Dorian: I was a purty good way to get the boys outta the house that's fur sure...*Chuckles*

Audrey: All I needed to say was “Oh my Dori dear...my lil white suga' wolf...”

Yuri: And the nausea is comin' right back...Bleccch!

Dorian: *Chuckles* Aw knock it off...y'all are too old to be actin' this way...Ya got she-wo-...mate's o' yer own now.

Vernon: I suppose that's one upside. *Chuckles* We may have suffered under watchin' our parents get all gooey with one another when we was pups, but now that I got a pack of my own, I get the distinct pleasure of doin' the same thing to my pups, ain't that right Honey Lamb?

Dawn: *Giggles* Of course, my Darling Puppy Love....

*Vernon bends down to plant a soft kiss on Dawn's lips.*

Allison and Edison: EWWW! GROSSS!

Edison: I'm gonna spew!

Vernon: *Chuckles*

Audrey: Just wait till the day comes where y'all get to show embarassin' pup photos to the mates they bring home...* Giggles*

Dawn: Speaking of, do you still have that picture of Vernon naked in the mud puddle? *Giggles* It's so cute, and I'd love a copy I could frame...

Audrey: O' course Darlin', I can make y'all as many copies as you need!

Vernon: Hey, hey, hold on now...don't I get a say in this?

Dorian: Sorry there Pup, yer' still a few years off before it's yer turn to embarrass yer pups. *Chuckles* The ball is still in our court fer the time bein'...

FOUND AU ASK; Lily's Great Pie Caper!

 

Dorian: Proud? Are y'all kiddin' me? *Chuckles* I'm over the moon! She-.

Vernon: It weren't... I mean anyone coulda' put together who done it. Right? It don't mean-

Dorian: Anyone coulda'!? Oh please, she wasn't just ahead o' the rest of you boys, she was ahead o' me too! Granted, I wasn't exactly...lookin' to deeply into who ate a pie.

Vernon: Pa, please...

Dorian: And the way she explained how she figured it out, goin' over all her leads and their alibi's before tellin' revealin' it was Qali! That's classic etectives intuition! Y'all can't even teach th-

Vernon: MY Pup is NOT going to be a DETECTIVE, er a POLICE OFFICER! GOT THAT!? She's my little princess, and that's all. T-This cop stuff is just a phase is all...

Dorian: I'd say the princess stuff is a phase Vern. Y'all can't exactly grow up to be a career princess, but with a mind as sharp as that, at her age? She-.

Vernon: Then she can be a scientist! Er' a mathmatician' er' somethin'!

Dorian: Vernon...y'all don't by any chance remember what my Pa did to me, do ya?

Audrey: Or what yer Pa did to you?

Dorian: Y-yeah...

Vernon: *Whining* B-but I know she don't wanna be a cop! I know it's just a phase!

Audrey: But if she does, are y'all gonna do the right thang? Or will y'all be a stubborn as yer ol' Pa?

Dorian: HEY! I...I mean I got over it...

Audrey: Mhh-Hmm...

Dorian: Eventually!

Audrey: About twenty years too late.

Dorian: It'd be 'too late' if we hadn't mended thangs!

Audrey: Look, Puppy, I just want y'all to be careful. I don't want y'all stiflin' the pup's dreams because yer scared, or y'all had a bad experience. Y'all need to be understanding, and accept what Lily wants to do with her life when the time comes. If she wants to be a cop, tryin' to push her away from it'll only push her away from you.

Vernon: I KNOW! L-Look...If...and this is a big ol' if, she decides she...wants...to...maybe be a police officer....when she's eighteen. I'll...I...I will try to support her...As long as the rest of y'all ain't pushin' her into it!

Dorian: What're we gonna do?

Vernon: Keep brainwashin' her like y'all are already!

Dorian: Brainwashin'!? Y'all sound nuttier than yer lil' brother! I'll have y'all know...

Vernon and Dorian: *Bickering Continues*

Audrey: Y'all Hunter boys, always so damn stubborn...*Chuckles* At least I know Dawn will be around to keep y'all in check...

Ask Auddey and Dorian; The Hunter Pups Meet Santa Claws

 

Ask Audrey: Snarllör Pack

 

  

Audrey: Well, that's cause the last few years my Ma and Pa have been spendin' their retirement years travelin' around Animalia in an ol' RV. It was somethin' my Pa always wanted to do before he kicked the bucket, and my Ma well, she never could say no to my Pa's crazy adventure plans.

Dorian: I imagine she's mostly along for the ride to patch him up then? *Chuckles*

Audrey: Last I talked with 'em on the phone they were up in Nun-a-Vulp trackin' down our roots on the native side of our family.

Dorian: Ain't that mostly arctic mammals there?

Audrey: We got arctic blood in our families veins iffin' y'all go back far enough.

Dorian: That'd explain why Trenny's such a snow dog.

Audrey: As fer the family Ranch in Alpine Glade, my...er brother is currently livin' there. And well, me and Garret never exactly got along very well. Y'all could say we well....we got along a lot like Yuri and Vern used to growin' up.

Dorian: Doesn't help the fella kinda leans more into native wolf beliefs than the rest of the Snarllör pack.

Audrey: Aw now he ain't that bad. He ain't Callin' other wolves Beta's and Omega's and the like.

Dorian: I thought y'all didn't get along! Now yer defendin' him?

Audrey: I'm only gonna call out my kin fer the unforgivable stuff. Like that time he mashes a mudcake into my hair when we was pups!

Dorian: Unbelievable...

Audrey: There were worms in it Dori! WORMS!

Ask Auddey and Dori; Family Pumpkin Patch

 

Dorian: Actually we've been doin' that fer some time now. *Chuckles* Well, Auddey has anyway.

Audrey: Ain't like I stop sellin' pies once the Harvest Festival is over. Folks are still lookin' to buy pies right up until the actual Harvest Feast, and even then we get a few stragglers who want one fer Yule come sniffin' around. That said, most of my pumpkin crop is fer...well, it's bakin' pumpkins.

Dorian: Sugar pumpkins. And they ain't exactly prime specimens fer makin' jackal' lanterns.

Audrey: Yeah, sugar pumpkins don't get very big. To top it all off we got a few...er..bigger pumpkin farms situated around us, and I don't want to be steppin' on our neighbors paws too much by tryin' to compete with 'em in the jackal' lantern department.

Dorian: Granted, Auddey did add a smaller patch of Jackal' Lantern pumpkins to please some folks, but she generally gets by sellin' pies, sweet pumpkins and corn directly.

Audrey: We also do have a corn maze we do, but it's purty modest. The hunter Ranch ain't as massive y'all outsiders might think, so the maze ain't huge.

Dorian: At least, not big enough to waste money hirin' performer's anyway.

Audrey: But the lil' pups seem to like it, and that's what matters. *Giggles*

Found AU Ask; Lily's Drawings

 

WT: This is a post related to Elite Shade’s BellHunterverse AU “Found”. Check it out on Fanfiction.net and Archive of our own.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13128859/1/Found

---

Vanna: I'd like to think that my sisters would be less awful about this than the boys are proving to be.

Qali: Easy for you to say, you have a picture! And so does Ada for that matter! *Crosses arms and pouts*

Ada: Yeesh Snowball, I don't tink I've ever seen youse dis sour before.

Qali: I just...I mean, I braided her fur! That's fun right? I'm a fun aunt...right?

Dawn: *Places a hoof on Qali's shoulder reassuringly* Of course you are Qali, Lily loves you.

Qali: I just really want a princess drawing too!

Vanna: *Shakes her head* It's like listening to another Goofball...

Val: If only you could all be as secure as I am in knowing that I'm the cool aunt.

Ada: And where did yous get dat idea?

Qali: Yeah! I don't see a princess drawing of you anywhere!

Val: Of course not, princesses aren't cool...so how could I be one.

Malcolm: Better hope lil' Lily don't hear y'all say that, or y'all would lose that 'cool aunt' status as quickly as y'all think ya had it.

Val: Pft...she'll figure it out sooner or later...*Glances around slyly* She...isn't around for this right? Like not in ear shot?

Dawn: Unless she was in the room there's little chance she'd hear it. Humans don't seem to have hearing on par with canines.

Val: Phew...I mean...er...I don't care...

Malcolm: See I figured Judy's probably the cool aunt.

Judy: Me? Why me?

Dawn: Well, Lily is talking an awful lot about police work, and law enforcement related topics.

Judy: True, but, isn't Vernon's entire family working in law to some degree?

Dawn: Yes, but you and Vanna are the only female officers she knows.

Vanna: Wouldn't that make me the 'cool' aunt?

Malcolm: Maybe, but Judy is a big city cop. I figure she deals with more serious stuff twice as often as you...

Vanna: I used to be a city cop.

Malcolm: Does Lily know that?

Vanna: Well...no...

Qali: It doesn't matter anyway, she's got her drawing!

Giselle: Just be patient Qali. I imagine we'll all get one sooner or later...

Qali: *Pouts quietly*

Clover: Yes, it's important not to rush the the girl...

Audrey: And even iffin' if y'all don't get a piece o' paper, so what? Y'all know them pups love their aunts, so why are y'all so fixated on getting' drawin's? So y'all can prove it?

Clover: And who are you trying to prove it to?

Vanna: This is what I was telling Zach...

Ada: *Chuckles* Well Zach was always a whiner...o'course it doesn't help dat my Mookie got a picture ahead of him...

Vanna: It definitely made it worse...

Ada: Well here's hopin' ya mate get's a picture of him as da biggest, frilliest King Princess who ever lived. Sometin' that'll make him both proud dat he finally got one, but embarrassed because it makes him look so goily...*Cackles*

Ask Dori and Auddey; 20 years later