Ask the Big/Smoll Couples; Sleeping Arrangements

 

Dawn: So far, we haven't really had that issue, but I think that's because Vernon tends to...sort of spoon-cuddle me. *Snickers*

Vernon: I mean, it'll probably happen eventually, but I figure what with bein' curled up that way it's...it's like even in my sleep I'm real aware my Honey Lamb is there...

Trenton: So I'm not the only one playing Big Spoon? *Laughs*

Kodi: I kinda assumed that was the standard...granted Val doesn't want to do that every night...*Laughs* More often than not she's rolled over onto me...

Val: *Snickers* He's so fluffy there's almost no position I can lay on him from that's uncomfortable...It's like he's made of memory foam...*laughs*

Qali: Usually I tend to wriggle around the most during sleep...Trenny's like a rock once he's out. *Giggles*

Trenton: That's why she always starts out in my arms, and when we wake up she's pressed up under and around my chin. 

Vernon: That said, most of us...like...the size isn't too different fer most of us to really have an issue...o'course I don't know about Zach and Vanna, and Wade and Giz...well...

Vanna: *Blushes* I...don't really want to admit this but...I mean, it has happened...

Zach: Luckily my Kitten is a very light sleeper...so the second she rolls over me, she'll wake up on her own a'fore I even object...

Vanna: G-Generally I'm the big spoon...but sometimes...well...

Zach: Cuddles can get purty warm, and with Kitten bein' so light at sleep, we don't always tangle ourselves up so we can actually get good sleep when we need to...we start work purty early in the mornin' after all.

Vanna: Says you...when you're out, you're out...I don't even think a bomb going off would pull you out of a dead sleep...

Zach: *Laughs* Why do y'all think half the time I don't even wake up when y'all accidentally start smotherin' me?

Dawn: It's starting to sound like being a very deep sleeper is a Hunter thing...

Wade: Well, I guess I break the mold then...because me and Gizzy are the opposite...which is...why the rollovers can be a pretty big issue...

Zach: *Chuckles* Big is an understatement considerin' how tall Gizzy is...

Giselle: *Blushes* Y-yeah, when I fall asleep...I...I tend to go out like a light...and well, I...also tend to toss and turn a lot...due to my neck pain...

Wade: So at least once or twice a night I'll get smothered...*Chuckles* And not in the fun way...

Giselle: *Giselle is flustered* I'm so sorry Love...Really...I-...once we find a place in Tundratown big enough for me, my neck aches will stop, and the-.

Wade: *Places a paw up* It's okay Darlin', really...Haven't gotten hurt too bad yet. *Chuckles* Side's, I knew the score when we started datin', and I was more than willin' to take that risk fer a gal like you...

Giselle: Oh Love...*Kisses Wade on the top of her head.* I love you so much...

Zach: Though...didn't you tell me you almost suffocated last time it happened?

Wade: *Quietly shushes Zach, and whispers* You lookin' to make my gal cry?"

Zach: Oh course not! *Zach replies, placing his paws up defensively.* 'Sides...*Rubs the back of his neck uncomfortably* Not like I got an umbrella handy...*Chuckles*

Ask Giselle; Are you from Great Kitten?

 

Giselle: Yes, I'm a Great K'ittish native. I lived there with me family until me Dad foinally got the job transfah he'd been tryin' to pull for about a decade. *Laughs* It was sorta the culmination of a multigenerational migration.

Dawn: Multigenerational?

Giselle: Well, I'm sure it won't exactly surprise you to know giraffes ain't a native species to Kingland. *Giselle giggles, taking a small sip of her vanilla chai latte before placing it on a very tall side table.* Up until me Granpa was born, the Zarafah line lived in South Afrikat. But as you prolly' know, South Afrikat, fancy as it is now, still has a bit o' a caste system.

Dawn: *Scratches her chin thoughtfully* R-Right, Right. Because pre-reformation Simbalogy is baked into the culture there right? So Lions at the top, followed by most preds, then prey, then hyenas and lesser animals?

*Giselle nods briskly* 

Giselle: Megafauna, wether predata' or prey usually places pretty hoigh on the caste, but it still wasn't something me granpa could abide. Every memba of me family up till then had put up with things, but me granpa not only wanted to live somewhere where all mammals were equal, but could see tha buildin' tention in the populace around him...so he did everything he could ta get out.

Vernon: He figured there'd be a civil war eventually?

*Giselle nods*

Giselle: It hasn't happened yet, but ya can't say South Afrikat is doin' much better than in his day...

Dawn: Due to the parliament's continued enforcement of the caste system, they were actually expelled from the U.A.N. a few years back if I recall correctly. Most of the talking heads say it's only a matter of years now before that powder keg goes off.

Giselle: Anywho...South Afrikat is very strict when it comes to immigration policy, even more so now. But at the toime, when they still had decent relations with Kingland, they allowed a certain number of South Afrikat citizens to immigrate to Kingland yearly...Which me granpa had to fight for a spot for...took 'im five years before he got accepted inta an internship program workin' at a Kinglish aviary that specialized in Afrikat native species. 

Dawn: Your Grandfather was an Ornathologist?

Giselle: *Giggles* He loved boids! Thankfully his l'ittle 'obby translated to somethin' he could use to get the Zarafah's to Kingland, even if he 'ad to go to college for it once he arrived. Still...Kingland was only step one in his plan...

Vernon: I take it Zootopia was the end goal?

Giselle: Initially, yes...he wo'nted to live in a place free o' state-sanctioned specism, a place that stroived to make all mammals equal. Zootopia was that place, according ta all the back alley gossip and secret literature the South Afrikat government did its best to ban and burn. But it took him decades to migrate the rest of the family to Kingland, especially as South Afrikat kept toitenin' migration restrictions, and by the toime we all made it ova, me granpa had sorta ingrained inta Kinglish society. But that didn't stop him from inspirin' me on Dad with stories of Zootopia.

Vernon: And that's how y'all ended up here?

Giselle: Me Dad was a Kinglish military mam'. And the Kinglish military frequently collaborated with the militaries of Zootopia and the NMU.

Wade: No offense Darlin' but yer Pa...doesn't exactly look like 'military material' to me...*Chuckles*

Giselle: *Giggles* He wasn't a soldier, he 'elped desiogn technology for the coalition of nations. A lot of what he designed is actually gadgets strictly for Mammalitarian purposes, somethin' the Zootopian Reserve frequently partakes in...

Dawn: Ahh...so he was building up a portfolio of work to eventually aim for a dedicated position in the Zootopian Reserve's Research and Development arm?

*Giselles nods briskly.* 

Giselle: It took a lotta' toime and effort, but eventually they soigned him on and we finally left Kingland for Zootopian shoires. I was around fourteen then, hence why everyone in the family still has the accent...

Vernon: Y'all even miss it?

Giselle: Well, in me heart Kingland will always be me home. Me Granpa still lives there, and a lotta' me friends from when I was a calf...But if me father never brought us here, I never woulda met me precious little' Bobby...*Proceeds to ruffle Wade's head fur with one of her rather hefty hooves.*

*The dusky grey wolf lamely fights back with a laugh before clasping the massive hoof in his paws and planting a kiss on it.*

Wade: I wouldn't have it any other way Darlin'...

*Giselle cooes, bending down partially to plant a kiss on the top of Wade's head before stopping a foot or so short and momentarily making a strained wince before aggressively rubbing a particularly angular-looking bend in her neck.*

Giselle: *Laughs* Even the neck strain and the pricey massage bills are worth it.

Vernon: That custom little home fer y'all still ain't done yet huh? *Chuckles*

Wade: *Wade rubs the back of his neck, a look of unease and mild guilt lacing his features.* We're uh...still saving up for it...Megafauna homes are expensive to build from scratch...Plus most a' Tundratown ain't zoned fer housing mammals with as much neck as Giz has...

Giselle: Mammoth's seem ta be the limit...so we were lookin' into buyin' a mammoth home and renovatin' it...

Wade: But again, permits...don't y'all just love bureaucracy? 

Dawn: *Rolls her eyes, letting out a dull chuckle* Wade, you don't know the half of it...

Ask The Hunters; Musical Energy P2

 

Yuri: Metal, black metal...rock...Rammstien is my favorite. O'course I don't really listen on shift cause I that kinda music drowns out the police radio no matter how low ya set it. To be honest...I really only get to listen when I'm doin' chores... helps me tune 'em out and get through 'em quicker...o' course me and Ada don't exactly have overlappin' musical interests save fer rock...so I don't really get to play it loud in our apartment fer fun...

Ada: And duh neighbors dank you. *Laughs* And toos be fair, I does like some metal...just not da kinda pure noise dat black metal is...I'm more seventies and eighties metal...same goes for rap...

Yuri: Ugh rap...I still can't believe yer into that. Next yer gonna tell me yer into country like Zach and Trent...

Trenton: Hey, don't knock country till you try it. It's at least generally soft enough to listen to while on patrol without drowning out the police radio. Rascal Flaps, Keith Urbaahn, Bucks and Dam...all awesome artists...

Yuri: That all make me wanna tear my ears off...

Ada: Unlike Yuri, woikin' in da morgue is pretty slow and quiet...so music helps get trew da shifts dat really drag on...ya got ya classics like Metailica, Pink Boivid, Hiss...Denn for rap we's got Ram DMC, Snoop Dog, Dr. Hay, Public Animal...I's even got a soft spot for Erminem, at least his early stuff...Stan is my jam!

Yuri: Yeah, cause an Ermine is the kinda mammal I picture doin' rap professionally...

Vanna: As you probably already know, Dawn and I share a love of Suri Nicks, but...I'm also a pretty big fan of Disco music... and 80s stuff...

Qali: Ohh I love eighties music! That synth sound always makes my fur tingle...*Giggles* Crowded Mouse, Tears for Deers, Bahhkota, Ohhh...Pat Bennataur!

Vanna: *Squeals* Ohh Pat Bennataur! I love her! And Bunny Tyler!

Qali: AHHHH! She's so cool! *Starts singing* I need a heeeero...! I'm holdin' out for a hero till the end of the night! *giggles*

Vanna: *Joins in.* And he's gotta strong and he's gotta be fast and he's gotta be fresh from the fight! 

Ada:*Chuckles* Hey, eighties stuff ain't bad...Bunny Tyler could rock it.

Zach: I'm more of a rock and country guy...but I can dig the eighties stuff...plus it's always cute when I come home from a solo shift to catch my little Kitten dancin' along to her favorites while tidyin' up...*Chuckles*

Vanna: *Blushes* G-goofball...

Dawn: She also does karaoke with us...that said, after that little performance you, me, and Qali need to do a girl's night where we go karaoke together!

Qali: *Squeals in delight* That'll be soooo much fun!!!

Vanna: *Still Blushing* I-I mean...I wouldn't say no...

Qali: Oh...just to chime in...I do like some of Trenny's country songs too...and I tend to listen to music the most when trimming trees...it really helps make the work more fun and feel less overwhelming! 

Vanna: I tend to listen to my favorite music when I'm doing housework...although Zach and I will often listen to our favorites while on shift, just at a low volume.

Zach: It's basically background music...Y'all might find it hard to believe, but workin' the North Meadowlands is purty slow...it ain't like the city...

Yuri: I'll bet.*Snickers* Some might call it glorified pupsittin'. 

Zach: That said, I think me and Vern have a lot of overlap...Wade too when it comes to rock. Red Hot Canid Peppers, Metaillica, Gorillaz, Queen, y'know...sorta all over the place from the 70s to 90s and early 2000s. And me and Trent er' on the same page with country.

Trenton: I'm also big into blues...one of my favorite bands is actually Blues Labrador...Run around was stuck in my head from most of the late nineties...ooh and Hook...course it helps those were popular radio singles I heard constantly growin' up...O'course I like some of the more classic bands too like Eric Clopton, B.B King...hell even Billie Howliday iffin' ta want to talk oldies...

Wade: I think my favorite genre is ska...So like Reel Big Fish, Mighty Mighty Bossicones, The offspring, Reliant Hay...I love the mix of horns and guitar and stuff...it's real upbeat and keeps me super perked up on some of the longer shifts. Plus Gizzy likes them too...

Giselle: Oh I love ska, Skaand, while I don't want to sound completely Roarupe-centric, Kittish punk and Irelambish folk. The clash, Dead Cannideys, Sex Pistails, The Grrumble Strips, The Hogues, Petless Eric, the Ramoone's...I could go on and on...those bands made up the soundtrack of me' teenage years... and aside from gettin' to share 'em with me little bobby, I also get to play them at work when my turn comes up to pick the in-store music. Makes the shifts just fly by...

Xavier: I know I'm going to get grief over this, but I'm a big fan of...pop... specifically nineties pop.

Yuri: He means boy bands and eye candy artists...like Gazelle fer instance...

Vernon: Hey, don't be too hard on Gazelle, she's a nice lady...even iffin' her music can be hit and miss...*whispers* Don't tell her I said that...

Dawn: Relax Vernon, you know I'm worse off as I used to hate her music. If she should be mad at anyone, I'd be first in line...but I've grown to love her catalog...

Malcolm: Fair, but in Xavey's case he's gone as far as lovin' the Mice Gals, backstreet Baah's, N' Mink, Rocky Marten. Oh, Britney Shears too!

Yuri: *Chuckles* The signs were all there huh?

Xavier: I'm also a fan of classical and orchestral music. So Goatzart, Beethooven, Baa'ch...I tend to favor listening to classical at work during my down time, and save the 'pop' musicians for home...it...*blushes* makes me look more professional.

Malcolm: There's some overlap between us when it comes to pop...long time Gazelle fan...ooh, and Bear! Can't ferget Mawdonna either...she's a classic...otherwise I got an overlap with Trent on country songs...what can I say, I may live in the city, but I'll always be a country boy...*Laughs* I tend to listen to my favorites while doin' housework, and o' course I have a lot of them songs on a playlist fer the speakers at work...customers seem to like 'em...

Yuri: What about you freakazoid? Still into that bleep blorp crap?

Honey: Hey, it's called Techno...and I think Ully's got great taste.

Ulric: I also like dubstep...

Honey: And that's where we diverge...

Ulric: It makes me feel like it's the future...

Honey: *Snickers* He needs his 'super hacker' soundtrack while he's 'investigating' leads...

Ulric: Calf Punk is probably my favorite...

Vernon: Heh, I think Joel like's 'em too...

Ulric: Damoode, uh...Eifshel 65...then for Dubsteb I'd have to lead with Skrillrex, and then Buriheel, and Aviisea...to name a few. also video game soundtracks...so I share that with Vernon i think...I like that chiptune sound....

Honey: we share a love of techno and video game sound tracks, there's a lot of shared bands there, and i've gone so far as to drag Ully to concerts with me...with mixed results.

Ulric: It can be overstimulating at times...emotionally overwhelming.

Vernon: I could see that, I don't think my ears could handle a crowded concert hall, even iffin' I like the band. I ain't fixin' to make myself deaf like Yuri...*Chuckles*

Yuri: That reminds me, we gotta Rammstaien concert comin' to Seaotter in about a month...we should definitely go. *laughs* If we can get our schedules lined up that is..

Ada: if I can's get outta dead duty, den sure handsome, I'd be dere wit bells on...*Giggles*

Vernon: What about y'all Ma? You and Pa?

Audrey: Aww, well you know I've always loved Rick Springhopper...if I hadn't tithed yer father I'd probably still be after that Kangaroo... *Giggles*

Yuri: Oldwyn's great grey muzzle...I remember him, that fella was like our pack's patron saint. *Chuckles*

Audrey: Otherwise I'm on the same page as Vanna, Qali and Dawn...Love Suri Nicks and Bunny tyler...the eighties were mah era. *giggles*

Dorian: And I'm into classic rock and country...Led Shepplin, Bun Jovi, Baahston, Fleetwood yak...that sorta stuff...then with country y'all get Glen Cambull, John Denfur, Billy Nelson, ooh...and Kenny Rogfurs....*chuckles* you remember Kenny Rogfurs don't y'all Darlin'?

Audrey: *Nuzzles up to Dorian* Mhh...I remember...Lady was our tithin' song...

Dawn: Aww...that's so sweet...

Ask the Wolves; Moonlight Love Making

 

Vernon: I mean...it ain't like I'm...keepin' track of exactly when the full moon is to get some...'private time' with my Honey Lamb. Like we ain't goin' out of our way to 'schedule' er nothin'...that ain't how we...operate fer the most part...

Dawn: I mean...I'd like to think most couples are....well I mean they don't 'limit' themselves to specific nights of the week, or monthly events. With us, the only thing we have to worry about scheduling around is where the lambs are, if they will hear us, or if we know they'll be staying with their grandparents, aunts, and uncles for a weekend. *Giggles*

Vernon: Hoo boy, yeah...when we know we got a whole weekend to ourselves we tend to go whole hog...er' in this case whole lamb... *Chuckles*

Dawn: *Blushes* Puppy, hush! *Giggles*

Yuri: Ugh...sounds like a nightmare to me...

Ada: Oh c'mon...it ain't like wes don't gotta pull some creative time management of our own to work out some alone toim in between our jobs.

Yuri: Exactly mah point! Now imagine tryin' to juggle our demandin' jobs and raisin' pups at the same time...we'd never have time fer ourselves with all that chaos goin' on around us...

Vernon: *Ahem* With all that said though, I mean, makin' love under a full moon...there is somethin' real comfortin' about it...it definitely adds to the atmosphere.

Wade: Makes the blood hotter...makes everything feel a bit more...primal?

Zach: Savage even? *Laughs before catching himself* O-oh, sorry Dawn...

Dawn: No worries Zach, I'm fine. The word doesn't make me flinch.

Vernon: I mean, in terms of the ol' wolf belief systems, both Norwulff er Native, the full moon is a representative of the wolf mother Lupa. Her watchful and protective gaze looking over her pups all across Animalia and offerin' them her blessin'. Only time she ain't supposed to be able to see us is durin' the new moon when she 'blinks'. So there's been a er...long time cultural element ingrained in all wolves regardin' the moon. It's where the stereotypes come from...

Trenton: In Volkism, or Norwulffish beliefs, whichever you want to call them, making love under a full moon is encouraged as it's sort of...it's like Vern said, it's a blessin'. A communion if ya will. Lupa is considered the mother of all wolves. She's a fertile goddess, and so she'd want nothin' more than to have her descendants... 'be fruitful and multiply'.

Xavier: So Consummation of a relationship on the night of a full moon is well, it's seen as seeking Lupa's approval on such a union. Granted that's also part of the point of a tithing ceremony, which is why tithing ceremonies are largely held during full moon nights. And since generally, a couple will... consummate on the same night, it is sort of one big plea for Lupa to bless the couple's union, and the offspring it will produce.

Malcolm: I mean, iffin' I recall even long-term tithed couples will usually aim to try fer a pregnancy on full moon night because of that belief in the blessin' thang...

Vernon: *Chuckles* The night we figure we conceived Paige based on how things all lined up was probably durin' the full moon that March. So...I mean...it probably didn't 'help' make that happen' er' nothin'...but...I mean who can say?

Dawn: It is an interesting 'coincidence'...*giggles*

Ulric: I've done a pretty intensive study on old Norwulff religion stuff...mostly in preparation for the trip me and Honey took to Norwulff to visit the family crypts.

Yuri: Y'all mean the trip that got our pack banned from ever visitin' two countries, and made us the center of an international scandal?

Ulric: Yeah?

Yuri: The one that Dawn had to bust her ass to get lifted so at least Ma and Pa could visit Norwulff fer their anniversary, and see it before they died someday? And they absolutely refused to lift the one in Scottram altogether so Dawn and her Ma have no chance to visit their homeland in their lifetimes?

Ulric: Your point is?

Yuri: *Shakes his head and mutters* unbelievable...

Honey: *Sheepishly* Eh....still sorry about that guys...

Ulric: Anyway, supposedly it pleases Lupa to watch her pups consummate their love. To become 'one' under her watchful gaze, and express the highest form of love one can with their partner. It gets...really mushy and sentimental. Not my kind of thing...

Zach: Kinda saccharine iffin' I'm rememberin' the part yer talkin' about. "Two mammals, united as one, pledgin' their souls to one another un undying adoration and love" er...somethin' along them lines.

Ada: Jeez...Lupa's kinda a perv huh? *Cackles*

Vanna: I mean...so are most other gods if one is to consider the whole 'omniscience' thing that most of them supposedly have. So Lupa isn't exactly unique.

Qali: I mean, I feel it...and I'm not a wolf. A full moon night definitely adds to the atmosphere...like Vernon said...it just makes it more...romantic.

Dawn: Especially if you are outside...*giggles*

Ada: In a cornfield I takes it? *Laughs*

Vernon: Well...I mean...not factorin' in the whole...gettin' caught risk...er' the howlin' thang...I gotta say that night in the cornfield at Ma and Pa's was...I mean...it felt right...*Blushes*

Dawn: I mean...it felt wrong too...

Ada: But fun wrong?

Dawn: *Blushes* I mean...I'd be lying if I said no...*Snickering* I only wish the heat hadn't made it a somewhat painful affair before we uh...reached climax. Then again, had it not been for my remnant estrus being so bad in the first place, it wouldn't have happened...and as bad as I feel about the fact that I sort of...forced Vernon's paw and broke Audrey's trust, as well as alerting everyone in the district to what we were up to...looking back it was...*Cooes softly* it was really something...

Qali: Me and Trenny have made love dozens of times in the tree field...thankfully he's not much of a rut howler, so we never really had to worry about my Dad or Sisters catching us...but those nights, under the stars...*sighs wistfully*

Trenton: Sometimes in the snow even...

Qali: *Giggles* Yes, even in the snow...it...it almost felt magical at times.

Ada: What is you nuts?! Ruttin' in da open snow? 

Wade: Yeah, I mean...I've never done that...

Giselle: Well once...*Giggles* But that was in a hot tub...

Wade: Yeah, but that's my point. It was snowing on us, but we weren't really 'out in the cold'...

Giselle: Speak for yourself! We were in a bloody large mammal hot tub, perfect for you but tiny for me! *Laughs* Seriously I think about everythin' above my knees and hips was above the water line! Luckily I happen to be pretty cold resilient unlike the rest of my family...well that, and we found...other ways to keep warm...*Giggles*

Ada: Still, Trent ain't no arctic wolf despite how much he looks like one...how could yous stand that?

Trenton: We had a blanket...and one of those space heater thangs...

Qali: And a really long extension cord. *Giggles*

Honey: Makin' love under the moonlight for my first time with Ully was pretty hot for me...even if it was in a Norwulffish prison cell...*Chuckles* In fact, that may have added to it.

Ulric: It was not romantic! It was...I was trying to make you feel better! I-It's important to...it was for moral an-!

Honey: Sure it wasn't my little prisoner of love...*Snickers*

Runner up Sam Hain Costumes!

 

Here's a follow up to last week's Belated Sam Hain post to keep the spooky fun going for just a little longer. I thought up some good costume/character combos to take a stab at and show off for you guys...naturally I picked a sort of random scattershot of characters based on those ideas because...well if I wanted to dress up the entire cast this would take till the new year.

So I picked my favorite ideas, and put the pen to the tablet to show them off to you.

First we have Giselle, who I was torn on. The first and obvious idea was Farigiraf, the new pokemon evo for Girafarig. But literally, everybody is doing that to their giraffe characters, so I decided to save that for next year. I have to credit Elite Shade for the 'Siren Head' idea, as they featured that as Giselle's costume in the "Found Sam Hain Special" which you can read at the link below.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13128859/34/Found

Give it a read, it's adorable! 

I also had the idea for a Mommy Long Legs Costume from Poppy's Playtime as a good pairing for the spindly and long Giselle, though I'm not condoning the game maker's practices. I just like Mommy Long Leg's design and thought it was fitting. So I decided to show off both ideas.

Next, and this one has been a long time coming, it's Ulric as Dale Gribble from King of the Hill! I must say, I do take some elements of Ulric's base character from Dale...usually more of Ully's extreme behaviors, so it was natural I'd want to revisit that connection in a Sam Hain costume. I imagine Ully feels Dale Growlbble is probably the smartest character on that show, and misses the comedy of it.

For this next costume idea, I had the thought of using a costume before I had a character for it. When I considered Lady Demtrescue from Resident Evil 8, it was between Ada and Vanna as they were both big gals. However, when it came down to personality, I imagine Ada could better pull it off, and so the choice was made.

Last we got Gus and Melly rocking Geralt and Yennifer from the Witcher series, which...I mean I feel it just perfectly suits the pair in terms of interests, I think this is actually my favorite of the costume sets, which is funny because it was a last minute add. Still, Gus and Melly being a happy dorky couple is adorable.

Don't forget to check out Elite Shade's Sam Hain special of FOUND! 

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13128859/34/Found

Seriously it's awesome! See you next week with a return to the normal ask format.

-Wasty

Ask the Hunter-Girls; Sons and Masculinity

 

Ada: No offense to da rest of yas, but I tink I've got to market cornered on givin' my pups a pep talk when it comes ta not bein' masculine enough. I can just go ' Hey look at yas Mom, I ain't traditionally feminine and I do just fine...youse gotta be youse!"

Dawn: I wouldn't count my side of the family out either, though to be fair I think Vernon would make for a better example in this conversation...in fact, he's already had that talk with Edison...

Vanna: Aww... what happened?

Dawn: Edi had some other rams making fun of him at school because he didn't like sports and...well he's kind of small and fragile like me. It was eating at him for a while, and he eventually went to his father to talk about it. Thankfully Vernon was able to put him at ease by talking about being in the same boat growing up, and pointing to some of his own brothers as examples in terms of feeling inadequate to them in terms of masculinity. He went on to explain that there's no 'required roadmap' to being a male, and that 'masculine traits are not all about being extremely active and muscular'. That it's about being 'honorable, reliable, kind, and understanding. That it's about trying to be the best version of yourself you can be.'

Qali: Wow...Vernon really did take to being a Dad with Gusto huh? *giggles*

Vanna: That sounds like that conversation came right out of Dorian's muzzle...

Dawn: *Snickers* Well I can't say for certain, considering Dorian's stance on Vernon's choice of career for several years, but it definitely felt like a fatherly pep talk for sure. And it worked thankfully. Edison has seemed more confident and less shy about his interests since then. He's even been very vocal about joining the math team in order to set the groundwork for being an astronaut.

Vanna: That's delightful to hear. I'm so glad my little nephew turned around on his doubts like that.

Ada: Yeah, good on da little guy!

Vanna: As for the rest of us, I think we could all manage a serviceable job when it comes to reassuring our kittens about such matters. Between us and our mates, I don't think anyone is a definition of perfect masculinity or femininity, and so we all stand to be able to connect with them in one way or another should they have such doubts.

Giselle: And If we can't provide a decent enough comparison about being masculine or feminine, thankfully we got a lot o' aunts and uncles to lean on in order to better reassure our calfs.

Dawn: Speaking of, Vanna and Ada, I just wanted to put a feeler out about getting help should Allison ever come to us with concerns about not being 'feminine' enough. I get the feeling she's been having trouble, but unlike Edison, she's more prone to burying those feelings than dealing with them, and I know better than to try and pry them out of her.

Ada: I getcha, da two tomboy aunts comin' in to save da day. Youse can count on me when yas need it.

Vanna: Same here sis, I'm always happy to talk to my nephew and nieces whenever...you know Zach and I adore them.

Ask Special Collection; The Hunter Pack; the next generation Pt 1

 Okay, so we're actually doing something a little different this week, mostly cause I got on a bit of a tear with a lot of sketch work. I guess I needed to get it out, or mend my soul a bit with some art therapy, but I ended up finalizing and doing some sketches of all the different Hunter pups interacting with their families and siblings. That's pretty much where most of my work this week went when I wasn't knackered, well that and some sketches of a Loch Ness Monster girl I was working on. So let's have a little showcase of warm and fluffy family moments and discussion on the Hunter family pups collection, as well as a more in-depth look at how my character crafting works I guess.

Wade, Giselle and 'Grace Hunter';

Initially, way back I had said that I wasn't sure I was going to keep Wade and Giselle together. At the time, I guess I was thinking that it seemed odd that all the hunter boys all seemed to be in successful long-term relationships without someone splitting during the course of the fics...but upon reflection, one could argue there are a few gals you didn't see date the various Hunter boys that didn't stick around. It's not like they all matched with their first crush or sweetheart and that was it. There was indeed trial and error. Even in Vernon's case, he had two semi-serious mates before Dawn rocked his world. So saying Wade had previous failed relationships before Giselle, and she just happens to be the right one puts it all in a more reasonable suspension of disbelief perspective. Grounding my characters and the world they live in has always been paramount to me...although I have caved to some...'small world-isms' now and again.

Concerning Grace; Grace was a design not wholly conceived by me. In fact the groundwork for her was actually established by a discussion between me and Elite Shade, the author of 'Found'.

(Check it out here! He does a great job of writing my characters, and I'm sure if you love the Bellhunterverse, you'll love this even though it's an AU.)

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

Basically, they pitched the concept of Wade and Giselle adopting a megafauna calf, and suggested a rhino. I liked the idea and from there my brain began to work on 'Grace' and how she would fit into Giselle and Wade's life. From my mind came this shy little Rhino calf, maybe no more than five or six when she comes into Wade and Giselle's life. Wade, like his brothers, was mildly skeptical of the idea of adopting outside his or Giselle's species. But upon meeting her, again much like his brothers in the same situation, he immediately falls in love with her. 

Grace is dainty, feminine, and loves to be held and snuggled, a task much easier for Giselle than Wade, as even at five she was already pushing his weight lift limit despite his insistence at trying to carry her. I imagine her finding ballet beautiful, and wanting desperately to be a ballet dancer. Naturally, that's a difficult, if not impossible career path for a mammal of her size, who also tends to be a bit on the clumsy side like her adoptive mom. Needless to say she gets picked on for that, both at school, and of course by Yuri's spitfire of an adopted pup, Piper, who next to Lumi (Trent and Qali's daughter) and Paige, is her favorite punching bag.

As an adult, I can see her managing to achieve her dreams despite her mass, and becoming a surprisingly swift and light on her hooves mammal that dominates any stage she dances across, and eventually opening a school dedicated to teaching ballet to 'unconventional dancers'.

Grace's name was actually posed by one of my Patreon backers, 'DuskyLycanroc' or 'Batduskylycanroc'. A lovely, simple, and ironic name for the young calf as she struggles to find her way in Zootopia. But luckily, she has parents who love her to death, and back her 100 percent of the way.

Thanks to EliteShade for the Concept, and Dusky for the name.

Zach, Vanna, Wyatt and Claudette;

Zach and Vanna are another couple that I think would go into the adoption game looking for a wolf pup or tiger cub out of fear they wouldn't be able to connect with an outsider species and properly rear them. Basically afraid those pups would have a lot of questions they couldn't answer and problems they couldn't deal with. But naturally, especially when it came to the Hunter sons, their soft-hearted nature quickly threw aside any sort of concerns once they met the pups that they would go on to adopt.

Wyatt was the first I came up with probably almost a year ago or more. Basically a pint-sized, excitable little gremlin who was super optimistic and a bit of a pawful. I think the main jumping-off point was taking Vanna's self-confidence issues, and placing her in a situation where's she terrified she's going to scare any little pup they look at, and the prospect mortifies her. Then this little, tiny guy meets her, and he just thinks she's the bee's knees. Wyatt has no fear, scrambling up Vanna without hesitation to get in close and inspect her with quiet wonder. It's a connection that only deepens when he's adopted, and he just thinks she's the coolest mom anyone's ever had. Granted, that fact makes Zach...just a little jealous sometimes.

Wyatt is very in touch with his raccoon impulses, despite not having any other raccoon figures in his life. He's a natural tinkerer, and loves to take stuff apart...which can be a bit of a headache for Zach and Vanna, at least until he gets old enough to actually know how to put things back together on his own. As a preteen and teen, he spends a lot of his free time scrounging at the North Meadowlands junkyard to find parts for his various doodads and inventions. As an adult I imagine him ending up to be an engineer, or something in a similar vein, and probably sees himself as a Mythbusters type of mammal with his weird and sometimes destructive side projects.

Louise "Claudette" Hunter I came up with in the last few months, as some...unknown deep and visceral feeling in me told me that Zach and Vanna would adopt two pups rather than one, similar to Dawn and Vern. They just didn't feel like a one-pup family unit. This time around I knew I wanted something closer to either Zach or Vanna's species and eventually settled on a lynx. I also knew I wanted to go in a gothish, emo direction as I didn't have a single character like that and I've always had a soft spot for them.

Claudette is older, around eleven or twelve when she gets adopted...although the sketches here are closer to fourteen I'd imagine. Basically, she's around the same age as Allison, and with the pair sharing a similar interest and demeanor, they become bffs. Louise is a poetic type, all about deep and visceral feelings in her work but trying to put up a wall around those same feelings when the prospect of expressing them comes to close family and friends. She loves her Mom and Dad dearly, but getting the words 'I love you' out of her can be like pulling teeth sometimes. She's a glass-half-empty kind of gal, keen to bring up everything that's wrong with the world when given a platform. But deep down shes' as delicate as a flower, and just as easily prone to wilting when wronged by someone she truly cares about.

Thankfully, her Pa's there to make the foolish pups who break her heart pay in spades for hurting his daughter, and while she will give him guff about finding it embarrassing later, deep down she really appreciates it. As an adult, I can see her perhaps going into writing short-form horror stories, working as a particularly acerbic and dark-humored barista as she tries to get her works published on the side. Thankfully she's got an aunt who might be able to get her some connections in the industry.

The 'Clawdette' part of her name is actually not her middle name, but her last name from birth. Like Allison, she kept it when coming into the family out of a degree of uncertainty, and Hunter was later added to allow her to keep both names.

Phew, that's all for this sheet. Next sheet coming up shortly. And for Patreons, I haven't any of the speed drawing vids for these yet, but this one won't have one, as I forgot to start recording with this file. I'll upload those vids separately during the weekend.

-Wasty

Ask the Hunter gals plus Mellie and Val; Beach Day favorites

 

Dawn: Oh well, I've never actually been much of a beach or pool person, I've never really done all that great in the heat to be honest.

Ada: Cause of da wool right?

Dawn: Well, yes and no. I mean granted the wool is a big part of it. Trying to swim after your wool gets soaked is pretty exhausting as it gets really heavy and restrictive. And in terms of sunbathing, or lounging, it's like you're doing it in a sweater.

Ada: Yeesh...

Dawn: That why if I know I'm going to be spending a lot of time at the pool or beach for a summer, I usually have Vernon shear me down to the bear minimum of wool, so basically my head wool and a few...*Coughs* playful patches on the front of my body.

Val: *Snickers* Sounds like Puppy is having a bit more fun shearing you than he probably should be...

Dawn: Well...that makes two of us more often than not. *Giggles*. Still, even sheared, that's not the end of my problems as then I have to worry about getting severely sunburned if I'm not careful.

Vanna: Oh right, I didn't even consider that. You are probably the only one of us who has most of their actual hide exposed most of the time.

Dawn: It doesn't help that my skin is so pale too, and my genetics don't tan, only burn.

Qali: Yeah, most of us only have to worry about keeping our snouts and paw pads covered in sunscreen.

Vanna: And not even considering most of you have very dark pigmented noses which tend not to burn. Myself on the other paw...well let's just say I've suffered my share of painful snout burns while trying to sunbathe.

Dawn: So generally when it comes to my preferred place for a pool day that would be by our backyard pool, lounging under the darkest, thickest parasol I have and reading a nice novel while I watch my Puppy and lambs play in the pool together. *giggles*

Mellie: What a coincidence, that's my favorite place for a pool day too. *Snickers* Have I mentioned how much me and Gussy appreciate the open invites?

Dawn: It's the least we can do for you guys, you're family to us and the lambs after all.

Mellie: It means a lot to Gus, he's already very against going to the beach and public pool for sanitary and privacy reasons. Plus we both love seeing our nephew and nieces.

Dawn: Vernon and I love the privacy as well. Puppy insists he looks weird in any swimsuit he puts on despite me telling him otherwise. *Giggles*

Qali: It's probably a fur thing...too much fur under your clothes can make you look kinda boxy...at least that's what Trenny says. He's the same way. *Snickers*.

Melanie: Gus is the same, except with him he doesn't want to take his shirt off in public and risk other mammals seeing his little pot bellie...*Snickers* Of course, I happen to love his little spare tire.

Val: So you don't swim at all then? 

Dawn: Oh, of course I do. I just don't really do it very often, and if I do it's usually at the family pool. When we go to the beach it's usually because the lambs want to more than me and Vernon...and we wouldn't want to deny our lambs thier lambhood fun just because Vernon and I tend to prefer cold weather activities.

Val: I really shouldn't have expected any other kind of answer from the two nerds in this little group. As for me, I'm the total opposite. Love the pool, and especially love the beach. And the less restrictive clothing I can get away with wearing in that kinda setting, the better. That's why I'm a huge fan of that Mystic Shoals place, where clothing is optional.

Dawn: That's that coastal resort that's an extension of the Mystic Springs Oasis right?

Val: Resort? Dunno. I've only ever went to the nudist beach part myself. I like to take in a little topless basking in the sun. Love the feeling of it on my bear fur.

Dawn: I should have expected you to be a bit of a voyuer...you do love showing off don't you?

Val: Hey, I go there for my own enjoyment, not to get oggled. 

Melanie: Unless you drag Kodi with you...

Val: *Chuckles* Can't a vixen take a little pleasure in getting her mate all hot and bothered? Besides he oggles me everywhere...even with clothes on.

Melanie: He's been thirsty for you since he first laid eyes on you, I'm not surprised that fire hasn't died down. *Laughs*

Dawn: A portable ego booster...

Val: Like Vernon isn't for you little miss Egomaniac?

Dawn: I'm not an egomaniac.

Val: Pft...sure you're not...

Vanna: Things are getting off track, so to avoid another argument between the two of you, can we get back to the question?

Melanie: Vanna's got the right idea...so Val, the nudist beach is your favorite place for that kinda thing?

Val: Actually no. My favorite place poolside beach day place isn't a pool or beach at all. I actually prefer chilling in the hot tub in our backyard on cool summer evenings.

Ada: Hot tub? Niiiice....Wish me and Yuri had one o' dem.

Qali: Ooh, that's my favorite too! Although I prefer to take a dip in the hot tub on chilly winter nights when the snow is falling. *Giggles*

Giselle: Oh yes, nothin' beats a hot tub sit on a chilly night in tundra town...It's just so lovely...

Val: Ew...no thanks there, I'd get sick in a heartbeat...I've never done super well in the cold...I'm like the opposite of my Dad. He lives for winter and dies in the summer. Me, I get a cold if I'm in Tundratown for more than a day.

Ada: I'd be a beach bitch, paws down...dat is if didn't rain in Seaotter like...eighty percent o' da time! *Cackles* Usually gotta wait for a family trip to get down to da beach and get my fur baked by da sun.

Vanna: *Chuckles* I'm very much the same. Like Val and Ada I do love the feeling of the heat on my fur...though up until Dawn and Vernon got their house in the South Meadowlands, Zach and I had to make do with lounging by the public pool at the North Meadowlands rec center...which can be rather...noisy at times...

Ada: Dat jungle blood runs deep in us...*Cackles* We crave da heat like we was lizards or sumtin, don't we? It's just...it's so sooding...and relaxing to just...feel da heat dance across yours pelt. Youse like...get heat drunk...

Malcolm: That would explain why you'd fall asleep in minutes when we took you and Yuri out to the bay last time you visited. I'd be talkin' to y'all one minute, and the next y'all would be dead to the world. *Laughs*

Ada: Not a bad way to goes...but seriously just give me a beach chair, a tin blanket, sunglasses and a hat, and set mes up on a sunny, sandy beach and I'm in paradise. It's da best sleep aide in da world...and wit my job, I need it.

Malcolm: I can understand that. Though personally when it comes to mah preference, I've always been more of a water hound. Iffin' I'm gonna have my ideal lounge, it's gonna be sprawled out on an innertube and bein' rocked by the gentle waves of the sea...Now that would put me out fer' the count...

Dawn: That's kinda scary...aren't you worried about...y'know...drifting out to sea.

Malcolm: *Chuckles* Well generally I'd tie the innertube off, plus I got Xavey to keep an eye on me now, and that boy is even more of a water hound than I am. I get dozy at the beach, but he get's pumped up. Loves gettin' his excercise in the water whenever he can get it...even has some life guard trainin'...so iffin' anythin' happens, I know I'm in good paws...*chuckles*

Dawn: The way you laughed at that kind of makes me think you've had a close call or two and have a little experience to back that up.

Malcolm: *laughs* Well...I may have...faked goin' overboard a few times..

Vanna: Why on earth would you do that?

Malcolm: Y'all are familiar with how CPR works right? Let's just say I was fishin' to get a lil'.... mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. 

*The girls share a laugh*

Ask Kodi; Apartment Stripper Pole