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 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 the Canines; The Biggest Shedder

 

Vernon: I think paws down, that crown is gonna have to go to Kodi. With maybe...Qali in second place...

Kodi: Yeeep...me and my sister are prolific shedders...

Val: Tell me about it, the house has got whole packs of white fuzzy tumbleweeds rolling around every room.

Trenton: *Chuckles* Qalis does shed, but not that badly...

Qali: I can't help it! I'm an Arctic fox! *whining* Of course I'm going to shed when the weather gets warm! I wasn't built for that.

Trenton: *Scoops Qali up into his arms, hugging her into him.* There, there Darlin', I already told ya that don't bother me none. Ain't like I don't shed too...and as much as y'all do shed in the summer, it still ain't that much in the grand scheme o' thangs...cause yer so adorably tiny. *Kisses the top of Qali's head.*

Qali: *Squirms in Trenton's grip, giggling* Trenny stahp! *Titters*

Val: At least you only shed in the summer. This dork sheds all the time...like constantly. *Val points a thumb in Kodi's direction*

Kodi: Hey! I'm an Arctic mammal too! I definitely wasn't made for living in Sahara Square! And you wonder why I'm so glad to have been moved to the outpost in Tundratown so I at least get a breather on my workdays now.

Ulric: Actually, that probably makes it way worse...Switching back and forth from an arctic climate to an arid climate is more than likely confusing the processes in your body that make you grow and shed fur. This is why the shedding is happening all year round, cause every time you go to work you're body is going 'It's so cold! Grow fur grow!' And then you go home and it's like 'This is boiling, shed, shed, shed!'

Vernon: That was...an oddly reasoned take from y'all Ully...

Ulric: Just because you guys don't take most of my interests seriously, I'd expect you'd at least wouldn't forget I worked in forensics, so I do know a thing or two about how mammalian bodies work!

Kodi: Yeah, well tell my mate that then! I'd love nothing more than for us to pick up and move to Tundratown full time but she wo-.

Val: Not negotiable. Dad gave me and El the house to split, you knew that and still decided to propose.

Kodi: So! We can give it to El! We can ju-.

Val: Nothing doing. *Shakes head* Amelia and I already have a garage location picked out. The lease is signed...once I wrap tech school the garage opens. Why move farther away from my business?

Kodi: Babe...I'm begging you here...

Val: *Eyes widen, getting shimmery and startling the surrounding mammals as well as Kodi.* "Kodi...I can't...it's not just my Dad's house...it was...my Mom's too you know...

Vernon: S-Sweet sawgrass! That's some powerful puppy eyes...

Kodi: *Lets out a whine, then a huff before throwing his head back and sighing...* Alright, fine! Fine!... But if we stay in Sahara Square, the shedding will always be an issue.

Val: *Immediately drops the pleading eyes, her smug smirk returning.* As long as you keep cleaning 'em up...'sides...they're growing on me...sorta like how you did...

Kodi: *Shakes head* Pft...c'mon, now you're really messing with me...

Val: *Laughs* Hey, they remind me of you when you aren't home...that...and they sorta get me thinking about what it might be like having some little dorks running around that look like you someday...

Kodi: *Tail begins to wag furiously* 

Val: *Roles her eyes* I said 'someday'! 'Someday okay! *Laughs* Don't get too worked up...

Kodi: *Wraps Val in a tight, excited hug! kissing the top of her head like crazy as his tail continued to wag. Val puts up a weak protest but ultimately gives in.* I can't stop now! You know I can't turn off my tail once it kicks off! We just gotta ride it out now!

Val: *Rolls her eyes* You're lucky I love you...

Kodi: *Tail wagging faster* You're only making it worse! *Chuckles*

Gus: Anyone else miss when Val was cold and unfeeling? Or is it just me? *Snickers*

Ask the Foxes; Slitted Pupils

 

Val: I really don't know about that sort of stuff...history and biology aren't my strongsuit. Basically if I can't ride it, I'm not interested.

Cameron: You are talking about the pupil thing right? Not the fact that arctic foxes tend to have slanted eyes compared to their non-arctic counterparts?

Nick: I've actually kind of wondered about that myself...it's one of those things you keep telling yourself you'll look up, and then you just never do, y'know?

Qali: Oh, well I can answer that! I mean I think I can...*scratches chin thoughtfully* I remember in middle school they said evolutionists thought arctic foxes eyes became more slanted and squinty due to it helping to keep snow out of them in the blustery and frigid tundra weather. Sorta like how our ears are smaller to help us better regulate our body heat compared to normal foxes and Fennecs.

Nick: When your eyes are actually open, they're almost as big as Carrots...I can't imagine any amount of squinting or slanting could keep those eyes from going snowblind...*Chuckles*

Cameron: Evolution is fast and sporadic in Animalia, at least since the whole 'mammalian awakening period' or whatever they called it back in highschool at the onset of the ice age. After that point, mammalian evolution started moving double-time...I wouldn't be surprised if arctic fox eyes were smaller at the height of the primal age only to have grown larger since then as they moved away from daily survival and attraction of mates became more important...but I couldn't tell you...there's a reason I'm a graphic designer and not a biologist or evolutionary scholar.

Val: But you're the one who said you knew why red foxes were occasionally born with slit eyes...

Cameron: Just because I said I wasn't a biology student, doesn't mean I didn't pay attention in school my little Motobug. *chuckles* I paid attention in class, especially when my species came up in discussion that wasn't totally negative.

Nick: So enlighten us old mam', my hackles are standing on end with anticipation...

Cameron: Pft...old Mam'...I have half a mind to...*Holds up paws and shakes head* No, no, it's not worth it...*Ahem* Anyway, the 'slit eye' or 'cat's eye' as it's often referred to in foxes manifests for two reasons...one reason is of course that sometimes lingering ancient strands of DNA thought to be gone will happen to manifest for one reason or another out of the blue in mammals. My co-worker Derrick suffers from a similar condition, in that he was born with single solid hooves for paws instead of the more common 'hoof fingers' among ungulate prey, similar to ancient horses.

Val: Oh yeah! Kodi has one of those...things...

Cameron: He does? Huh...I've never noticed...what kind of Genetic Holdover Deformity does he have...?

Val: Uhhh...*Sweats* It's...uh...well it's uh...his....ears are weird...yeah, that's it! It's really subtle, you'd never notice!

Cameron: Huh...in what way?

Val: Hey, so that slit-eye thing right?

Cameron: Ah right...I suppose I'm getting off track...

Val: *Phew*...

Cameron: Anyway, so yeah I'm not exactly sure of the term, but I believe it's something like 'Genetic Holdover Deformity' or something similar...but the other reason is that it's a more common genetic trait in far eastern foxes and some native species...

Nick: So...like Japandese foxes?

Cameron: Correct...and some tribes of native North Mammalian Foxes. Similar to Roaropean sheep, our evolutionary development favored the round pupil. And since Roaropeans came to displace a lot of North Mammalian foxes through colonization and intermarrying it's...well it's less of a common trait than it was....but it's still fairly prevalent in Japanda. I remember reading in some magazine in a waiting room that roughly forty percent of the fox population in Ursa have the slit pupil.

Nick: huh, that's kinda interesting...

Val: Ehh...your mileage may vary...I know mine does...and the half pint fell asleep standing up...

Qali: *Snore-* W-What, I'm awake! *Rubs eyes* S-sorry! I-I'm just really worn out...

Val: It's okay squirt, I got bored too...

Qali: Don't call me SQUIRT! *Huffs* A-And besides, I-I wasn't bored...I j-just...Work's been heavy at the tree farm okay! *Crosses arms defiantly* 

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*

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 the Foxes; Kitsunes of Many Tails

 

Cameron: Again, I really don't know much about Japandese culture...our family ancestry was largely western Roaropean and so...we aren't well versed in the way of Japandese foxes, and legends regarding them. In terms of a fox's tail, well...I don't think I have to tell you that our tails are sort of a very important...I want to say feature of the fox as a species. It's come to represent virility in both males and females, and to lose one's tail in life sort of puts a fox on the backpaw so to speak. It definitely affects the way a fox is seen by other foxes, even on a subconscious level.

Val: Eh, I don't really care too much for tail envy...

Cameron: Did I ever tell you the doctors nearly had to cut your tail off when you were born?

Val: WHAT!? *Clutches tail protectively*. No way!

Cameron: You're right, that didn't happen. I merely wanted to prove a point.

Val: *Furrows brow* DAAAAAD! *Hisses* Not funny!

Cameron: In terms of being born with multiple tails in Zootopia, generally they are snipped off, regardless of species, unless a parent is adamant about keeping it. Even so, most of those cases end with the kit getting the extra tail snipped off as an adult, as almost all 'extra tails' tend to grow in malformed and stunted. It's rare that a fox would be born with an extra tail, and even more rare for one to be born with two or more healthy tails.

Qali: According to this wikipawdia page online, it says that thanks to the Kitsune myth, most foxes born with a second tail tend to keep them. It's actually encouraged and considered a blessing by the gods.

Val: Wow, so like the polar opposite...

Qali: But your Dad was definitely right about most of those extra tails not forming right...a lot of the examples show little hairless nubs or really kinked-up tails that are like a third of the side of an average fox tail.

Val: It's like trying to grow two plants in one really tiny pot, both of them aren't going to make it...*Chuckles*

Ask the foxes; Raccoon Dogs

 

Cameron: I'll be honest I don't really know much about Raccoon Dogs...or that they're tricksters...I know it's a Japandese thing, but I don't know much else.

Val: I mean, what's the drive to compete for the title of the 'biggest' trickster. It's not like the title has been doing foxes any favors for the last few thousand years.

Qali: They can totally have that title if they want. I'd rather not have most mammals look down their snouts at me...

Val: Or do a quick, and what they think is a subtle pocket check to make sure I didn't steal their wallet just because I was within five feet of them.

Nick: Yeah, they are definitely welcome to steal the title from us for at least a few thousand years. Then we can re-evaluate the deal and see if we're willing to take it back...

Ask Special Collection; The Hunter Pack; the next generation Pt 4

 Trenton, Qali and Lumi; (The other Hunter family hybrid)

Initially, I think I wanted Paige to be the only hybrid, and even then Paige's creation was one I struggled with in terms of actually going through with. I think shortly after Rehab was completed, on the old blog, I asked you guys what story they wanted to see next, before pitching the ideas I had lying in the back of my brain. I remember at the time I think I discussed both Dawn and Vern taking hyphenated names, and one of the stories centering around a possible hybrid pup. Then I received a comment telling me that both the hyphenated names and the hybrid pups were a bad avenue to pursue. And while I stuck to the hyphenation regardless because I thought it would be a very Vernon thing to do to insist Dawn embrace her old name, I did bench the Paige project. It was only after the word of god (Zootopia's creators) said hybrids were definitely a thing, did I revisit the idea and find the story to be told there. Still, Paige was initially meant to be the one hybrid in the family, as reasons will be established in the last Bellhunter story as to why Dawn and Vern managed to win the pregnancy lottery so to speak, and why it would be harder for species that were genetically further apart to have pups on average, at least for some time as the methods to assist such pregnancies got better.

I'll admit, Lumi (Named by Unformed8) was created totally based on the prospect of making a very fluffy girl. That was one of the reasons Trenton and Qali were chosen to have a hybrid, the other happening to be that foxes and wolves would logically have a smaller species gap genetically speaking. It made the most sense that if Trenton and Qali made an aggressive attempt to have a hybrid child, there's a better chance of them succeeding than say, Zach and Vanna. So two years after the birth of Paige, and after a great deal of trying and taking weird fertility enhancers and taking advantage of other medical procedures, Lumi is finally born to Trenton and Qali. 

Lumi is sweet and excitable but is also capable of keeping a pretty cool head thanks to her father's genetics, which is a good skill to have when it comes to being picked on by Piper or other mammals at school for being hybrid. On top of that, Lumi's genetics make her early years and adolescence rather awkward in terms of appearance. She's got her mother's extra sleek build but quickly develops her father's height as she grows making her a bit a beanpole...or string bean as her father affectionately calls her. Piper likes to mock her by calling her stickly or stretch, and tends to be especially vicious to her and Paige for being hybrids. She also has poor eyesight, which just adds another aspect for Piper and others to tease about. While Lumi tends to be very cool and calm in the face of teasing, she'll confide in Paige, and especially in her parents when something really gets under her pelt.

Lumi is a Daddy's girl, and even though he sterner than Qali is, Lumi pretty much has her Dad wrapped around her fingers from the day she was born. She's also very much a cuddle bug, and loves hugging and curling up with her parents at every opportunity.

As an adult, Lumi's genetics seem to finally come together in a truly spectacular fashion. With the height of a wolf and the sleekness of a fox she becomes a true beauty, so much so that she becomes a fashion model and designer, as she had always had a bit of a passion for creating outfits and clothes during her pre-teen and teenage years. Her industry name is 'the Kitsune', as her features seem very reminiscent of the ancient legend of 'Kitsune spirits' in Japanda, and she subsequently names her fashion line 'Kitsune'. As an adult, she's considerably more confident and cool, and is even better at dealing with the occasional ribbing from Piper, as well as dishing out clap backs. 

Paige and Lumi; BFF's;

With Lumi and Paige both being hybrids, they have an immediate connection that's stronger than the ones they share with their other cousins. They have much of the same struggles and uncertainties to deal with, and their personalities sort of complement one another with Paige being the more of the fighter and Lumi being more of the negotiator. If Paige is going to get into a fistfight with Piper, you can bet Lumi will be the one to pull her off the little otter if the parents aren't close enough to break things up. Also, both sets of parents are more prone to setting up playdates for the pair over the other local cousins due to them both being hybrids and logically, at least to the parents, could do with the solidarity.

The tight friendship maintains into adulthood, although they don't get to see each other as often as they'd like. Lumi's career keeps her extremely busy, and on the move. But that said, every time they manage to reunite in Zootopia, the pair probably revel in each other's company more so than any of the other cousins. One could argue the pair were actually sisters were it not for their drastically different appearances. But considering the menagerie of different species making up the respective Hunter broods, that might not be too much of a stretch for most.

Okay, one more sheet to go. 

-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 Val and Qali; What is dating a wolf like?

Surprise! I'm dipping my toes back into animation, albiet in a limited capacity. This is sort of a preview of what any animatic readings of the Rehabilitation of Dawn Bellwether would look like, so it's sort of a test case. Anyway, this ask was posed by Nick's mother, looking to find out what to expect when dating a wolf. Naturally however, her son Nick isn't hearing it. But I fear for him, it's already far too late to stop it now.

Hope you guys enjoy it!

Ask the Foxes; Rainbow of Moprhs

 

Cameron: I supposed getting a sort of accurate number would depend on whether or not your are separating by species. Arctics and Fennecs are largely categorized as separate species, but still, classify colors using the general morphs, hence how you can separately categorize a white fox morph, and an arctic fox morph even though they are functionally the same. That prospect alone makes in hard to kinda pen down a hard number on all the possible colors you can find among foxes, but then you have the fact that a pelt can change color based on climate, seasonal or other factors throughout the years regardless of the species. Then there are of course cross-species foxes like your friend to talk about...Which just make thye whole thing that much more confusing...

Val: Dad, you're rambling...

Cameron: I'm not rambling, I'm merely educating you and the mammal asking the question on just how complex morph families among the vulpes species can be. Granted in the case of Val and myself...well me to a lesser extent, we are the most common color of red morph, orange.

Val: What do you mean, 'too a lesser extent' when you're talking about your own fur? You look pretty orange to me.

Cameron: My pelt is also considered part of the red morph family, but instead of being a simple orange morph like Val's is, it's actually a sort of deeper, more vibrant red referred to as 'fire'. This specific color is rarer, and its origins can be traced back to grussian red foxes, which is where a majority of my side of the family comes from if you go back far enough.

Val: Pfft...lame...I want a cooler pelt color too...

Cameron: Hey, it may have been the standard, but that was your mother's pelt color too, and I happen to think it's very cool.

Val: Pftt...sure...What about you slick?

Nick: Oh, I was waiting for my time to chime in. *Chuckles* I'm afraid I'm in the same boat as you are kid, standard red morph here, and same for my mother, though I do know quite a few vixens who are sporting pelts from the white morph family. 

Judy: Quite a few eh? *Glares at Nick.

Nick: Oh hush, you know Skye, and Wade's partner from the Tundratown district. And those relationships are all above board, you know that.

Judy: And these are all still considered red foxes? So where do Arctic foxes come in?

Nick: Well, I'm pretty sure Skye and Finnick are considered 'Sandy Morphs', which are technically still Red Morphs, Although I think Wade's partner is purely a white morph.

Qali: Arctic Foxes are techincally their own species, like Fennecs. But while a majority of arctic foxes sport a 'white morph' like me and my sister Matsa, there are a bunch of arctic foxes sporting what we call a 'Blue Phase Morph', like my younger sister Auniq. Despite the name, a Blue Phase has a pelt that appears almost black or charcoal colored all year round. It's a rare morph, and it's also exclusive to Artic Foxes.

Cameron: Interesting, I don't think I've ever met a real blue morph arctic fox before. Closest I've come to meeting a fox with a pure black morph was Val's great uncle on her mother's side.

Val: Grunkle Silas? The guy who worked the steam train?

Cameron: The the same. Marian used to joke that the family could never tell whether or not he still had soot on his fur from the job. *chuckles* All you could make on in the dark was his eyes, and that garish golden fang he had put in.

Nick: In terms of just how rare your buddy's pelt is, I guess we'd need to see him. But you can more or less use the general morph categories to place him I think. Reds like me, and Val, are the more common Red fox Morph you'll run into on the street. Cameron's color is probably less rare, but I don't think most mammals outside of other foxes will pick up on that.

Cameron: Silas, and the other true Slivers and melanistic type phase foxes are rarer, although not the rarest. They are more common on this side of the world, and you're bound to meet a few of them in the colder districts. then there are of course grey morphs, which are less common here rather than in Roarope.

Nick: The white pelts, however, well I suppose they would be the rarest...although thanks to Zootopia housing a Tundra Climate, There are quite a few families of White and shades of luetcistic non-artic families that have settled down there. 

Qali: You may not notice a difference between those foxes and the native arctics ones with a naked eye, especially if you are not a fox yourself, But arctic foxes are smaller than white morphs, and have stunted ears.

Cameron: And that's of course not even counting mutations...such as 'champagne' like my mother Aleta, (which is still technically a red morph) or...of course full on albino foxes, oh and let's not forget the lavender pelt, like Marian's great grandmother. And of course the Marble pelt. Which some of my younger cousins in Roarope sport, and which runs on my side. Marian's Grace, at this point it might just be easier to try to plot us all on some sort of color sheet to better help your friend out. But do tell him not to be discouraged. You are far from alone in terms of having a rather unique pelt. At the end of the day, the range is simply too vast to neatly count-out, so keep your chin up!

Ask Special; Dawn and Vern Reverse Species Costumes!

 

WT: Yeah, this really doesn't have anything to do with an ask, but I drew this for fun on a stream and thought it would make some good blog content. Dawn seems to be having a great time, but Vern, for fairly obvious reasons, isn't too pleased with the arrangement. If Yuri hadn't been present, he would have been more than fine with it.

I've got more drawn ask content this week, it's just all short stuff though. Expect it soon.