Chapter Text
"Hello auntie!" Pin said as he pulled his little basket along behind him. To make it easier, Pete had asked Duen who asked Bohn to help attach little wheels to it. The older wolf smiled as Pin drew closer. "Papa sent me to deliver this for you!” Pin removed a little package and handed it over. “He said he hopes it helps your grandpups grow big and strong!”
"How thoughtful! And how kind of you to bring it for me." The elder pet Pin's head and Pin preened under the attention. "Be a good boy and give this to your father for me." She produced a silvery shell and put it in Pin's basket. "And this is for you for being a kind delivery boy." She then handed Pin a small bundle. "I heard your father say you've taken to learn how to weave. These would be nice little things to attach to your creations.”
"Thank you!" Pin gave a little bow, which the elder returned, before skipping away to his next delivery which happened to be for Can.
"Sorry little one," Can said as he accepted the package of sinew from Pin. "Tin and Tan are away, but I'll let him know you stopped by and wanted to play later. Tan was looking forward to playing tag again too .”
“Thank you Uncle Can!”
"Who are you going to see next? I'll walk with you." Can offered his hand and Pin took it as they both began to walk away from Tin's den.
"Daddy asked me to see Uncle Yo and trade with him for some rosehips."
"Hmm... He should be back in the forest today if we're lucky. I don't think he's gone off to the humans to be with his mate yet."
Pin nodded. “Daddy said he hopes Uncle Yo doesn't make too many more seeds or the forest will be over run with roses.”
Can laughed and it was his volume which alerted Yo to their presence.
"So loud so early," Yo complained, but greeted Pin with a hug regardless. "What brings you here today little wolf? Other than your father's concern for how many children I have."
“How many children do you have Uncle Yo?” Pin asked without blinking. “I haven't met any of them yet.”
"You'll meet them soon. Right now they stay with their father with the humans. They'll be back for their lessons with me on the next moon."
Pin nodded before turning to his little basket and giving Yo a bunch of peaches. “Daddy says he hopes this is enough for some of your rosehips and maybe a dried rose or two.”
"Well since he sent you along, I should be kind." Yo gave Pin a little package of rosehips and then produced three dried roses, perfectly dried with unbent stems and uncrushed petals. "These should do nicely for whatever he's planning. Although I doubt they'd cover up the smell of musty wolf after winter."
Pin pouted. “Uncle Yo! That’s my papa!”
“Which is exactly why I said that.” Yo gave Pin a noogie, which he protested. “Now off you go.”
"Uncle Yo! So mean!"
Yo sighed and rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'll give you a little treat, just for you." Yo produced a little jar. "This is rose jam made with sugar from my mate's human village and my rose petals. You can enjoy it by yourself, but don't eat too much at once or you'll feel sick."
Pin happily accepted the jar and skipped off. Can laughed again. “Pete's going to be so mad at you when Pin eats that whole thing and runs everywhere.”
"He deserves it after thinking Pha and I could populate the whole forest in roses."
"You've been trying really damn hard," Can said thoughtfully. "Four little nymphs already. I'm surprised you haven't gotten ten with how often you go see him." Yo's only reply was to smack Can's arm.
Pin's last stop was Mork's den, made in an abandoned human hut. There Pi rushed out and swung his nephew around, causing Pin to giggle and cheer. "Uncle Pi! You're here!"
"I am, and what did you bring for your Uncle Mork?"
"Daddy wants to trade for some of the beads he gets from humans. He says they're so pretty, he wants to try making something with them." Pin waved in the direction of his basket. "So daddy sent me to get a few things that Uncle Mork might like!” Pi put Pin down and Pin pulled out the shell, rosehips, and dried roses. “Tada!”
"What a pile of treasures," Mork said as he emerged. Pi made a face at Mork, who only winked at him. "I should be very glad to trade for them."
"How many beads will it get my daddy?"
"Hmm..." Mork held the shell up to the light, allowing it's silvery hue and pearlescence to shift in the sun. "I'll trade your father ten beads for the shell alone."
Pin pouted. “But daddy said he wants twenty!”
Pi elbowed Mork in the side. Mork, having grown used to his mate, refused to flinch. “Twelve.”
"But what about the rosehips from Uncle Yo? Don't you like those too?"
Mork sniffed the rosehips and smiled. “Fine, for that too, I'll give your father twenty.”
"You cunning fox, you're trying to make Pin feel better about bartering," Pi mumbled under his breath.
"It's good to encourage kits when they're young," Mork whispered back as he went into his den to get the beads. When Mork returned, he then turned his eye to the dried roses. "Hmm... Since you carried these all this way, how about I give you something extra for them?" Mork presented Pi with two bracelets of soft leather and beads. "One for you and one for a friend of your choice. They even match."
"Oh no," Pi whispered. "Ae will kill you."
Mork's smile grew as Pin's eyes widened. "Friendship bracelets?"
"Oh yes, if you and your best friend wear them, you'll never be apart again. That's a human custom."
"I'll take them!" Pin happily handed over the dried roses and took the beads and bracelets. "Thank you Uncle Mork!" Pin then ran off to tell his fathers of his good fortune while Pi began running for the trees.
"What are you doing?" Mork yelled after him.
"When Ae comes to skin you alive for encouraging Pin and Tan, I'm not going to be here to watch you die."