Path of the Hunters [PART 4] (NSFW)

Snuggling, Star lapped at him.

*

She yipped, wriggling, not quite able to reach his face with her tongue. "'Opefully, 'er betting record will be better than yours."

He broke the kiss, nuzzling her. "A guy can get used to this."

*

"Oh, hardy har har. You're supposed to be helpin' me with that." He brought Aurora back into lapping range.

She smiled. "You'll have to."

*

Thrilled, she licked away, Aurélie laughing and nuzzling her son.

"Oh, really? Maybe it's you who'll have to get used to me."

*

Nova laughed as well, enjoying the little bath from her daughter. "She definitely knows how to give a wake-up call!"

She smiled, nuzzling into his neck. "We'll see."

*

"Oui." She smiled, licking her son's cheek. He responded by bathing her face, tail wagging. "I wonder if this is going to 'appen every day..."

He glanced over at Trip, smiled. "I never really thought about being a dad. Not for a bit later, anyway."

*

"Maybe for a while," Nova said, wiping his face a little. "But I've got no complaints. Besides, only a few days old, and they've got this much energy? I love it!"

She smiled. "And now?"

*

Aurélie smiled, nuzzling her son. Oh, she didn't want to leave them... "Oui. They are very amusing."

"And now, I think I waited a bit too long." He stroked the kit's head gently.

*

"Aren't they, though?" He sighed, nuzzling his daughter. "Ten hours both ways, plus the time it takes to pull this off..."

She kissed him softly. "At least you finally got around to it."

Trip stirred slightly, scooting closer to them.

*

She sighed. "Oui..."

He smiled softly. "Yeah, I did."

*

"I hope they can make it a bit of a shorter flight."

Yawning, Trip opened his eyes, smiled slowly. Star looked over. "Hi, sweetie."

"Hi, Mom."

*

"So do I," Aurélie mused, looking at their children. "And I am sure they would agree."

"Hey, Trip. Good morning."

*

"Yeah, just as long as we keep our necks along the way."

His smile turned slightly shy. "Hi, Dad."

*

"Of course."

Aurora licked his cheek, whimpering slightly. She knew they were going again and didn't want them to... Dart, too, had some sense of it but was more accepting. They'd come back just as they had before.

He blushed slightly. "Sleep well?"

*

Nova nuzzled his daughter, sensing her distress. "Don't worry, Aurora. We'll be back, just like before. Also, you'll get to hang with Auntie Star, today. She's a lot of fun."

Trip nodded, smiling. "Uh-huh."

*

She didn't recognize that name and licked him again, eyes wide and pleading.

He nodded. "Good. Ready for the day?"

*

He sighed, smiling gently at her. "When we come back, you'll have all the time in the world to us, okay?"

"Yeah," he decided, smiling.

*

"Arf..." She wriggled, lapping at him still.

Dart made a softly distressed sound, sniffing and squirming. Aurélie sighed, shifting the nightgown to let him feed. She didn't want to leave them again... "Zut... We need to work quickly."

He smiled back. "Good. I'm expecting you to take great care of Yue, okay?"

*

"Yeah." He drew Aurora close, nuzzled her softly. "I love you so much..."

He blushed at that. "Uh-huh. I will."

*

She gurgled happily, licking him while he nuzzled. "I believe that is an 'I love you too.'" The dog petted her son softly, smiling.

He chuckled, ruffling the boy's hair. "Make sure you try to have fun too, okay?"

*

He smiled, nuzzled Dart next, grinning. "You keep your kid sis outta trouble, ya hear?"

The kit nodded. "Okay."

*

He looked up, letting out a bark. Aurélie laughed softly. "We'll see 'ow effective that is."

He smiled, getting out of the bed. "I'd better get ready to get going. The ARK's not gonna come to us."

*

He shrugged. "Well, there's always Star. Speakin' of which, let's get these two to that hedgecat."

Star rose, hugging him.

*

"Oui." She sighed. "Do you think everyone else is up?"

He hugged her back. "Compared to Nova, I've got a pretty easy job."

*

"Just about. Cross is an early riser, but Sunny and Briggs, not likely."

"Yeah... But you'll be a hell of a lot farther away..."

*

"Or Elesis," she mused.