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"I've got you now!" Apollo growled fiercely between clenched teeth as he tugged on his father's ear and gave his head a little shake. "You won't get away this time" He told the larger wolf as he put his entire weight behind the effort in an attempt to drag him down onto the ground and 'win' the game.

Derecho's brows pinched a bit as Apollo's efforts to pull him down drew just a little bit of pain - when the chocolate colored pup decided to play he really put everything he had into it. His head tilted slight and he dropped it closer to the ground as his ear stretched. Moon! If he wasn't careful Apollo would take a chunk out of it!

He was proud of his son though and didn't mind his fierce hearted play, despite the consequences to him. Besides he still had a trick or two up his own sleeves in this little game and using one of his fairly large paws reached out and shoved the small pup over, hoping he would let go of his ear in the surprise.

Apollo yipped as his father's paw knocked him off his feet, which unfortunately meant that he did indeed let go of the ear. Growling fiercely as he wriggled back to his feet he fixed his father with a cool look " A lucky strike" He pronounced seriously before launching himself forward and latching himself onto his father's tail.

Menelaus approached the group at around midday, he'd decided he wanted to meet Derecho and his family sooner rather than later, perhaps he might even get a conversation in about his son's mate. He sighed lightly and smiled broadly upon seeing the group of pups around his son was eye-opening. It didn't feel that long ago when he'd seen Derecho born with his sisters and brother.

"Derecho!" He called, tail whipping behind him at a neutral level, his bark was bright and calling. He missed time with his son and was glad to see his son spend time with his own youngsters. "Look at these young fighters!" Menelaus, Grand Father and Alpha to the pups beamed proudly, they were exuberant and enthusiastic, healthy puppies.

"The shall grow strong, a good strong litter of boys." He smiled and grew silent, awaiting a greeting and conversation, reaction form the pups. He was overjoyed to finally be meeting them all.

((nope your good Aly, All the pups are welcome =-) ))

Apollo' tail wagged when Iolaus appeared but he didn't relinquish the grip he had on his father's tail, tugging on it and growling fiercely, little puppy feet splayed as he tried with all his might to keep his father in place so that Iolaus could help to drag him down. When he noticed Corinth lurking on the sidelines he yipped a bit around a mouthful of hair in encouragement - but seemed unwilling to let go and properly greet his quiet brother.

"Mightly duo indeed!" Derecho responded as he looked in mock wide eyed fear towards the spotted Iolaus, the small wince however when Apollo gave a particularly hard yank on his tail was not faked at all.

He too noted Corinth's arrival - as well as his reluctance to join in the fray. Corinth was such a shy little fellow - Derecho worried that he was often over looked and took great pains to include him whenever he could. He faked a look of terror at the sight of the shy pup. "Oh whatever shall I do now that Mighty Corinth has arrived to direct your attacks!" He wailed...he was quite aware that the pup disliked partaking in play fights - but perhaps he wouldn't mind merely coordinating his unruly brothers.

Derecho's thoughts to this end were interrupted however when his father arrived. He was glad to see him up and about - but was still unsure of what to do in his presence. For the sake of the pups however - who he didn't want fearful of their grandfather and who certainly wouldn't understand any tensions between him and his own father - they got enough of such thing with their mother - Derecho tried to wag his tail but winced when Apollo took that as an attempt at escape and yoinked on it again.

"Ha!" He told the pups. "You have a much greater target now! your grandfather has arrived to help me" Casting a look at his father he couldn't help the look of pride that crossed his face - yes his sons were all healthy, even little shy Corinth was far from sickly...just a bit unsure. "I fear they will over run me" He told his father sheepishly, Derecho was finding that five pups were hard to keep up with.

Apollo upon seeing Mene arrive paused in his battle against his father, he almost let go until his father attempted to ag his tail. This snapped Apollo back to the present and he dug his feet in pulling back mightily.

"Get him Iolaus!" He mumbled around his mouthful of hair "I've..I've got dad!" He insisted with another fierce tug.

Balios had been lurking within the bushes, his attention raptly focused on the playfighting. It wasn't that he was particularly shy or hesitant to enter the fray -- only that he was biding his time for the proper moment. After all, it was important to keep in mind a sense of fairness, and three-on-one was hardly an even battle.

But two against two....

A wide grin spread across Balios's maw and, though he had only the vaguest clue who the new, older wolf was -- his appearance was quite enough to turn the tides of battle for Balios. Letting loose a long, yodeling yelp of glee, the piebald puppy broke free of the undergrowth, bolting forward full-tilt to the grey wolf. Leaping in alongside Iolaus, Balios jumped as high as he could, aiming for any part of Menelaus's body he could reach.

Poor Menelaus hadn't had any puppy contact since he'd Father'd his young ones decades ago it felt and to have all the little bodies suddenly turn to him for their attack shocked him and he fell to his side. He barked a chorus of laughter to match theirs and couldn't help, but giggle when their wolfish grins and wagging tails and biting seemed to become endless.

The first to attack, a small pup, light and dark browns, and an all to familiar gray. He smiled sweetly at the first, his eye's becoming young again quite rapidly. "Ahh!" He barked playfully, accepting the mock growl with a mini of Mene's true growl. Then a ball of his own fur was met with the power of little jaws.

The second had his Derechos face markings, lovely! Once again the splotches of light and dark browns then gray. He couldn't help, but smile again then little teeth sunk into his fur again. He laughed and felt his body go to the ground, he gave a playful yelp then felt his tail begin to get tugged. He even gasped at this one.

He eye'd the last one with another smile, he encouraged them all.

As his jaws caught hold of some of his grandfathers fur Iolaus let out another growl and shook his head a bit as he dangled in the air. Back paws flailed about for a few moments as he tried to get them planted against the larger wolf's side. Once they were firmly planted he gave another tug on the fur. Only this time it let go and sent him sprawling to the ground in a heap.

It didn't take long for Iolaus to get back onto his feet as he spit out so of the fur that was in his mouth. "You can't win that easily." He barked as he took a couple of steps away. Lowering his head Iolaus then charged forward, aiming to slam into his grandfathers back legs with the flat part of his skull.

Their grandfather conquered, Corinth felt a tiny surge of happiness. He wasn't really one for glorying in the 'kill' though - and his other brother needed help! As fast as his tiny legs would carry him, half tripping over large legs, he picked his way towards his father again.

Reaching up, he pushed large-puppyish paws against his fathers legs, trying to 'push him over', whilst trying not to be hit by Apollo's flailing limbs.

Derecho growled playfully around Apollo as he suddenly found himself 'betrayed' by his father and surrounded by his sons, letting out an oof he released Apollo as Corinth pushed at him, staggering dramatically away and then pushed down by his own father.

"Betrayed!" He bemoaned with a mock surprised face. "Betrayed by my own father!"

Apollo let out a howl of victory as his father released him "Great job Corinth!" He encouraged his normally shy brother as their father staggered off "You rescued me!" He told his brother, while trotting happily around his downed father with his tail wagging.