Pupmania [3x Partner Hunt w/ Haku]

There was a lot more to the city than some of the pups initially thought! Haku's explanations of it all were interesting - although admittedly, of the four, Anne or Princess were probably the ones who were having the easiest time actually processing and parsing all of this new information that Haku was going on about. Ettie and Duchess were doing their best to listen in, of course - but the two, admittedly, probably only had a single braincell between them; and it had not hit the corner in their heads just yet.

Aurien, however, was always enthralled to listening to his family's explanations and stories - even now, he'd be listening close. "I'm sure it'll be quite fine!" The little Gomamon would remark, in response to Haku's concern over Ruffian's behavior. "If he's got a hero's heart too, then I'm sure he knows better than to cause trouble for the guards!"

"Mm..." In a rare show of Princess-brand sass, the little Offmon would cast a sleepy glance towards Aurien, remarking "Ruffian mostly knows punching, and... Yelling... That's about..." Yaaaawwwwnnnn... "... About it..."

Aurien, in response, couldn't help having a bit of a sheepish 'oh dear' type of look - he certainly hoped that Ruffian wouldn't be punching and yelling, out there; he might not get let back into the city anytime soon, if that was the case! Which would likely put a wrench in this pack's plans to enjoy the festival, with how concerned they had been over Ruffian's absence!

Thankfully though, Ruffian was perfectly fine - having a few mouthfuls of warm soup, before setting the bowl down to share it with... A couple of Plotmon? "'m full. You two can have the rest." Ruffian would state bluntly - technically a lie, he could've gone for a little more, but... He could tell the two siblings had been hungry, with the way they kept sniffing the air and glancing at the soup - and he could always just go stop by a food stall once he was allowed back in the city.

As the pack approached though, Ruffian glanced up at the group - casting Haku a brief glare, before he'd suddenly be set upon by Ettie and Duchess both! The two girls were clearly excited - Duchess chirping "Yaaaay, Ruffian's okay!" while Ettie simply yipped! The two's tails would be wagging wildly as they embraced the Gaomon - much to Ruffian's chagrin, as he'd exclaim in a rather startled fashion "H-Hey, hands off!"

Adhara and Sirius both seemed a bit surprised by the sudden group of people - though then again, Ruffian did mention having a pack! And this must be them! "Hello hello!" Sirius would greet the group, his tail wagging.

"Hello!" Ettie responded in turn, stepping away from Ruffian, to notice the two Plotmon siblings. Oooh... "You're like us!"

"Yeah! We're like you!" Sirius agreed, the tailwagging only increasing - especially when Ettie and Duchess' own tails would begin wagging at the plotmon duo.

Oh dear, Adhara could only realize, meanwhile; there were three Siriuses now.

In watching the pack begin to mingle amongst eachother, as well as with these two new Plotmon, though... Aurien couldn't help a warm laugh - smiling over to Haku. "Such a lively group! Almost makes me want to join in with them - although I don't want to interrupt, either, ahah!" Besides, this seemed to be more of a 'canine' thing - and he wasn't really a canine, even if he grew up around a bunch of canid and beast digimon! He'd be pretty out of place, if he tried to join in on the pack's antics!

Aurien, admittedly, hadn't meen entirely sure about why he was a Gomamon. "I.. suppose it had something to do with Dad's element being ice, or us growing up in a cold climate?" He'd guess, tilting his head a little as he thought it over. "Or Papa being a beast digimon, and Dad being sort of... Partially a beast digimon, too?" Admittedly though, digimon in general were kind of unpredictable in how they grow up; especially given the different sorts of things that could influence it. He could've, very well, become something completely different depending!

And yet, that being said, Haku's words were nonetheless encouraging and comforting. He was dog enough, if he believed enough, yeah? He could fit in with the group! The young Gomamon's eyes would light up with this, his little tail still wagging the best it could, as he glanced over to the pack. "Then.... Maybe this is my chance, to go on an adventure of my own!" He'd declare excitedly, taking a few steps forward before he hesitated - glancing back to Haku. "Dad and Papa are, uhm, still around Ys, right? I wanna give everyone a proper goodbye, before I leave the city!"

He'd likely have plenty of time before the pack decided to move on, but he still wanted to make sure! It wouldn't be a true and proper hero's journey, if he just left without a proper goodbye to his family!

But with Haku's confirmation, Aurien would nod to Haku, and then soon approach the pack - whom were mingling amongst each other, as they familiarized themselves with these two new Plotmon. Ettie, in fact, was taking right to them as friends - giggling and laughing as she wrestled with Sirius, all the whilst Adhara watched from the sidelines with a faint hue of amusement, seated next to Anne...

But at Aurien's approach, he suddenly became aware of the eyes glancing towards him - inquisitive and friendly, albeit Ruffian's own glance was somewhat unimpressed initially before it softened a little. Aurien couldn't help but clear his throat a bit nervously initially - he was only used to having so many eyes on him amongst his family, not so much amongst strangers, but... Remember his heroic heart, improv the words, he can do it...!

"Given that you all are travelers, and that I myself have always been interested in going on an adventure myself, I..." Briefly, as Aurien spoke, he would pause to take in a deep breath. "I would like to ask if it is okay, to join this pack."

Almost immediately, there was a certain... Buzz, of energy, among the pups - Aurien could see it in the way that their tails would begin to wag, and that some of their eyes would light up. "Yeah, yeah!" Duchess would agree more or less instantly, practically bowling into Aurien in all of her excitement! "More packmates!"

"Of course!" Ettie added with a smile; rolling up into a seated position, from underneath Sirius. "Everyone's welcome to the pack!" Which, speaking of which....

Glancing to Sirius and Adhara both, Ettie would smile to them - asking "Do you two wanna come with us, too? The more the merrier!"

"Ooh, ooh, can we??" Sirius seemed immediately sold on this idea, if the way he'd smile and glance back towards Adhara was of any indication; tail wagging wildly. Adhara, in response, would hum a little - looking the different pups over - before briefly nodding. "Mm.. Why not?"

"Yaaaay!" Near-immediately, Sirius was quick to leap at Aurien as well - who was already still dealing with an excited Duchess atop him; prompting a startled 'Bwark!' from the Gomamon.

"Hakuuuuuuu! I'm stuuuuuck!" Aurien would whine (jokingly, Haku would likely be able to tell that he wasn't in any actual distress,) as he was bowled over onto his back - flailing his flippers, whilst Duchess and Sirius both would snuggle up atop the poor Gomamon.

Meanwhile though, Ettie would perk up a bit. Oh, right, Haku was here too! Glancing over in the white Gaomon's direction, her tail would wag a bit as she asked "Do you wanna join our pack, too? Everyone's welcome!"

(Ruffian, though, couldn't help a long groan at this - if he had to deal with this half-rate Gaomon any longer, he'd probably combust on the spot!)

How would Haku respond to the invitation, let alone these shenanigans?

Though Ettie was a bit disappointed that Haku wasn't going to join the pack, she would nod understandingly - doctors helped keep people healthy, right? That's what the others told her, at least; so it made sense to her that Haku wanted to keep his own territory and packmates here safe and healthy! And even then, the notion that they could nonetheless be family had her tail wagging a bit - a clear sign that even if she was disappointed, there were still things that she was plenty happy about.

As Aurien wiggled about though, eventually he'd be able to get out from under the two pups, laughing warmly as they nuzzled him, and he in turn nuzzled them. He'd soon become aware of Haku's approach though, perking up and glancing in the direction of his older brother as the Gaomon spoke. When the paw was placed on his back, he'd jolt a little in surprise - but soon relaxed, listening closely to the other's words...

... He was going out into a big wild and open world... Certainly, he could return home at any time, but... In hearing Haku speak, it really dawned on Aurien that he was... Leaving home, nonetheless.

Ettie, however, seemed to see the encouragement in it all - her tail wagging as she snuggled up to Aurien's side, adding "You'll have us, too! A pack always looks out for each other - and that includes you!"

This blessing, and Ettie's own encouragement - to which many of the pups would bark their agreements - seemed to bring emotional tears to Aurien's eyes. He smiled as brightly as he could, wiping at his eyes with a flipper, before nodding. "I... Yeah! And I'll be a great hero, just like you all are, and being home lots and lots of stories!" He'd declare - promise, even - to Haku. "I'll make everyone even prouder than they already are!"

But then, there came the mention of... "... A gift?" Aurien questioned, tilting his head a bit curiously. He wasn't sure, initially, what was going on - but... There was a growing sense of awe, as the snow began to swirl about Haku - the forming cocoon growing bigger, bigger... Until Extelevexiamon emerged, from the cocoon.

("Wait, what the fuck..??")

The strength of a Mega digimon's presence was palpatable here - for the digimon who were only Rookies, the pack couldn't help but be speechless, for the most part; awed by the beautiful spectacle that Haku would soon present, as he began bending the light as he pleased, to provide an astral lightshow for the pups. "Amazing...." Aurien breathed, a giddy smile soon crossing his face. "I never knew that you reached Mega...!"

But then Haku would begin to howl - and almost immediately, much of the pack seemed to perk up - standing to attention, by pure instinct. And in following that instinct, the pack would begin to join in the howls - one by one. Ettie and Anne would be the first ones to howl - and then two of their oldest packmates, Princess, and Duchess, would follow with (after the former snapped to wakefulness, of course.) Ruffian was next to howl - almost reluctant to join in with Haku - and it didn't take long for Adhara and Sirius to howl with, either, once they realized what was going on.

Aurien would be the last to howl - mainly because he was not driven by the same instincts as the other pups were, and thus he was initially uncertain on what to do. But in hearing the chorus of the pack, he couldn't help but to feel a thrill in his core. And because he believed, truly, that he was just as much a canine as everyone else - he followed that feeling in his heart as he, too, would throw back his head and begin to howl the best he could. The chorus hung long and beautifully haunting; echoing across the empty open space of the Shining Sea, carried upon the wind - and it likely would be heard by a good part of Ys as well by extension.

And as the howl slowly tapered off - and with that, eventually the lightshow as well - Aurien couldn't help but... Have a warm and serene smile, on his face. He felt... Almost fulfilled, in a sense.

He was going to be fine.

"Thank you, Haku," Aurien would say, as he snuggled up to his older brother - wrapping his flippers around Haku. "I... This has been amazing...!"

(Ruffian, meanwhile, would still be processing the fact that he tried to punch a digimon who probably could've KO'd him just by looking at him funny.)

At Haku's request to not tell anyone, Aurien would smile warmly, whispering to his older brother "Your secret's safe with us!" He'd mimic the motion with his own claw, and snicker gently.

"Pretty damn sure you could nuke us from orbit even if we tried, holy fuck." Is all that Ruffian would have to say to that, as well. He might be bullheaded, but he wasn't suicidal.

But in any case, with that, the group would soon head back into the city - ready to resume the festivities at hand. But even as this went on, it seemed that Haku would have more to say; this time regarding Aurien wanting to make everyone proud. The Gomamon would smile and chuckle at this - insisting to the fluffy Gaomon "Well, I know that you guys are all already proud of me... But I wanna make you guys even more proud! I want to be just as wonderful of a hero as you all are!"

"Yeah!" Ettie would giggle in agreement, her tail wagging happily as she smiled over to her packmates. "Let's all be heroes, together!" Whether or not she knew what being a hero meant, it was at least clear that her heart was in the right place.

"Being a hero sounds like hard work..." Princess mumbled, meanwhile, with a gentle yawn.

"But being a hero is also good for everyone!" Sirius added, giggling even as he echoed Princess' own yawn out of second nature.

But before long, there would come the mention of a Black Wanyamon - someone that Aurien would already know quite well. "Oh, right, Steyr!" He'd chirp, even if he tilted his head a little at the mention of Haku having 'doubts about that now.'

"... Steyr is running around as an In-Training...?" Anne would remark with a raised eyebrow.

"... Sounds dangerous." Adhara would murmur, with a hue of concern. Most digimon only set off on their own at Rookie stage for a reason, after all.

"Steyr's tough! He's just a late bloomer - and he's been able to take care of himself - although..." As Aurien spoke, he'd briefly trail off, musing out loud "Having to take care of himself must be pretty lonely for him, too... ... We will definitely keep an eye out for him, though!"

"Of course!" Aurien would agree, to Haku's request. "I'm sure Steyr would appreciate knowing that everyone else still thinks of him!" Whether or not this was true was hard to say - Aurien, however, was ever the optimist regardless. He was sure that Steyr would at least take comfort in knowing that everyone still thought of him as family!

With the mention of Rosewood, the pack would nod amongst each other - clearly noting it all down for future reference. They'd be more than happy to keep an eye out for Steyr, after all; and Rosewood was - at the very least - relatively familiar romping grounds for a majority of the pack.

However, then came the mention of the letters - something that was quite curious. Aurien in particular would pay attention to the differences in these letters - and seeing just how the penmanship in the second letter was a huge improvement, on top of Haku's own theory that Steyr had managed to digivolve, well... The Gomamon's eyes would light up happily. "All signs point to it, I'd say!" He'd chirp eagerly, grinning widely. "I can't wait to see what his Rookie form's like, when we head down to Rosewood to see him!"

"If he's another Gaomon, I'm going to riot." Ruffian stated with a groan - although despite the exasperation in his tone, it was clear that he was not entirely serious about this.

"I'm excited to meet him, too!" Ettie would agree, nonetheless, with a wag of he tail. "Maybe we should get him some souvenirs from the festival?"

"Oooh, yes, yes!" Duchess barked in agreement. "Look - there's a bunch more stalls, over there!"

"Let's go, then!" Sirius yipped, nearly tripping on his own paws as he set off at a run - prompting the pack to pick up the pace, to keep up with the excited little Plotmon-X.

Aurien, meanwhile, couldn't help but laugh happily at all of these shenanigans... He might've not been as much of a dog as the rest of the pack, but he already felt at home in this group - being friends with everyone here was going to be a blast..!