?Do you like it??

Scarlet bit the corner and munched for a while, focusing on the new tastes melting together. Nate knew the food was all of the best quality, so he wasn't too worried about the pups not finding something to their liking.

?I don't like this,? Scarlet decided in the end, giving him back the sandwich.

?You don't?? he murmured. ?How is that possible??

Tuna and mayonnaise was one of his favourite combinations.

?Here, ham and cheese,? he sighed. ?You tasteless pup.?

?This is better,? Scarlet commented, focusing on the food and forgetting to make trouble.

Nate observed her famished expression, wondering if pups were supposed to be that much hungry. He had lost count of how many doughnuts she had for breakfast, and she was going to eat just as many sandwiches for lunch.

Yet, he was sure she didn't eat so much when Lara was preparing or buying the food.

At least, Scarlet didn't eat meat only. Both the twins were skinny, and they needed to grow up and reach the height and weight of the other wolf children their age.

?This is another type of ham,? he continued, trying to grasp what the little girl liked.

He finished the tuna sandwich Scarlet gave back to him. It would have been a waste to throw it away, and, also, he didn't know where to keep it while the little one ate.

She had stopped asking for directions, and she had food in both hands. She would try different sandwiches, putting back those she didn't like.

In the end, Nate couldn't help but take those out. But then again, there was no place where to store them. In the end, he finished everything the little girl left.

Meanwhile, on the other deck chair, Lara and Jaden were eating their portions. They weren't as messy, and they didn't leave things on the side.

?I like the sea, mommy,? the little boy said. ?I can learn to swim, and it's warm all the time.?

?Is it? Doesn't the water feel cold??

?Just at the beginning. Do you want to come to swim with me later??

?After we're done eating and digesting. You can't bathe before some time passes, you know? It's not healthy soon after lunch.?

?Oh,? he moaned. ?Why not??

?Because your stomach might hurt. We will rest before returning to the sea.?historical

?Do you like the sea, mommy??

?I do.?

?But you spent the whole time here!?

?It's part of the charm of a beach, Jaden. Lying under an umbrella and reading light books.?

?I also want to read.?

?Do you??

?Yes, mommy. Can you teach me??

Lara flinched, surprised. She rubbed the cub's hair, wondering how to teach him the letters. Wasn't he supposed to learn that at school?

Oh, she was planning to teach the twins herself since they couldn't attend elementary school until they learned to control. But Jaden's sudden request made her wonder if she had been paying too little attention to him.

?Let's see...? she mumbled, not knowing where to start.

Usually, her instincts could help her teach her cubs what they needed as they needed it. It was the first time Jaden asked her something like that.

?Uhm... This letter,? she tried, showing him the cover of the book. ?It's a T.?

?A letter?? Jaden repeated, observing a sign. ?What does it mean??

?It's just a sign. We use letters to write.?

?But how do I read it??

?T.?

?Tee??

Nate had just finished dealing with Scarlet, and he caught a little of their dialogue. Still sitting in his corner under the sun, he started to put away the empty plates in the box.

?You use many letters to form a single word,? Nate said. ?T alone doesn't mean anything, but if you add other letters, you can have a word. For example, with R and two Es, you can write the word tree.?

?Oh,? the little one replied, still confused.

?I'll show you how to write your name,? Nate tried, narrowing his eyes. What would that pup want to learn writing for? Oh, it was obvious. ?And your mother's name.?

?I want to learn to write mommy as well!? Scarlet joined the conversation with her arms up in the air. She sat on the deckchair, looking directly at Nate as if he had all the answers.

?You can't learn all the letters together. But let's start with your initials.?

?What is an initial??

?The first letter of your name. Ah, wait... Let's start with your mother's initial. That one isn't all that hard.?

He smoothed the sand with his foot and then wrote an L with his index finger.

?This is L for Lara.?

?Oh,? the pups hummed, both amazed.

?You can write it in two ways. Like this and... this.? He wrote both versions, capital and small letters. ?What do you think about looking for all the Ls in that book? Will that help you learn it faster??

They nodded, pointing at the letter on the cover.

?That's an I,? Nate pointed out.

?It's the same!? Scarlet protested.

?At the beginning, it is. But you'll soon learn how to differentiate them. Don't worry.?

The pups lay down on the chair, one next to the other, pushing him even farther under the sun. His shoulders were pleasantly caressed by the sun warming his old bones.

The pups were analysing one page each, pointing at the letters which reminded them of an L. They soon learned how to differentiate it from the other letters, and they giggled, all happy when they realised they would soon be able to read their mommy's name.

Nate, on the other hand, was surprised by how fast they could catch on to his explanations. Their minds were just as young and active as their bodies. They were fast learners, and they could do things other kids wouldn't ever think of. Most of it had the goal to keep their mommy for themselves, but it was still commendable how his pups were smart and focused.

They did take a lot after him.