It had been a little while since she had seen Rhythm, mostly because her mother had found out she had been going and the fight that had erupted from that was a massive one. It was still a sore subject for both wolves involved. They where both headstrong and determined they where right in this, without knowing it she was very much her mothers daughter. Despite her fire, she followed her mothers will to the letter, giving the other woman no other reason to fault her for seeing her Auntie. She turned to her dad, the calmer side in all of this, to escort her to the border. Actually, she had no one else to ask. Neither Bass nor Motif wanted anything to do with Rhythm or the Imperium pack of the moment. She made it to imperium, kissed her dad on the nose, howled to Valentine to let him know she was passing through, and made her way across the scent border. The Alpha had given her this permission, to let him know she was here but otherwise she was free to cross. It wasn't till she was on the other side that she howled to Rhythm. She was a little nervous, she hadn't seen Rhy for a little while, and all the arguments and fights she had been in with her mother played strongly on her mind. "Speech"

She missed her niece, she missed her whole family, but her sister's young daughter the most. When she heard the call of the girl Rhythm wouldn't help but to race to her side. She'd seen Chord recently as well and having some of her family with her made her heart swell. To long had passed since she'd felt Shaye's fur against her and she still hoped desperately that their family might be reconciled someday soon. Rhythm's chocolate legs would carry her from the boulder she had been lounging on. Earlier in the day she'd helped Revenge gather some herbs and she was preparing to take a nap. However knowing Shaye was here would prevent her sleep for at least the whole rest of the day. She was eager to meet up with the darker child and her paws would rush her to her niece's side. Her grin would spread over her dark lips as she only slowed when she was close enough to fold Shaye into her embrace. " Shaye! I've missed you!" She'd whisper into the dark fur of her scruff. So much. She could smell Motif and Bass on her fur and before Rhythm knew it she was bawling at her niece's feet. Sliding down into the grass as she was again reminded of their separation. " Speech"

Rhythm would race quickly to her side, and Shaye would move forward to greet her Auntie, but before she knew it the older wolf was sliding down to the grass, crying at the smaller wolf's feet. Shaye paused, and just looked on in suprise for a moment, before frowning and bending down to nudge Rhythm. “This is so silly, everyone's all upset all the time, I wish they would just hug and get over it” Shaye sighed, very softly and almost to herself but no doubt Rhy could hear it. The pup sat down on the grass and put her head gently over Rhythm's, feeling the movement of the crying wolf, the shaking of her panting breath and the beating of her heart. She sighed, and drew her in close. She had learnt in these last few months that crying didn't only happen when someone stubbed their toe, it happened when they hurt on the inside too, which was how Rhythm was feeling now. It wasn't until recently that Shaye actually got a taste of inside pain, and it left a bitter taste in her mouth to remember it. “Rhy, Mummy's really upset too. She found out I was coming here and she got really mad, and sad, and I think I understand a little better. She misses you very very much, and she's got too much pride all inside to say it and dosen't know how to fix it, and I don't know how to either because so much of mummy is pride, and it means she gets angry when it comes to things that upset her. I wish I could make this all better Rhy.” she said with a soft sigh, flopping all her weight against Rhy's shoulder. " Speech"

She certainly had not meant to suddenly become so emotional, but for a time she'd been able to almost ignore how much it still hurt that the gap was still there, the rift that was torn into their family. Shaye didn't know how much Rhythm agreed with her. She didn't care about anything that was said, just so long as they could again be together. She wasn't meant to be apart from them for this long. "Me too Shaye." Rhythm would whisper as the girl drew more near to her. She'd sigh softly into her niece's fur, she was getting so big! Physically and mentally. Obviously all of this had affected the girl, maybe it wasn't so completely obvious at first but she'd done a lot more growing after recent events. It wasn't long before Rhythm saw this growth, it's presence visible in her words. There was a lot to take in, but it was obvious that Shaye was convinced Motif still loved her. "I don't know how to fix it either, but I wish I could make it all better too." Rhythm had stopped crying by now, but her emotions were still obvious. She'd sigh again, "We can't do much now though," She'd nuzzle into the girls fur, "We should do something fun." She didn't want to think about the gap in their family right now, she just wanted to enjoy her niece. ""

Rhythm was in agreement with her, and Shaye sighed softly. She wished with all her heart for old times, when Rhythm was in Abaven, and everyone was happy, and she didn't know that you cried for more reasons then stubbing your toe. She didn't like that Rhythm was so far away, that her own Mother had become a train wreck, and that she hadn't seen much of her dad – he had been a fairly quite presence in her life of late. She was lonely all the time and didn't have anyone to talk to. She wanted to talk to Rhythm, but she was sad too and she didn't want to add any more burdens to the woman's shoulder. Rhythm would admit that she didn't know how to fix it, and Shaye's own blank expression had a bitter edge to it – she was started to think that was un-fixable, that this was her life now, torn in two, where the little girl didn't belong anywhere. Maybe that didn't matter, she would be an adult soon, then her life would be her own, maybe she would be able to find new places and people to love, like Rhythm had. Rhy mentioned doing something fun, but Shaye really didn't feel like the doing one of the simple, silly things they often did. She didn't want to hunt for crabs or play in the grass, she wasn't really sure at all why she had come, it turned out to be just as sad here as it was at home, and she wasn't sure how to talk to Rhythm about what was going through her mind, or if she even should. However, no doubt Rhythm needed the distraction, and she would not deny her that. “Yeah.. Okay” she agreed. " Speech"

Rhythm would watch her niece with wide eyes, watching the change of her emotions as the girl answered all she could. She didn't spend near as much time with her favorite niece but Rhythm could still tell that wasn't all that Shaye had wanted to say, even though she would almost begrudgingly agree to her offer of play. Her heart would hurt knowing how much all of this was effecting Shaye. She'd never meant for any of this to happen. She'd never asked to be banished from the pack she held so dear either. If Bass had just been angry and yelled at her it would have been different. He never had to escalate to her never returning home. Really it was only a matter of time before she found her way here anyway, not that she had really had any idea of that before she'd been drug back to imperium. She would try not to give up hope that she would be reunited with those she'd lost that terrible night. Rhythm's stare would try to find Shaye's bright blue eyes, the girl's orbs matching almost perfectly. She would smile slightly, the corners of her lips upturned slightly but they also held a more serious note. "Shaye," she'd sigh softly, "I'm sorry all of this happened this way. I never wanted to hurt anyone." her, rather small in the scheme of things, decision had cost her what she valued the most. Her soft whisper made obvious the guilt she still felt, but the frustration that she could do nothing to right the wrong. She'd shake her head slightly, returning her focus on the girl, her voice louder with a small amount of added confidence. "You're getting older now, I'm sure you don't want to go salsa.. salamander hunting with me. Do you want to go prairie dog hunting, or maybe chase around some buffalo?" " Speech"

Shaye huffed, knowing she was holding onto this unhappiness inside of her. It was a strange feeling, and an unpleasant one, so with a deep breath, she sighed and let it go, so she could smile up at Rhy, playfully batting the other with her paw. “I know RhyRhy” she said lovingly to the older girl. She found a bit of her old energy and pranced about Rhy as the other girl offered up a few suggestions. “Ohh.. whats a buffalo! Lets chase them!” she called excitedly, giggling at the idea of chasing around some creatures. She knew the word 'buffalo' after all that's what this land was called, but she hadn't actually seen the creatures before. She paused in her excitement to tilt her head and look up at Rhy. “Hey Auntie, can I ask a favor?” she asked, a little bit hesitantly. “I'm suppose to choose a rank in Abaven, and I wanna be a healer.. like you are.. if I do.. would you teach me?” she asked. " Speech"

She felt a relief in the playfulness of her niece, finding her own smile turning up at the innocence of the girl. She knew that Rhythm never meant any harm, and she'd even show a bit of her free spirit, her lithe body moving to prance around her chocolate aunt. Rhythm would feel her joy returning, the she wolf forgetting the rift in their family for a while as she listed off potential activities. So she wanted to see some buffalo? It figured that she'd choose the most dangerous of the activities to try out. Maybe she'd change her mind once she saw the huge beasts. Either way the day was going to be rather interesting. She was getting ready to head off, her form lifting from the ground. Shaye had another surprise up her sleeve though. Rhythm's ears would perk at the words, she was hesitant about her question but Rhy would give her ll the focus she could muster. Rhythm almost started crying again as the girl said it. She wanted to be a healer? Like herself? A grin would break out instead. "Of course, Shaye! I'd be happy to, but I'm no expert so you'll have to keep learning with me, huh?" She'd lean forward to nuzzle her niece. "Alright, ready for the buffalo?" " Speech"

Her aunt would gladly agree to teach her, and shaye did a little happy dance at that. Perhaps after they had chased some buffalo rhy could show her some herbs and healing. If shaye had known then what buffalo where she might also haave thought that perhaps after the buffalo rhy could teach her by mending any damage they did to themselves in their game...

After the easy agreement, rhy would indicate that they should bead off and the little girl would nod her acceptance and move quickly after her aunt, following in her aunts steps as exactly as she could, despite the largera woman's longer stride. Actually, in truth, somewhere along the way rhythm had shrunk and it wasn't too hard to match her own footprints with Rhys. In fact, in a squishy bit of mud she even measured her own paw print and was suprised too see so little difference between the two of them she would have to ask rhy about her shrinking some time, but first! She was going to enjoy this game and learn was buffalo where. In fact, rhythm was constantly intrudiucing her to new animals and showing how they could be used in games, it was exciting!

As they reached the buffalo, shaye would pull up short and stare with wide eyed suprise at the animal's. She was starting to feel short all over again... "Oh wow, so.. how do we make them move to chase them" she wondered allowed. Either too stubborn or nieve to feel anything but excitement for this upcoming game.

They really might have been learning by patching each other up after this little escapade. She had thought it might have been a good idea when she said it but as Shaye became more eager the 'good' part about it just kept getting more dangerous. Shaye was eager though, and as she set off the girl would easily fall in behind her. The pair were very close to being the same size now, Her niece had grown so quickly since she'd been born. Rhythm would try to shake the thought, Shaye was just growing up too fast, it really made her hurt for the other children she had helped deliver in Abaven. She wouldn't get to focus very long, the sight of the massive buffalo over the next knoll would distract the both of them. The younger Destruction girl would stop suddenly, obviously in awe of the giant creatures. Even though they were very dangerous Rhythm couldn't help but smile at her reaction. "Oh wow," Rhythm would chuckle slightly. Yeah, wow. There were only three of them, but they were still pretty big. Seemed like two cows and a young heifer. "We have to be, very careful." She would emphasize her point. "They're pretty skittish though, they know wolves can hurt them. They will more likely run than fight, since they don't have any small babies." She'd look at them a bit closer, as well as the land around them. "They tire out somewhat easily, and if you run at top speed for a while they wont really go after you for long." She'd look at her niece, was she really ready for this? " Speech"

The buffalo where bigger even then Shai, and that was saying something – he was the biggest wolf she knew! They where so fluffy with big thick coats, and long curved horns that hung heavily against their head. She whistled softly at the sight of them, wondering how their poor heads felt carrying around the massive bones all their lives. She caught the face of one, and immediately thought they looked ugly with a perpetual scowl drawn into their expressions. There where only three, but still, between the three of them she thought they could easily make a meal out of her and Rhythm... Rhythm started speaking, laying out what to do, about being careful, how to approach them – what they would likely do, and what to do if they went after her. She gulped, really coming to terms that this could end badly, but some rebellious streak started rearing up inside of her, and as she looked at Rhy there was excitement in her eyes. “Alright. So.. the key is to give them a fright?' she asked. " Speech"