He had siblings. No, like, other siblings. Sure, he knew about Briar down in the Hallows. It had been a long time since he'd seen her, and he wasn't really sure he wanted to go back down there. They hadn't returned since mom... yeah. There were the ones that lived in the Armada, too. More than that, though. Dread knows there are others. Known, but not known. They are blood but they're strangers. In the name of changing that, making them not strangers, he turns to the south east.

It's a social call, that's all. Dread moves carefully over the ground, passing into a region he knows... less than well. It was a good test of his navigational skills too, actually. By the day, he was growing more confident, more competent. Even still, there were shades of something tugging at the back of his head. What Dread wouldn't realize until much, much later? All of it is unresolved trauma, unresolved grief. Things he never processed after losing a mother he barely got to know. Maybe there would be healing in seeking out his older siblings. He could hope, right?

As he nears Valta's border, he can't help but second guess himself. What if they were busy? What if none of them had time for him? The fear of rejection was building in his system, but Dread had come too far to back out now. Instead, the boy pushed on, finally making it to the boundary with the midday sun hanging high in the sky. He let go a call, a simple request. Would it be Kotori who answered, or maybe one of the others? Dread was hopeful.

"Dread Fatalis"

With Kotori off exploring alongside his girlfriend (Yeah, she was his girlfriend until one of them said otherwise) Aslatiel had taken the mantle as leader of Valta. An easy crown to wear for the woman that had once been Reaper and had raised her children alone in the wild. Little changed in her day to day routine. She still patrolled, still hunted, still made sure that everyone was safe and fed. The only real change was answering calls that might come at the border.

When the howl came, Aslatiel was quite nearby. The blonde and grey fae picked her way over the territory towards where the call still slightly echoed. Parting from the foliage, Asla's galactic gaze landed upon that of a young wolf. His coloring was familiar, and his scent let her know that he was one of her youngest siblings, but she couldn't quite place his name.

"Welcome to Valta," she spoke in friendly tones, a slight smile on her maw. Before he could say anything else, she motioned him over the border. "Family is welcome here. I am Aslatiel."

"Aslatiel Indarra"

It wasn't long until someone appeared, tracking towards Dread and to the border. As she came closer, and on into focus, the boy felt a squeeze in his chest. She looked a little like mom, or at least, what he could remember. He cursed his foggy, early memories for their lack of clarity. Hell, was that why he'd come? Because he was having questions of clarity? More, it was because he had questions about mom. Questions about dad too, probably. Maybe it was rose colored glasses that were slipping. Maybe he was learning to question his surviving parent, without questioning him.

At once, Dread doesn't know why he came in the first place.

He couldn't turn and run, he couldn't walk away. At the invitation, Dread stepped over the border, moving to meet his sister. Aslatiel was smiling, and he smiled back. "I'm Dread." He introduced himself, unsure what to say next. He'd come, but... well, he only kind of had a reason. "I felt weird having siblings I haven't met, so um. I hope it's okay that I wanted to come out and meet you." Dread tells about 75% of the truth in this statement. The parts about mom could wait. For now, he offered a sheepish smile to his older sister, hopeful that she would understand his interest. Dread is so incredibly hopeful.

"Dread Fatalis"

Dread, was the boys name. Her brother, yet he was younger than her own offspring. The boy seemed a little sheepish with his request and, as he drew closer, Asla gave him yet another smile and reached out to give his striped cheek a little nuzzle. "You never even have to ask, Dread. You're always welcome here. Any time, day or night. You show up and you'll be home, okay?"

Aslatiel knew what it was like to be without a mother. Zee hadn't exactly been a permanent fixture in her life and now she was gone completely. That didn't mean that she hadn't loved her mother, she just didn't have the connection with her that say... Asla had with Satira. She imagined it felt kind of the same for Dread and so she would make the boy feel wanted and welcome if she could, because he was.

"Come with me," the fae gave a pull of her head. She led the young man through Valta territory and towards a rise that looked out over the rapids. Asla liked this spot, and so she had some nice, thick furs and cushions situated beneath a protective stone awning. The blonde and grey woman lay on one of the cushions, bunching it up against her chest between her forelegs. "How are you, Dread? How are the rest of our siblings?" A decent enough way to start a conversation.

"Aslatiel Indarra"