I have my mother's dreams, I have father's eyes, Alfred hadn’t talked to Heather since that day at Razor’s grave… but he felt… a bit better since then. Sure it had been wrong of him to assume that she wouldn’t know how deep his bond with Razor went, but it was nice that she recognized it. Recognized how hurt he’d been because of his passing. It didn’t make losing Razor any easier. But Alfred was slowly coming around. Slowly accepting the fact that he was alive and Razor was gone… Razor wouldn’t want him to weep like this. Gods knew that… The brute was grateful for Koron too. Without her he’d have surely lost himself completely… Alfred was laying outside of his den, ears perked forward as he soaked in the warm spring sun. The snow was melting, thank goodness… and Koron was shedding her winter coat. The small fox had curled up next to him, dozing in the sunlight, but Alfred couldn’t sleep. He’d been near Fiori’s borders lately and could smell a new pack there… a pack that, from what he could tell, his sister was a part of. Did Heather know? Did Lionel know? He frowned, opening his bright blue eyes. Something had to change. He got to his paws, careful not to disturb Koron as he started off through the Mangroves. He wanted to find his sister… He was sure if he talked to her again, maybe, just maybe, he’d feel a little better than last time. He could tell she wanted him here… didn’t want to lose him… and Alfie respected that. Sure their relationship was strained… but he didn’t blame her. He could only just wonder where she was though... "Talk," 'Think.' You can't take that from me; Just Go ahead And try!

Heather was admittedly not to happy about the borders and how they were. That... scent, sitting right under her nose taunting the new queen in her entirety. However, it was her sister. Heather couldn't exactly protest to Ganta moving to unclaimed lands, as long as he didn't touch the hot spring though things were just fine. Father had a good relationship with the male but he'd stolen Roza away Heather didn't exactly see that as a good thing. As her paws moved her ears flicked as she spotted Alfred. A smile across her face - it was good to see her brother out and about. "Alfie! It's good to see you!" Heather greeted as she came up right to him. She knew that he'd been depressed over Razor's death, and after all only time healed wounds such as that one. Her opinon on the matter may have been different but she didn't care. His well being was important to her. "How are you feeling? Happy birthday." She grinned at him. "Talk"

Alfred managed a small smile as his sister came up to him. His tail gave a few wags, his blue eyes softened a little and the male answered as honestly as he could. “It’s good to see you too, Heather.” He slowly shifted into a sitting position, determined to hold a better conversation with her than the last one. “Happy birthday to you too. I’ve been doing a little better… I… I actually wanted to thank you. For recognizing that Razor was my mate… for seeing it.” Alfred closed his eyes.

“I still miss Razor a lot… but… I think I’m starting to feel a little better. Just knowing that someone saw us as we were… It makes me feel happy. Like it wasn’t just some dream that passed me by… it was real.” Alfred opened his eyes again, his gaze a little brighter. “Heather… I want to be able to do more for our pack.” Alfred went on to say.

“I know I’ve got limits because of my anxiety and all… but I want to try overcoming that. What if one of us was in danger and I had to fight someone I didn’t know?” The brute frowned a little then. “I want to be stronger… I want to be more like you and Lionel… but… I don’t know how. Will you teach me, Heather?”

"Speech"

She studied her brother for a bit, the end of her tail twitching. She wondered if she really could share her thoughts with Alfie. Of course their relationship had been strained for some time, perhaps because both had something wrong with them. As her blue eyes mirrored his own she gave a sigh. "I'm sorry about Razor Alfred, really I am..... at the moment he would have been an asset to the pack. We don't have many young members and I want to start filling out the higher ranks." she looked off to the side. He may have only been a scholar - but she knew for a brief moment that he was a good man. Heather looked at Alfred again then, "I could... try? I've never been much of a teacher, but the pack needs you Alfie. I... need you." she made that clear as she stood up. She aimed to lean forward to press her nose against his shoulder. If he allowed at least - the bond with her siblings was once that couldn't be broken. That since she was unaware of what she did to Roza recently. "Talk"

Alfred gave a nod as Heather spoke on, his gaze taking on a softer look. “He taught me a little… not much, but he talked to me about the Snowlit religion once and some herbs.” Alfred spoke of the memories fondly, giving his sister a gently nudge on her cheek with his nose. He was reaching out, certainly more than he ever had with his family. As Heather leaned in to press her nose to his shoulder Alfred closed his eyes, speaking on.

“...maybe… I’m thinking the wrong way, Heather.” Alfie continued. “Being strong… it doesn’t just mean physically, right?” He smiled a little, a sad one, but a smile still as he pulled back. “I’ve been thinking a lot, you know? Not just about Razor, but about him at the same time. Maybe… Maybe I’m not really a fighter. Maybe I can be useful in other areas of the pack. Hunting… healing.” Though as he said the second suggestion his heart clenched a little.

“I know I won’t be able to save every life… but if I don’t try, and start learning, how will I save any?” The brute thought. If he had known more… could he have helped Razor live a little longer? Was this how his aunt Amalia felt every time someone was lost, or got sick in a way she couldn’t help? “I… I just want to be useful to you guys… to our family. It’s time to shake off the cobwebs and move forward, yeah?” He was trying at least.


"Speech"

Heather wished Razor had been around to teach all of them a little longer. She hadn't known him well, but obversing him and his family.... well it was something she wished she'd paid closer attention to. Perhaps somewhere in the back of her mind she wanted to ask Jackson about how her aunt was like, what it was like growing up with her. A religon though, Heather had never thought Razor to be the religious type. She in a way was not, too focused on the here and now to be concerned. "You find strength in different ways. Whether it's healing, information or just being moral support." Heather said outloud in all honesty. When he finished talking Heather's ears did pull back. They were missing their lead healer, when they needed her most. Wolves were getting older and Heather knew that Fiori needed their youth to step up. In which case she and her siblings were just that. "We do... need healers." she looked off to the side. "I haven't seen aunt amalia in some time, and from what I know neither has her family. So alfred you becoming a healer that would be... an asset the pack really needs." she raised her ears. "I know Fiori isn't in any immidiate danger but many of our members are getting older. Dad's retiring, and Athena has stepped down from her position as knight. Nobody in the pack is having pups right now, and we only have one yearling so I've been wanting to try and do some recruiting as well as trying to find ways to get the pack more involved in themselves. Quiet doesn't always equal peace." Heather willingly shared these thoughts with Alfred. "Talk"

Find strength in different ways, Alfred thought. Even if he didn't become some fancy high rank it was obvious that ever wolf in their pack was needed. But there was no denying that they needed healers. Alfie hadn't been oblivious to the fact Amalia was missing... And truthfully it worried him. Even if he was to start learning he'd need to have to cover a lot of topics in a little bit of time. Fiori had it's fair share of older folks including their father. A fact Heather pointed out herself.

"Truth be told, Heather I think we need to worry less about recruiting more wolves right now and more about stirring some life into the pack. It's so quiet... Though Aunt Amalia is not the only one to have gone missing. I know Vitus, Diana, and Jayne have been gone a while... Brighton and Quelt's other kids too, save for Bluemoon." Alfred furrowed his brows. They definitely had to try and do something! "I... I'm going to see about gathering some others for a hunt later if you'd be interested." He offered a small yet genuine smile this time. "After Koron chews my ankles for leaving her behind haha." He pressed his nose to Heather's cheek before drawing back.

"I'm glad you were the princess... And now our Queen." His blue gaze softened, as if a gentle, healing wave had washed over him. Maybe all he'd needed to begin healing was to find his purpose... And what greater one was there than helping breathe life back into Fiori?

"It still doesn't change the fact majority of our members are six years and older. How long do you think their bodies will keep up with them." Her ears flicked. No they had members, but majority of them were older. They got tired faster, and were prone to more injuries in fights. Couldn't get her wrong, athena and the rest were excellent fighters. Yet what if the day came when they bit off more than they could chew because their bones weren't as strong as they thought they were. "I've already arranged to speak to Jackson about that. Hopefully this birthday celebration brings a bit of justice to our lives." she laughed. "Alright Alfie take care, consider yourself a healer of the pack now" Heather said happy to wrap up the conversation really. She didn't like talking about the pack's weaknesses too much. Then again perhaps it was because she also felt like she was underminding them all. Regardless she'd keep this to herself, as she turned and continued on her way. "Talk"