It was a surprise. It was one that the small girl had worked very hard on completing too. She wouldn't let anyone else help her. Well... aside from advice. Aslatiel had grilled her aunt Iolaire on one particular subject and the woman had gladly explained the mechanics behind her project. She'd even had her aunt come and look over the finished product. Much to Asla's relief, Aunt Io approved of her surprise. Now it was time to show it to her beloved brother.

"Follow me, Indy. Keep hold of my tail and keep your eyes shut, okay?" The girl was giddy with excitement. In fact, it was the most excited she'd been since before the falling out with their father. Asla was a little sullen these days. More serious. But not today. Nooo sir. Today, she was brimming with excitement. "Are your eyes still shut?" She asked, glancing over her shoulder. The girl walked slow so that her brother wouldn't trip. The trek wasn't long at all. They were just going right outside of the den, pretty much.

The child stopped and gave a light tug, letting her brother know that he could let go of her tail. "Ready?" She asked, a little bounce in her legs that she just couldn't contain. "Okay... Open!"

Before them would lay a small section of turned earth. She had tried her hardest to make the section completely square, but it it may have come out as more of a diamond shape. The edges were lines with stacks of long poles that would not only mare the boundaries but would help to deter creatures that might enter the space. Aslatiel had built her brother a garden of his own. It wasn't much, but it was all his. A garden built with love.

The young purple striped boy didn’t know what to expect from his sister’s surprise, the last time they got together for the beachside feast had been marvelous. Aslatiel was full of surprises and Indigo loved her for it. She was so talented, he envied her abilities but was proud of her. He followed her without question, his dark lips taking hold of her sandy tail as she led him onward. Sapphire eyes remained closed as he smiled and marched on behind his sister.

”Yesh.” He answered, tail in his jaws as they continued forward shortly. Their trip was much shorter than he expected but he released Asla’s tail as the two of them stopped, but held his eyes shut until she gave him the countdown. ”Okay, open!” Brilliant blue eyes popped open to take in the much anticipated surprise.

The most perfect garden the young boy had ever seen was spread out before them. Indigo felt his heart soar at the sight, his emotions heightened the pup felt tears of joy spring to his eyes. He was struck speechless but his indigo tail wagged at sonic speeds and betrayed just how excited he was. This was his very own garden, gifted by his dearest sibling. ”Asla…” He whispered, unable to come up with anything but her name or tear his eyes from the spot. This was the best day of his life.

Every ounce of hard work had been worth it just to see the expression on his face. Tears filled her brothers eyes and Asla could only sit back and smile. The girl took a step back, leaving Indigo a moment alone with his garden. It was his and no one elses, she had made sure of that. Their mother had approved her plan. This piece of land belonged to Indigo.

After a moment, the girl chose to speak. "Aunt Io may have helped a little. She said that you can come and get whatever plants you want from her. She'll teach you how to keep them safe." Another part of her plan. She made sure that her beloved sibling would have anything that he wished to grow at his paw tips. Asla beamed internally. She really was a good sister, wasn't she?

Indigo was brought back to the present as Aslatiel spoke about their aunty’s help and how she wanted to give him plants to fill his garden with. He turned his brilliant gaze back onto his sister as his dark lips pulled back into a grin. With one swift movement the big puppy wrapped the small girl in his arms and squeezed her tight. He didn’t think that he could ever truly show her how grateful he was, or how much he appreciated her amazing gift.

”I wish I could give you the stars in return.” He told her as he held her tightly to his chest, tail wagging behind him as he tried to express his gratitude. ”I love it.” He couldn’t help the excited yips and whines that left him as he released his tiny sister and bound closer to the garden. He inspected the barriers and took in deep breaths of the smell of fresh earth. It was beyond his wildest dreams, and it was even more special because Asla made it for him.

She hadn't been expecting him to scoop her up, but with their difference in size, it was easy. Aslatiel released a soft 'eep' as her brother grabbed her and pulled her in for an embrace. The girl laughed softly and wrapped her arms about him in return. Knowing how happy he was... she wanted him to always be this happy. She wanted all of them to always be happy.

Indy said that he wished he could give her the stars and Aslatiel's face grew serious, though he wouldn't see it due to their close embrace. "You're my star, Indy. I'm happy with that." She squeezed him more tightly, this brother with whom she had such a deep bond. They had been together before 'they' even existed, she felt. It would always be that way.

Aslatiel let him wrap her up in his embrace and she returned it with her arms around his thickly furred neck. She giggled and laughed with him and joy bloomed in his chest. Knowing his sister cared so much for him that she went as far as to create this gift for him. The boy knew their bond was strong as it had formed even in the womb. She squeezed him tighter as he offered to give her the stars, but her words assured him that he was her star. The weight of the sentiment wasn’t lost on the violet puppy. He knew what the stars meant to his sister, and knowing that she thought of him as one.. She made his heart swell with joy.

”I’ll be the best star ever.” He assured her, holding her tight. Maybe she wouldn’t need his protection as they grew up, but he would always be here for her. Even as a young puppy he could understand how much he cared about her. He was going to grow a thousand flowers to give to her.

The affection between the pair was overwhelming. Aslatiel couldn't express just how much she loved Indigo. Their bond would forever be unbreakable. Pulling back, the girl kissed him square on the lips, just like she'd seen mom to do dad. They loved each other, right? That's what wolves who loved each other did, she believed.

Pulling away from her sibling, cheeks warm, the girl moved towards the dirt diamond that she'd dug. "I'm sure you'll be able to grow all kinds of things, Indy. I can't wait to see what you can do." The girls stripey tail wagged happily behind her. She had the idea to find plants for him when she got older. Maybe they would bring back plants from wherever they traveled to. It was a nice thought.

Indigo adored all of his family but his tiny sister would forever hold a special place in his heart for as long as they lived. She was sweet and he felt complete from her affection and her presence. Suddenly her lips were on his, and though he was a little surprised he liked the affection. He too had seen their parents share similar affections and Indigo found nothing wrong with it. The boy grinned even as she pulled away and brought their attention back to her incredible gift.

Bright blue eyes returned to the upturned earth and he grinned. Aslatiel assured him that he would one day have an incredible garden. Even if he had his insecurities they were hard to embrace when she was beside him encouraging his passion. He too could already see the pair of them exploring everywhere and bringing back all kinds of plants to his gardens. This wouldn’t be the only one, one day he’d have sprawling gardens with all kinds of plants.

”Me too,” He chuckled as he put one huge black paw to the earth that Asla had so carefully upturned for him. ”When we’re big we’re gonna go all over and find new plants.” He told her confidently, sure that the two of them would have endless adventures together.

Indy's declaration brought a grin to the girls face. "Oh? Are you going to travel all over with me and be my big, tough bodyguard?" She chuckled and watched as he touched the black earth gently and with great care. "I doubt mom and dad would let me leave otherwise." Asla wasn't going to be some shrinking violet. She would be small, but she would be tough. Like a little flowering cactus full of spines. Still, she wouldn't mind having Indy by her side.

"You'd better think about what kind of plants you want. Aunt Io helped me with this. She knows you'll be coming." She was so grateful for the help from her aunt. She insisted on doing the labor alone, but gods, had she needed advice.

She grinned and chuckled heartily as he told her that the two of them were going to travel the world and find all of the different plants. He still had every intention of finding the end of the world with her, but they’d collect nice flowers on the way. ”I will if you want,” he started, nudging her neck affectionately as they looked down into the dirt that was his garden. ”I’d rather we were each other’s body guards. Like partners.” He wanted to be equal to his sister, not some looming monster beside her. However much he did want to be beside her.

Iolaire was ready and waiting for him, likely he would see her the next time he went to her garden. He wasn’t very good at asking for help, but it would be worth it. Indigo wanted a beautiful garden just like his aunts. With all kinds of flowers and trees. ”Aunty Io is so nice.” He commented, even if he was still wary about asking for help. The last thing he wanted was to be a burden on anyone. Especially their lovely aunt.

The girl blinked at her brother. Partners? He was the first of the three that had the mind to work with her rather than guard her. It made her love him all the more. "Partners it is." The small girl agreed with a beaming smile. Seating herself, she leaned against the big purple boy, looking at the section of turned earth. It didn't look like much now, but she was sure that he would make it beautiful.

Indy commented on their aunt being nice and Asla agreed. "She really is, but she looks so sad sometimes when she sees us." The girl didn't know about her aunts issues, but she didn't like that she was sad. "Maybe we could get her a present or something." It was a thought, though she didn't know what to possibly get for her.

She seemed kind of taken aback at his suggestion, but after only a moment of thought she didn’t hesitate to agree. Partners were the best. He leaned against her only slightly as her weight was pressed against him and they talked about Iolaire. Now that Asla said something he did notice that of all the wolves in his life she seemed to look the saddest. Oddly Mortis seemed to have the same look about him these days.

”I think she would like that.” He loved his present from Aslatiel, and his mother had loved his gift of a bouquet. What could they possibly get for their aunt Iolaire? ”What would we get for her?” He didn’t think that there was a plant she didn’t have. ”Maybe we could do some work. Offer to help weed the garden or something.” He suggested, as usual, doubting himself right after the words left his lips.

The pair of children sat beside one another, each leaning on the other. Asla closed her eyes, filing the moment away in her box of happy childhood memories. Reaching up, she again kissed the side of Indy's muzzle. "We can weed Aunt Io's garden, but you'll have to show me what a weed looks like." Aside from the obvious differences, all plants looked the same to Aslatiel. They were green and grew from the ground. A lot of them didn't look useful at all, but she was probably wrong. It wouldn't do to go ripping out things that weren't supposed to be ripped out. "You just say the word and we'll surprise her, okay?"

Asla was content to simply let the moment continue for as long as Indigo would hold still. She reveled in their relationship. The equality that Indigo wanted between them was touching and thoughtful. It bred such a fierce loyalty in the girl. There was nothing that she wouldn't do for him.

-end-