The days were getting colder as much as they were getting shorter. Indigo wasn’t sure that he was very happy about the change in the weather. Already he was seeing the differences in the plants around the territory but more so with his own little garden. The new growth he had been observing had slowed to a crawl if it hadn’t stopped all together. He was a little worried, and knew that soon he would need to talk to his aunty about the next steps. Indigo was dreading the winter already. He didn’t know what to expect but already he didn’t like the unknown season.

The day was sunny, but there was a sharp chill in the air and as the sun descended below the horizon it became downright cold. Indigo’s thick fur protected him from the majority of the frigidity as he made his way back to the home den to sleep for the night. His huge puppy paws carried him inside to his pile of furs. Dad would be back soon with dinner, and he was sure his siblings would follow quickly behind him.

Indy made himself comfortable even if it was cold in the den. He needed to have aunty Io teach him how to make a fire.

Aslatiel had been spending a lot of time apart from her family. She was becoming a bit of a recluse. Now that she had her own den, her own space, she often threw herself so hard into her map making that she fell asleep on said maps. Each pass over of the map was getting better and better. With the colors and tools that her parents had procured for her, she was slowly turning her new space into a little galaxy.

It was the cold that woke her. A shudder ran through the small wolf and she woke to see the mist of her breath in the air. It was the coldest night of autumn yet. With a frown and a shiver, she put her things away, rolled the skin that she had been working on, and crept to the main den. Just her luck, Indigo had just entered the den as well. Shivers were creeping through the young pup and, without wasting any time, she sidled up to her giant brother and buried herself in his fur.

"When did it get so cold?" Still shivering, Asla pressed her cold nose into the thicker fur of Indy's chest. She pressed as much of her body against his as she could manage, sapping his warmth, but hopefully sharing some in return. It was nice to be near him. The striped girl loved being as close to Indigo as possible. Of her three siblings, he was the easiest to touch and she enjoyed doing so. Peeling her face from his chest for a moment, Asla placed a soft kiss on her brother's maw. She had missed him.

He made himself comfortable, his mind easily shifting to his tiny sister. Indigo missed her presence in the family’s main den, but he hadn’t gathered up the courage to ask her if he could join her in her map den. She hadn’t invited him and it made him wonder if she didn’t want him there. After seeing Azure’s outburst the boy wasn’t sure if he was as welcome in his sibling’s presence anymore. Indy still loved all of them dearly, and wanted them to get along, but his faith in that future had faltered as they four of them grew more distant.

Indigo was about to close his eyes for a quick nap when another presence entered the den. The gangly boy visibly brightened as his sister made a beeline for the space beside him. He shifted his bigger body to better accommodate her presence as she clung to his side and stole away his warmth. The corners of his dark lips pulled up into a smile and he lay his massive head over her neck to further warm her.

”I don’t know. I don’t like it.” He admitted grumpily, as he curled more tightly around his tiny striped sister. He grinned more broadly as she offered an affectionate kiss on his muzzle. ”I’ve missed you,” he admitted softly as he wrapped his hefty arms around her.

Indigo wrapped himself around her as though nothing had ever happened between them. First he admitted that he didn't like the cold, then he admitted that he had missed her. Asla's cheeks warmed and she settled easily into the purple boy's embrace. "I missed you too. I'm sorry I've been so distant, Indy." She gave him another gentle kiss upon the side of his lips before settling her head upon his thick forelegs.

She wondered why he had never come to see her in the giant den that their father had built. He'd crafted it for her, but had added things for her brother's as well. It wasn't entirely hers, but theirs too. "The den that dad built for us, he put big boxes for plants on top." She sighed. "Though I suppose it's a little late in the season for it now. You could still come visit. Look at how pretty I tried to make everything." She had painted the walls to look like a galaxy. Well, as much of the walls as she could reach.

Giving her brother a squeeze, the girl closed the eyes that matched his pelt. "I really missed you." She'd killed some things with Azure, but nothing was as easy and relaxing as spending time with Indigo.

Asla fit perfectly in his embrace and he could feel her relax against him as he admitted his feelings to her. She didn’t deny that she felt the saame way, and went on to apologize for her distance. Indigo didn’t blame her, that night on the bech had been a tragedy, and if she had rejected him Indigo would have understood why. She gave him another kiss and the boy returned the affection without hesitation. He felt good having her so close, and cooties never crossed his mind. Being this close to his sister was natural, and it had been from the moment they left the womb together.

He hadn’t quite known that Asla’s star den was for all of the siblings, but he’d also been giving her space because he didn’t know if she was mad at him or not. He knew that he had a lot to make up for, but knowing their relationship was still as easy as it always had been made him relax. ”I’ll come with you in the morning to see it.” Indy promised as she told him about how she was decorating. ”You can help me pick out plants to put there when the time is right.” Indy offered confidently, hoping she wouldn’t mind more herb centered activities together.

”I missed you too. A lot. I never.. I never got to say sorry. About the other night…” He trailed off hesitantly, wondering if bringing it up was the right thing to do.

Nestled against her brother, the chilled child finally began to warm. She gave a little sniffle as her tan nose shifted from cold to temperate. They were so easy together. This was where she was supposed to be. Even when the whole family slept together, Asla tucked herself in beside Indigo. Unless their dad scooped her up, that is. She had agreed to sleeping in the den periodically, so she couldn't hold it against the man.

Indy offered to let her help pick out plants for their den and Aslatiel grinned. "That would be nice. Something... blue. Or purple. I like purple." She nibbled the underside of her brother's jaw before placing her head back upon his leg. It would be enjoyable to do something together in the spring when the flowers were in bloom once more. Though she was a murdering machine, Asla was still a lady, sort of. She could enjoy the beauty of flowers.

When the night of her ruined party was brought up, the small wolf tucked dark ears back against her skull. The events were still a little painful. The girls world had shattered that day and it didn't seem like there was anything that could piece it back together. Azure and Mortis hated one another. She and Indigo were trapped in the middle. However, even Indy had barked at her that day. She didn't understand why. "Hmm..." was all that she managed, still not too sure how to respond.

He felt himself relax a lot easier with Aslatiel snuggled up against him, having her close made him feel more complete. The two of them were incredibly close from birth and the boy was most comfortable when she was in his presence. Most little boys thought their sisters had cooties, but Indigo wasn’t complete without her. He grinned and chuckled as she mentioned how much she liked the color purple. The young boy warmed with affection for her and squeezed lightly to show his feelings.

She nibbled at his jaw and snuggled in closer, even if she was much more fierce than the big purple boy he appreciated that she could find enjoyment in his own hobbies. Of course he felt the distance between them just ass keenly as she did after that night not so long ago. Indigo felt shame well up inside his breast as his sister didn’t say much about his apology.

”I’m so sorry.” He whispered as he buried his own features into her scruff. Indy had been too caught up in the tension between their brothers when he should have been focusing more heavily on his sister. ”I love you, I wish I could fix everything.” He whined softly, the boy had a big heart and would learn the hard way that he couldn’t cure the world’s problems. He couldn’t even fix the problems between his siblings.

Indigo felt shame and so did Aslatiel. She was ashamed that she'd ignored her brothers for so long. Well...she ignored Indy and Mort, anyway. Az had kind of forced himself on her, not that she minded. Her purple brother apologized again and pressed his face into her neck. The small wolf rolled in his grasp, depositing herself on her back so that she could wrap her arms around his big neck. "It's okay, Indy. I forgive you." She placed little kisses on his face. "I'll always forgive you."

Her bond with Indigo surpassed her bond with the rest of her family. They had been close even before they were born and that bond had never subsided. The cream colored fae knew that if she needed him, Indy would always be there. Just as she would always be there for him.

"I'm worried about Mort and Az." She bright her big, purple eyes up to meet his blue gaze. "What could make them hate each other so much?" She wondered what had happened, but neither of them would talk about it. Az would only say that Mort was being a baby about something, but she knew that this wasn't the whole story. Yes, Mortis was more sensitive than the rest, but he wasn't irrational. There had to be a reason.

With her forelegs still wrapped around her brothers neck, she pulled him close, her little mouth next to one of his big ears. Her voice was soft and quiet. "Don't ever be mad at me like that, Indy." Again she kissed him, this time at the base of his ear. "I love you too much to be mad at you." Did he love her the same?

Indigo’s love for Aslatiel was boundless and unconditional. She could come to him for absolutely anything and the big violet puppy would drop everything to heed her call. The huge relief that lifted from his shoulders as she forgave him was indescribable. He hated the thought that she had been mad at him, but her words and actions made him believe her wholeheartedly. There was no negativity between them, and her affectionate kisses made him grin.

Their attention didn’t roam far from their brothers, as the friction between the two was the root cause of the disruption in his relationship with Aslatiel. The cause of her being upset that night. ”Me too,” he commiserate as bright blue eyes fell on her royal purple gaze. He’d always thought they were connected deeply, and that fact was further cemented by her eye color. ”I couldn't imagine hating any of you like that.” He had no idea how their relationship had deteriorated so quickly and thoroughly.

She pulled him closer and his heart swelled, he adored his tiny sibling and the close bond they shared. Asla meant everything to him, his little partner in life. ”I won’t. Ever.” He responded as she tickled his ear with her voice. Indigo grinned and squeezed her tighter. He was much warmer with her here, and comfortable. Sleep began to tug at him. Despite the problems facing them it would be easy to drift into dreamland. ”I love you too much.” He returned with amusement.

Indigo promised that he would never hate her and it was enough for the young wolf. She smiled and curled into him, still on her back but resting the back of her head upon one of his legs. Again she pulled him close, forcing a bear hug upon his neck until he rested his head on her chest. "Let's promise to always be close, Indy." She yawned. Now that she was warm, the small girl was getting tired as well.

Wiggling so that she lay sprawled between Indigo's outstretched forelegs, she kept his head upon her chest and stomach, acting as a pillow for him. One leg was still draped over his neck. Eyes that matched her brother's coat slowly closed and soon sleep claimed her. Relief at their reconciliation served to speed the process.