His daughter fell asleep to his song, sung softly beneath the ever-blue blanket of the night sky. He rocked her gently, too lost in his thoughts to sleep. His daughter was troubled, struggling to connect with the people in her life. He knew she had found a kindred soul in Azure, and he was saddened to learn the two of them were at ends. He was also surprised at how upset she was that he had given their family name to another. He had been so caught up trying to get to the root of her feelings, he realised he hadnt told her why he had done it.

He stayed awake that night, holding his little one, until the sun began to rise on the horizon. The golden light falling upon his tawny child, and setting to light the blue markings that adorned. She was so beautiful. Had she really come from him? Sometimes it was hard to imagine.

He rocked her gently awake, smiling as an eye flickered open. "Hello little one" he whispered, and kissed her nose. "Your papa been trying to put things into words. Never my strong suit, which is why I growl before I speak" he gave a self-depicating laugh, before shaking his head, offering a slight smile to his daughter. "So I'm going to try this again. And explain things to you in all the full details, like you were an adult, because in so many ways, you are almost one, and i know you chaff at being treated like a child." A soft breath. "I know that when you were as tiny as a bean, you and Indigo were closest, and got into everything together. When you got older, you found a kindred spirit in Azure. Certainly the two of you together were brave enough to stand up to me. For Mort it was Azure. Azure was a child, and his actions can be excused, but he broke morts trust and destroyed that friendship. Your brother fell into depression, and struggled to connect with anyone in this pack. You mother... your mother stopped him from taking his own life. That's how bad it got."

"Then Malalia appeared, and his life changed. He found a friend, and began to do everything together, as you did indigo, or Azure. Her gender is irrelevant. In fact, I wish she a boy, for then I feel it would not have hurt you so. But I claimed her as family, because she was Morts lifeline, and if she left, I feared he would fall apart again. Mort has in her what you have in Azure... speaking of Azure. You really sight to speak to him. I know the two of you love each other. What you need to do is pick up some love, and bash him over the gave with it. That would be my tactic, anyway." A breath, licking his lips and his dry throat. "Well. Would you like to go for a hunt, my little star? Perhaps we can find a present for Azure, or at least a very big rock..." he tweaked her nose, and gave her a moment to digest his words.

The sleeping girl stirred when her father jostled her. A little grumble of annoyance bubbled up in her. She had been sleeping so well. One purple eye cracked though and she saw the gentle smile of her giant father. Blinking and yawning, Asla sat up. It seemed like he was already geared up to talk, so she listened.

He kissed her nose then began, still talking to her as though she was a baby. Did he talk to Azure and Mortis like this? She knew that he didn't. Of course he spoke to Indy this way, but her purple sibling was... soft. He was kind and gentle and sweet. Asla was not. No matter how much her father might want her to be. At least he admitted to treating her like a child a moment later. She pulled herself up to her full height and gave a nod, trying to sound like an adult. She pulled upon the aura that her aunt Iolaire held. "I appreciate it," she replied.

Tall ears shifted as her father began to speak. He spoke of Mort, much to her surprise. He spoke of her brother trying to take his own life. Asla's eyes darkened as her father spoke these words. How stupid and selfish did you have to be to leave behind those that loved you? It made her angry that Mort had been so weak. He would have to make drastic changes if he ever wanted to lead to Armada some day. In her eyes, Azure was much more fit to lead. Especially with this new found knowledge.

Sirius went on to speak of Malalia having saved Mort in a way. The girl fought not to wrinkle her nose at the very mention of the other girl. Why hadn't her brother sought comfort from her instead? They were all that she needed, so why wasn't she all that they needed? It wasn't something that she was able to understand yet.

Again, Sirius compared Malalia to Azure, but to her it was a bad comparison. Azure was her brother. A brother that liked to kill things. Just as Mort liked to play and Indy liked to just be with her. They each held traits that she enjoyed. None was more special than the next aside from the bond that she held with Indigo. That was something different though.

She finally found her voice. "I don't even see Mort anymore. He's always with her. He doesn't need me anymore. Azure is off doing whatever. He doesn't need me anymore. Indy is the only one that does." They had both realized that after their last encounter. She had promised not to stay away.

After thinking for a while, Asla decided. "I won't wish her death anymore. Just for Morts sake. I won't like her though." She was adamant about that part. She'd just pretend that Malalia didn't exist. It was the easiest way for now until she could work through things in her mind and come to some sort of level ground.

A hunt was suggested and Asla shook her head. "I made Az a gift and he didn't want it." She'd painted them matching fox skulls. He'd stalked off angrily and left his behind. "I'd rather learn how to fight." She was still intent on being a fighter. Battle might help to slake the bloodlust that so often rose within her. "I already won a spar against Indigo. I tried to spar with others, but everyone takes it easy on me because I'm so small." It was insulting, really.

He knew Asla was trying, and it was the best he would get. At least she understood how much hurting Mal would hurt others she cared about, even if she couldn’t find it in her to like the girl. The Warlord yawned, his sleepless night catching up with him as he gently nudged Asla off his lap.

“Then Az is a fool. Come on then, let’s sharpen up your skills so your punch is as deadly as your tongue” he teased her gently. It was time he took Asla under his wing as a fighter. He hadn’t been certain if she was serious the last time she had mentioned wishing to learn to fight, or just hurting. If she was still sticking to the idea, then he would take it as a course she wanted for her future and treat it accordingly.

The first steps were to see how she did with the basics, find out what she needed to learn and what worked best for her, and getting her to practice. After that, it would be practising on increasingly more dangerous predators while he spotted her. Formulating a plan, he would lead the two of them to the training rings.

Her father called Az a fool and the girl snorted. She agreed to an extent, but she also understood why her brother was mad at her. He was so worried about inheriting the pack that he had to hide his true self. She would just have to respect that, she supposed. Maybe she would try to talk to him about it later. For now, business. Padding away from her father, she turned to face him, grinning and sticking that deadly tongue out the side of her mouth with a little wink before preparing for battle. Though fighting was different than hunting, she thought that she could use some of the same tricks. Most of her prey wasn't aware that they were being hunted until it was too late. She'd never faced a creature head on, really. This was new to her. Squaring her little body, Asla tucked her ears against her skull, tail out straight behind her for balance. She didn't wait for her father to prepare, instead using his lack of readiness to her advantage, or so she thought. Rushing forward, the girls jaws opened wide as she ducked beneath him and attempted to bite the big mans sensitive belly. Simultaneously, one forepaw would swipe out, claws extended, as she aimed for the fleshy part of her father's inner thigh. It worked with prey, so why not during a spar? "Speech" Aslatiel Sirin Fatalis vs Sirius for Spar Round 1/3 Age: Under 1 year Size: Small Build: Light Companion 1: Snow Leopard, Male - Battle Mutation 1: Cat claws - Offensive Skills: Advanced Hunter & Beginner Fighter Specialty: N/A