Odette was often with them, though her dad's came by to take her home after playtime. It was weird to him that she had a space different to their own. Somewhere secret, perhaps? It must be, because he'd never seen it.


Now that they were allowed out of their den, he had decided that what he really wanted to do was track down his cousin's super secret den with her dad's. He had no idea that it was just next door. So he trotted into the Col, and put his nose to work. Hunting down scents of Odette or of her dad's. Super secret den, here he came!

Ode already considered her cousins her siblings. They had play dates all the time and they had just been there since she could even remember. However, for just as long she could remember their goodbyes and return to the separate den with her two pappas. The other pups did seem to be curious where she went every night but of course Odette didn’t realize there was such a big mystery. This was just her home right around the corner.

Now that she was allowed outside there weren’t as many play dates as everyone was off doing their own things now. Ode was at the entrance of her den now, her little leopard paws crossed and her wings folded up at her sides as she watched the comings and goings of the pack. Her silver eyes were lidded, nap time was coming on, but not before she saw Citadel coming towards her. Curious, she tilted her head and swiveled her fur tipped ears.

"Odette"

Aha! He’d found it. His tail picked up behind him as he caught sight of Odette, sitting by a den entrance. This must be where she snuck off to when she wasn’t with him and his siblings. “Hey Oddy” He greeted his cousin as he closed the distance between them. He nudged her smaller form with his nose and grinned at her. Like him, Odette’s paws were different. Except where his were huge and bear shaped, hers were slim and sleek.

He moved past her, sticking his head into the den. “Is this where you sleep?” he asked her, taking another step in. Wondering if she would try to stop him from exploring this secret place.


"Citadel"

Cit seemed to have found what he was looking for when she saw his expression change to one of victory as he loped closer to where she lay. He greeted her, coming up to him on his bear like paws. Already more than double her size despite being only a day older. She smiled up at him and returned his sweet greetings, "Hiya, Citty.” She returned his funny nickname as she rolled over onto her wings. She exposed the galaxy like colors on her sides and under her wings.

He questioned if this was where she slept and she tilted her head. "Yeah, this is my Da’s den.” She explained. Sometimes she would nap with him and their siblings, but every night she returned here to snuggle up with Daddy and Poppa. "Do you wanna see?” She asked as she flipped herself over and got to her dark paws.

"Odette"

Citadel immediately made a face at her returned nickname. He was already learning he didn’t like it when his mother called him City. ‘Citty’ didn’t feel any better. When she rolled over, he eyed up the shiny gloss of her wings, his tail flicking behind him as zeroed in on his prey.

Before he could pounce, she flipped back over again, and his stalking stance relaxed a little. “I’d love to!” he agreed, eager to follow her into the ‘big secret den’ he wanted to know where she went away. What made her different from the rest of them. No one else had another den they could slip away to. But sometimes he sort of forgot that Odette wasn’t their sibling, even though he called her cousin.


"Citadel"

The only nickname that Odette really tolerated was “Ode” like the poem form. She had already learned about that from her Daddy, as he was quite the romantic. Besides, she liked her full name anyway, and would have called Citadel his full name if he hadn’t started off with a nickname. She rolled around in front of him, and could see the mischief in his eye and pulled herself back to her paws before he’d been able to pounce on her. Citadel was heavy too, so she was glad she dodged that bullet.

He seemed quite eager to come in and see her den though, something she would accommodate though she did not quite understand the mystery. If only because she had been born and raised here. "Well, here it is.” She invited him in, showing him the bed she snuggled with her dads in every night. It wasn’t so different from the one that Cit himself lived in.

"Odette"

She led him into the den, and he pranced through the door, excited that she was sharing a secret with him. Inviting him in herself made it seem extra special, and he stepped closer to her as they walked into the den space. It looked… much like any other den, actually. A few more feathers around the place, and the scent of her dads in the cave. Hmm. The secret didn’t really hold up to the suspense.

“It’s… just a den. But why do you sleep in here, instead of upstairs with us?” he wanted to know, turning towards his cousin with a grin. “I bet your wings make a great curtain!” he reached for one of her glittery little wings with a paw as if to hold it over his eyes.


"Citadel"

Ode still didn’t quite understand quite why the bigger boy was so interested in her den, but she was happy to show it off to him. She thought that it was cozy and full of love, something that felt like would never change. Cit asked her why it was she slept here, and not with him and the rest of the siblings. Though she often considered them her own brothers and sisters herself, her nights here and her fathers kept that connection from forming completely.

"I come back to cuddle up with my Poppa and Daddy.” She explained easily. He knew that they were actually cousins after all. Their conversation didn’t stay there for very long however, as Cit’s attention turned to her dark wings. Her feathers were sill coming in, but she knew soon enough they would be full and majestic just like Poppa’s and Wylan’s.

"Oh yes! Though it’s pretty obvious when I’m chewing on something I’m not supposed to when I cover myself with my wings.” She chuckled nervously, her dads had caught her multiple times because of that. "They’re also a good blanket!”

"Odette"

Think they’d let me stay for a sleepover?” He wondered as she pointed out she returned to this den to sleep with her dads. He considered Odette like a sister and wanted to be involved in all aspects of her life, too. He loved his cuddle pile with his siblings, but wondered what it would be like to sleep in here with Odette and her dads too.

He giggled lightly as she admitted trying to hide behind her wings. That must be a neat treat! Even if it didn’t work. “I bet! So soft” he said, patting one of her wings gently. Of all their oddities, Odette’s wings were definitely the coolest. The biggest, too! Even if Odette herself was just a little pup.


"Citadel"

Citadel offered an interesting question, if perhaps he would be able to stay over for a sleepover. Odette had no doubt at all. "Oh yes, I’m sure!” She knew that her cousin was almost as beloved as she was to her dads. "I guess it depends on if your parents say yes though…” She added, not nearly as sure as she was about her own giving their answer. Surely they couldn’t deny such a play date though, and they were so close after all.

As she mentioned her blanket like wings Cit stroked the feathers gently. Her wings hadn’t quite fully developed all of her flight feathers yet, they were still filled with baby down, but they were getting there. She would be a fully grown bird soon! "And they’re dangerous too!” She added, knowing that Cit would always be more powerful than she was even at such a young age. To prove her point though she playfully buffeted him with the bony parts, knowing she couldn’t do any real damage.

"Odette"

Citadel sniffed at her wings, tickling them with his nose as she answered his question. So she thought it would be down to what his parents said? Easy! He’d ask mum instead of dad as he considered the right way to pose the question to his mother, Odette suddenly knocked him with one of her wings. The size distance between them seemed to only grow each day, and her light knock did little to knock him off his stride.

Instead, he pretended to yelp and raise a paw over his head, as if to protect himself. He took in a deep breath, and let it out, breathing over her wing. Attempting to tickle it with the air from his lungs.


"Citadel"

Maybe there would be one day where Odette could win a battle against her cousin, but it wouldn’t be done with power. Ode was a lithe, small, and young lady there was no strength in her that could overcome the massive Citadel. However, she could use her small size to her own advantage. She was swift and agile, more so than her cousin. Her little playful banter didn’t even make Cit move, not that she expected much. He surprised her though, playing into her banter as he raised a paw to protect himself from her attack.

Odette beamed at him, but started to giggle uncontrollably as Cit’s heavy breath started to tickle the dark feathers of her wings. She wasn’t about ot let him get away with it, so with her other wing she aimed to tickle his ear.

"Odette"

Before he knew it, it was an all out attack against him. “No fair, you have more limbs!” he joked as she brought the other wing around to tickle at his nose. A feather went a little too far up there, and he suddenly sneezed. Loud and violent enough to startle him as he lifted his head back, away from her wings and blinked in surprise.

He shook his head, and then went back into the fray. Aiming to leap forward and tackle the smaller wolf lightly to the ground if he was able to catch her. She could be a speedy little thing, and he was still incredibly clumsy on his oversized paws.


"Citadel"