Standing on the riverbank stood a young male, aqua colored eyes narrowed and staring off into the distance. He knew this place, well, the area he was near, the place he was born and had bad memories of. Australis growled, toes flexing and digging his claws into the softened earth beneath him. Not too far from here was a pack he had been born into, a pack his parents had left when he was very young with his sister. He would avoid the place, even if it meant the death of him. No way could he return. Turning away he would make his way along the riverbank, muscles flexing beneath his coat, the first obvious change he had gone through while gone. No longer was he a lean, thin pup. He was now growing into a well toned teenager, cold towards everyone, only interacting with them if it meant he got something out of it. They did not deserve his attention, just pawns. " speech. thoughts. you"

Spring had arrived at the delta with a burst of new life. After her return from Ludicael, Zlata had been keeping herself busy creating a stock of fresh herbs and prey to support herself, Gendry, and any other travelers that happened to pass through her home. It made her feel good to provide a temporary rest for those who were weary. She felt it was something her mother would be proud of. Today the silver girl had been hunting on the other side of the stream. So far she had caught a rabbit and two squirrels and was carrying her last kill to her hole when a familiar scent had her frozen. Ebony ears would swivel about, trying to catch the sound of a voice or anything recognizable. Who was that? Curiosity had the girl trotting across the river side towards the scent. It was male. And it was definitely a cologne that had comfort to it. Suddenly her mercury orbs came to rest on the figure of a large male, tall and muscular, standing at the waters edge. Just as her face changed to try and make out his features the man would turn, walking farther away from the curious girl. Normally Zlata would leave the stranger alone to his own devices, but she knew that scent. Had it memorized. Zlata pushed her legs against the ground and sped towards the man. Stopping nearly 3 yards away when she realized who it was. Her ebony maw would drop in shock, squirrel falling forgotten to the ground as her muscles tensed. She couldn't believe it was really him. "Australis?"?She would utter, her silken tones drifting through the air with a question. Could it really be him? Was he really alive? Walk "Talk" Think

A sudden noise made the male stop , head lifting and turning in the direction it came from, fur along his shoulder and back going stiff. Lips twitched, ready to pull back to reveal canines, muscles tensing up to face whatever it was coming at him fast. What he would find however was a light colored female coming towards him, not quite registering who it was at first, until she stopped. Aqua eyes would go wide in disbelief, jaw nearly dropping had he not held himself together. Fur lay flat against his body while he took a step towards the fae, his heart beating rapidly, threatening to burst. Ears twitched at her silken voice, his name, something that even if it was his, sounded so... out of place, uncomfortable. ?Zlata...? Though he wanted it to come out strong and cold, his voice could only be a whisper. Ears would pin back against his skull, lowering and turning to the side. His sister, she was back and standing before him, yet Australis could only feel anger boiling within. Out of the whole family, she was everything, his light, and after their parents returning then leaving again, he had also crossed her out for her abandonment. Limbs began to tremble despite his toned body and warm weather, lips peeling back, jaws clenched and hackles raising. ?Why...? He whispered, almost inaudible with his head down and eyes closed tightly. Chest rose and fell, throat tightening up as the anger and fear began to flare. ?Why?!? His voice rose, nearly a yell. His head snapped up, watery eyes twitching while he took a step towards his sister, the trembles moving up and along his body now. He couldn't break down, no, not after so long. He had to remain strong, composed. Australis couldn't show weakness... but... but... All he wanted was to hurt something, get all the anger out, but at the same time, deep within his heart... he just wanted his sister's touch once again... " speech. thoughts. you"

Silver eyes would soften as her name left his maw in a whisper. It was him. It was really him. He was alive! Her tail began gently wagging behind her as she took a step forward, only to take another step backward as he advanced on her in anger. Her features would change, fear filling her eyes for only an instant before the girl would stop, putting down an ebony cloaked paw in defiance. Ears would draw back flat against her skull and her own hackles would rise, a look that the girl was not known to sport in the past. A soft lip would rise slightly to show ivory fangs, well developed and used in the time that had passed since last laying eyes on her brother. A growl began deep in her throat as she stepped closer to him. "Stop that 'Stralis! That's enough!" Her mercury pools would squint in fury at the trembling man who stood before her. Never in her life had she snapped at him, or him at her. She couldn't stand seeing him so angry with her, yet all she wanted to do was embrace him and never let go. They had a lot of catching up to do. A lot of talking. A lot of crying, at least on her part. Yet it was all pushed to the back of her mind as she dropped all defenses and pushed herself forward, burying her nose into the soft fur of her brothers neck. She took in his scent and felt her own shoulders tremble from the affect. Soft laughter of relief escaped her ebony lips as she closed her eyes and explored his fur, allowing her salmon tongue to graze the cupping of his brown ear in an affectionate embrace, all hostilities forgotten as the young girl allowed her youth to envelope her mind. Speech,

No, he didn't mean to come at her like that. He couldn't to his dear sister, no matter how angry he was. It only made him hate himself even more, especially when she told him to stop. How could he allow himself to behave in such a way to his beloved sibling, to become hostile. Zlata should have just taken the chance to give him a good one, bite to the face, body, smack him, shove him... Something. Before he knew it she was there in front of him, her warmth seeping into his fur, as if going through his very flesh to calm him. Slowly the trembling would fade away, allowing himself to be taken by the girl. Her face was in his neck, lifting up and a lick to his dark ear. Australis pushed forward, chest pressing into the smaller girl, neck wrapping around so his face could be shoved into her shoulder. ?Please...? Jaws clenched once more. ?Don't go... again.? His voice, so vulnerable and only for her ears as well as the single tear that strayed from his eye. He didn't want her to leave again, didn't want to be alone. " speech. thoughts. you"

His warmth was all that she could feel, sending electrifying currents throughout her body as the knowledge of his existence hit her over and over again. She felt moisture on her cheek and pulled slowly away from him as he spoke, keeping her muzzle against his own and licking the tear from his face as it fell. "I made the mistake of leaving you once before, but never again will I be so foolish. You were my whole world." Her tones would pierce the air as she strained to keep them steady, her throat tightening as she became overwhelmed with emotion. Mercury pools would meet his emeralds and hold them there with a gaze meant to show as much love as possible. She could no longer imagine life without him by her side. She would not part from him from this day on. She was certain. The brown hued man that he had grown into was still the same pup who had been by her side in the most difficult of times and their relationship would be no different now, she was sure of it. Oh, Gendry would not be happy about this. Walk "Talk" Think

He almost moved away upon Zlata turning to lick away his tear, even if she was his sister, he didn't want the girl to see his moment of weakness. He was suppose to be the big strong, tough brother. Silently he'd listen to her, how he explained it was a mistake to leave him and would never do it again, that he was her whole world. Lips parted to say something but with how tight his throat felt, the male found himself only breathing, unable to say anything. So instead he'd close his eyes and press his forehead to hers, carefully licking her nose with a mall wag of his tail. ?Stay with me.? He managed to whisper, urgency in his raspy voice. Head pulled back, not another tear would stray but his eyes would remain watery while he glance across her face. ?You're all I have left... the only one I care about.? She was the only thing he showed emotions towards, a treasure he had to protect, lock away if he had to if it meant she wouldn't leave again. " speech. thoughts. you"

Silver eyes would widen in wonder, thoughts of a normal life giving her joy and happy thoughts. Her tail would wag softly as he pressed his forehead against her own, licking her muzzle softly. Suddenly she remembered that the Kamui Delta was her home, and she had a den large enough to share with her long lost brother. Her eyes would light up and she would nearly laugh out loud as she pulled away to look him in the eye. "I live here, Aus. I have a den close by, I've been stocking up on supplies and there is a lot of room in there. It's like an old abandoned bear den." The excitement was clear in her soft tones. They would be so happy, finally reunited and able to live life the way it should have been. Just the two of them against the world. Three of them. Gendry. "Oh and I live with this cat, his name is Gendry. He's like what Corvusi was, only snippier." She laughed then, her laughter trilling from her maw like the sound of a rolling stream, soft and steady. Ebony ears would rise happily as she looked upon her brother. It was such a miracle to have him back in her sights. "Stay with me, Aus. You're all I've got too." Walk "Talk" Think

Ears perked up at his sister's voice, head cocking to the side when she told him that she lived here. On the rivers? His head would rise and allow his gaze to look around the place, examining how sheltered it was and if it would even offer her any protection from both the elements and others. Had she been here the whole time? Or was it just recently she had been living here? Her voice going on would snap the boy from his thoughts, gaze going back to Zlata as she spoke of how her den is nearby and how she had been stocking up on supplies, having a lot of room in it and how it was similar to an abandoned bear den. It possibly being an old bear den was a bit unsettling, but if she said it was abandoned then surely it was, and the creature wouldn't come back anytime soon... hopefully. Seeing her get excited about it would managed to make Australis smile a small bit, not anything big, but was enough for his sister to know he was feeling better. But the moment she mentioned a cat, a boy, named Gendry, his gaze hardened. He is like Aurora's companion Corvusi but snippier. He wasn't sure if he should be okay with this or not, seeing as it was a boy and a feline. Even with Zlata now laughing, a comforting thing for him, he couldn't help but feel uneasy about this Gendry fellow being alone with her. "I will stay here, and never leave you sister." There was a warmth in his usual cold tones, gently nudging her nose before looking away briefly. "I do not like this boy living with you alone..." He'd add on, already jealous and irritated to know some guy was staying with his sister without Australis meeting him first. " speech. thoughts. you"

Seeing her brother smile was gave her the same feeling as lying in the sun on a cold day. He was warmth and comfort and everything she had been without while being away from her family. Then it seemed that his face would harden again, and her face would fall. "I do not like this boy living with you alone." Her mercury pools would squint in frustration. Could he really be jealous of her little cat? Or did he think that Gendry would hurt her? Zlata didn't like seeing her brother that way, and knew there was only one solution. Australis had to meet Gendry. A smile would spread on her maw at the thought. "Well I suppose that won't be a problem anymore since you'll be living there too!" With that, the girl's eyes would shine and she would tilt her muzzle in the direction of the den. "Come on Aus, he's sleeping right now but I'm sure he'd be glad...er...I'm sure he'll wake up to meet you." She corrected her speech, knowing her friend and what to expect if him when he was woken from a nap. Surely he would understand that Aus was important, she thought as she picked up her forgotten squirrel and turned towards the den.She had talked to him about Aus before, about how much he meant to her. The little feline would just have to get used to another male around the den. Walk "Talk" Think

ugh, so sorry for shortness!!! /:

After the two were abandoned, not only once but twice, and him thrice by her, he felt as though he had a right to be worried or frustrated by an unknown person hanging around his family. Upon her smile his own brow raised, wondering what could possibly be running through the girl's head now. The boy wouldn't be a problem anymore since Aus would be living with them. He inwardly sighed, not liking the idea of having to share Zlata with another. If this, Gendry, helped her out while he was gone, then the boy would try to be easy on the feline. His gaze would drift off in the direction she motioned, ear kept facing her. She told him that Gendry was sleeping and she was sure he'd wake up to meet him. Brows came together, but Aus wouldn't say another word, instead he would wait for Zlata to pick up her squirrel and lead the way. " speech. thoughts. you"