The moon was shining in from the entrance, the clear skies making her feel so much more freedom after the snows that hit hard in the winter. It was still cold up in the north, but the den had grew so much warmer inside. The girl clung to her brother as they all slept, she held a firm grip on him but somehow it was gentle. She tried to push the both of them away from their new siblings, even if they were all snuggled up between Lel and Jian. She didn't want them infecting herself or Lian. But she had waken up from a dead sleep, maybe it was too much sleep or the owls that hooted in the distance. She had rustled just a little in an effort to go back to sleep, but she was drawn by just the little amount of light coming in from outside. It was chambers away from where they slept, but she stared at it for what seemed like hours. Eventually she felt the strength to rise from her comfortable spot beside Lian and make her way to the exit. The sound of her claws against the metal was so silent to her, she didn't even recognize it. Without any hesitation, she hopped down from the door and made her way to the beach just beside the large structure. She took a seat beside  a couple large rocks in case she felt like leaning against them. But her focus was mainly up on the sky, looking at all the stars that the northern most part of Alacritia held. Life could have seemed almost perfect, and yet... it wasn't to her. Lel was back with them, the black bitch was gone, and even Jian had been cleared from her illness. But nothing could make up for the two little demons that now occupied their home. Zola swore that Lel would have sent them off with the lady... Why did he even want them? Walk "Talk" Think

He was sleeping rather soundly, having fallen into unconsciousness curled up against Zola's similar form. He would remain that way for a good long while, having not been disturbed by whatever it was that had eventually awoken his litter mate. He was dead asleep as she slipped from his grasp, the movement disturbing him while the click of her claws on metal would bring him fully back to life. Bright blue eyes would blink as he watched her slip from the entrance of the ship, finding himself curious about where she was going.

Eagerly he too would rise from the cold substance beneath him, long legs pushed beneath him as she strode forward and out into the night. He would follow down the shore, his maw silent as he watched her sit, bringing himself up behind her to do the same. A sleepy smile would be offered to her, wondering silently what she was thinking. He was slightly less disturbed by his new half-siblings. They were amusing to torture, but other than that he avoided all contact. Still also unsure what they were worth to their father.

The pale boy would nuzzle into his sister's neck, a silent question as he settled beside her.

Her brother would not follow long after her, coming to sit by her side and nuzzling at her neck. But he could probably tell by the dampness of her fur that she was and had been crying. She couldn't actually tell when it started... but in the short time he was after her it was like a flood coming from her eyes. If he spoke a question before hand, it didn't matter because she would blurt out her own. "Lian, do you love me?" she choked out. But really, it wasn't a question for him... it was more of a question for Lel. She would give him a very small space to speak, it was possible that she could have cut him off in the middle of his own words or before he could even take a breath. Time was impossible inside of her head tonight. "Dad doesn't seem to love us like he used to." She was still speaking through whines and tears, but it was actually a very odd thing to say. Lel was around more than he had ever been. Now that Callisto was gone he had plenty of time to be with his children and with their mother. There was no reason to think he loved either litter of children more... But that is all Zola ever saw. If he brought back a meal, she always saw them getting a bigger portion. If he would pull all of the children in to snuggle and sleep together, she always thought it was to keep them safe and warm. She saw favoritism  that wasn't even there. Thank the gods she knew nothing of the even older litter that was out there, she might have actually lost her head. Walk "Talk" Think

He could feel the moist nature of her fur, the scent of her reminding him of tears as he nuzzled her lovingly. What was she crying? She had been becoming so string and independent lately, what had happened? She would blurt out a few surprising words, he would digest them too long as she continued. Though he found himself confused simply at her first words, of course he loved her.. how could she be questioning that?

Though he wasn't incredibly daft he still felt a bit of confusion as she went on to give a statement about their father's love. He'd pull her in closer, trying to show her that she should never question how he felt about her. She seemed so vulnerable in that moment he was almost afraid of bringing her harm. He didn't really see the same actions that she had fabricated, but he wasn't about to argue with her. He wasn't as observant as her, maybe Lel had lost some of his love for his fist, and better, litter. "I love you though," He'd say simply, avoiding saying anything about their... loving father.

He would pull her body into his, and she would gladly collapse into him. Her shoulders shook every now and then as she was catching her breath in between her quiet sobs. And exactly what she wanted to hear would come from his lips. 'I love you though,' the "though" making it seem like he understood how she felt about the entire situation. She rose her face, sliding up his neck slowly to try and meet their cheeks together. "Lian... What if it was just us in the entire world...?" It would probably make things a whole lot easier. Sure Zola loved her mother and father, but if she had a choice on who she would have to keep, it would be Lian. Neither of them really knew what was right and what was wrong. Zola had really only had Lian and her parents, she didn't get out to meet others. She knew she loved Lian with all of her heart, even the sour parts. She loved him more than she loved either one of her parents even combined. "I... I want it to be just us." She would back her head away to look into his cerulean optics, but kept her body in place close beside him. Her eyes twinkled with the tears that were still in her eyes, but she was no longer sobbing. "I love you more than you know." Even though she was still so young, she knew what this feeling was. If she hated her siblings, and she loved her parents, then what was more than that? Lian held an even stronger emotion to her, just as strong as her hatred for her younger brother and sister. So what was more than that? It had to be the love that her mother and father had. There was nothing else to compare it to. It was all she ever knew anyway... Walk "Talk" Think

The boy would feel her collapse into his embrace, seemingly defeated by it all. He'd nuzzle her softly as she pressed her cheek against his own, whispering softly a question he had never really asked before. Though he had to say the thought of it was not wholly unpleasant. For a while their mother had been sick, and their father most caught up in his dark woman. They had relied upon just one another, they'd shown that they could at least partially take care of themselves. As more time went on their talent would become increasingly obvious. He wouldn't be able to add his comment before Zola added that she would prefer it to be just them.

Lian would tilt his head curiously, not being able to deny that he wouldn't mind that at all. She would shift, looking into his eyes with bright amethyst gems to emphasize her commitment to this plan. Were they really ready to leave their parents already? Though obviously not the main concern as she continued to gaze at him, tears obvious. "I love you more than you know." He couldn't help the tiny smile that curled at the edges of his lips as he reached out his dark nose to nudge her muzzle softly. "I love you more than anything," the words would whisper back with an almost playful tone, even though he meant every word.

She twitched her nose towards him as he reached over and nuzzled her, 'I love you more than anything.' She would grin back though it wasn't the kind of grin he gave her. There was something sad inside. She would lick at his lips a few times before putting her head back under his jaw. She looked down at the icy sands below them, and she knew that she didn't want to go back into the ship. She knew she wasn't actually ready to leave their parents, they had done so much for them... she couldn't dare to leave them behind. But obviously their lack of being with them had made them mold themselves into the world. If Zola couldn't make it out there, Lian knew well enough how to survive. She could have at least helped him to live on their own. She just couldn't bear not having the only two others she ever knew not be there for them at night. "I don't want to go back inside." I don't think I'll ever want to. The air was so much colder out here, but it wasn't anything she wasn't used to. Well, Lian was probably taking all the bitter cold. And other than that, she was dreadfully tired. If only she could just stay here forever... But eventually the rest of the family would be up and come outside, probably even realize the two were gone before spotting them outside. She wouldn't mind if the two demons weren't part of this family now... Of course they were the reason Zola realized she truly loved Lian. He would always be more than a brother to her, but of course still her brother. It was the perfect match, right? Walk "Talk" Think

She would easily accept his revelation, returning his smile, but he wouldn't miss the sadness within it. He'd return her kisses, the young boy finding himself savoring the affection as she slipped back under his chin. He'd wrap his paw around her, wanting to pull her even tighter to his form. He wasn't sure about leaving their northern stronghold just yet, but were she to ask him to run away right then he would not have protested. She would only say that she was not ready to go back inside, and he would not push her that way. Lian would only stand with her, listening to the sound of the waves hit the beach.

He would rest his head on her own as they stay there in silence for a long time, surely the rest of their family would be out and about soon. Not that he would pay them too much mind, Zola had his attention, always. He had never really been separated for her for long and he did not intend on changing that. He held every intention of spending his life with her. Just like mother and father. Though she was the one that had asked for affirmation of his love Lian would be the one to beg her not to leave. "Don't leave me, okay?" pale lips would whisper as the first wisps of color started reaching across the sky.

A long silence would come between the two, but it was fulfilling. She wouldn't disturb it as she kept in her place until Lian would speak again. He would plead for her not to leave him, and she couldn't help but want to ask him the same. But she could obviously tell that he wouldn't, being the fact that he was begging her. She pushed her head into him as he tried to pull her in closer. "I will never leave you, Lian." She lifted her paw to wrap it gently around his leg instead of looking back up for him to see more tears. Even the thought of not having Lian was unbearable. What if she was the only one born in Jian's litter? What if it was someone else...? She would follow Lian anywhere, no matter the consequences or sacrifices. She would be willing to give up everything for him. She would always be by his side... Walk "Talk" Think

Silence was easy to bear when he was with her, there was no awkwardness just a calm peace that would settle over the pair. She wouldn't release them from it either, waiting on him to speak before answering him. The more darkly shaded girl would push closer to him as he pulled her in, the cold of the north easily bearable with her snuggled at his breast. She would assure him confidently that she was never going to leave, and he would believe her fully. She wouldn't look at him but he could hear the emotion that lingered in her voice. He wouldn't press her, only offering little kisses atop her head as she clung to him.

He didn't have any idea what he would do if he lost his littermate. His mother and father meant a lot to him, but Zola was even more special. They'd hardly spent a few hours rom each other since their birth, he felt uneasy when he didn't know where she was. He felt none of that towards their parents or younger siblings. "What do you want to do?" He'd whisper into her dark ears, "When do you want to leave this place?" He'd let a bit of excitement trickle into his voice, he didn't want her to be so sad anymore.

"I... I don't know." She shook her head a couple times and kept there for a few more seconds before leaning her neck back to face him again. Tears had still failed to stop even after all that time. Still unsure about leaving their parents, she didn't even know what she truly wanted. The only light was to be with Lian. They had never been away from the den, it would be well different when they were to completely care for themselves. But a striking thought would come to her mind. "What if... What if Lel catches us?" She remembered when the three of them ran after the black lady who had run out into the woods. Zola believed that Lel wouldn't strap them down and force them to stay, but if anything she didn't want him angry at them for leaving. What if he didn't approve? Zola was sure that he would hunt them down to the ends of the earth... Even if it was just to have them back home safe and sound. Walk "Talk" Think

He wasn't really even aware of how different the world would be when he didn't have his parents to look out for them. Though he felt like it was just he and Zola a lot, he never wen hungry and always had a warm place to curl up. Though he and his sister were often successful on their odd hunt that didn't mean that they would be able to find enough food to survive on their own. He had no doubt their escape would not be met out tonight, not with how lost his sister would seem to be. He would follow her anywhere, she need only say so.

The name of their father would send a chill down his spine, though he was quickly catching up to the man in height he still lacked experience and weight. Lel could cut him down in an instant, and what about Zola, surely she would fare no better. They were not their father's prisoner like Callisto was, they were his blood. Surely he would encourage their exploration of the world.. right? Zola would plant the seed of doubt, and his ears would fall to his skull. "Do you think he would stop us?" Lian would offer back, though he knew the answer to his own question already. "Probably." The words was barely a whisper as he let his gaze shift from her beautiful features to the ocean before them. He could stay here longer, at least for a little while. "We aren't..." he struggled with his words, "Father isn't keeping us as prisoners.. is he?" A shadow would cross over his features as he asked, wondering if he wanted the answer.

As Lian asked if Lel would try to stop them, he would answer for the both of them. Zola was sure that their father would grab them and take them home, though not like he had with Callisto. But Zola would let the hesitation in Lian's own voice intensify as he scrambled his words to what he wanted. Father isn't keeping us as prisoners... "I don't know." Zola was sure that wasn't the case, but how could they tell? "We've never tried running..." What if Lel was only keeping them until they served no use for him? Just as he did with the black lady... She was the only other wolf that Zola had seen that wasn't from their family. Lel didn't bring over strangers to meet the rest of his family... Come to think of it, they had never heard anything of their grand parents or uncles and aunts. Were they even Jian's children? Zola couldn't help but think of all the terrible things from Lian's question on if they were prisoners... There was no way of telling unless they tried to get away. And if they tried and it was true, Lel would surly find them and the results probably wouldn't be pretty... Walk "Talk" Think

Zola seemed just as confident as he in his ability to predict their father's decisions, her voice held no more certainty than his own had. He didn't like the sound of what they might have to do in order to find out what Lel's plans for them were. Did he wish for them to stay with him forever? He might've been able to if he were only staying with his parents, though he could do with out his younger siblings.

Still, he didn't wish to find out the punishment he might be given if Lel was forced to track he and Zola down. What kind of anger would they cause in their father if they were to suddenly vanish into the trees? Would he hurt them? Lian was unsure he wished to know the answers to these questions. What if they just asked their father to leave, how would he react to even that? Even if they did ask him, surely he would be watching for potential disappearances.

Lian felt a sigh slip from his lips and the pale boy would snuggle closer to his sister. "Maybe we should just stay for a while longer." He almost regretted saying the words, "I will follow where ever you want to go." He would then reassure her, kissing the top of her head.

Leaning her head onto his shoulder, she would let him plant his kisses on her head. She had grown confused over the situation, hoping that they were right about their father. Zola wasn't sure if she was more scared of him being angry than wanted to run away with Lian. Did she hate her siblings enough? "I think I'm ready to go back in." Maybe not, but she couldn't stay awake forever... and there was no way she was sleeping outside tonight, not even with Lian keeping her warm. She would wait for him to move to follow him back in the den, showing that she still didn't want to go. But she spoke a couple more words that could satisfy her. "Maybe he'll just be happy with his new kids..." She could only hope, because when they did decide to run away, maybe Lel would be plenty occupied with the new children to worry or care where his other ones were. She would clench her eyes to let the last couple tears fall. Maybe she felt like she wasn't good enough for her father. She only wished they could pull Jian away with them... Walk "Talk" Think