Akemi was shaken. It wasn't that she had done anything wrong, no. It had been more of the matter that she had even seen her son at all. The baby that she had believed to be lost to a fox the day he was born. But the child had not been killed. Somehow he had been rescued and raised. How it had happened she didn't know. Were the gods mocking her? Playing some sort of trick? Akemi would give a slow whine, closing her eyes in thought. She hated this feeling. This feeling of uncertainty and guilt. Tiny was with her now. The little creature perched upon her head. He would frown as he heard his mother whine, his squeaky voice being heard trying to offer a form of comfort. "Do not worry mother. I'm sure in time he'll come to see you as I, Zisa, and Einarr do." But would he really? Would the young man truly see her as her other children did? Something in her heart truly doubted such a thing. She would pause, glancing at the exit of the cave. Was she ready to leave yet? Or was there perhaps something that she needed to do here? Did she even remember anymore? "Hear me talk," 'but read my thoughts.' "Hear Tiny talk," 'but read Tiny's thoughts.'

Table by:: Keno

It wasn't often that Seerten wandered far from home, not since he had joined the pack of his loved one. But he missed the wandering part of his old life, of the adventures and knowledge that he had been able to ascertain at the time. So when the pack was saying their fairwell's to Voltage, he had given Astrea a swift kiss on the cheek before taking his leave. Just knowing of the adventure that was about to happen made his paws itch. He had to wander, even if it wasn't far. Breathing in the bitter winter air, he had second thoughts about this. Ten didn't do a lot of wandering in the colder season, it was hard to keep his short furred body warm. So when the mouth of a cave presented itself to him, he took a turn to enter it. Cave exploring, now that would be a good to do at this time of year. The large cross-breed ducked into the cave, just in time to hear a little squeaky voice speak. He froze, not wanting to intrude on anyone's home. Clearing his throat, he blinked his chocolate brown eyes to try and adjust to the darkness. "Hello? I am not intruding, am I?" he asked softly, not needing to raise his voice much in the near silence of the cavern. Speech Thought Others

Akemi wanted to agree with her little son, she did. But she was unsure of how things would go. How her lost son would really come to see her, if well at all. It was a test of time that would show what would happen now. The woman would let a sigh pass her lips, ready to make her way out into the cold once more when she caught the form of someone entering the cave. She would tense, bracing herself on reflex. As he spoke out, however, the female would relax herself, breathing in and shaking her head. "No... you're not. Please, come in out of the cold." The woman would walk to the side of the cave and lay down. Maybe she wasn't quite ready to leave yet. "I don't really own this cave..." She would add. Tiny, curious little critter that he was, would climb down from her head, down her leg, and scurry over to the stranger, his little ears twitching. "You're covered in spots! You look neat!" He'd pipe up. "My momma has spots too... but her's are different. So does my big brother!" "Hear me talk," 'but read my thoughts.' "Hear Tiny talk," 'but read Tiny's thoughts.'

Table by:: Keno

As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he picked out the form of another wolf. He blinked in surprise as he saw just how torn up the poor thing was, evidence of fighting carried in her face. Seerten shuttered, the mere thought of what the wolf had gone through making him sick to his stomach. He swallowed hard, but offered her a smile as she invited him in, saying that she did not own the cave. He was about to introduce himself when a tiny mouse skittered up to him. He really felt quite large as the mini creature looked all the way up at him. He chuckled slightly at his observation of his spots, sliding down to his belly so that his limbs were on either side of him. "Why yes, little one. I am very much covered in spots. I am a little different from your mother." Leaning down close, he dropped his voice into a dramatic whisper, although it was loud enough that the wolf would be able to hear him. "Wanna hear a little secret?" He asked, a single brow raising. Leaning in really super close, he wiggled his rump to try and capture his attention. Staying quiet for several moments, both in suspense as well as his classic way of speaking, just to see his reaction. "I am not all wolf, but part dog as well." His chocolate brown eyes sparkled as he glanced up at the other wolf in the cave, winking softly at her. He loved little ones, even if they were tiny creatures. It was quite plain to see on closer inspection that he was telling the truth. Only his neck, chest, and tail bore the same long, thick fur that wolves did. The rest of him was covered in short wiry hair that showed his pink skin underneath. He looked at the other wolf again, this time dipping his head in greeting. "I am Seerten, miss. It is a pleasure to meet you and your son." He said softly. He didn't want to stand just yet, in fear of crushing the tiny mouse. If the critter wanted to climb up him as well, he would not complain nor protest. Speech Thought Others

Tiny's eyes would widen in wonder. How could creatures like this man and his brother both grow to be so big? Tiny would lean in, the man still towering over him as he got down on his belly. He was part dog as well? What was a dog? The little critter would scurry back to his mother, clambering up her leg. "It's nice to meet you too!" Tiny squeaked.

Akemi couldn't help but chuckle at the man interacting with her son. My... he seemed to have a way with children! Akemi would gently nose Tiny up onto her back before turning her single eyed gaze upon Seerten.

"A pleasure indeed. I am Akemi... and this little one is Tiny." She would offer a gentle smile to him. "You must be awfully cold with that thinner fur... how ever do you keep warm?" The wolfess would inquire.