Born to live and let go

He awoke the next morning curled against the warm body of another for the first time since the last time he'd seen his sister. It was a strange feeling at first, as his barely conscious mind had trouble remembering the events of last night and figuring out why another being was so close. He'd spent so many nights alone, that his instinctual reaction was to raise his lips and his hackles and to prepare to defend himself- but the moment her scent hit him... all the chaos and fury that had been threatened to be released were extinguished.

Ruby eyes were wide open, transfixed on the sleeping woman that he had curled around on his left side. He could only see the back of her neck, head, and ears as she slept curled next to him but just knowing she was here to rise with him this morning was something he could hardly believe. He had to watch her breathing as if to remind himself that this was real and not another one of his hallucinations before his eyes finally relaxed and he settled his skull down on his forelimbs right beside her own. He didn't want to wake her, even though they had a lot to accomplish today. He knew he couldn't stay on Lirim territory forever, and that he was already likely well past his welcome.

He had every intention of sleeping in until she woke, but the subtle sound of heavy steps against the earth caused him to snap up his head and look out the entrance of the den. He knew the face of the one-eyed shadow immediately, but the red and white man in his company.. was a completely new face to him. He could already tell from his markings and eyes alone, though.. that this was his son. Elias didn't allow them to reach the entrance of the den, and instead, he immediately untangled himself from Zuriel as delicately as possible and stood in the clear space just outside. "Kane," he stated, his eyes lingering on him for a second before drifting over to his brother, "And you must be... Miach?"