but you mustn't

Dalila was swift to turn Siren’s compliment back on her and the hermit princess felt herself thankful again. The servant girl was exactly what Siren needed, a bolster to her confidence and her ego, the perfect tool to help shape her to the perfect example of what Chimera expected of her. She was eager to assure the tiny princess as well. Whenever she called Dalila would be there, ready and willing to reach any and all of her highest shelves. Siren managed a grin in thanks before returning to her more comfortable blank expression.

The comfort of knowing she would have the woman to rely on helped ease much of Siren’s woes. She didn’t enjoy socializing, but she was still a wolf and needed company. Chimera was there for her, but it was different. He was her protector and caretaker, he was distant. Dalila was the complete opposite, she was Siren’s companion. She never had to be alone because the loyal spotted woman was right there.

More forcefully than Siren expected Dalila took the job of digging entirely for herself. Siren well and truly had no problem with dirt, she had been an earthen child as she grew up. She remembered Chimera’s words. She was a princess, and proper for her stature Siren couldn’t be playing in the mud any longer. Still, she didn’t have to just stand and look pretty. Dalila offered her a job and the young Klein nodded dutifully. She gathered the bucket and the dirt as the speckled woman dug out the alcoves.

Siren kept the floor mostly free of the excess dirt, her long furred paws easily sweeping the dirt away. She was given cause to pause as Dalila offered a question carefully. Dual toned eyes looked up towards the woman but she averted her gaze as she asked about Chi. ”Yes, always.” Siren returned softly. ”He’s changed a lot since we were puppies.” That was the truth and more. He’d been a lot different with her when they were younger. When Mortis took her to the Armada… that was when her brother began to shift. "You may speak freely. I know he's more than just gruff." She touched her lip absently where an old scare still remained.