they can haunt me all they want

Ophie was adamant that it wasn't Asla's fault, but the fawn colored fae felt otherwise. She could have done something. She could have made an effort. The woman gave her head a shake. "No, some of this is my fault. When she disappeared, I should have stepped up." 'She' referring to their mother. Asla hadn't minded that the woman was missing, but the younger batch of pups felt the loss of Zee. "Sirius went mad when she disappeared and that left all of you without any guidance. I picked up the slack for the pack, but I didn't pick up the slack for you." The fae's striped tail began to lash back and forth like an irritated cat as she mentally reflected upon her actions, or lack thereof. Eventually she gave her head a shake. "No matter how you feel about it, Ophelia, I'm sorry."

The girl was so... good. There was a sweet, shy purity to her. Something that Asla had never possessed. It was very endearing and it made her want to protect her chubby sister. Despite everything that had happened, Ophie still wanted a relationship with her. Asla's tall grey ears tucked for a moment. She didn't believe that she deserved a second chance, but she would accept it.

"You don't ever have to feel alone, okay?" Rising from her place at the edge of the stream, the smaller wolf stepped close to her sister. She didn't care that Ophie was dirty and probably a little smelly. "My den is always open to you and I'll make time whenever you need. If you want to work together to get this weight off, I'll do that for you too." Standing before her sister, Asla lifted one foreleg and motioned for the girl to come in close. What was that? Was Aslatiel offering an embrace to one of her younger siblings? One of the very siblings that she had threatened to drown on more than one occasion? Yes. Yes she was.

"Aslatiel Fatalis"