Wear It Like Armor

Satira shifted her tiny body to settle more comfortably into her father's when he slid down to wrap himself protectively around her. She appreciated the closeness of the cuddle; Satira had always been fond of physical affection as a means of showing love. It made her feel safe, wanted, loved. Nestled into her sire's striking white fur, she kept her teary blue gaze up on his face while he began to speak, explaining to her the things a child should never have had to worry about. He began by reiterating that she was as much a wolf as anyone else. Firm, strong, resolute words. It was easy to believe him when he said it like that. Then Mojito began to explain her heritage to her, starting with her grandfather, Mojito's father.

All the while Mojito spoke, Satira lay into her father's side, enthralled with his story. The other side of her bloodline that she never heard about. The family Klein, that was what she was as much as she was a Fatalis. The story of her grandparents' love story was touching. The revelation of why they looked different came to light then. Her grandfather, her father's father, was not a wolf, but a dog. Tira furrowed her brows in confusion. She'd never heard of a dog before... But if he wasn't a wolf, didn't that mean the boy in the woods was right? She wasn't a full-blooded wolf like her mother or brother, or any part of her Fatalis family. Mojito explained how the Klein side of their family didn't like the fact that they were wolf dogs, but Sirius had given him a chance the same as anyone else. Satira couldn't resist the proud smile creeping across her lips while she stared up at her dad, the lead healer of the Armada. She was always so proud of him and his station. Between him as lead healer and her mother as the Reaper, Tira had always felt like there was nothing she couldn't accomplish.

The most important lesson came when Mojito explained how the value of someone is determined by their actions and words, not the bloodline they come from or how they look. The fawn-furred girl sniffled back some fresh tears, but already she was beginning to feel better. She'd never really put any thought into why she looked different from all the rest of her family until she'd been teased for it, but having the answers helped her to understand the why. But it did bring with it all new questions. Satira giggled softly when Mojito ruffled and flipped the ears on her head that matched his, then burst into airy laughter when his cold nose dipped through the silky fur on her side to find bare skin. The pup squirmed and flailed her paws amidst laughter, beaming up at her dad with love in her tear-sparkling eyes. He always knew how to make her feel better, a quality she'd never take for granted ever again, not after she'd seen what had happened to Naiche. Satira couldn't bear the thought of ever losing her dad.

"Thank you, Daddy. I love you," she said and moved to nuzzle her face into his shoulder, soaking in his warm and loving presence. "You're never gonna leave me... right?" Although she didn't say it out loud, Naiche's death had shaken her foundation of what she thought was stable. Tira wasn't unfamiliar with death; she'd eaten plenty of prey they'd hunted and she'd nearly been killed by the giant snake—but the thought of one of her parents dying had felt impossible... until now. She peered up at Mojito with big pale blue eyes, looking for reassurance. And while they were on the topic of the unknown... "Um, Dad...? What's a dog?"

"Satira"