This Little Bird

The sudden paw on her shoulder made Satira jump a little bit, the contact making her realize she'd been staring absent-mindedly at the family before her, lost inside her own headspace. Startled blue eyes glanced up at her larger brother, seeing the reassuring expression on his face. He knew. He knew exactly how she felt and was offering his support. Tira gave Arcturus a tiny smile of gratitude, but said nothing. Indigo introduced the pup as Aia Skye Indarra. "That's a lovely name," Satira replied, doing her best to keep her emotions fully out of her expression and voice, though it was a challenge. Aslatiel invited them to come closer to meet their half-sister. Satira couldn't think of anything she wanted less. But the hopeful look in her mother's eyes when she said she wanted her whole family with her twisted the young girl's resolve. She knew what was expected of her and what her mother wanted. But could she give it to her?

Swallowing hard, Satira took one more glance up to her brother before resigning herself to playing her part for just a little while longer. The wolf-dog moved slowly forward, hesitating at the edge of Asla's birthing bed, but ultimately coming up to sit next to her mother by her head. Her gaze was transfixed down on the tiny purple girl, feeling the maelstrom of turbulent emotions thrashing about her heart. Tira wanted nothing more than to just leave, to walk away and forget everything she'd seen here today, continuing to pretend like nothing had changed even though everything had. A small smile forced itself over her lips; really, she was glad that her mother had been okay through the birthing process and that the pup had been born healthy. She could take a little solace in that. That helped her get through this moment. She had nothing to say though, simply offering her presence to her mother and uncle as they enjoyed their moment together, a fixture in her happy little caricature of a family when inside she felt as hollow as a marionette, just going wherever her strings were pulled.

She'd stay for as long as Asla wanted her to, but not a moment more.

"Satira"