tempting newborns

Dusks eyes widened as Zeph called her pretty. The girl had never thought of herself as pretty. She was just black. Later on in life she would gain faint, smoky stripes, but for now, just straight black. The bird claimed that she didn't need feathers, and she watched as he rummaged around in his plumage until he chose a feather and plucked it out. The girl's eyes practically bulged out of her skull and her mouth dropped open as he placed the gleaming obsidian feather behind one of her ears. It was the nicest gift she'd ever received and it honestly almost made her cry. Dusks lower lip quivered for a moment and she launched herself forward, embracing the giant avian as best as she could while mashing her cheek into the feathers of his chest. "Oh, thank you! You're the best big brother ever!" And no one could convince her otherwise.

Still mesmerized by the fact that Zephyr had given her a whole feather, it took her a moment to realize that he was talking to her. "Hmm? OH!" The pup hopped back and hunkered close to the ground, pretending like she was stalking something. "I like to play Predator and Prey. I'm aaaaalways the predator because I'm going to be the best fighter in The Hallows some day!" Dusk then seated herself and looked up to the bird, her head canting slightly to the side. Normally she was full of confidence, but as she looked at him, there was vulnerability in her blood orange gaze. "Do you think I could be? The best fighter, I mean." Since he was the best big brother, his opinion truly mattered to the girl. He had mentioned Hide and Seek while she had been thinking, but Dusk ignored that for now. Maybe once he soothed her worries, she'd be willing to play.

"Dusk Carpathius"