Almost adults

It was no secret that their birthday was tomorrow so it had been difficult for Dusk to sleep. She had been speaking with her aunt Iolaire and had asked what birthdays were all about. The dark child had been informed that there was usually a party with food and family and presents. PRESENTS? Yes, food and family were fine, but presents?! Sleep had evaded the young Carpathius for a long while. Even the gentle sound of her sleeping siblings even breathing hadn't lulled her to sleep as it usually did. It was well into the night before Dusk was able to shut off her mind and find sleep.

Such expectancy and mental stimulation had Dusks consciousness on a hair trigger. The moment that her father's breathing changed and he began to stir, fire opal eyes shot open. She watched him prepare and, when he looked back at them, closed her eyes just to pretend that she was still asleep. Why? She couldn't rightly say, but she had done it. Dusk watched as her father left the room and was tempted to sneakily follow, but decided to stay where she was in the end. Besides... she was smack dab in the middle of a pile of brothers and sisters. It wouldn't be easy to get up without waking them.

Dusk waited and waited and waited and waited for the sun to show its face and for her family to wake. The very instant that her mother's voice sounded, the obsidian girl was on her paws. Talyssa roused the rest of them, but no one had needed to wake Dusk. No doubt she would be insanely tired later, but for now, she was wired for sound. As her earthen-hued sister was being dutiful, Dusk leaned up and kissed her mother's chin. "Morning, Momma!"

Together, the lot of them made their way downstairs and into the main hall. Dusks long, midnight tail swept back and forth over the stone floor as she made her way forward towards where her father sat. She ducked beneath his chin and gave him a kiss as well. "Morning, Dadda," the youngling greeted her sire, then stepped aside so the rest of the brood could do the same. Breakfast? Presents? A day all for herself? Did life get any better than that?

"Dusk Carpathius"