Missing Memories Bring Me Here

Ciná grumbled softly as he stretched in the half sleep he was going in and out of, wrapping his forelegs a little tighter around Tira as he settled back in and tucked his head into her soft, fluffy fur. He was terrible at taking mid-day naps like this and more often than not just laid with Tira while she slept, but he had gotten up extra early that day for a full patrol before breakfast so it felt more needed than usual. He still drifted in and out of sleep for a while, thinking of things that needed to be done or things that he'd like to do. At least that was the state he was in until a distant howl from the border roused him and pulled him from his nap. At first it didn't register that the call was for him. It wasn't a voice that he immediately recognized and it didn't feel directed at him specifically, but after a beat of listening he realized it was directed at someone like him–someone related to Ignis.

That got his attention and his golden eyes opened, tensing slightly as he laid there uncertainly while he decided if that was a call he even wanted to answer. Tira knew who his father was, but it was a secret he kept fairly close to his chest. He wouldn't deny it if someone asked, but he did his best to avoid identifying himself as Ignis' son when he could. It seemed like someone at least had a hunch that one of his children was here at least so he was sure he couldn't avoid whoever it was forever. Tira stirred a bit and he glanced down at her, waiting until she resettled before he began to gently slip his foreleg out from under her so he could quietly slip out of the den and back out into the sunlight. Giving himself a quick shake to smooth his fur and to break out of the last of his drowsiness, Ciná reluctantly turned toward the border and began to head in that direction to see who it was.

As he neared the edge of the territory that rested up against the Redbud Nook, he spotted the distinctive dark red, black, and tan markings that he hadn't laid eyes on since he parted ways with his family at the fall of Incindium. Zenith?" he questioned with disbelief as he got closer, looking at her uncertainly before quickly glancing around to make sure Ignis wasn't with her or that there wasn't more of their siblings accompanying her. Certain that she was alone, he refocused her gaze on her as he came to a stop in front of her. "What are you doing here?" he questioned, though his expression and the tension in his shoulders started to visibly relax a bit now that he saw that it was only his long lost sister. As much as he avoided association with his father, he held no real ill will toward his siblings and was truly more confused as to what brought her here or why she had called him just by their relation and not by his name if she had known he was here.

"Cináed"