The old Destruction lay sprawled out on the old worn rocks during the point the sun would have been highest in the sky. She could tell the clouds covered its warm shine as the snow collected in her chocolate fur. She was taking a few long moments to herself in the old pack lands. So many years had passed since she had been a member here, but she could still recall Bass’s confident form standing in front of his fledgling pack. So much had happened between then and now. She tried not to think much of those days, though the memories were dear they were hard. She hated thinking back because she could never have those days back. She had her suspicions since her return that she was likely the last of their siblings still living. Rhythm hadn’t asked about Bass or Harmony, but they hadn’t walked these paths in a long time. A heavy sigh left her lips as she hung her head over the edge, listening to the icy water run and reliving memories from years gone by. ""

Peggy hadn't joined the wedding festivities for her cousin. It still felt strange to think of people she hardly knew as her cousins, people who were so much older than she was, and she just hadn't felt comfortable with intruding on their day. She chose instead to take up a patrol of the pack lands, to let people they knew and cared for join them in celebrating instead without worrying about the pack lands being unprotected. As the reception wound down, though, she found herself wandering along the rapids towards her mother's grave beneath the willow. Before she finished the walk, however, she became aware of an unfamiliar form basking on the rocks near the rapids, and she stopped to watch them warily. Visiting with her mother still felt like a private affair, and the idea of continuing on her way with a stranger there didn't feel right. Quite likely she was a guest of Vail's, wandered away from the reception, so she was welcome in the pack lands, but that didn't mean that she was necessarily supposed to be wandering around. Cautiously friendly, Peggy approached the elderly female. "Hello," she greeted her with a firm but friendly manner. "Are you here for Vail's wedding?"

""

With tail flicking absently behind her and Rhythm’s ears perked towards the water the old she wolf found herself oddly comfortable on the rocks. The cold of the winter was rough on her arthritis, but she still loved the cold crisp air and the icy snow. She even wore a soft smile on her face, and she felt rather at home so far from home. Rhythm didn’t hear the she wolf approach, but her voice was as clear as the air. The old Destruction felt her heart stop suddenly as she froze. Harmony? She lifted her head and turned her features where the voice came from, her ears tuned directly at the young girl. Of course even if their voices were similar the scent she recieved was all wrong. Rhythm had no doubt this was some niece or great niece, but not her sister. Rhythm deflated a bit, but her smile didn’t falter as she recovered inwardly. "Hello," she managed without any disappointment. "I am." Though Shaye would have welcomed her into the borders on any day not just her sister’s wedding. "I’m Rhythm, Vail’s aunt." She introduced herself, hoping the girl would reveal her lineage. ""

The earthen-coated female turned her head toward Peggy's words, and Peggy was startled to find that the woman's gaze was unfocused and cloudy, her sight clearly gone. She had a ready smile for a stranger, though, and Peggy tentatively returned it despite knowing the woman couldn't see it. But it was the woman's self introduction that set Peggy back on her heels in surprise. Rhythm? Vail's aunt? Unless Vail and Shaye happened to have two Aunt Rhythms, one on either side of their bloodline, this could only be Rhythm Destruction, Peggy's mother's sister. Peggy dropped abruptly to sit on her haunches. "Oh, uhm, well in that case hello. I'm Arpeggio Destruction, your niece. My mother was Harmony." Her ears flicked back unbidden in the grief that the 'was' still caused her, but she just turned her head slightly to the side to study the ground there until the choking feeling in her throat passed. "It's really nice to meet you, Aunt Rhythm."

""

Rhythm’s dark ears twitched as she thought she heard the girl sit suddenly. She too realised the connection it seemed, as she spoke soon after. Arpeggio, her niece and Harmony’s daughter. She didn’t miss the ‘was’ in her niece’s phrase, but she hadn’t really expected much different. She thought she heard pain similar to the one that went through her heart as the young Destruction subtly gave her the news. She let herself observe the moment of silence, her ears to her skull as she assumed Peggy was collecting herself. The smile had faded as her unseeing gaze shifted to the ground. The girl spoke again, her words soft and polite as she said them. "It’s nice to meet you too, Arpeggio. I’m sorry it wasn’t sooner." Rhythm replied quietly, unwilling to break the somber mood that fell over them. "Do you have any siblings?" She asked, genuinely curious to hear if she had more nieces or nephews to seek out. ""

The quiet, blind woman spoke with what was clear sympathy in her voice, but Arpeggio just turned her head to the side. Not quite rejecting the sympathy, but rejecting the emotions that it twisted up inside her. She didn't want sympathy right now, though maybe she should be offering it to this elder. Harmony had been her sister, after all. But she couldn't bring herself to speak past the lump in her throat, and remained silent. After a moment, Rhythm asked about her siblings. This was a safer question, and Peggy was able to draw a breath and dispel the tangle of emotions. "Yes, I have four siblings, all of us the same litter. Forte, Timbre, Cadence, and Sonata. Mom didn't think she could have kids, so we were a bit of a surprise." She went quiet again for a moment, then added, "The rest of them are still back at home with our father. He's getting up in years too and some of us needed to stay with him to take care of him, though I think he might choose to go live with the pack he grew up in. Some of my siblings might come here if he does."

She didn’t blame Peggy for not continuing the conversation about her mother. She had no doubt it was still quite the sore spot. Rhythm let the topic drop and resigned to mourne on her own when she was next alone. Alone. There were no more brothers and sisters left, Rhythm really was the last of the generation. The end of an age, and again she felt a longing for days gone by. When she first appeared in Boreas, of finding her brother with a newly formed pack. Chord coming to visit her during his adventures. She mentally shook herself of the thoughts as her niece answered the easier question. Indeed there were more siblings. She added the names to her memory as Peggy mentioned Harmony not even thinking she could bear children. She wasn’t sure if she remembered having the conversation with her sister or not, but she was glad she’d been blessed with the litter before she passed. "I look forward to meeting them as well." She mentioned. "What is your father like?" She asked innocently, wondering what kind of man had wooed her sister. ""