Hikaru returned with Mortis to their den, the mood seemed somber and almost uncertain despite the congratulatory remarks given to Aslatiel. Hikaru was proud of her for one, she was deserving from what he’d seen, but like the alpha pair had said he had no right to claim that statement. What mattered most was how it all effected his friend Mortis. He didn’t say anything when he lifted his smaller sister and the three of them were on their way. The koi wolf walked close beside him now as snow started to fall. The heavy flakes silenced the whole world and muffled the sounds of their movements. Hika shivered and bumped Mort supportively, and to duck underneath a well insulated wing. He was pretty sure Ophelia was still underneath the other wing.

He would silently offer his support, eager to listen if Mortis wished to speak. Darkness was falling, and though hard to see through the thick snow they were close to home. Hikaru tried to pick up the pace, and put on a sweet smile for his friend’s benefit. Maybe they all just needed to go and play in the snow. ”Fresh snow, what should we do in it?” He leapt ahead and turned about to face his best friend. His body in a play bow as his tail lashed at his hips and he grinned mischievously.

With Hika’s help, it was easy to deposit Oph onto the winged heirs back. He curled a wing upwards and over his sister, holding it humped over his back a little awkwardly. It offered Ophelia concealment and safety, he could see the young girl was even more overwhelmed then he was by the fighting. Seeing her cringe... in a weird, twisted sense, it made him like his sister even more. She was so much like he had been at her age. Shocked by violence, which made him an outcast to the Reapers brood.

Even as he comforted his sister, Hika comforted him, walking along under his other wing, and occasionally bumping into his side. After a moment, the white wolf broke away to run ahead into the snow. Mortis grinned, and wiggled down onto his bum. “Do you want to hop off and play in the snow, or stay on, Ophelia?” he asked. He could play with her on his back, or at his side.

It was a good thing that Mortis scooped her away cause she didn't really know what was good for her. She would have lingered by, winched and fretted when in reality nothing was stopping her from calling it quits. Instead she laid out on his back, her paws dangling as she nuzzled against the thick fur of his lower neck. She was cosy and comfortable were she was, and though the idea of getting down to play was kinda tempting she didn't wanna get down just yet. Her eyes flicked open and she let out a huff, not because she minded Hikaru's pretence at all. No! He was good and kind and had always been since they day they'd met, she liked the koi wolf almost as much as she liked Hanako.

Not that she'd dare say as much.

"Ophie. Mum only calls me that when I'm dirty." Which was right now, as always, but not the point she was trying to make.

He play bowed and she slipped a little, her form scooting closer to his neck. Maybe she ought to get down, she didn't want to get in the way of their fun...If anything she ought to take this chance to get right into the thick of it, to play as yearlings did!

"I wanna get down, please."

Hikaru was satisfied with the grin that Mortis managed to find as Hika was the one to initiate play. Usually he was sleepy and snuggly, and Mort was the one needing to burn energy off. Still, with how the siblings seemed to handle everything that happened at the challenge he wanted to get their minds off it. Why not have a romp in the thick falling snow?

Mort gave his sister the option of setting her on her feet, and after a long moment of thought she decided to join them. Maye they would have a fun little game of it after all. ”Haha!” Hikaru announced in triumph as he suddenly leapt up and did a quick circle around the pair. ”What do you want to play, Ophie?” Hikaru asked as he raced up Mort’s other side and came to a skidding halt in front of them while spraying snow everywhere.

“Down it is” Mortis said, and wiggled his butt closer to the work, unfolding his wing to give her a little slide to go down off his back. Once she was safely on solid ground, he crouched in a fighting pose, eyeing Hika as he pranced about the two. He turned to Oph, and whispered to his little sister. “Let’s rush Hika and take him down, yeah? On your count of three, you grab his tail, and i’ll grab his neck.” it seemed a cute, more fun fight then the one she had seen before. He didn’t want the idea of fighting to scar her for life.

He hoped putting a fun twist on some play would help soothe her mind, and distract her. He could only hope it would work. He wiggled his butt and waited to see if Oph would agree and start the count.