The evenings were growing as the winter went on, and while Balthier tried to just go on about his normal daily life, it was hard for him to ignore that the change was a bad sign. And he was secretly believing that the moon was some kind of message of his angry, dead parents.

As he went through the thicket, looking for a bird or rabbit to hunt, the floating blue lights that seemed to react like fireflies gently moved from the brush and the other parts when he disturbed them in his path. It was starting to become the norm even though they still put him on edge. Though he was focused on the task at hand.

"Balthier"

TABLE & CODE © SKELLE 2021
"Speech!"
Psalm had not been spending as much time with her brothers as of late... Their sister had disappeared and things had been kind of fractured ever since their father had left... Psalm had never really bounced back, she was able to go through the motions, even sometimes gave the impression of being alive, and had even had her sense of humor return but there was a quiet sadness to her. When the quiet rolled in it felt heavier, she didn't try to shrug it off instead seemed to allow herself to get folded into its soft embrace.

But with the oddness that had taken over the nights as of late some part of Psalm was desperate to find herself in the familiar comfort of her brothers. So while Balth was out looking for food his sister was looking for him, her attention drawn by the flitting of colors as lightly glowing animals would flee from her pawsteps.

Balthier had finished his hunt with a couple pheasants in his grasp as he made his way back to the den. He would prepare these for the stores they had in their large family den that somehow seemed so empty since  their father left. They had started to build up their own stores as what Allegro had left them was long gone by now. Though it seemed they still some how thrived with their skills if nothing else, they were able to care for one another.

He spotted Psalm head his way and he immediately met her half way. "Psalm," he spoke before putting the birds at his feet, "Is everything alright?" He questioned before doing a small shake of his pelt from traveling through the thicket. Blue fireflies had seemed to appear out of no where as if they were made from the air that was jostled up around him. His head lowered to the sight of them, but he was quick and easy to look back at his sister and pretend the world wasn't changing around them.

"Balthier"

TABLE & CODE © SKELLE 2021
"Speech!"
Psalm's heart soared a bit when she spotted her brother, picking up her pace a tiny bit to meet him halfway, she stopped before him and watched as he dropped some birds at their paws. She smiled in response to his greeting and shrugged, watching the softly glowing dots of light lift and drift away from them, her gaze searching the sky, trailing the tails the stars were painting in the sky and swallowing down the worry that rose in her once more, had the stars ever done that before?

"I guess I've just been uneasy as of late." She said trying not to worry him to much, her tone taking on a friendly, conversational sound. "Can't really blame me for wanting the company of my big brother can you?"  She stepped over the birds to rub up along his side and settle onto her haunches at his shoulder, leaning into his weight. "Sometimes I wonder if he was around if Dad would know anything about what's happening." Her words were softer now, not wanting to pour any more salt into the wound but as she stared up at the unwaning moon she couldn't help but wish he was here to help guide them.

Balthier stayed still while Psalm joined beside him, holding his body up like a strong pillar for her as his cheek gently went to relax on top of her head, "You are always welcome here with me." He assured with a smile. He had spent more time with Azzurra than Psalm but maybe that was because she had been so sick most of her life and Allegro had been with her almost all of that time. But he didn't care any less for Psalm.

Psalm had mentioned that maybe Allegro would have know more about what was happening, or more of what to do. "He..." Balthier struggled to continue on. He didn't want to sound harsh towards their father while it seemed Psalm had missed him or his guidance, but he couldn't help the feeling. Allegro abandoned them as Aranea had, and Balthier couldn't forgive him for that. "We will get through this, all of us." He assured her again but really they didn't know if this was just a phase or something that would last forever. "We have each other and the pack to help us."

"Balthier"

TABLE & CODE © SKELLE 2021
"Speech!"
Psalm knew her brother held resentment for their father, something that even now she couldn't bring herself to feel. Maybe it was the pain of it all, knowing her father had left without even telling her goodbye, it was still too raw, starting to heal over if only she wasn't poking and prodding at it. The girl sighed as she heard her brother's response. "You're right, sorry." She said softly, leaning into him still.

She glanced at the birds at her brother's paws. "Were those glowing when you caught them?" She asked, nodding at them. "Do you think they're safe to eat?"

Balthier

A breeze seems to blow through you rather than around you. You also find 3 crystals. Maybe these are worth keeping…

Psalm

You notice a nearby plant reflecting the purple glow of the moon. You also find 2 crystals. Maybe these are worth keeping…