Mojito had maybe not been the most present father as of late, he'd left the Armada to join his daughter shortly before the endless night had set in proper and when it had his attention had become split, guilt over having just left the Armada, the only place in the whole world he'd ever felt he'd belonged and his new friend Satoru to fend for themselves during a plague and yet he also had to try and keep his small family in front of him safe and cared for. In truth it had made him kind of useless. He knew he had to do better, and could only hope it hadn't only caused things to be worse between him and his daughter.

He still wasn't certain he could fathom the idea of losing her even as he was aware of her looming second birthday when he'd finally be forced to choose if he could stomach not having her around all the time. For now, though, he wasn't going to focus on that yet. Today he was going to take Satira out looking for useful herbs, they had to be careful with their minimal stores, how much he would have given to have access to the shed still. But nothing for it. With the sun out plants were once more flourishing and frankly, it would have been a waste to not take this pleasant day and enjoy it with his daughter.



Speech

Art by Rivaah

So far, their new life out away from the Armada hadn't exactly been the wonderful adventures she'd been hoping for. As soon as they'd left, the eternal night had struck and shrouded the land in creepy and scary darkness. The glow that had once been mystical and bewildering to her became terrifying, and Satira spent almost all of her time hiding in the den with her family out in the woods. Through the darkest parts of the night, she wished they could go back home, back to the way things were, but it was too late for that now. She had to be brave, and strong, and supportive for her brother and mother. Her father had done the best he could for them—at least that's what she told herself—having to split his time between them and tending to sick wolves in the Armada. Tira wished he could have just stayed with them. Then she'd know he was safe and not going to die like Naiche had.

Eventually, the horrors of the night ended in the blaze of the rising sun. The world returned to normal. Satira finally allowed herself to leave the den again, wandering the woods near where her mother had set up a den of sorts in some gnarled trees. She was growing, almost an adolescent by now, and as the days crept closer and closer to her first birthday, it became obvious that little Satira would likely always remain little. She didn't care, of course. When she was with her parents, she felt like just the right size. Tira was milling about out in the sunshine, letting it warm her tawny coat all over while she rolled in the grass. Her mother was absent, off somewhere with her two new lovers most likely (yeah, she knew about all of that by now), leaving Tira and Arc to themselves. Her brother was off hunting insects and small critters, and she... she was just bored. She wanted to do something just to feel like she wasn't wasting away her time waiting for the next big thing to come to them. Little Tira was far too proactive for that.

"Satira Fatalis"

Snow paws carried the man over to his daughter, he knew he should probably also try and be more in her brother's life as well but he was warry to try and force himself in where there might still be too raw a wound. He certainly did not want to force the boy to think of him as a father figure if he was not amenable to that but for now he knew he had to at least reconnect with Satira.

"Up to anything important?" He asked as he approached, reaching to gently nuzzle at the girl. "If not want to join me on a little herb hunt?" He'd seen some meadowsweet around, which was always a good herb to have on hand, a few mature sprigs of lamb's ear could be found and maybe if they got lucky they could find a fully grown wintergreen plant or two, though he hoped he wouldn't need it anyways. Better safe than sorry.



Speech

Art by Rivaah

The sound of gently approaching paws made Satira's floppy ears perk up, tiny head turning to face a bright smile towards her sire. "Hi Daddy!" she greeted with glee, reaching back up to receive his affectionate nuzzle and meet it with one of her own. Even as she approached her first birthday, Tira's height had remained minuscule, hinting that she would in no cases ever be a large wolf. That suited her just fine. "I'm not doing anything. Just sitting around." Being bored... she added in her head, but not out loud.

When Mojito asked if she wanted to go on a herb hunt, the little girl practically exploded with joy. She yapped in happiness and bounced up to her tiny paws, little fluffy tail wagging like crazy behind her. "Ooooooh, yes please! I wanna help find some herbs with you!" she cheered, all but bouncing around her father with a spring in every step. "What are we looking for, Daddy? I know a bunch of different plants now!" Well ,she at least knew the basics, whatever she'd learned from him and from what she'd seen lying around in the Armada's stores.

"Satira Fatalis"