It was weird to return home. He knew while he had been living in the Rapids that he had missed the pack. But he wasn’t entirely certain if it was this version he missed, or the one that had felt simpler in his childhood. The one where he had known and considered himself friend to all the wolves within the pack. But it was home, all the same, and he was glad to be there. He made his way out of the woods and into the Col. Taking in the sights and scents as he refamiliarised himself with the place. He wondered how many wolves had joined since he had been home last, and how many familiar faces? "Mortis"

Andy is lingering in the woods of her home, trying to get use the fact that the family is actually home. It isn’t that she doesn’t want to be here but, with their return, the glaring absence of her mother is felt all the more keenly by everyone. The family den still holds her scent in odd places and the small purple pup often finds herself searching for the small reminds of her beautiful mother. Dad has taken back his place as the leader of their family unit while they all navigate the waters of grief and the girl is proud of him.

Of their family, little Andromeda feels that she doing the best at adjusting to Zee’s absence. Small paws plod soundless through the thick vegetation as the cold, crisp air brings the promising of snow with it as it kisses her purple coat. Little Andy thinks of Zee as she goes, a small smile on her lips as she thinks of her mother. Maybe she is doing the best at adjusting because she doesn’t see it as her mother being gone. The small pup has choosen to see her mother in everything; from the starry night sky to the trees that give her shelter, Andy sees her mother everywhere she goes.

And, because she sees Zee everywhere, the girl is able to talk to her. True, she doesn’t answer back but at least it helps the girl feel a connection instead of the sharp sting of loss. Thoughts lazily meander through the girl’s mind as she walks soundlessly along when a flash of color among the trees pulls Andy’s attention from her musings and she pauses in a darkly shadowed, slightly hidden, area to watch. A huge, winged wolf makes his way through the trees and the small pup watches with an air of reverence.

Never, in her short life, has the girl seen anyone so… majestic. Paws pull her after the stranger, the scent of another pack reaching her nose as she silently trails him. Although he is a stranger and wears the scent of another pack, Andy cannot help but notice the telltale marks of the Fatalis line on his coat. That, along with the fact that he is colored similar to her parents, has the young pup confident in her assumpation that this wolf is a member of her family. Besides, the guards did not stop him so he must be allowed here… right?

As the tall wolf crosses into the Col, the sneaky pup finally breaks cover to race up beside him. Huge, pale blue eyes turn to look up at him and she stares. No words pass her lips as walks with beside him but a big, bright grin is on her lips as they go.


"Andromeda Fatalis"

It wasn’t long before a wolf of the pack found him. The scent of family teased his nostrils, but despite looking about, he didn’t see the owner of the familiar scent. He frowned, pausing, and watched as the purple wolf broke cover and trotted towards him. She walked right up to the winged boy, and looked up at him. He looked back at her, and the silence stretched between them as a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Purple coat, little horns… “Andromeda, right?” He hadn’t seen her since she had been a tiny jelly bean in the family den. But he remembered his siblings, both new and old. “Do you remember me?” He asked gently, though she might have been too young when he had left. They had been too young to have visibly unique personalities when he had been shipped off to Valta. So the question was, who was Andromeda now? "Mortis"

The tall, winged wolf pauses, catching her scent on the wind but unable to find her. Well, unable to find until she noisily breaks cover moments later to trot up alongside him. Wide, pale blue stare up at him with great wonder and, noticing the small smile that tugs at the corners of his lips, Andy breaks into a warm grin of her own. Tail begins to wag as he produces her name and the pup’s eyes round with astonishment at the fact that this really amazing wolf knows her name. Wordlessly, the girl nods her agreement while her mouth opens slightly in reverence.

Then he asks if she remembers him. Ears fold back as little Andy racks her brain, trying to find this wolf and his name among the short catalog of wolves she knows. Sheepishly, she shakes her head in the negative, saying softly, “I… I’m sorry but I don’t remember.” Was she supposed to? In fact, she is pretty sure if she had met him before, she would remember. I mean, real, live wings on a wolf! Clearing her throat and stalling the swirl of nonsensical thoughts in her mind, she politely introduces herself, “Uh, you can call me Andy... if you want. You… you’re one of us, right? My mom and dad are yours too?”

It is an innocent question, wrapped in the folly of a youth that is too enthralled with the stranger’s wings to remember that she has an older sibling that fits his description. The wing that is on her side has some feather’s that droop toward the earth and she slowly lifts a paw toward one, asking, “Do… do you’re wings molt like birds’ feathers do?” Andy does not take her eyes off the beautiful feathers as she slowly reaches toward them, remembering the way birds often molt in Spring time and wondering what he would look like if that happened. Wait… do wing feathers molt at all? Questions swirl in the youngster’s head.


"Andromeda Fatalis"

He felt less like a pack wolf returning home, and more like a stranger encroaching on unfamiliar territory. The Col hadn’t had time to settle as his home before he moved to the Rapids. He had been born in the Plains, and had lived there all his life. He smiled at the stranger who was his sister “That’s okay” He told her gently “you were very, very little at the time.” He admitted. Even naming her Andy had been a guess. Colours had been all that separated the little beans from each other at the time.now they had morphed into distinct, separate people. She had grown up when he was looking. “That’s right, little Andy” He agreed ‘I’m Mortis… your oldest brother” He managed to hide his grimace. The first born, and that pressure had followed him for years. “They do” He agreed, and brought one of his wings around, close enough for them to inspect. He had a quick look through them and stopped, pointing at one. “there, that one. If you pluck it, you can keep it” He told her. "Mortis"

Andy looks up at her brother with wide, wonder-filled eyes. He is handsome, striking, a beautiful blend of their mother and father and his wings feel like something out of a fairy tale. As she admits that she doesn’t remember him, he smiles and gently reassures her that was very little. His kindness has her offering him a small wag of her tail and soft smile before she goes to ask if they are related. It is silly question but one she needed to know for certain and he agrees which has her tail picking up pace. Then he offers his name and place in the birth order.

Cooing a sound of awe, she turns to the objects that her oldest brother wears since they have captured her attention since the moment she them; his wings. A purple paw lifts slowly toward the feathers and the girl scuttles back slightly as he brings the wing down for them to inspect closer. Quickly, she gets closer, inspecting the feathers while a breathy, “Wow” sounds from young Andy. He looks over the wing before pointing out a loose feather and the pup’s eyebrows shoot skyward as she eagerly reaches for the feather has been pointed out.

However, her paw suddenly falters as a thought crosses the young Andy’s mind and she looks up to Mortis once more, asking, “It won’t hurt you right? Because, if does, I can wait until it falls out its own.” Her features are serious and, while she would love to have one of her brother’s feathers right now, the lavender pup is unwilling to inflict any discomfort on her sibling. Pale eyes trail down to the feather that is slightly askew, waiting to hear what he has say while already thinking of how she could braid a black cord around the shaft and attach it to her scruff.  


"Andromeda Fatalis"