As the last traces of Halo, Whisper, and Warden vanished into the distance he couldn't deny that rather a large part of him wanted to break down and weep. There was still that boy inside of him, who had watched friend after friend abandon him. He and Halo had built something to last. He had to believe it would survive this distance.

He turned his attention to the remaining kids, trying to keep the wobble out of his voice. “Who wants a hug?” He asked. His wings were spread out either side of him, cupped inwards at the edges. The perfect place for any yearling to tuck themselves into.

He knew why Halo was doing it. It was clear that the trauma from the flood wasn't fading with Whisper. She needed space and time from the Armada. This was Halo's' idea, and he believed in her. But that didn't make this any easier.

Viridian eyes watched his mother, his littlest sister, and one of his brothers fade into the distance. Oleander didn't understand. They may have told him a hundred times, but he still couldn't understand. He was finally strong enough to play, to run, to roam... Did he keep his mother here? Now that he was strong enough was she sick of him? If he got sick again would she come back? Did they have to leave so she could focus on his siblings instead of him?

He was waiting for her to come back, to tell him it was a terrible prank... But they didn't, they kept going. Maybe if he proved that he could survive and even be stronger than both his taller bigger brothers she would come back...

When their father turned towards who was left and invited them for a hug Oleander watched the space where he had seen Halo, Whisper, and Warden last. He stood rooted to the spot, his eyes couldn't hide the growing sadness and stress. He had been tended to so closely through his sickly puppyhood that he suddenly felt so very alone.

He took a half step to follow them through the woods but huffed and turned around to his father's embrace. Not letting his tears show, burying his creamy face into the smoke and slates of his father's fur and feathers. He couldn't relax though and quickly slipped out of the hug. He nimbly hopped upon a low branch and then climbed into the upper canopy that could hold him. He hoped he could still see their forms but the leaves and trees around them all still obscured them from view.

Instead, he tried to hide from his family among the leaes, he didn't want them to worry how he was taking this and didn't want to show them his tears.

"Speech"

While Zion kind of understands the reasoning behind her mother, brother, and sister leaving, it does not erase the hurt and anxiety that weigh heavily on her shoulders, bowing them. Sorrow paints her features, pulling them down until a deep frown creases her lips. Their disappearing forms shimmer as tears steadily build in the girl’s lavender eyes and, when her winged father asks if they want a hug, all the yearling can do is sniffle.

Turning to Mortis, tears slipping free to roll slowly down her cheeks, Zion steps to the other side of her father, opposite of where Ollie steps up to and buries herself in the crook of his wing. This is safety and home and, as she buries her face into his fur, her body instinctively curling toward her dad as she yearns to held, the girl silently vows that she will do better in her studies so that her mother will be proud of her when she returns.

Zion feels her brother shift away from the embrace and, while she worries about him, the girl cannot seem to tear herself away from the warm hug to check on him. Small form trembles slightly as the tears continue to fall, spilling into her father’s fur as she remains hidden away from the world.


"Zion Fatalis"

Watching half his family walk away felt very much like watching his heart rip out of his chest and abandon him. He sniffled, trying to contain the tears. It didn’t work, and soon his cheeks were damp. When his father offered them all a hug, he leaned into his fathers wing for a moment, and then he leaned over and hugged Zion, kissing the top of his sister's head. In fact, he would hug any sibling that allowed him to. When he got to Oleander, he realised his brother had made his way up into the trees.

Wylan was a pretty good climber himself, and decided to follow after the other boy. His tear still dampened his face, and it made climbing a little harder. By the time he got to his brother's branch, he was a little wobbly. But he draped a wing over the smaller wolf. “We-we still have each-eachother.” He sniffed


"Speech"

Wynter couldn't really bring herself to watch her mother and two of her siblings walk away from them, standing near the group but keeping her eyes toward the ground instead. She didn't really know how to feel about their leaving. She was sad, of course, and she understood the reason why their mother felt the need to take their sister away, but she couldn't help but feel angry about it too. Angry that they were leaving, angry that Whisper was making this happen, angry that Warden had decided to go with them. She didn't want to be angry at them, but no matter how much she tried to focus on the sad instead the anger kept creeping back up. First her grandfather and now this?

Their dad turned toward them with he offer of a hug, his wings outstretched. Oleander and Zion leaned into their father right away, but Oleander quickly pulled away and went off into the trees for some reason and Wylan went after him. That just left her and her sister with their father and when she glanced up at her father she could see how upset he was. No mater how mad she was at this whole situation the last thing she wanted to do was make it harder on her dad. With a little sigh she stepped into the gap where Oleander had been in her father's embrace, leaning her head on his shoulder and gladly sinking into the familiar warmth of his feathers. She wished there was something they could have done to prevent this, but now all she could do was try and make things a little better where she could and hope they came back soon.

"Wynter Fatalis"