The sun made the heat rain down like no tomorrow, but it hit the woman like no other day. She was an adult now, and things around her were growing wary. The leadership had changed again, and after her training in amenti she had other thoughts about herself and where she was needed. Seracia had many, many strong wolves, many strong healers. She was only one out of many, and she wanted to be one to make her own story, strong valiant. Someone to look up to even if she hadn't got the fighting part down quiet just yet. Of course she would stay clear away from the glaciems, and whatever they claimed was "theirs" she'd keep herself safe, come visit. Yet the first task was telling her parents about the decision she had made and if they'd accept it. Then there was the task of speaking to destruction whom she barely even knew. But her thoughts were pure. The thirty six inch girl stood at the edge of the fence, setting out a call for Epiphron and Maverick. While ex king and queen, they were still her parents and they meant the world to her like her siblings did. She sat down on her hind legs, crystal blue eyes resembling her real father perfectly. Now her coat had grown in fully, with silky short summer fur. White over her chest and stomach along with on her right eye. Her black tail tip flicked as she gave a kind smile. Her own adventure, just thinking about it made her excited. She only hoped she'd be allowed to do so. It wasn't an easy matter she knew for sure. Arian took in a deep breath for herself. TALK LIKE THIS

Things had changed, rather drastically over the last few seasons, and Epiphron knew her children were being affected just as much as she had been. The Kindom of Seracia was morphing slowly into something new. Somehow it was both strange and familiar at the same time, something that she never could've expected. And Maverick had been just as restless as herself lately, so they had decided a change would be in order. They would not stay here, but their absence might not be permanent -- all they had to do was tell their children. The youngest, she hoped would stay with them, or at least here. They were not yet a year old, far too small to live on their own, but her eldest she new she could no longer control. She'd been hesitant to approach any of them, but Arian's call was a welcome opportunity to discuss her decision with the young girl. She had been family almost as soon as she had met her, taken it with little hesitation, and the fact that she was adopted had almost never come up again in conversation. It was a minor detail, one that could be easily overlooked; Arian even looked similar to her parents, and her temperament was not so different from their own. The woman's neck would crane in her daughter's direction at the girl's lovely call, and she would not hesitant to respond to it with a short howl of her own. It wasn't long at all before she drew up near the girl, quickly pressing her cool nose to Arian's neck. To her children, her affections were never withheld, and she smiled gently at the girl. She was still a child to her, despite the fact that she was larger than even herself -- she always would be. "Arian," she greeted her, leaning to lick the side of her face gingerly. "I have missed you, my daughter."

The broken fence provided some slight comfort among the weeping tree's, as Arian saw her mother, shorter than her(when had that happened?) come out of the shadows. It seemed like yesterday Epiphron was so much bigger so was maverick carrying her around on their backs, playing with her. Now look where they were, and Arian also wondered what her father had been like to Epiphron. If Natsu had been a true warrior, and if he had been a great man despite the way he was murdered out in front of her. The memory etched into her head like hot sand, she now understood fully well what had happened and while it scarred her heart she would stay strong and true to herself no matter what. She would accept the affection as always tail making a steady wag back and forth for her mother. Arian gave a small grumble of a growl happily as she returned it with a lick across her cheek. "Mom, I'm glad I caught you finally. I missed you too, and I have to tell you your brother is scary." she chuckled giving a shiver to when she had seen syrinx. Though she was unaware of what had happened to amenti after she returned home for sure. Though her expression changed, the left eyed white patch shining at the woman. "Mom....Is it alright if I ask about my real father? Natsu. You knew him didn't you?" she wanted to know before she said anything about wanting to leave. And of course, it weighed heavy on her heart for that. TALK LIKE THIS

As usual he had been around, choosing to keep his frame hidden from most except for his family. Seracia didn't feel like home anymore, didn't feel like the place his father had built, the place he had molded into his own. The decision had been made, and now came the hard part. At one point in his life the hardest part would have been deciding to leave, but that had come easy. Now the hard part would be telling the children. The older ones would have the option of choosing their own way, and perhaps the younger ones who were nearly half grown by now too. It would all depend on their reaction. Their life was theirs to live, Maverick would not change their choices unless their lives were in danger. Arian's call lifted his ears to attention, and swiftly he would hasten to her side. Epiphron was already there, and for a moment he admired them - out of sight. They were beautiful, his beloved wife and daughter. Despite her lack of blood relation, Arian was as much his child as any of the others, and he loved her just the same. After a moment he would bring his side to Epiphron's, leaning into her and offering a chuff of greeting to them both. Arian was asking about her father, and with interest Maverick would listen. He didn't know the man, and thus had little information to offer. Speech,

Epiphron could not be happier to hear Arian call her mother, with no hesitation or wariness in her voice. Epiphron herself had grown up with adopted siblings, and had consider them as much family as her birth siblings, and considered Erani her mother in some sense. And yet -- she couldn't help but fear that Arian would not integrate as well into her growing family. Luckily, the bright girl had proved her wrong. And yet it seemed something was on the girl's mind. It was easy for a mother to notice the slight unsureness in her daughter's eyes, but she would wait for her to speak her mind and not push it out of her. Still, she could not help but nuzzle her daughter and pull her into a gentle embrace. A laugh escaped her throat as Arian admitted her brother was scary. "I know," she noted gently. He was not Maverick's favorite, either; but he would never harm anyone that Epiphron loved. There were few things she was certain about, regarding Syrinx, but that was one of them. "But I can promise you, he will always protect you. Even if he doesn't seem very nice." Even if only because she had been adopted by Epiphron. "How was your time away?" Her attention focused briefly on Maverick, who had approached quietly, listening. "You can ask whatever you'd like, Arian," she offered lovingly. She was old enough know, and she'd always understood that she and Maverick were not her birth parents. "I didn't know him for long, as I had left my own pack to come here and marry Maverick shortly after he joined, but he was a fine man. One of the most honorable men I'd ever met." She remembered him fondly. He'd been awed at the stories of Valhalla's greatness, at her own family -- especially her father. It was a shame that he was no longer with them, and she quietly bowed her head as though offering a moment of silence for him.