The other day had been fun! Great fun. For the first time in ages. She had never experianced pure joy before, never really felt any sort of freedom. But this...this was wonderful! She wondered if they could go again. So on one particularly warm autumn day, she stared out at the ocean from the mouth of their den before turning to look back at her father. "Hey Daddy, wanna go swimmin?" She asked with a big toothy smile obviously inherited from the yellow marked Elementas. She wanted to go back to that big rock, wanted to feel the joy she had felt again. That adrenaline, the freedom, it was all so...addicting. And if her father was starting to loosen the chains a little, she would take up every opportunity. Including today with the oddly warm temperatures. "Probably be tha last time we can swim all year~" She said in a sing song voice, standing up on all four paws as she turned back to watch the waves lazily crash on the shore. It was a calm day, warm, the sky was big and bright and blue. What more could she ever ask for. "Talk" "You" Think

Current was further back in the den, her little paws twitching gently in the air above her and her back snugly tucked against the floor at the cave wall. She was clearly lost in a pleasant dream, something that involved chasing if the light twitches of her paws where anything to go by. Her muzzle hung slightly ajar and her breathing was a peaceful snore. She face twitched and her nose flared, her snoring ceased as a word snuck through the barrier of sleep. swimming? Where? she groaned and her eyes flicked reluctantly open. Her head rose from the floor and she found her father and sisters forms. She had woken in time to hear the last of Illie's argument and Current shot quickly to her feet. She wobbled over to where her family stood and grinned wolfishly at them both. “I wouldn't want to miss out on my last chance to swim for a year!” it was half a whine and half an excited yelp. "Talk" "You" Think

Voltage Elementas Voltage was hanging around today, generally like he did almost every day since his daughters were born. He was lounging in the den, his head in his paws and thinking about what his siblings might be up too. He missed them all, really. Ever since he had become a father he didn't seem to spend any more time with his siblings. He missed it, almost craved it. But when he felt large eyes settled on him, belonging only to a certain blue marked daughter of his, he knew he wouldn't be able to dwell on it much more. One the word "swim" he sighed and lifted his head, knowing he couldn't argue. This was about growing, about expanding his daughters horizons. About teaching trust and what not. So he'd look to her then, smiling as current awoke and trotted on over as well. Well, he couldn't say no now.… "Why don't the both of you go ahead...I'll wait here and watch."  He said with a smile. "speech"

Illie Skye would look out at the horizon again, watching the birds flee for the south and the tiny whisps of clouds move across the blue. Shed grin brightly when she heard Current's voice, turning towards her as she woke up and walked on over. It would definitely be more fun with her sister around! It always was. Lifting big blue eyes up to her father shed grin, waiting with a hopeful breath for her father to say yes. And he would right?? Right?! If not shed have to tell uncle glace on him! The yes finally came, however in a way that completely surprised her. They could go.…alone?! Turning large blue eyes to her sister shed grin brightly, not wasting any time jumping on this. "Alright! Let's go Rennie!" she cried happily, bounding out of the den and towards the ocean. "Talk" "You" Think

Currents eyes where wide with disbelief at their fathers words and she ran over to his side and kissed his cheek. “Your the best daddy ever!” she cried, offering him a brilliant smile before turning to grin at her sister. She was as eager to head out as Illie, afraid their father would change his mind before they could make their escape. “Last one to the water is a rotten egg!” she cried, already putting on a burst of speed as she raced away from the den and out towards the waters edge without once looking back at Voltage, no doubt he would have an expression of concern and she didn't want to see it. "Talk" "You" Think

Illie would run happily, as if completely carefree. She felt so happy...so light! To just have that little bit of freedom felt...amazing. Paws broke through black sand which steadily grew wetter as she approached the ocean quickly. She'd laugh, happily and loudly, as Current announced the loser was a rotten egg. Her smile seemed..permanent, and she, too, refused to look back at her father, knowing his look would make her feel...not guilty, more...angry. She hated how controlling he was. But it seemed to be getting better! Her paws broke water before she finally stopped, uncaring about whether or not she was the winner. "What should we do, Rennie?" She asked excitedly, turning to her yellow marked sister with the biggest grin on her lips. "Wanna go to that rock again?" She asked with a giggle, shuffling around on her paws and turning to her sister. "Talk" "You" Think

Illie had their fathers speed and energy and it was no surprise when her paws touched the ocean first. Not that Current minded, she adored her sister, adored being her shadow and following along with Illie's schemes. She laughed as the water splashed about her legs, as excited and carefree as her litter mate. When her sister asked what to do, she turned her face to Illie, and tilted her head, and waited a moment. Sure enough, she quickly put forth an idea and Current's face pulling into a wide grin. “lets do it! Just... promise me you wont let me sink, kay?” she asked, Illie was always stronger and faster and she looked up to her sister to look out for her. Illie was surely the better swimmer of the two, and she always felt better knowing Illume was there beside her. "Talk" "You" Think

Illume would giggle then, looking at her sister with delight and happiness. Current was always at her side, through thick and thin. She was always there to help Illie with her pranks, or to do fun things. Always there to listen as Illie complained about being cooped up and unable to do anything. That was, of course, when Current wasn't sleeping. She'd lean in then, pressing her nose to her sister's cheek. "I would never letcha sink." She said with a bright grin, nuzzling into the black and yellow fur before she jumped forward, splashing into the crystal blue water. "Imma beat'cha tho!" She said happily, laughing loudly as she kicked through the water, swimming towards the "big rock" that was their destination. The waters were calm, the waves were quiet. This was great! Everything was just....perfect. "Talk" "You" Think

She stilled as Illume turned her nose towards her and giggled at the brush of her sisters muzzle against her cheek. She shook her head to push away the tickling sensation and moved to go after her sister, trusting in her inexplicably. “You always beat me!” Current pointed out with a laugh, not a single trace of jealousy in her tone or bearing. They made good time swimming to the rocks and Current was careful to keep at her sisters side. In no time her mouth was hanging open and she began to pant and think longingly of sitting on the big rocks. They hadn't been swimming for long at all, but the sleep-loving Current didn't nearly have Illume's energy. When she reached the rocks she pulled herself onto them with over exaggerated relief, her happily wagging tail hidden in the water. She started to explore them then, moving around them with wet paws. It wasn't until she was nearly on the other side that she slipped with a startled yelp and slammed hard into the water, failing to swim as the slight impact knocked the breath out of her and stunned her. "Talk" "You" Think

Laughter continued to bubble from her, far too happy, far too excited to feel the slight pull under her paws as she cut through the water. Her muscles burned brilliantly, her breath coming in easy pants as she moved along. She always seemed to beat Current, not that they really cared. They both raced just to race, neither of the pair really dwelled on who won or lost the contest. She had reached the rocks first and pulled herself up, turning around to help her sister up as well. She could see her father in the distance, his yellow fur sticking out like black on white. Curiousity would fill her then, wondering what expression he was wearing. Anger? Concern? Fear? There was no way there would be pride or happiness, right? She'd lean forward, squinting her eyes to stare at him before... Blue eyes would grow so wide as the cry and splash cut through every happy emotion, every thought. It was like glass shattering, cutting through the air. Her jaws would part before she turned, spinning, towards the water. All she saw...was ripples. "Rennie!" She screamed then, leaping towards the edge of the rock and searching the deep black for any sign of her sister. I will not let you sink.. Her breath caught in her lungs before, a split second later, she leapt, falling into the depths. Only seconds had passed, but seconds mattered for the girls. Current would sink like a rock, and Illie was already exhausted from the trip there. She'd kick, holding the breath in her burning lungs as she cut through the water, searching for her. Though Current hadn't sunken too far down, it was enough to eat up her breath quite quickly. Paws would touch fur first, and she'd reach her sister, reaching forward to grasp onto her scruff and sacrificing her breath. Water would rush over her tongue and she'd panic, kicking in the direction she knew was up. Muscles burned as she pulled, yanked her sister and hoped to reach the top. Hoped to save her. Her squinting eyes were on the light that filtered above, praying that she might reach it to save them both. "Talk" "You" Think

Once she started sinking she realized with a flash of horror that there was no air in her lungs. The shock of the impact wore off and icy fear replaced it. She kicked and flailed but she had already lost her sense of what was up and what was down. Her lungs burned, and she lost all sense of thought and she learned something about herself in that moment that she never wanted to learn. In the moment of panic and a bad situation she was hopeless, unthinking, and her instincts did not save her. In fact, her sheer stupidity would be the death of her. She was already losing consciousness, ensured of her demise when a flash of blue shone out in the murky water Illume! she realized with a flash of hope. Suddenly ensured she wanted to live, adrenaline coursed through her body and her oxygen starved lungs burned with fire. She barely felt the fangs that snagged her coat, but suddenly she was moving, she was being pushed upwards and then, the open air was directly before her and her paws where scrambling across the rocks. She heaved herself up with strength she didn't realize she had and collapsed on the hard surface. She threw up water and was over taken by coughing fits, but between it all she was able to taken sweet blessed air. As she heaved and breathed and thanked all the stars in the sky, she realized with a start that her sister wasn't beside her. She turned, her head punishing her for the movement with an explosion of pain and light that she fought through as she looked for her sister. “Illume, Illume!” "Talk" "You" Think

They'd break water and she'd let go of Current, feeling her already flail towards the rock. "G-get up...on th-the rock, Rennie.." She panted, hacking at the water that had filled her throat, her paw touching the rock. She felt...weak, light headed. Her nose would nudge at Current's back paw, a small smile touching her lips when she knew her sister was safe. "I-It's o-okay..s-see...I promised...Rennie.." She whispered, her voice weak as she panted, wadding around the rock to find a good advantage point up before suddenly she gasped weakly. Suddenly...suddenly she was under, water filling her nose, her lungs as she was tugged by a current, deep under the water and pulled away from her precious rock. Flailing, she tried to reach the surface, tried to reach Rennie as her lungs, her brain, everything screamed in panic and for air. But she was pulled, fast, quickly, under the water. And everything...it all went black. -Exit Illie- (Please note: She can't be found. You can play out trying to find her but...she's gone.

Voltage sat at the mouth of the den, his eyes forever on his daughters. He watched as they swam, as they laughed and played. As they climbed on the rock. When Illie stared out at him, leaning forward, he would almost mirror her movements. His own eyes would narrow, watching them carefully. Then, suddenly. He was up in a flash, watching as Current slipped and fell into the ocean, and then illie would jump in after her. Ice fell over him, shivering through his veins. His blood felt like acid, rising in his lungs, and he bolted towards the water's edge. He didn't remember thinking of it, but a call, a scream for his brother, for his family, for Locha and Terrae, burst from his lungs before he was suddenly in the water. His daughters! Oh his little baby girls. It was all his fault, he had let them go out there alone. Sheer panic tightened his chest as he swam as quickly as he could towards the rock. Current would make an appearance before Voltage could reach the rock, but he would stare at her with wide eyes. She hacked and coughed...but she was okay. She was alive! Oh Current. He'd reach the rock, quickly climbing up to press kisses in his daughter's ear before it suddenly dawned on both of them, it seemed. Wide stormy eyes would stare out at the calm waters. There was no sign of white and blue, no large expectant eyes waiting for him. No grin, no teasing. Illie... A choked gasp would burst from his lungs as he stood fully, staring out at the water in shock. Illie..."Illume.." He breathed in panic, frozen to the rock with his daughter at his feet. "Glacier..." He whispered then, he screamed in a tight voice, turning his head and searching the shore, searching for his brother. Glacier could make this right. He'd turn back again, feeling the dread tumble through him. Oh dear god... "Illie!!" He screamed then, suddenly jumping forward, into the water to try and find her. But it was no use, no matter how many times he ducked in the water, no matter where he turned his head, or how many times he called her name.... Illie...illie. Illume! "Burn Baby Burn"

Her call went unanswered, and the soft last words her sister had whispered to her had gone unheard well Current had choked on water in the safety of the rocks. Current screamed her sisters name again “ILLUME” with need and desperation, and she touched a paw into the water before a tremor rocked through her body and her cowardice pulled her back. Frustrated tears shimmered against her eyelids as she stared at the hateful water and realized in but a moment she had come to despise and fear it. “GIVE MY SISTER BACK” she screamed, whacking a paw against the surface of the ocean before scrambling quickly back, heart hammering in her chest as through she expected the ocean to retaliate. In the next moment Voltage was beside her, but she recoiled from her fathers touch, her quite sobs racking her body as she was cowed into the hard rocks. Her father left her side then, as he should, this was all hear fault, her fault, she had done this. Current wrapped a paw about herself but didn't think her heart would ever be warm again. She watched her fathers desperate searching, but there was no hope in her eyes. She replayed the last moments in her head again, of her near death experience, of the image of Illume haloed against the water like an angel come to save her. Of her return to the surface, her scramble on the rocks, and the absence in her heart as Illume was taken from her, for ever. "Talk" "You" Think

The day was warm and peaceful, the heat of summer still lingering the air through he knew that soon it would be goon. The giant lounged in the shade, waiting with baited breath for summers last grip to fade and the more welcome cold seasons to arrive. That was how he would be found when Voltage's scream touched the air, calling for him, for Locha, for Terrea. That combination of wolves especially chilled him to the bone and he leaped from his posy and tore down the beach before his own movements had even registered in his mind. His reaction was instinct, Voltage's need calling to him as only his brother could.

Another cry would call out, this time summoning just Glacier, and then he would hear Current scream. A further burst of speed had him shaking the earth beneath his feet. He was a charging rhinoceros, a terrifying sight to behold and utterly unstoppable. He didn't even slow when he reached the ocean, pushing his last step into a leap and landing in the water with a tremendous splash before his powerful stride propelled him onward. He was on the rocks in moment, his eyes racking Current's body. He could see she was a mess, but unharmed, and was unable to offer her a moment before he leaped again into the water and was at Voltage's side. “Tell me what happened” his voice held authority, and calm, and logic, everything that made Glacier who he was as he gripped Voltage's shoulder with a paw of his own, demanding his brother answer him, so that he could fix this.

He could hear Current's wails, could hear her cries and he wanted to go to her. Wanted to gather her in his arms and kiss away  her tears. But he couldn't! Current was safe, she was upset but safe. Illie..oh, his baby girl. He'd continue the move through the water, searching the depths, searching for her. But as the seconds ticked on he knew...he felt it. Every second he couldn't find her it was more and more clear that....that he never would. Wide stormy eyes would gaze around, at the endless ocean that spread out before them. He couldn't...why had he been so stupid? Why had he let them go swimming alone!! He should have never ever let them out of his sight, away from arms length. Glacier was at his side in a second, in the water at his side, his paw on his shoulder. He'd turn his eyes towards him, wide and full of tears. Dread and fear painted his face, hopelessness...shock. "Sh-she's g-gone..." He gasped out, reaching out for his brother. He felt so weak, like he had never felt before. So hopeless, so lost. "Current fell in the water, and I-Illie jumped in too save h-her...and she's gone." His voice cracked, his breath caught in his throat as he began to shake, his eyes roving the water again. "I...let them swim...alone..." He sobbed softly. His little girl, his little light...would he never see her again? "I can't find her, Glace!" He said then, turning wide eyes to his brother as he began to fill and overfill with everything he felt. He needed his steady brother, needed the way his mind could remain calm even in a catastrophe. If anyone could figure this out, it would be Glacier. "I got here as fast as I could! I couldn't find her...I can't find her..." "Burn Baby Burn"

It didn't take long for the giant to get an idea of what had happened and his heart sank to the toes of his paws and closed his eyes for a moment before steeling himself. He must be strong, for Voltage and Current. “I will call Gale and Locha, Gale will search the bank and everywhere the ocean touches land, and Locha will search the waters, she knows them better then we do” he promised his brother, through he was afraid of what they might find. He pushed the thought aside, it didn't matter, if Illume was out there, they would find her. He raised his head and howled for Gale and Locha, his tone utterly, stonily clear that if they didn't appear in the next five minutes they would have hell to pay.

“I'll Take Current back to shore” he said softly, knowing he couldn't ask Voltage to stop searching even long enough to do that. He made his way back to the rocks, when he reached them his movements where slow and gentle as through approach a timid creature he didn't want to scare away. “Current, honey? Come here” he soothed gently, inching closer to the girl. Current whimpered, but otherwise didn't respond. Glacier sighed, swooped over and gently gripped Current by the back of her neck. The girl curled herself around the movement but otherwise offered no resistance. With her in his grasp he slid gently back into the water, feeling Current tremble and whimper as he did so. He was extremely careful to keep Current high above the water as he swam back to shore and placed her down gently on the sand. He curled his body around her then and looked about him to see where Voltage was at and for any sign of Gale and Locha.

Current watched as Glacier joined in and spoke to her dad. Glacier had only looked her way, he didn't approach before he had gone straight to Voltage to find the story. She folded further in on herself utterly certain the reason was that Glacier already knew, he already knew it was her fault and he was shunning her. How could she have done this? This was all her fault, if she hadn't needed saving, if she wasn't such a useless coward... if she had realized immediately that Illume wasn't beside her, then maybe she could have saved her too. Instead everyone was here, looking for Illume, and feeling broken hearted. Because of her, her sister was lost. When Glacier turned his attention to her she whimpered, and averted her gaze, pushing further into the rock. As much as she deserved the accusing stares Glacier was sure to throw her way, she didn't want to see them. When Glacier's tone was gentle and soothing, she grew angry. How dare he show her compassion! How dare he! Didn't he realize what she had done? She didn't answer, she found her throat blocked, her chest to hollow to find the words. When he scooped her up, she offered no complaint, even when he moved back to the water, bringing her with him to the deadly embrace of the sea, all she could offer was a shudder and a whimper. All the way back to shore, she expected the water to rise up and take them both, push her and bring innocent Glacier with her to their doom. When they landed safely on shore she was astounded, and found the energy to skitter back further from the ocean, until Glaciers large frame wound its way around her. She couldn't find it in herself to fight him, needing the support she didn't deserve, needing his large form to hide her from the ocean's glare. "Talk" "You" Think

Walk | Talk | Think The quiet comfort of the day was shattered the instant Gale heard her brother's call. Just the sound of it froze the grey and lavender girl in her tracks, made her body tense and her chest constrict with a painful dread. That was not the voice of a happy man. It was not even the voice of her brother. There was too much authority to it that made it sound loud and heavy, and the tone of urgency seemed so out of place for the lovely day they were having. But it left no question that something had gone wrong, that something was wrong, and because of that she moved without hesitation to answer him. She was glad speed was her specialty. She sprinted across the beach toward the shoreline without restraint, kicking up a trail of black sand as she went. All the while her thoughts ran mad with thoughts, possibilities, of what had happened, what she could be needed for. As much as she wanted it to be something silly, Gale knew from Glacier's tone that it was anything but. Spotting the hulking form of her brother striding out of the ocean, their little grey and yellow niece carried high by her scruff, the quick Aertus shifted course and dashed straight for him, calling out once, "Glacier!" She had to dig her paws into the sand to stop herself, causing another little spray of black sand, and though she fought to catch her breath, partly from her run but mostly because of the growing distress she felt, she looked down at Current and hurriedly asked as her ears tucked nervously against her head, "What happened?"

Normally he would spend an unusually warm autumn's day on the hunt for flowers blooming within the temperate hours, simply absorbing the pleasant warmth before the bleak of winter was upon him. Those were his plans, originally, though they all flung out of his mind as he heard the alarming howl of his brother. He had been so preoccupied as of lately that he had grown more distant from his family - an accepted fault that made the guilt intensify when the call sounded to his ears. Surely his brother wasn't summoning him for a matter at such immense urgency; he excepted a quiet approach though nothing compared to what he heard. No, it had to be something different. Completely different. The song brought a chill up his spine; had he ever heard such intonations in a howl? Whatever it was, he scrambled to his paws, leaving the cluttered herbs upon his den's floor and pelted to the source of the call, bringing a frightened hedgehog with him. It wasn't a sight he expected to see. He had arrived promptly after his sister, who was beside their brother. Curled around his large form was an exhausted niece, which made the healer's pounding heart jump to his throat. Where was the other girl? The ever-so-noticeable blue child who he had helped bring to the world? Craning his neck, he saw no sign of the pup, only his other brother on the rocks afar from the shore. A thought leaped into his racing mind. What if something had happened to them? What if it had happened because he hadn't spent any time with them? The possibility seemed ludicrous, though it didn't stop plaguing his thoughts, even after he tried to push it aside. Slowing his strides, he reluctantly approached the two, unsure and uncertain. Confusion and worry were scribbled all over his features, and though he remained silent, his body language and expression told it all. Like Gale, he needed to know what happened, in case his medicinal knowledge was in demand for. "Speech"