He wasn't supposed to be awake. He was supposed to be sleeping comfortably in his den, aside his mother, brother, and occasionally his father. It wasn't every night that Isardis slept in the den with them, but it was on occasion that the pallid sire would lay dow his head with his Queen and sons. None of that mattered though, for Kyarst Armada was very much where he shouldn't be. His chest and belly lay flat upon the marble rock of the wash. The moon shone down on he and the wash, illuminating the marble around him and the lighter grey of his topside. Atlas lay beside him, the penguin too was on his belly, a black blemish upon the stone. ?Why d'ya think it's like this?? queried the wolf, an ear twitching in anticipation of the fowl's response. ?Dunno,? came the uncertain, yet awe-ful, reply. Charcoal chin would rest on equally dark paws as he pondered what could have made the wash - why it glowed so vividly in the right light. Emerald eyes shifted along the striations in the rock, those that darkened or lightened it by a few hues. It was, for the most part, incredibly smooth - so much so that he'd fallen nearly a dozen times just to get to the central point he now lay upon. Of course, those dozen times may not have all been attributed to the slickness of the marble, for it was a well-known fact that Kyarst Armada wasn't the best on his paws. Many had told him that it was a habit he would outgrow, though deep down the boy wasn't quite sure he believed them. ?speak,?

Lysis Armada was finally growing stronger. As a young child, she had been sickly and frail, rarely seen and not spoken of as frequently as any of the other Armada children. But it seemed that spring's arrival would breathe a new life into the young girl, and confidence would begin to build in the child's mind. She would become more present, more sure of herself, slowly growing from a small thing into something that almost looked like an adult. Of course, she hadn't been around many wolves save for her own family. She knew of her own litter-mates, and she had seen other siblings briefly -- she had so many, and as her body grew stronger, her mind grew, too. And she began to want to really know her siblings, her father's other children. She had taken an interest in one of her younger brothers, a boy full of life and energy; Kyarst. She had seen him often, but hardly spoken to him at all. It would be the first time leaving her home, but she did so with ease and grace, trailing after his scent easily. She'd heard the rustling of clumsy paws against the earth, and she had carefully trailed after the boy, her mind alight with wonder and curiosity as she tread through the darkness and after him. It took all the control she could muster to not call out to him, to startle him in the darkness, but she was able to remain silent. They traveled farther than she could have anticipated, into a dry riverbed, with the moon and stars alone lightning their path. She would hide for some time under the cover of some underbrush, watching as the boy and his strange friend laid out comfortable. It was a long time before she made any noise, but when she finally parted her jaws to call to him, she found herself coming up with a much better idea. A slight smirk would pull at her lips and she would force out a low whimper, wondering if he would recognize her voice -- but likely not.

The cool of the night air would ruffle the fur on his back, electrifying his bodice. He liked the cold, thrived in it, in fact. The penguin did too. The two sat in silence, enjoying the cool of the night and the mystery of the glowing marble. A whimper would send a prickle up his spine, ears swiveled in automatic response. The voice was familiar - that of Glaciem, though he could not hope to narrow it down to a specific wolf. His father could have, had he been here. Kyarst would let out a low rumbling growl - though given his age and lack of maturity it wasn't nearly as low as it could have been. Nevertheless, it made him feel better. His tail twitched as he rose to his paws slowly to keep from falling. It was clear someone was nearby, but he couldn't see them. The penguin rose in tandem with the wolf, standing on two legs instead of four. ?You heard it too?? came the query of the chick. ?Yeah, over there.? His ears were keen enough to give him a direction, and he would move toward it slowly, allowing his head to instinctively fall in line with his spine. Front paws were tentative in their steps, as if the marble might crack underneath his feather-weight. In reality he was simply curious, remaining careful as he neared a potentially unknown wolf. Brazenly he would cease his pacing when he felt like he had gotten close, lifting his head up high and puffing his chest. Tail would flicker up and out behind him, the tip twitching with interest. ?The son of the King and Queen demands you show yourself,? it seemed arrogance flowed freely through the Armada bloodline. He would stand stock-still, his bodice as big and puffed up as it could possibly be. The wind ruffled his coat, swaying his bodice where he stood, but the child held fast to his place. Strong-willed as could be, Kyarst Armada would not move until the stranger was visible. ?speak,?

A long moment of silence would follow as Kyarst would analyze the sound. Through the darkness, her hazel-green eyes would search his face in the distance for a reaction. He was young -- considerably younger than herself -- and she was interested to see if he would recognize her immediately or not. She knew most of these wolves more than they knew her, of that she was sure; but that would be changing very quickly. She could not help but let a tiny giggle escape her parted lips at his reaction, growling as though he was preparing to stand and fight whoever had snuck up on him. His silhouette would become clearer as he stood and approached her, speaking confidently. It was no surprise, given he was an Armada; none of her siblings were meek children. For some time, she had been weak and frail, but she was growing stronger each day now, and her own ego was growing. How could it not, being the daughter of a King? He commanded she show herself, and her tail would flick behind her slender body in amusement. "And your sister demands you be a bit nicer to her," she commented sweetly as she stepped forward from the underbrush, smiling with the innocence only a child was capable of. "Unless you want father to know where you've been..."

The son of the King was anything but afraid, anything but smart enough to think about the consequences of being so brazen with an unknown wolf. Still, bravery was an Armada trait and he wore it well despite his size and obvious disadvantage. The penguin did not meet him at his side, but that was okay. Atlas wasn't exactly safe in a land inhabited by so many wolves, and it was understandable that he would not tag along with his friend - at least not while Kyarst couldn't adequately defend him. The pup stood alone, having voiced his demand he prepared to wait for however long it took. Patience was a virtue he had learned, but wasn't exactly fond of. Then a voice would come along with a figure. He blinked twice as his features softened, he knew this girl... Lysis - a half sister. She would tag on an ultimatum and his tail would flick back and forth with child-like innocence. ?You're not really gonna tell Da, are you?? Oh he would certainly be scolded for being out so late, for sneaking out and adventuring all on his own. He would most certainly be confined to the den for a day or more as punishment - and that was something that he didn't want to face. Kyarst would then make his smartest move yet. He would consciously tip both of his ears back against his skull, whilst craning his chin down an inch or two and shifting his handsome green eyes upward. His tail would tuck against his underside as his head dropped an inch or two. He would give her the most pitiful look he could conjure on a moment's notice, pleading with her heartstrings so that (hopefully) she would have no choice but to keep his secret. ?speak,?

How many siblings she had, she really was not sure -- she knew many of their names, even if she had not spoken of them, because she knew family was important. And so she had asked about them, watched them, from the protection of her den. Gaining strength and growing, and now she was nearly seven months old. Still a pup, but slowly nearing her full height, and maturing just as quickly as she ought to. Her eyes danced with amusement as she watched him, glad to spend time with a brother, even if he was only a half-sibling. It didn't really matter to her. Most of Glaciem was family to her, and she preferred it that way. A gentle smile would paint the pale girl's face, as she watched Kyarst's demeanor go from bold to pleading, as he all but begged her not to tell their father. She really didn't know if he would get in trouble; and he seemed oblivious to the fact that she might, too. Admittedly, he was rather cute as he cowered near her, ears flat against his skull and tail tucked between his legs. He was a cute child, even she would admit it, and she let another giggle spill from her lips at the sight of him. "Depends," she said, voice laced with slight mischievousness. Her tail would wave gently behind her, a graceful swish of creamy white fur in the near darkness. "Convince me!" She was not always the most playful of children, but she had been blessed with a femininity that often had an air of playfulness that couldn't be ignored. "What might I gain out of this, brother?" she teased with another soft laugh.

Lysis was one of the few half-siblings he recognized and could pick out of a lineup. There were so many that truthfully he was almost certain he'd never memorize all of their names and appearances. Still, he was glad he had gotten this one right, for it would be embarrassing to call someone by the wrong name. He would retain his pleading stance, waiting for her decision - and hoping it would be in his favor. He wasn't really sure how much trouble he might be in, but he suspected it would be enough to make him regret showing himself to her. There would be an ultimatum, it seemed she needed more convincing than his adorable exterior could provide. Mind would whirr as he tried to think of a plausible answer to her question, one that might throw a wrench into her own plans so that she couldn't hold it over him forever. ?You might be bigger and older, but I don't think Da would be pleased to know you were out this late either.? Despite his age, cleverness had already instilled itself in his mind. Yes, this technique would work far better than trying to look cute. Demeanor would instantly change, returning to one that was more confident and relaxed - more poised. He appeared more Armada as he stood there, daring her to disagree with him - daring her to prove him wrong. He knew she wouldn't rat him out, because in doing so she would tie the noose for herself. An ear would flicker back to the penguin, who was thus far keeping his golden beak shut - probably for fear of being eaten by the unknown wolf. Kyarst would remain silent, not yet willing to beckon him forth - at least not until this matter had been settled to his satisfaction. ?speak,?

She could not be happier than she was finally growing strong enough to adventure out on her own. Her body finally was hers, no longer afflicted with illness or weakness. Perhaps it had been a bit too soon to wander so far from home, but it was obvious the girl had little to fear. She watched Kyarst, eyes sparkling with interest that could not be denied. He looked so unlike her, and so unlike their father, and yet they were kin! It intrigued her for some reason; though the girl was bright, she was not yet mature enough to understand such complexities. His retort came quicker than she expected, surprising her -- but only minimally. Well, he certainly was quick for a child, wasn't he? A slight frown threatened to grace her soft features, but instead she would simply smile at him, her expression sweet. "Aren't you smart?" she would compliment him, revealing her teeth as her grin grew momentarily wider. "I guess it's best we keep this our little secret then, brother," she suggested gently. It would not be difficult, either. She knew her father could not keep track of all of his children at all hours of the day, even if he tried. She would settle on this agreement as she gazed at the boy's penguin, nose wrinkling a bit as she sniffed at the air. "Where'd you find that thing?" she would inquire, cocking her head to the left ever so slightly. Could you really find no better companion? she wanted badly to ask, but she remained silent.

She seemed to catch on quickly, and he would smile with gleeful pride in this, his small victory. In time he would come to relish in victories, both big and small - much like his sire. She agreed it was best to keep it a secret, and he would nod assuredly. He knew enough about his father to know that it wasn't wise to be caught misbehaving, and his mother was certainly no different. At times, she could even be worse. Lysis seemed to have noticed Atlas, which resulted in a quick chirp from the penguin's yellowed beak. Kyarst would toss his head back over his shoulder to gaze at him for a moment before answering her matter-of-factly. ?The Sound, there's a bunch down there - but he's the smartest.? He would yip once at the penguin, before his voice lifted into the air. ?C'mere Atlas, she won't bite.? He would tilt his head toward Lysis, a daring look in his eyes. ?Will you?? Emerald eyes flashed intensely, hinting that he would defend the penguin should she choose to act out against him. Atlas was his first and only friend, and that meant something to the boy. Atlas would raise up onto his feet, waddling toward the pair of them skeptically. You better not get me eaten, was all he could think as he crept up behind Kyarst. He was tall enough that he couldn't hide, but at least he could use the wolf pup as a shield from the larger female. Atlas imagined that, if she wanted to, she could still hurt him - but it didn't seem like she intended to. Chick fluff still lingered in surplus on his grayish underside, while his back was mostly smooth, slick feathers. Soon enough he'd look like an adult - just in a smaller frame. ?speak,?

Kyarst's companion was a strange creature, no doubt; she wondered if their father would allow the bird into Glaciem lands, to live among their family? It seemed odd that he might, but she was not so sure. He was not always the most predictable of men, even she knew that. Her mother, however, had been scarce as of late. And though it seemed her brother had outsmarted her, she would smile with all the charm a child her age could muster. So feminine and gentle were her features, as she watched her brother with bright eyes. "I see," she noted gently, her voice airy and light -- as though she was lost in thought, in careful deliberation. Lysis watched as the strange bird hobbled forward. "I would never hurt you, brother," she started with a soft giggle. "Nor anything that you treasure." And if he was so fond of the bird, so be it; it was clear by the guarded look on her face that she was not overly impressed. Her interest was minimal, given how her attention quickly shifted back to her younger brother. "Well... shall we explore?" It was an interesting land, the stone beneath her paws smooth and cool, and she wondered what else the land might offer them.

Lysis would confirm that she wouldn't hurt him, nor anything he cared about. He nodded in confirmation and understanding. She didn't seem overly interested in Atlas, but at least she had vowed not to hurt him. That was enough for the boy. 'Well, shall we explore?' He would smile and nod his head again, this time more eagerly. ?Yeah I haven't come out this far before.? The stone was indeed cool, and nearly as smooth as glass in places. It was interesting that anything in nature could seem so perfect, and yet here they stood. Kyarst would drop his muzzle to the marble, pressing his cold nose to the even colder stone and snuffing lightly. ?Why does this look different than the ground by our dens?? He hadn't quite figured out that it took different conditions and ingredients to make different results. Casually he would toss a forepaw forward and attempt to snag his nails on the marble, but it provided no surface to hold onto. ?I bet it would be easy to trip on this stuff,? he commented more to himself than anyone else. If anyone knew about tripping, it was he. He'd yet to grow into his large paws and lanky legs, though he didn't trip nearly as often anymore. ?speak,?

Lysis was not beyond flattery and slight manipulation -- as she had demonstrated, trying to make sure her half-brother would not tell on her for being out at such an hour -- but she was not the kind of child to want to truly harm family. Perhaps as she aged she would be capable of cruelty, but family pride had already been engrained in her, and she would not dare betray someone like Kyarst. Of course, the idea of tattling on her younger brother for being out late seemed like a very big deal to the girl, who was still innocent as a child could be at her age. Her tail would lash out happily behind her, a blur of white in the darkness of night. He admitted he hadn't been so far out before, and she nodded in agreement, admitting, "Yeah, me neither." It was a welcome change from the pines that she had come to know as home. The wash was more open, and being so exposed to the world was a bit nerve-wracking -- but thrilling at the same time. Though now, it seemed they were being watched only by the moon, which glimmered and sparkled brilliantly overhead, lighting their way as they peered around. "It is weird," she agreed about the stone. Teasingly she would lean forward, nudging her brother roughly, but not enough to make him fall. It was slick, and provided little surface area to grab onto if one was to fall. Dangerous, perhaps, but not if you found a more flat area to wander on. Still, she could play with him a bit, again -- she would never truly try to hurt him.

He breathed a sigh, a quick but deliberate exhalation of air, as his muzzle dipped to the marbled earth in curiosity. He hadn't paid attention to the movement of her pallid fur, that is until he was sprawled like a newborn deer - limbs pointing out in every direction - and sliding across the cool marble. With effort he would attempt to bring his limbs back underneath him, but the effort wasn't enough. His weight finally got the better of his momentum, and he slid to a stop only a few feet away from her. Instead of trying to stand again he lowered his chin to the marble and lay there, sprawled - trying his best to look defeated. No fair! he exclaimed with haste, his pride hurt more than anything else. He huffed his displeasure and then slowly pulled his limbs in toward his core, one at a time until he felt stable enough to try to move. He spread his toes wide and ambled back toward her, this time keeping a fair enough distance and a protective eye on his sister. One day I'm gonna be bigger than you... he voiced, as menacingly as he could muster. There was a twinkle of mischief in his eye as he said it though, proof that - at the moment - he would never dream of doing any real harm to her. speech,

How quickly the tone of their conversation had changed. Lysis had struggled to gain some ground over him, but his mind seemed just as quick as her own. But his body, however, was not quite so graceful! A slight giggle escaped her throat as she watched the younger boy falter, sliding down to his belly on the stone. If he had truly been hurt, she wouldn't have laughed, but he was fine -- merely looked a bit pathetic as he lay there. "I'd swear you had three front paws if I didn't know any better," she noted with another gentle giggle. Slowly he would stand and walk towards her, and she would lean to place a gentle lick on his face. "I know," she noted at his comment. Lysis would never be particularly large, but Kyarst was already her size, despite being younger. "But I'll always be prettier!" She was simply teasing, though part of her believed it -- she leaned again to nip at his forepaw before jerking away, knowing he would follow.