300+ Private for Ghita! Set at Riunione Beach.



It was still rather early in the morning, earlier than Ehno usually preferred, but the male had spent the entire night roaming the eastern plains near the pack lands and had simply chosen to stay up to watch the sun rise. The night had been filled with nothing more than mindless exploration, but it was exactly what he needed. His wandering had calmed himself considerably, the perfect remedy for his wildly racing thoughts. This, combined with his unusual lack of sleep, left him feeling comfortably numb as he watched the sun crawl upwards in the eastern sky. He had finally dragged himself back to Crimson Dreams lands, but he had still refused to go anywhere near the mansion. He would hate to disturb that calmness of mind just yet. So the male had traveled along the southern areas of the pack lands, deciding to spend some time at the shore as he had intended to days before.



It was quiet here on the Dreamers’ sandy beach, the most peaceful area of the pack lands in the Marino’s opinion. It was the perfect place to idly spend the first few hours of the morning. Ehno sat a few paces from the shore, amber eyes watching the waves softly lap against the shore’s sands. He had shifted to his lupus form for its comfort and familiarity. By now, Ehno was equally comfortable to be in his bipedal form, but he would always feel more relaxed in his natural form. All those months on the road in his optime form could never beat out the love of his four-legged form taught to him by his birth pack. The Lieutenant silently pushed some of the soft sand around with one paw, contemplating what he would do next. He knew eventually he would have to face the conversations he had been thus far avoiding. But for now, he was content to sit by the ocean and bide his time. If he could enjoy even just a few more minutes of this numb peace, he would be happy. There would be plenty of things to busy himself with later in the day.

Sorry it took so long! >< And it's a short one, sorry again! Wc: 300+



She had spent most of yesterday down at the beach with Jazper, but she still could not resist the pulling of the tide. She had made a promise to herself earlier on when she joined Crimson Dreams that she would take full advantage of having a beach in her backyard, which included swimming, something she hadn't done yet. And since the weather was taking a turn for the colder, Ghita figured that sooner was better than later. Dainty paws travelled over grass and sand alike, following the sound of the ocean until she could smell the salt explode on her tongue.



She had expected an empty beach, devoid of other Luperci from her pack. After all, it was early in the day; So early in fact that the sun was just beginning to rise over the watery horizon, mirror orbs illuminating the nature it watched over. A silhouette blocked vermillion rays from reaching her pelt, the long ebony shadow reaching up to her small chest. The figure looked larger than she was, so she approached cautiously, almost silent with her ears bent against her cranium. What little wind there was was sending his scent towards her, and once it swirled around in her nostrils a few times, she straightened up and padded forward, the need for secrecy evaporated.



"Ehno - hi! Early." She was only a dozen pawsteps away, coming at her brother from a south-east angle in relation to him. Finally reaching her side, that was exactly where she stayed - Ghita wasn't an overly affectionate Luperci. The wind blew her silver-tipped fur back behind her; the new sun dancing off of her many piercings, staining them a light pink color mixed with tangerine. She sensed something was up with her brother, but wasn't one to pry about personal issues. If Ehno had something to tell her, he would. And she hoped Ehno knew that however many times she had run out on them, she was here now, for anything he'd need.

400+ Don't be sorry! I took even longer.



Ehno watched the fiery orb slip slowly over the line of the horizon quietly, eyes squinting at the bright light. It was a beautiful sight, he could admit that, but it did nothing to make him like these early hours any more. Everything right now held a sleepy energy, making the life all around him seem subdued, despite the bright morning sunshine. Give things a few more hours, and all of the creatures would feel more awake. That was the time of day Ehno liked best, when the world shook of its veil of sleep from the night before and went about with a renewed sort of energy. The wolves and birds and various prey animals seemed to be at their peak at that time of day. Speaking of prey, Ehno hadn’t gone hunting in some time. His mindless wandering had made him forget just how hungry he was. Maybe he would go for a little hunt later in the day. It would clear his mind, and dealing with the conversations he had in store in the future would be a much easier task with a full belly.



The Marino didn’t realize that he was no longer alone until someone approached him closely. Amber gaze drifted from the rising sun to the approaching figure as she spoke, recognizing the multi-hued coat and various piercings of his sister Ghita. He found himself smiling as she came to sit alongside him. He was glad that his nomadic sibling had come to join the pack once more. He had been so worried when she had disappeared without a word, but she was back now to spend time with her family, that was all that mattered. That thought reminded him of his newly developed situation. Ehno would need to tell her about his pups too. He wondered what her reaction would be, a small bit of worry creeping into his belly and making it do flips. He wouldn’t bring it up right away. The Italian man needed to calm down first; letting that silly worry of his get in the way wasn’t going to help. Ehno sat up and flashed a smile at his sibling. “Si, very early,” he commented. "La sono come, Ghita? Non guardare il sorgere del sole con me?" He knew his sibling was trying to learn the native language around here, but he couldn’t help but slip into their own native tongue while speaking with her, though he knew speaking in English more often would be better to help her learn.

That's okay - I was babysitting my brother a lot and just found some time now to reply. Wc: 500+



She felt uplifted by the smile he gave to her - she couldn't help it. To Ghita, being around her family was a novelty that she had thrown away too easily, and all the more regrettably. To Savina, she had made a vow that she would hold her part of the family together, and not leave again if she could help it. How much more Ghita could take, she was unsure, but Ghita would weather out the storm the best she could, with her family now beside her.



She thought about all of this as the large glittering orb threw its solar tendrils onto the sand, leaving the crevices that two pairs of paws had dug into the watery ground. The light sparkled in her turquoise eyes as she stared into his, noticing that the amber optics seemed more troubled than usual. Concern flitted through her eyes faster than the wind raced through her silver fur, grabbing at the passersby to no avail. Around her paws were ivory hairs; a pattern that humans would call toe socks, as the fur did just that - coat her toes and claws. Those milky hairs showed the sand that clung to them all the more prominently, the darker browns and silvers hiding the dirt from anyone who peered.



At first, she appreciated the effort that Ehno made to help her with English. After all, she could count the amount of wolves who knew her native tongue on two paws, almost nothing compared to the rest of the pack. Also, she knew that Savina would be happy, if not proud, if Ghita could learn to master the tongue that her pack was used to using. They were in a new land now, new memories were to be made, and new starts could be found for those who searched. It seemed only fitting to categorize her lives into two distinct categories - Italian and English. However, she wasn't surprised or disappointed when Ehno slipped into the natural Italian that danced across their tongues. It was the language that had supported them through their childhood, one that would be hard to leave behind.



Sto bene - ho incontrato il nostro nipote, Amata, e lei è piuttosto l'incantatore." It had been a few days since they had interacted at the barn, but it had only seemed a few hours since their first meeting, both their first and the meeting that solidified a budding relationship. "But you are well?" She asked with a smile on her face. Showing off her limited English, she knew that her language was strengthening, but at a pace that seemed too slow to bear. Sarei molto felice di vederlo con te, fratello. Ma vorrei chiedere sul nostro nipote e nipote di altri - non l'ho incontrato e vorrei sapere un po 'su di loro prima di me."



She knew that Cambria had gotten into drugs, and was now recovering, but she felt a need to know the pups better, know about them to be able to form a bond similar to the one that she and Amata had formed. And the fire behind this desire was the guilt of desertion - the fact that she had bolted on them spurred her to make up for lost time.

omg, I'm so sorry. Feel free to kick me for taking so long! 600+



Ehno felt himself slowly relax as he sat on the shore with his sibling. He put his troubling thoughts to the side for now, knowing he couldn’t ignore them but also aware that focusing on them would only cause him to feel more on edge. The chocolate hued male closed his eyes for a moment and sighed contentedly, feeling a bit calmer. He pushed the soft sands around with a paw once more, stopping when he opened his eyes. Amber gaze turned again to his sister as a small smile clung to the corner of his lips.



He was glad that Ghita had dropped by and joined him this morning. Her presence distracted him from those pressing thoughts, freeing him from their overbearing presence for a short bit. Ghita’s appearance here benefited him in another way, though he would be hesitant to think of it that way at the moment. With her here now, he could not wander about and avoid her, afraid of sharing his momentous news with her. He would have to face those fears of his now. Maybe he would even feel more at ease after speaking with her about it. Thinking about it that way put him at more at ease. The Italian wolf spared another glance to the steadily rising sun. It really was beautiful. It was a shame he seldom got up to watch it rise like this.



His attention returned to his sibling when she spoke, the hint of a smile on his lips growing into a full one when she mentioned her encounter with the lively Amata. "È certamente molto amichevole e piena di energia," he agreed. His multi-hued sibling then switched to English for a short moment, asking him how he was. Ehno simply nodded for a moment, not wanting to lie, but still resisting the urge to speak the truth. “I am… fairly well,” he responded after a moment. He smiled despite himself, amused to have a conversation in both Italian and English with his sister. She seemed very dedicated to learning the native tongue of this region, so he was glad to help her practice a little bit.



The Marino’s smile eased into something more genuine when Ghita asked him about the pups. Savina’s children were all a rather imaginative bunch, creating many games and stories to entertain each other. It was interesting to think about how different each of their personalities is from one another. "Cambria può essere molto può chetare, soprattutto dopo ciò che è successo con le droghe." He frowned for a moment as he remembered how withdrawn she had become immediately after the incident. "Ha preso molto meglio ora. Una volta lei può saperla, lei troverà che è una ragazza molto dolce." How she would feel once she discovered what was going on between him and Naniko. He pushed the thought from his mind. "Gotham è un ragazzo avventuroso, e molto amichevole come bene. Sono sicuro che faranno tutto è felice di poter saperla."



Ehno was happy to find out that his sister was very interested in getting to know the little ones. It was good that Ghita had returned to the pack again so that she could acquaint herself with her growing family. And the family was growing, indeed. Ehno felt his heart sped up for a moment, those pressing thoughts rushing back to him suddenly. He would have to tell her. Why not now? He nervously shuffled his front paws in the sand again, amber eyes drifting to observe the mindless patterns he drew in the sand. "Lei avrà presto più nipoti di poter sapere…" he said sheepishly. He risked a glance toward her again, nervousness laced with excitement gripping him as he awaited her reaction.

No problemo whatsoever! ^^ I'm happy waiting around. WC: 1000+


Out of the corner of her turquoise pools, resting peacefully inside the caverns of her cranium, she saw the sand move of seemingly it's own accord, save for the large paw steering it from behind. Watching it for a soft moment, a contented smile lingering just beyond the corners of her mouth. "When I was, resting, waiting to come to Crimson, I made big drawing in sand. See little left now." The fractured English was splinted by Italian tones, giving musical grace to the words before grammar and sense made it's own little cameo. If her own brother couldn't understand her, it was easier to slip into Italian, but Crimson Dreams didn't know the language. She couldn't be trapped by her own apathy any longer.



It truly was a sight to see, unrivaled by any place in this new country. Back in Italy, Ghita had made a point of making her way, when she could, to an amazing vantage point that witnessed the sun's long ascent. But Halifax held little trace of Italy's beauty, spinning the sky to make it all it's own. Flashes of vermillion, clementine, and floral hues swept the previously still periwinkle canvas, white accents lazily drifting from one place to another. There was a wall between them right now, the two siblings. Built by one and torn down by the same one, there was nothing Ghita could do but wait.



Italian flowed once more, and she lazily turned her head to the sound. Listening in English was another story entirely; She had to stop whatever she was doing and focus on the strangely strung syllables, and pray for meaning to fall and hit her on the head. With Italian, her keen ears could come into play, her optics not even opening as her cranium turned. Che, la nostra nipotina è. Un cuore grande per un piccolo corpo" The ivory pup was mentioned in high praises, two adults discussing such a pup under the rising sun seemed oddly fitting for Amata. She'd rise into her own sky in time.



"Fairly well is okay, but not molto buono" The mixture of the two languages showed the dedication Ghita had to putting this statement across. She knew, simply by his actions, there was something bothering her brother. At this point her optics opened, relinquishing the feeling of the sun creeping across your body in favor of the unasked, and unanswered questions. In due time, however; Her question regarding the youngest members of her family had begun to be answered - this she wanted to pay attention to.



Ho solo sentito un po 'di pennello Cambria con la droga. Sapete che cosa è accaduto in ulteriori dettagli?" Savina had informed her upon her arrival of her niece's tangle, and yet only knew that the commander was also involved with these. Ghita had tried her own take on them from time to time with the nomads, but stayed away from harrowing addictions, for the most part. Perhaps this can be an experience I can talk to her about. She thought - able to stray into harsh territory strictly because she herself had been there before. E 'bello sentire che sta meglio. Savina deve aver preso duramente, insieme al resto." It was refreshing to be able to speak to someone so candidly about her sister; Granted, it was their brother, but all the same, the need for secrecy fell off like an ill-fitting pelt.



Gotham ... era quello bruno con gli occhi blu intenso, come il mio, giusto?" Her nephew was the only one of the litter she hadn't seen from birth - she had met Amata in the barn, and had seen Cambria while the pack had assembled, but Gotham had always managed to escape notice. So Amata stato felice di incontrare me, ma pensi che gli altri si risentono loro zia di non essere in tutto prima?" A worry that frequently plagued her now, whereas before a wolf's opinion of her held very little merit. They might have inherited their mother's spite.



Worry about her existing relatives would have to wait, it seemed. The words were spoken in Italian, so there were select few that could understand it's meaning. And those who could understand the tongue would not be able to pass over what that meant, no matter how much they wanted to. Furrowing her brow, Ghita's gaze turned to the amber eyes of her brother, only to find that they were trapped in the trenches he was building. Slightly irked by the cowardice, a paw much smaller than her brothers found it's way on top of his, dusty browns accented by silver and finished with white toe socks. Meeting Ehno's eyes, she stared at him dead-on, surprise hidden behind neutrality. Non ero a conoscenza di avere un compagno nel Pack, Ehno. Congratulazioni." The naive words were burdened by an unhappy tone, one fully aware of the situation that dawned on them now. There wasn't a mystery mate in Crimson Dreams - Ehno's love was elsewhere. Sono sicuro che Savina sarà felice di lasciarla nel nostro pack - la famiglia deve stare insieme, soprattutto dopo che siamo appena tornati insieme." Fully aware her last point was no one's fault but her own, that couldn't stop her from bringing it up, just asking Ehno to fight her on this.



Perhaps it could be passed off as ignorance of pack life. After all, she had been roaming for some time now, living under her own rules. But Ghita knew more than she passed off - another hurdle that her English was posing in front of her. She could be angry that her brother was having an affair outside the pack, but she wasn't. Not quite one to chastise about leaving, she was trapped under her own mistakes, as she always seemed to be. She moved her paw off of Ehno's silently, sitting back on her haunches but shifting so she was looking at him dead on. Come ben presto sono da aspettarsi?" Torn between siblings, she realized how much it took for Ehno to tell her himself. Ghita appreciated it greatly, knowing that in his position, she'd likely run off as she had before. Sono uno dei primi a saperlo?" Silently, she asked the question that Ehno didn't want to answer. 'What has Savina said, if anything?'

1000+



Ghita’s slightly flawed English made him pause in his absent-minded doodling. He stared at the meandering lines with amber-gold eyes, following the curves as they drifted away toward the ocean. Ehno was pleased to find how far along his sibling had come in learning the new language as she showed off her blooming skills. The best way to learn a new language was to immerse yourself in it, and Ghita was not afraid to do just that. “The wind and sea swept it away?” he asked, though it was more of a comment than a question.



The conversion from English to Italian as their conversation continued was simple for Ehno. Their native tongue would always be easier and more comfortable for him to use, but after journeying for a year and living in this pack for another, English had slowly become nearly as comfortable to him. He was used to the flow and structure of the words, and while they were not as musical as his native Italian, they came easily to his mind. He smiled at her comment about Amata, a slight nod emphasizing his agreement. "Crescerà uguagliare un giorno quel cuore grande di suo. Sarà abbastanza la piccola signora." He had no doubt about that.



“No, it is not,” he agreed. “But it is close enough for now.” A bitter sort of smile clung to his lips, the only indication that he was not happy with that fact. He was feeling surprisingly calm and collected despite the nagging question of what he would do about Naniko and the pups hanging ominously in his mind. He wondered how long it would be until he could honestly say that he was feeling very well. Whether he chose to stay in Crimson Dreams or to follow Naniko out of the pack, the thought of what he would be leaving behind would pain him. Indecision, while doing him no good, at least left him feeling a little better. He feared that he might cling to that indecision for too long.



Ghita asked him for more information regarding Cambria’s brush with the drugs and he felt himself mentally cringe, though he managed to keep his face passive. Ehno had not been present when it all happened, but he had soon found himself tangled within the sticky, delicate web of the situation. His involvement only seemed to make the situation all the more precarious. He nodded briefly to show that he did know details of the situation before sharing what he knew. "Non so che Savina l'ha detta," he began, an explanation for any repeated facts he might share with her. "Nostro Comandante precedente, Naniko, è diventato appassionato alle droghe. Ha lasciato alcuni in una borsa di suo nel castello ed in Cambria, è un cucciolo curioso, è entrato nella borsa ed incidente ha inalato alcuni della droga." He paused for a moment, trying to think of how to best summarize what had happened then.



"Anu e Savina l'hanno trovata, e ha inteso confrontare poi Naniko di ciò che era successo. Era ovviamente alta e ha rifiutato di chiedere scusa per lasciare la droga nel castello. Non porterebbe la responsabilità." He shook his head with an obvious frustration. "Hanno tirato Naniko dalla sua posizione il suo come dirigente. Era arrabbiata, per dire il minimo, e ha infuriato via e ha lasciato il pacco." Ehno had run into Savina after that and after learning the gist of the situation, chased after Naniko with anger and worry clouding his thoughts. He chose not to mention that right now. "Ha portato Cambria un mentre ricuperare dopo ciò. Ha speso molto tempo sedendo tranquillamente nella sua stanza. Grazie al cielo, ha gestito completamente per ricuperare." He didn’t want to think about what would have happened had she failed to get better.



He brushed the heavy thoughts that came with that tale away, glad to shift the conversation in a slightly different direction. "Sì, ciò era Gotham." The Lieutenant had never realized how similar the boy’s eyes were to his aunt’s. That bright, lively color apparently ran in the family. "Non si potrebbero mai si risentire di lei. Lei è qui ora, e ciò che è le questioni. Sono sicuro che il piccolo ones sarà felice di trovare che hanno un altro membro di famiglia per giocare con." He was surprised to see how insecure his sibling seemed to be about meeting the remaining pups. He was certain her worries were for nothing; the pups were too kind-hearted to resent her for not being around until now.



Ehno was startled when Ghita slipped her paw onto his, effectively halting his nervous drawing in the sand. He pulled himself together and managed to pull his gaze from the sand to stare into the bright blue gaze of his sibling. She offered congratulations to him, her tone weighed down by an unhappy note. His gaze wavered for a moment, and he almost tried to correct her initial assumption, but she spoke up again before he could. This time he couldn’t keep his wincing hidden, ashamedly lowering his gaze back to the sand for a moment. His heart was pounding rapidly in his chest and he took a deep breath to try to calm himself. It did nothing to help. "Non penso che sarà abbastanza così felice," he began, gaze still on the soft sands. "è... è Naniko," he finally admitted, amber eyes quickly returning to Ghita in search of her reaction. He wished it could be so simple to have his whole family together. But Nani did not want to return to Crimson Dreams, and he was unsure if Savina would even allow her back in the first place.



The Marino man was nervous, having finally revealed what had gone on between him and Naniko to one of his sisters. Would she deem his actions a betrayal, after hearing the story of what happened to Cambria? Part of him certainly felt that way. Ghita moved her paw and sat back and Ehno immediately assumed a similar position. "Non ci uniranno per poche settimane, almeno." His frantic thoughts clouded his mind, preventing him from more accurately estimating the pups’ arrival. He nodded quickly in response to her next question. "Sì, lei è. Neanche ho detto Savina ancora." He dreaded her reaction to this news most of all.

Whew! They're getting long. O_O WC: 1500+


Her English wasn't good, and Ghita knew that all too well. Her language could be... like an unfinished painting; the outlines are there, albeit faint, but the colors are only just starting to seep in. When the Italian fae grew nervous, she drew to calm herself down - it had happened during her wait to re-join Crimson Dreams and would happen many more times over. Looking at but not really seeing the sandy drawing, her turquoise eyes wavered unblinkingly on the sand. "S-Yes, Y-es it did." Catching herself swiftly, Italian gave way to English, and the transition had truly begun.



English was coming more naturally to her now - perhaps it was just her constant use of the new language, or the fact that if she didn't know it she wouldn't know anything in this pack, but in any case, Ghita was getting better. At the level a schoolchild was at after a year or two of study in just a few weeks, she had thrown her timber-coloured body so forcefully into the tide, with a desire to learn it stronger than her need to join the pack. After all, it wasn't anything tying her down - if anything, it'd help her along in this new country. And a new country meant more places to explore & wander.



She chuckled, nodding at Ehno's opinion of Amata. Silently adding her own hope that she wouldn't end up in trouble like her Aunt, Ghita laid the topic to rest, making a note to watch out for her in the future. Young and naive quickly gave way to trouble, as had been proven by Cambria all too tragically.



The fae couldn't help feeling an uncomfortable prickle just underneath her fur. Something was plaguing Ehno more than she could know, and although his sister wasn't one to over-coddle or mother, she still felt as if she should be doing something to help Ehno out. "Sometimes, close is very far away." The psychologic quote sprang from her lips perhaps born of innocence - not fully knowing what she was saying. In her own experience, lurking close by after her former mate had started to move on had increased the distance, putting them at greater odds and perhaps sending him out to look for a new mate.



Smiles held almost no trust in them anymore, and Ehno's was no exception here. It wasn't even a full smile, looking almost as if he was too tired to give her a full turn of the lips, and yet trying to steer her off the path. Feeling helpless, she flicked her studded ears, the metal glinting a faint rose in the rising sun. She was aware of how she looked to her packmates. One of the only few to possess any decorations other than tattoos, young pups were curious as to 'why she had metal all over her face.' However, it wasn't something she really had time to care about - if she was a pup, she'd be asking the same things.



She was relieved for the most part when her brother drew her back into Italian. But there was also that question as to why Italian was needed in this sense. Was the situation more complicated than she knew? Subtly shifting her weight onto her hindpaws slightly, she moved back and forth in this odd form of sitting, leaning no more than a few centimetres in one direction before shifting into the other completely. Her ears flicked again as the information flooded in, her face remaining neutral until all the information had been spilled. Savina has told me what an outsider would know, someone not even in the pack. She thought, slightly bitterly, but completely understanding her sister's reasons.



Rolling the old commander's name around her tongue, she snatched at a way to pronounce it before letting the information sink in. Setting her mouth grimly, she nodded, encouraging him forward as part of her mind whispered in her ears. Cambria isn't the only one in this family with those kinds of experiences. The grim news she had not told anyone, and had no plans to. Savina wasn't about to tell her everything from day one that she left - why should Ghita confess her sins? She murmured, knowing that the worst was yet to come.



And so it did. The words that came from Ehno seemed almost unreal, and where eyebrows would have been made a nosedive to..., well, the nose the best they could. Something that should have been from another family, another pack, another time. Not within their family. Probably a little less curious now... She couldn't help wondering what exactly it was that Cambria had encountered. Her knowledge was slim in this area, but more than most wolves. "Noi conosciamo che cosa è stato di droga?"



So Gotham came up, a brown shadow protecting his sister from further inquisitions. Nodding, she couldn't help smiling a little - at least she remembered her nephew and nieces' colorings. "Eyes like my color. The best." She joked solemnly, waiting a little before making a movement with her head. "Is what we call 'joke' - scherzo. Funny?" Poor, poor Ghita. Sarcasm and humor would have to wait for a lighter, enlightened time.



Her brother's words comforted her, but didn't reassure her. She still couldn't completely believe in what he said, especially after the pack was just beginning to treat her normally. She had run out on her family too much for reconciliation, or was walking on that line like the crazy daredevil she was. "Mi piace pensare che è vero, ma io non lo so. Amata è stato abbastanza felice di vedere me, almeno." What her nieces and nephew thought of her meant more to Ghita than even she had realized, frightening her that little bit more.



There was a small moment in that she noticed the differing size of their paws. Ghita had always been a little smaller than Ehno, naturally, but around the same height as Savina. She always thought that the three of them were close in size, but it seemed that she would be proven wrong. There was a centimeter's border that spoke the difference, and she looked down at it, almost sadly for a while, before she began to react to her brother again. Meeting her brother's familiar gaze, she held it fast with her blue pools, unspoken emotions telling the world that they were both walking a fine line in this moment. His wincing surprised her, narrowing her eyes and ducking her head slightly, unknowingly looking like a mother questioning a mischievous child.



This next revelation surprised her so much, so that the pressure on her paw lifted, but the limb remained. "Naniko? The old Commander?" Greatly shocked, she slipped into English, unconsciously using the language as a medium to hide her emotion. She noticed his eyes move to hers, and hers did not blink until a long time after, gnawing gently at a piercing as she tried to make sense of the situation. To her, it made little sense; Naniko had left the drugs that had greatly scarred Cambria where any pup could have reached it. That wasn't terrible in itself - the wolfess wasn't waving it in front of the pups, tricking them into inhaling whole bags or stuffing it into prey, but the fact that she didn't take responsibility was possibly the worst part...



At least Ghita apologized and returned to Crimson Dreams, trying to make up for what she had done. She knew that Naniko, since she hadn't met the fae, had left before she arrived. Then again, if it was Ghita in that position, it was hard to think of what she would've done. She finally moved her paw off of his, sitting down and still trying to chew this over. "L'amore sta cercando di vite voi, Ehno." It was an abstract phrase, one that was leaning into the pool of disapproval farther than she had meant to. Her tone remained light, trying to make a small joke out of the situation, but there was a part of her, a nagging part that just wouldn't stop, that told her that it easily could've been her. She couldn't think of if she would've done anything differently than Naniko did.



A few weeks at least. "Probabilmente dovremmo spendere quelle settimane cercando di sanare la frattura tra i due. Essere madre, Savina probabilmente non potrebbe diventare un membro della sua vecchia cuccioli cuscinetto pack." At least, that was what she was hoping. Naniko had hurt Savina's daughter; the wounds would run long and deep.



She had held off judgement, purposely, until this point. On the less serious things, she was headstrong and rash, leaping off of barns without a second thought. But on the more serious matters, her serious side came out and proved that there was intelligence hidden behind her eyes. "Se amate, suppongo io non sono uno di giudicare. Tu sei mio fratello - io sono dietro di voi. Ma la nostra sorella, potrebbe essere necessario un certo tempo a venire intorno. Sarebbe meglio per tutti noi, Amata, Cambria, Gotham inclusa, se fossimo rimasti in Dreams Crimson." There was the issue of Naniko and Cambria together, however. "We'll have to figure Cambria e Naniko out, if they both in Crimson.



A terrifying thought struck her now, fast and sudden as lightning, leaving the same devastating effects. Her voice grew faster, the accent weighing down even more as she conveyed her point. "Ehno. Has Naniko done droga-drugs, while carrying them?" She wanted to shake him, make sure he understood her point. The fae ravaged by miscarriage knew the fears, the dangers of carrying pups. If Naniko had been doing drugs while carrying her pups, there was a chance they wouldn't survive.

haha, inorite? I now declare this thread... the novel thread! XP I haven't written posts this long in forever. :o 1200



A flicker of a smile ghosted across Ehno’s lips as his sibling quickly corrected her near-slip back into Italian. It was a slip-up he was familiar with, one that he himself had made back when he had first been trying to bring his English skills up to fluent levels. During those early stages of learning, Ehno would often speak in phrases comprised of both Italian and English, leading to the confusion and amusement of those present. Now that he had reached a level of fluency with English that was beginning to rival that of his native tongue, Ehno could look back on those days and laugh. He knew that eventually, Ghita would be able to do the same. She was determined, and determination could take one anywhere they wished.



There was a small chuckle from Ghita about their energetic niece, then the conversation drifted almost unnoticeably back to his own well being. A short, almost bitter laugh escaped the Marino man at his sister’s comment, knowing just how true it was. “You are right about that,” he conceded. There was obvious concern in the way his sister continued to dance around this subject. It was her way of showing her concern without being overbearing about it, and the Italian man was grateful to her for it. Ehno hated sharing his problems with others unless absolutely necessary. He was hesitant at first to share the problems he faced with Ghita, considering the delicacy of the situation, but she would soon understand his uncharacteristic despondence, regardless.



Ghita quietly took in the story of what had happened to the young Cambria. Concern for their niece seemed to appear on her features. The woman queried about the type of drug that had caused this whole mess and Ehno simply shook his head. "No, non so realmente che era. Del genere di polvere bianca." A frown settled itself onto his maw. "Non mi sono mai preoccupato scoprire realmente più di esso," he admitted. The less he knew about it, the better, in his opinion. He knew that it was addicting and dangerous, and that was all he needed to know. Ehno knew they couldn’t have something like that around the pack lands and he knew that Naniko needed to get away from the stuff. Beyond that, any information about the drug was useless to him. He wouldn’t acknowledge the unnatural substance by inquiring about it further.



Ehno found himself laughing a short, light-hearted chuckle at his sibling’s joke despite the darker subject matter that seemed to be plaguing the majority of their conversation. A small smile worked its way onto his lips, a genuine one that did not need to be forced. “Funny, funny. But I have to disagree—I think mine might be the best,” he joked back, trying to keep the mood light, if only for a moment. Ehno felt a little less troubled for a short moment, but it couldn’t last. Eventually the gloomier parts of their conversation blocked out the light from this little moment.



His sibling continued to show doubts that the niece and nephew she had yet to meet would be happy to see her. Amber eyes lifted to meet her striking turquoise and he tried to convince her otherwise. "Bene, so. Cambria e Gotham saranno abbastanza felici di incontrarla, giusto come Amata. Credermi." He knew that simply repeating this thought of his would do nothing to further reassure his wayward sibling, but it would not stop him from trying anyway. He was confident that the young pups would be happy to discover another family member and to play with their aunt. He wished there was some way he could make her believe that, but nothing more sprang to mind.



Quiet seemed to befall the pair for a moment as Ghita turned her gaze to their paws. The moment did not last long, Ehno’s revelation of his situation and his sister’s reaction making the moment much more serious. The Marino woman looked at him with narrowed eyes and a questioning gaze. She questioned the revelation, shock clear in her voice, and he couldn’t blame her. Ehno willed himself to keep his gaze steady with hers, but his ears began to flatten against his skull despite himself. The action made him feel like a young pup sheepishly admitting some wrong-doing, and he hated it. “Yes, the very same Naniko,” he managed, along with a nod.



That bitter laugh of his returned, just a single, sharp note. "Sì, esso sicuro è, non è?" It was quite the predicament he had landed himself in. He cared for Naniko, most certainly, and probably more than he aware of. That single night they shared together came unexpectedly, but he did not regret it. Ehno new that deep inside he had wanted it, and that spoke volumes about just how far his feelings for Nani went. Part of him was afraid to face those feelings, the same part that felt like he was almost betraying Savina and the little Cambria by getting so close to the white-furred lady. Naniko had made mistakes, yes, but he couldn’t abandon her, especially not now. But he couldn’t turn his back on his family either.



Ghita’s suggestion warmed him, but he knew things could not be a simple as that. "Desidero che potrebbe essere ciò facile. Nani non è così disposto a ritornare qui. Sa che Savina ed Anu non la fideranno di di nuovo. Ed è troppo testarda di seguire il loro piombo, quando li aveva condotti una volta." Ehno remembered when Naniko had told him about the pups, how she continued to deny that returning to Crimson Dreams was possible for her. There would be no convincing the D’Angelo woman otherwise, no matter how selfishly Ehno could argue otherwise.



His sibling mentioned what would be best for the family and Ehno felt his heart sink. How wonderful things would be if only they could all stay together. No one would have to seek other packs to live in, and they could just live happily together. But that was nothing more than a fairy-tale’s happily ever after, nothing that they could obtain. Not now. “I just want our family to stay together. Our whole family.” It was moments like this that made Ehno realize just how important his family was to him. Without his family, he wouldn’t be the same. They were just too precious to him. They would be his downfall.



Ehno was taken aback by Ghita’s sudden outburst, a thought that had once struck him, but now seemed absurd. “No!” he said, response unintentionally harsh. Ehno looked away and took a short breath to gather his thoughts, gaze apologetic when it returned to her. “I mean… of course she hasn’t. These pups… they have saved her. They’ve given her another reason to fight her addiction.” If only Ghita could have seen her, if only she had known Naniko before her fall from grace, she would understand. She wouldn’t hurt her children. She had made a mistake with those drugs, but she has learned from it and grown. She and the pups would get through this just fine. He would make sure of it.

It's official - we're changing the title. XDDD jk. WC: 1200+



Although she hadn't been around when Ehno was learning English, she was making only some of the mistakes he made. If she couldn't think of the English way to say it, she either told it to her Italian-Speaking relatives, or didn't speak at all. The way she had it straightened out, they had to be two separate parts of her - not to be combined. Surely the chaos that would ensue would consume both her and her comrades (although some would be consumed with laughter more than others). "Si" was the only word that slipped in - the response was natural and most times too fast to correct.



She was still busy trying to read him, get behind what he was playing at at this point - almost over compensating and missing the evidence under her ebony nose. A fitting metaphor would be the one of chasing your own tail around and around - precisely how she felt in that moment. Her ears twitched at the bitterness barely concealed in his laugh, sympathy starting to nip at the more sensitive parts of her innards, demanding more aggressive action. Perhaps around those who weren't family, she would have lost her patience by now, but instead, she held on, for Ehno.



She knew her siblings - although she had been the third wheel in childhood, she was worming her way back into their lives again, back with a vengeance. Ghita knew them well enough to detect the subtleties that she'd be expected to waltz around, a different dance for a different sibling. At times, it drove her back to Italy in back in frustration, and she'd end up flying away from the situation, for any amount of time. It wasn't that she couldn't be patient with them, it was just that petty dramas could wear away at her already fragile composure violently.



Cambria's story both frightened her and enraged her. Her family was geared against the drugs, it seemed. At least Savina and her family were definitely pitted against them; How could she explain that Cambria hadn't been the only one to meddle with them? The answer: She wouldn't. It was a rare time that Ghita kept a secret as large as this from her family; Although she didn't feel the need to spill every detail of her life, the more important things found their way onto the table and out into the open most of the time. However, this wasn't something she had told anyone yet.



She nodded at Ehno's response, holding her tongue for now as she listened. Perhaps her question seemed out of place to her brother, but Ghita's knowledge of the substance was probably more than any other in their family - she'd be able to tell whether Cambria was in any danger of withdrawal, or just what she had gone through. Grimly, she knew that no young one should have to go through that against their will - but wasn't that how they all started? Against their will for whatever reason, but fell into the web of secrets and lies? Nodding again, she understood Ehno's desire to stay away from the topic. She'd understand it more later, of course, but for now she could understand how he wouldn't want to get too close to Cambria's pain.



It filled her with unexpected elation to know that her joke elicited some laughter, even if it was her brother who'd supply a 'pity-laugh'. She wasn't one for humor all that much, but when the need for a joke arose, even then they fell flat. Grinning at the sudden competition, she nibbled at her piercing, a habit that meant almost nothing now, thinking of a comeback. "Nono, blue is rare with wolves. Therefore a joy to see." Where eyebrows should have been furrowed, an evilish expression on her face, knowing that her logic had been sound.



Sighing, the topic returned to her niece and nephew, and the feeling of regret and small fear couldn't be shaken. E tuttavia si suppone per dire che." Although she wished that it could be true, doubt plagued her mightily - almost to the point of it becoming physical. Vorrei poter credere che tu - ma bisogna ammettere che tutti e due erano amare quando ho lasciato. Facile da strofinare su un giovane." A guilty apology had stole into the conversation - not the only one that would be spilled on that beach today. A resentful tone crept into her voice, and she looked away before carrying on with the conversation they held before.



She nodded grimly, lips tightening as she still tried to deal with the shock that Ehno had presented to her system. A billion incoherent thoughts flew around her head, dizzying her slightly. "But we all make mistakes." Those five words were more loaded than her brother could guess at; Truth be told, Naniko and Ghita weren't all that different - down to their core, they made the same choices, let down those around them, it seemed. But could they change? A question that needed to be answered all the more urgently.



"Quite an issue we've found ourselves in." She murmured, a slight growl exhibiting her mental state. The pair had just begun to cross that threshold that Ghita could take - it wouldn't be too much longer before emotion would break the dam. She understood the ivory fae's stubborn demeanor, possessing it herself, but there was a difference that became more blatantly obvious as she learned more and more about the girl. I don't want to hurt them, or myself, any more.



Ghita couldn't help agreeing with Ehno as the statement slipped from his mouth. "Without family, what we have?" A question many wolves had tried to answer - both intentionally and forced into the experiment. "I found that it's easy to run away, and harder to stay. But, perhaps it's worth it if we make it through, eh?" Her cranium turned towards the male, eyes hiding the boiling emotion that would spill in the next moments. Her head bowed slightly, letting the emotion seize her heart with a firm grip at the thought of leaving Ehno behind.



Eyes suddenly blazed with fury, breaking through her previous containment as the issue hit closer to home than he had remembered. She sprang up, fur almost crackling with anger as she glared, bringing herself up to her full height. This was his problem he brought to her, she was not about to take being snapped at like that lying down! Mi perdoni, Ehno, se io sono un po 'sensibili sul tema della perdita di cuccioli!" The spittle was flying now, her whole body charged with the emotion. It was taking all the strength in the world to contain the tears back, and she was thanking whoever was helping her at this time profusely. Deciding that she needed space, she turned, leaving him a few metres away in favor of the ocean, cranium held high against the sky. Her own miscarriage was coming up all too many times in her time here - like the beaches, she was being steadily worn away.



Her family especially knew of the hardship Ghita had been faced with, especially directly after losing her mate. Ears drooped now, rapidly losing strength in the battle to contain her fury. "We can't all have a rosy life." Compared to a year ago, Ghita's life was heaven here - Ehno's issues comparing little in her grief. With all of these pups surrounding her, day after day, every day she saw the faces of the dead, and all the Italian could to was try to hang on, try her best to survive against the odds.

Haha. XD 1000+


He wished Ghita’s return could have been among much more pleasant circumstances. Cambria’s unfortunate situation was enough to think about by itself, but Ehno had to go and make the situation much more complicated. He had to bring his own troubles to the table, though he never intended to burden any others with his own issues, certainly not his sibling. While he and Ghita had not been as close as he and Savina had been as children, he still loved her dearly and wished only the best for her. Returning to their little Italian family’s new home to get caught up in this unfortunate web of events was not something he wanted her to have to deal with. If only things could be simple and pleasant, if the atmosphere around here could be more welcoming and less troubled. But it could not be so.



He could not imagine what sort of hardships she had faced since he had last seen her, or even more importantly, what she had dealt with ever since he left their little pack in Italy. They had spent so much time apart, leading vastly different lives and he realized now how much that saddened him. Ehno had been filled with such joy and relief when he saw her return, and now it made even more sense to him. They were together now, that is what matters most. The pair could make up for all that lost time.



Ghita kept the light bit of joking up, insisting once more that she held the most striking eyes between them. Ehno opened his mouth to playfully argue back, but nothing came to mind and he instead shook his head in defeat. “Alright, alright. You win.” That small smile grew just a bit, just as genuine as before. For a fleeting moment he felt like a pup again, sitting around joking with his sister. Oh, what he would give to go back to those simpler times. Back to the days when there was nothing more to worry about than what game they would play next, or what little prank Ehno would try to pull on his sisters in good fun. Instead he was here with so many worries lingering over his head.



The woman continued to proclaim her doubts about Cambria and Gotham's possible excitement at meeting her and he could only shake his head in disagreement. "Non ero amaro," he said. "Giusto preoccupato." Ehno could not recall any bitter feelings when his sibling departed from the pack lands, only worry. Her disappearance was so sudden and unexpected, it had launched him into a number of searches for his wayward sibling, but he found no clues of her whereabouts. The worry left him distracted and feeling less like himself. It was because of this distraction that he wound up fighting with the lone intruder at the borders, earning himself the jagged scar on his shoulder. And while he knew Savina had been worried as well, but he could not speak for whether she had held any feelings of bitterness. Their ebony sibling was much better at holding a grudge than he was.



Ehno chose to remain silent for a short stretch, listening intently and nodding in agreement to his sister’s comments. Ghita’s exasperation was shared by her brother, though he did not voice this further. She would know by now the toll this situation was taking on him, causing him to be morose and conflicted. There was no need for him to voice his thoughts on it. Instead, all he had now was a single question: what could he possibly do? Part of him wanted to seek advice from his grey-furred sibling, but he refrained from asking. It was his problem, and his decision to make. He wouldn’t burden her further with his heavy thoughts.



The Italian fey shared his thoughts on the subject of family, and he felt almost relieved. No matter how many times Ghita ran away, he could be certain now that she would always return to them. “Yes,” he said, nodding solemnly. “Family is always worth it.” For his family, Ehno would go to any lengths necessary. As his family grew, he knew there would be trouble, and there would be pain. But he hoped, almost to a desperate degree, that everything would work out in the end. He couldn’t bear the thought of being separated—in any sense of the word—from any member of his family, including the little ones who had yet to join them.



At first, Ehno was taken aback by Ghita’s sudden fiery reaction and he found himself springing to his feet, fur rising up in surprise. Not a moment later the words registered in his head, and the Marino man felt as if he had been physically struck. As Ghita sought some distance between them, Ehno lowered his gaze, ears flattening against his skull and tail lowering greatly as a wave of guilt washed over him. How could he have been so stupid? He had been so wrapped up in his own problems that he didn’t even consider the fact that his sibling had her own to deal with. It had completely slipped his mind that Ghita had faced the hardship of loosing children before. Of course she would show concern over the well being of his unborn children. As each second ticked by, he regretted his sudden, harsh outburst more and more. How could he have been so solely focused on himself so that he would miss that? The stress was having an affect on him, no doubt about it.



Her pointed remark stung him, and some instinctual part of his brain wanted to snap back, but he held it at bay. That wasn’t what he would do. The stress was getting to him again. Ehno could do nothing more than stare at Ghita’s feet for a few moments, guilt and regret evident in his downcast gaze. He would have to settle for offering his apologies from afar. "Ghita, sono così spiacente." He risked raising his amber gaze now. "Incredibilmente spiacente. Non ho significato a—non pensavo, niente affatto". He shook his head, frustrated with his utter foolishness from moments ago. “Gods, I’m such an idiot,” he mumbled to himself. He drew his gaze to the sands once again wishing like some sort of fool that he could take back his inconsiderate reaction and prevent this from happening. This was an incredibly sensitive subject to his sister. He had a feeling that she wouldn’t be quite so quick to forgive him for this.

SO SORRY this is late. I've had a major muse-block. More of an angsty post.. >w< WC: 900+



It seemed as soon as Ghita had come back, a whirlwind of troubles had descended upon her family. Or, rather, they had become glaringly obvious upon her return. At least things with Kansas and Savina seemed to be patching up, slowly but steadily. But overtaking this problem by leaps and bounds was her brother's drama - something that made Ghita sick to her stomach. Not at the situation, of course. She could never be that mad at her brother. But rather at the fact that there was always something. Her erect triangles shook themselves slowly around, expressing her distaste at the Marino situation in general. Issues seemed to be dogging them at every turn - would there ever be reprieve?



Ivories glinted as the pair decided that she had won the argument. In hindsight, it was a pointless debate really, one made strictly for the purpose of passing time, dancing around what needed to be addressed. Ghita wanted to believe that everything was fine with her family - who didn't want to? And it seemed almost difficult for her to accept that her new life wouldn't be as perfect as she had wanted. She had returned to her family for a new life, one that left problems behind. Mistaken in her belief that everything would be fine as she was, Ghita couldn't help feeling a small prickling of longing to leave again, leave this drama in the dust behind her. Almost unconsciously now, she had crossed over a line that changed everything now. If she left, somehow she knew it would kill Savina, but she would not be the only ebony wolf that would mourn her departure.



By now she was stalling with anything and everything she had. Her brother, with the gift he had since puphood, had managed to quell her fears in the way that she never seemed to be able to, and she thanked him for it immensely, while trying to avoid the real issue. Later, she'd wonder if dwelling on this particular part of their shared past would push him towards staying with the pack, as she dug up old memories of just how badly she left her family. A selfish thing to do, most certainly, but one that seemed necessary. She couldn't just let her brother go without a fight. A hypocrite? Of course she was. But she was only doing what she wished someone had done for her at the time.



The phrase 'growing pains' seemed to be most appropriate to Ehno's situation. As his love & family grew, extending beyond immediate blood and spiraling down into a family of his very own. She filled her lungs with the lazy air of summer, releasing it slowly and noisily in a sigh that lasted all too long. Of course there was nothing that she could do to persuade him of anything, if he was dead set against it, but the only thing she could do was lend her advice. "Makes me wonder if this would've happened if I no come back." Muttered morosely, the sister wasn't implying that this was all her fault, but the idea was weighing heavily on her mind.



Guilty regret spun into fiery fury faster than an onlooker could bat an eye. To her well-trained siblings, rehearsed mightily in the art of mastering their sister's mood changes, this wasn't an altogether unexpected event, only shocking when no warning signs had been triggered. But the topic was a minefield, ready to ignite at any moment, such as this one, bringing them to the situation they were in now. How could her brother be so bone-headed to forget he wasn't alone in this?! Of course she would be worried about his pups - whether she'd ever get to see them, they were still her flesh and blood.



And hadn't her family suffered enough in the way of pups without purposely loosing this litter? She barely knew the D'Angelo, and all she had heard about the ivory fae was her connection with Cambria. To an outsider as she was, this was natural, expected in fact of her! Anger melted away into hurt soon enough, as ghosts of the past rose before her eyes. Optics stony as they always were when faced with great emotion, she glowered towards the sand, as if blaming it for all of her present problems. At this point, she knew that the tightrope was growing narrower and narrower, the fae ready to leave Ehno if he pressed her into this corner any more.



Perhaps luck shone on both of them, and the male decided against reflecting her remark back at him. There was no guilt in her mind, simply fury and hurt. She heard his whispering, and barely bit off her confirmation before it raced out of the stable. "It's fine. I just no think we can take loose again." Her English fell into the constant trap that rode beside her, one that snared with emotions and tripped up her language until it was tumbled into an unrecognizable mess.



She finally stood up again, turquoises flashing at her brother like warning signs, blaring the need for her space at the moment. Her tone, low and deadly, spun out a message that should be as clear as day. "Wherever you end up, I don't want you to feel what I had to feel. Same with Naniko, whatever she has done to Cambria. I know she means a lot to you. No wolf should ever have to feel the feeling of shame and failure that I deal with every day."

It's all good. :] And lol, the replies seem to be slowly shrinking back down. XD 700+



Ehno had always imagined that when his family was reunited at last everything would be perfect. Everyone would be happy. The fates had given the small family that for a short time, only to take it away. Ghita had returned to them briefly, and with Savina’s children on the way, her timing had been perfect. Everything was sweet then, just as he had dreamed things to be. Then one day Ghita just left and the world wasn’t as rose-colored and beautiful anymore. He knew that was Ghita’s way, and he could not blame her for taking off, despite how worried he had become. All they could do was wait for the day she would return to them, picking up where life left off.



Yet everything just seemed to spiral out of control after that. Their wayward sister had returned to them at last, but nothing was as beautiful as it had been when she left them. Their lives were tarnished, worn down the by trials fate had placed before them. It was like some cruel joke, to tease them all with such a perfect life, only to snatch it away and put numerous heartbreaking problems in its place. Ghita shouldn’t have had to return to find her family in such a sorry state. None of them deserved to find themselves in this situation.



That simple, muttered comment from his sister surprised him, and he was unsure exactly what she meant. She couldn’t possibly imagine that this horrible turn of events could have been some fault of her own? No, if anyone was to blame here, it was Ehno himself. He had known that the Marino family had been thrust into such a delicate situation, but he had gone ahead and made things worse. Unintentionally, of course, but that didn’t change the fact that this sticky situation had only gotten more complicated because of him. Yet somehow, he couldn’t bring himself to regret what he had done. Not the pups, not remaining loyal to Naniko, not even the ambiguous state his friendship with the D’Angelo woman seemed to evolve into.



He shook his head, unable to imagine why his sibling would say such a thing. When he responded, his words were as morose as those of his sibling not a moment before. “No one can be blamed here except me.” And Naniko. But even now the chocolate hued male had a hard time blaming the snowy lady for what had transpired. It was the drugs, all the drugs. All Naniko was guilty of was falling victim to that foul substance. He had to think of it that way, or he himself would fall apart.



Ghita was still fuming, understandably enraged by his show of stupidity and the man knew better than to approach her now. He kept his distance, giving her the space she needed to sort through the thick bundle of emotions he had unintentionally tossed at her. Ehno may not have been as close to Ghita as he was with their ebony-furred sibling, but he still knew well. She needed her space, and he would gladly give it to her. She was clearly still very upset, her frustration tangling up her English words and mucking up their meaning, though Ehno could still understand her intentions. “I understand. I’m sorry,” he repeated, feeling once again like a fool. He kept his gaze lowered, ears still pressed flat against his skull.



His sibling’s explanation revealed her worries and concerns plain as day. As he mulled over her words, another though pushed its way to the forefront of his mind. He would be treading on thin ice to continue along this subject line, but he felt he needed to share this with his sister. “Naniko has already had to face that heartache once before,” Ehno revealed. “I know she’ll do all she can to avoid that pain again.” His tone was much softer now, almost hesitant. The brother hated speaking of such a difficult subject, but he knew it had to be done. The topic was already hanging heavily over their heads and there was no avoiding it. He simply wanted Ghita to understand everything and to realize that Naniko would do all she could to make sure the puppies were safe. He would do all he could to make sure that woman did not have to experience that loss again.

Just like to begin by saying I AM SO SORRY. My arm got wrenched & I was out of commission for a while, so this took the backburner. >< Wc: 700+



The truth of the matter, and the curse of the Marinos it seemed, was that Ghita was happy, or at least at peace, with wherever she was. Whether in Italy or Canada, with her close family or not, nothing seemed to change her opinion - she could still manage to disappear in a moment's notice, or hang around as if nothing really affected her. But it was simply the mask she wore - the mirror projecting what you wanted to see, while the demons thrive underneath. Even when the times were good, with the prey running well and new life in the air, something was always nipping at Ghita's heels, driving her away to pursue another place where she could simply forget.



It was something she strived to do almost her whole life. You would think the defiant female would rise up, snarl in the face of the enemy and take her challenges head-on. That was what you saw on the outside at least. The rebellious fae wore metal in her face, the epitome of her defiance to the wolves around her, hiding her sensitivities. Moving, adventure, and travel seemed to be the one constant in her family's lives - something that they all could count on while their lives were sent into the fire. Although sometimes the fire could burn too quickly, too passionately. That was the risk that you took when you left it unattended.



And so she had returned and found the remaining ashes. It wasn't fair for the children of the sea to be damaged by the flames. They were supposed to be stronger than that - not just because it was Ghita's family. Nobody deserved to have so much stress and unpleasantries dumped on them all at once. It was nothing that they did to deserve it, but simply living with some degree of perseverance. They were simply trying to survive, trying to get by with some degree of dignity and happiness. But there seemed to be too many wrong paths to take.



Other paths were mistier, like those trod on by Ehno and Naniko. The drugs that Cambria had ingested were not directly Naniko's fault, but the fact that she had the drugs in her possession and had left them in plain sight suggested they were Naniko's responsibility. Did that mean that Naniko was to be shunned and turned away from all she knew? Maybe, maybe not. The best of choices, Ghita found, weren't any colour found on the spectrum. Instead of being a crystal clear ivory or a deep engulfing ebony, they were every shade in between.



So when Ehno put forward his opinion, where no one was to be blamed here, Ghita could neither agree nor disagree. She simple shrugged, letting her shoulders roll and her weight shift, before she looked her brother clean in the eye. "Do you believe that?" He was in the unique position of having deep ties to both parties, both wronged by those close to them as well. What Ghita wanted, no, had to ask was what Ehno believed himself, not what he felt that he should believe. "I'm not asking for answers hidden behind prejudices. I'm asking for Ehno."



The red-hot indigence raged it's all-too-familiar dance through her veins, calling for blood in revenge for daring to bring up the subject in such a matter that ravaged her past demons into a frenzy. Deep down, below the abyss, there was a part of her that knew Ehno hadn't meant to spit those words at her, but they still cut like knives. Feeling the anger sink away like blood, the source still lay, a fresh wound, for those to see for the next small while. Narrowed to slits, optics sought out Ehno's unintentionally, while watching the sea carry on it's duty around them. Her mouth opened, desperate to engage in a battle that would see the sparks fly, and metal clash against mettle, but something beyond what Ghita could understand held her back. She resented it, but had to consent. "Forget about it. I no here to regain my old demons."



Ehno's next sentence struck her hard, and she flinched as if across the face. Guilt for her overreaction settled in where rage had been comfortably nesting before, and her paws shook as the meaning settled in. "There seems to be nothing left but to wish good health." The brief statement saw the fae turning to face her brother once more, face devoid of expression, but all the emotions in her eyes alone.

Don't you worry about it! I haven't had much of a chance to reply to anything until recently anyway, so the timing works out. XP And I hope your arm is ok! o: Also, maybe we can start to wrap this one up? We can have an up-to-date one sometime soon, if you'd like. :] 500



Everything seemed to hang over him at once, terrible events from his past, this difficult predicament of the present and the uncertain future that it lead to. His thoughts were bouncing between each at such a rapid pace that it left his head spinning. The more he dwelled on such things, the more questions he found himself asking. Answers seemed to be in short supply. He didn’t know what he should have done in the past or what he could possibly do now. Uncertainty seemed to be the strongest feeling hovering over him lately. Overall, it left him feeling emotionally spent. There wasn’t much more of this he could take before he would break down.



“I… I don’t know,” he replied, shrugging his shoulders in a mirror of his sibling’s own action. Did he truly believe that he was to blame, that no one was actually at fault here? He found himself completely unsure. With how high-strung his emotions had been these past few days, he found it hard not to blame himself for much of the misfortune of this current situation. He knew it wasn’t necessarily his fault, but there was no one who could really be blamed for all that had happened. What’s done is done, and there was not a thing anyone involved could do about it. “I suppose it does not matter who is at fault. This situation is in front of us now and we have no choice but to go forward with it.” If he had to push aside all of those needlessly self-deprecating thoughts, that was how he felt about it.



A clear-headed Ehno would say that there is no sense dwelling on the past events when the future loomed directly ahead. So when Ghita next suggested that they forget about the dark and twisty path their conversation had unintentionally taken, he knew it would be for the best. He nodded silently, but a moment later he couldn’t help but find himself apologizing again. “I’m sorry.” It was one last apology the caring brother would offer before their conversation departed the dreary subject. He was sorry for his outburst, sorry for unexpectedly leading their conversations toward one of Ghita’s most feared demons. With how sincerely apologetic the male felt, he saw no better way to lay this subject to rest.



Ehno couldn’t help but avert his gaze from his sibling when she flinched at his revelation. His words and their meaning were rather terrible, being of a subject that hit far too close to home for his sister, but he knew he had to share this with her. If nothing else, Ehno simply wanted her to know that Naniko had also faced that most unfortunate experience. Ehno did not lift his gaze until Ghita spoke up again, catching her own clear blue gaze just as she turned to face him. The way her emotions were concentrated in those two turquoise pools almost startled him. “Thank you,” were the only words he could summon.