D'oh, sorry for making you wait too. XD; Maybe we can make this a quickie thread, since it's getting a bit dated?
In the Marino man’s experience, terrible things always seemed to have a way of arriving all at once. Even now, Artemis’s endless slumber, Denali’s disappearance, and the revelation of Harlowe’s twisted nature weighed down on him in a dreadfully oppressive burden. All of these events called out for attention, but there was only so much one could give to each of them before feeling overwhelmed. There didn’t seem as if there was much for them to do except ride it out and hope the tides would turn. Though as time ticked on, it became harder and harder to hold on to such a positive outlook. He was certain that his entire family was feeling much the same.
His head dipped in a brief nod of understanding as the quiet girl spoke. A sympathetic sigh escaped past his lips when she turned the question back to him. Golden eyes briefly stole a glance toward the snowy horizon before them, as if seeking an answer in the distance. There would be no such answers to be found out there, however. “Much the same,” he admitted, turning his focus back to his pale-furred niece. “Fate seems quite fond of handing us troubles, it seems.” What other explanation could there be?