Words: 411 (300+)
Coli felt her stomach lurch with dread as Willow scampered over to Haku... She resisted the urge to chase after the strong-willed girl, knowing that nothing bad could happen before all the glinting watchful eyes of the pack. She no longer had an understanding of the man she once called 'father' -- he was now enigmatic to her, better at hiding his feelings, better at controlling his actions. And with Firefly conspicuously absent, there was zero danger to her little half-sister. Still, the frail female felt her hackles rising as her nerves jangled, only beginning to relax once Willow Soul returned to her mother's snowy-white paws.
Her packmates were either accepting or indifferent to her announcement, and she sank back closer to Deuce's protective shape, yearning to return to the safety of their cabin. Although it was not so, she felt as though everyone present was scrutinizing her, picking apart her appearance, criticizing her timid nature. Wolves were not supposed to be shy. This was fact. And she had not been born shy, but made that way by her own doubts, compounded by the time she spent alone. Wolves were not supposed to be solitary, either. They were social animals, depending on each other for everything. Even the lowest member of the pack was integral to its structure. Coli sighed dejectedly, sure that she was that bottom wolf, trodden upon by everyone. But the commotion snapped her blue gaze back up, her warm brown ears focused on the uproar.
It was Firefly Sadira. Dread clenched in her stomach, fear tightening her throat so that she could not speak. Her brothers... Where were her brothers? Haku did not seem upset by the news, as he kept his jaws clamped shut and stalked away from the gathering, following Kol to search for clues. Lubomir, Cercelee, Cwmfen, all cried out, trying to get a grasp on the situation. Coli remained sitting, stunned by the terrible news. Had she lost her brothers already? She hadn't even met them yet! They would never know their big sister now, never have a chance to grow up right... Her wide blue eyes sought Alexey in the bustle, wanting the Caretaker's reaction. Lexey was shaking her head "no"... Coli wished that this news was false, that it was all some ruse concocted by the madwoman. But she was too meek to voice a question, to visit the cabin, to do anything but watch with horror as the scene unfolded.
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