Moonspear change of tides

Charon glanced at Lyra as she joined her sister. He thought back briefly to when they had been little and he had never been able to tell them apart. It was a fond memory back to the confusing days of being a first-time parent, then having to deal with three daughters that looked so similar and were good at abusing that fact. Now, after nearly two years, it was clear as day which was which; unless they were trying hard not to be themselves he could always tell who was in front of him. But they rarely tried to fool him anymore, and it was all too clear to see which of his two daughters stood in front of him. He expected the third to be somewhere, having to remind himself that Hydra was yet out on her trip.

Alya immediately started off by saying that a friend he hadn't ever even heard of before had asked her to go on a trip. Charon wondered what this trip entailed; was it a long trip that would make her miss seeing her siblings grow up, or was it a short trip like Hydra's? She wouldn't be back before the pups were born, that much was for sure, for it would not be too much longer. Charon hadn't realised how badly Alya had wanted to go on a trip, much like Hydra had wanted to, not until she told him with a somewhat trembling voice that she had been delaying going on this supposed trip for months.

Perhaps he would have told her no or forbidden it a year ago, but now... They could use the help for the pups, considering how much of their wolves they'd lost recently, but they also had Vela and Jarilo to help guard. And Hydra'd returned — surely Alya would, too. It seemed unfair to deny those he loved the most what they desired, maybe even needed. He had never taken big trips -- only smaller ones that lead him home usually within the week -- but he recognised the pull towards the wilds, towards finding oneself. His pack had fallen apart so much that he had not been able to, but he did not want to deny his daughter this thing. Maybe even moreso because he had needed to lead while others played. Maybe because the big trips he had taken when he was far too little for such journeys -- the one to find Kevlyn when he'd trespassed into Duskfire territory, the one where he had fought Dante and spent time at Sunspire with Ame -- had shaped him in incredible ways.

He looked silent and contemplative for a while, even as she said that she had come to say goodbye without waiting for his verdict first. Perhaps it was better that way. He had felt like a failure for being unable to protect so many of his loved ones that had died or gotten hurt, but maybe sometimes to protect was to let go.. for a little bit. "We'll miss you," he said eventually, a response that might seem uncharacteristic to wolves who'd known Charon most his life. But this was his daughter, his sweetie, his princess — and she needed this, he realised, even if it made him sad. And anyway, she was stubborn enough to do it regardless of her dad's old opinion.

After a brief pause he continued: "A few weeks, eh? I'll be sure to tell the pups there's three of you once they get here." Charon grinned as he looked briefly at Lyra, then back to Alya. "Good luck, sweetie. I'll miss you — Stay safe out there. And when you guys return, maybe you should introduce me to this Nikai guy." He winked at Alya and then closed in to nuzzle the top of her head, like he often would when they were little. She would always be Charon's little baby girl, after all, aside from also being a strong independent woman and all that.