Blacktail Deer Plateau keep a brave face

sometimes you just needed to get it all out. sunny sent a torrent of words his way, full of guilt and sadness and regret. adi sat and nodded through it all, absorbing each and every syllable. though it felt like a very long time, he knew it wasn't that far in the past that he was this age, young and learning and vulnerable. god's sake, the boy was barely a year!

"i would have done the same, if i had a sister," aditya responded after sunny fell silent, adding, with a half-smile, "probably. it's only natural that you would want to keep her safe." his face grew solemn, then. "she's adventurous. so am i--but it's different, when it's someone else. someone you have to look out for besides yourself."

he didn't share with his brother-in-law the own fears that lie dormant within him. he knew dawn was a strong, capable and independent young woman, but that didn't stop the worry, every time she ventured off. and he knew she worried similarly for him. sibling worries and lovers' worries differed, though; it was well within dawn's nature to grow angry with her brother for--at least what she saw it as--holding her back. especially as a younger, more volatile wolf.

"you're all together now," adi said, smiling once more. "and you seem to get on fine. and you can always visit your friends back at easthollow. . .it might be easier in the future, if we ever move closer to them." he had no idea what grayday had in mind as far as potential summer homes, but it would make tactical sense to shift nearer toward their closest allies.