he had worried about sunny. the boy seemed to have kept much to himself since the fire. the last time adi had seen him had been directly following the blaze, fur singed down to the skin and a haunted look in his eyes. the howl that rang out was not much less disturbing, and aditya hastened to answer it--though it seemed that others were even hastier, today.

the sentinel nuzzled the top of kitten's head affectionately, taking in her scent (should he lose her yet again) before staring up at his former brother-in-law. it appeared that he had gotten some treatment for his injuries. . .the external ones, at least. he still looked quite lost, and adi blinked at him with more than a little concern.

"how are you, sunny?" he asked gently. he noticed that the young man had called for dawn as well, and his ears swiveled, listening for her arrival.

aditya and sunny were cut from the same cloth, at least when it concerned putting a happy face on during even the worst of times. he couldn't resist a smile at the effort made, dipping his head to accept the answer (for now). it wouldn't do to dig into sunny's psyche while they had company; they could always talk later.

he'd came around just in time for kitten to mention chaiyya, and his mouth twisted in a smirk at the name, which apparently had taken on a more official role in the maplewood than the jest he had intended. adi watched the siblings exchange playful words and cuddle, a silent observer to the familial love.

"glad she was able to help out," adi remarked. he hadn't expected her to pull all her weight while injured, but he was pleased to hear she was actively contributing--even if she was telling the children strange stories.

what sort of dark stuff was the moonspear girl filling kitten's head with? he was familiar with one of the terms, but not the other. evidently sunny was just as taken aback; their eyes met, his own sparkling with wry humor, a tinge of confusion added. he looked back at kasatka with a resigned sigh, thinking to himself that he ought to speak with chaiyya later.

"an urchin is a child, usually a--" his words died in his mouth as he considered the word further. an urchin was an orphan. abandoned to the wilds. he had once been an urchin; he had been called so, before. his mouth twisted into a frown, clearly uncomfortable, before continuing on. "a child, merbani. usually a playful one, who likes to get into trouble."

he nipped gently at the tuft of hair behind her ear. "fits you well," adi teased, thinking of her knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. "and your brothers, too." he shook his head, shrugging. "i don't know what a thrall is." he really hoped it wasn't something grossly inappropriate to be telling a child.

kitten, ever-so-forthright. this conversation apparently could not wait for later, and he flashed sunny a pained smile as the young man began to speak, trying to encourage him. he nodded mournfully along with the sentiments, a sigh escaping him as sunny finished. adi pressed his muzzle briefly against the top of kasatka's head before continuing, trying to find strength in her continued vitality.

like a phoenix from the ashes. . .

"i know you're worried, sunny," he murmured, looking back up. "i am, too. but i saw dawn after the fire had gone down; she made it out safe. it's more likely that she is out looking for them, herself." he said a silent prayer that his former mate had made it out--alive, if not unscathed. "as for pema and shale. . .i don't know, bhaiyya. you could go through the ashes, look for--"

aditya swallowed, clearly thinking the worst. he tried to steer away from that line of conversation, instead shrugging. "if you think it is necessary, you can look," he said, his tone almost helpless. "i would rather have you here, hunting with us, making sure the borders are secure. but i know they're family to you."

and to me, too. but blood ran thicker than water, and adi knew it well.

he flashed a grateful smile at kitten, glad she was helping him out, even when she really didn't have to. sunny took the sentiments somewhat better than he expected, especially after kasatka chimed in. the trio stood, glowing with silent optimism for a moment, before aditya cleared his throat, his eyes soft.

"you can go if you want to, sunny," he said quietly, looking at the young man--and perhaps beyond, as well. "but the ones here need you, too." he thought of the pack, pulling themselves together piece by piece. they had survived--other packs were not so fortunate. they could have all died among the flames, and yet--yet!--

god had allowed them to live. and because they lived, they needed care. he would not rest until they were settled once again.