atwood is not tucked in the den, but curled up like a cat under the willows, half-napping, half-observing. his brother's appearance is not an unwelcome one -- sundance and he have never been close, but atwood finds he generally likes his family. (he does not perceive the same shift his silver-struck brother does, but it is not an incorrect observation - unconsciously there is a bond to reif that atwood has, shared visions of blood and gore slowly fading to static in the lining of his memory).

at length he unfurls and rises to his feet, stretching his long and small body. "looking for someone?" he says by way of greeting, as though it doesn't occur to him that his brother might be seeking out him, and leaves it at that.

sundance suggests exploring, and he shakes himself out sleepily, nodding. he's explored the willows thoroughly, having spent much of his time sneaking out to do exactly that. but it is flattering that his brother wanted his company, and he could use a little walk, and a chance to babble at willing companions. "yeah," atwood says, a shy but bright smile unfurling across his mouth, and steps towards sundance. "lets go somewhere new," he suggests, not keen on retreading already-treaded spaces in the willows -- the roses near their den, the borders -- when surely there's something new to be uncovered.

the wispy boy had been picking flowers. sun slanted down in lazy yet pleasant beams, dappling the earth in shifting patterns as the breeze tugged at the willow's laden limbs. it was in fact, a beautiful day and reif felt, he felt light. a feeling he welcomed wholly as little dirt covered paws carried him along, wildflowers hanging from creamy jaws- upturned in the rare sight of a little content grin. 

yet sounds soon intrude and he slows, pricking little ears forward to listen in curiously. upon realising it's both his siblings, he hesitates only briefly- standing lightly on his toes and wondering if he'd be intruding should he approach. yet he bites down any lingering nerves- they were his brothers after all, he'd only started feeling this way after everything that had happened. he'd grown withdrawn and although atwood had shared some kind of bond with him through it- he'd still felt a need to face it alone. but he'd recovered with the miraculous ability to adapt found in children of such an age. 

he turns slightly and moves now in the direction until coming across his siblings, exploring sounds fun. he's a little tired but he won't let that hinder him, shifting his skinny frame determinedly as he leans down to drop his gatherings at creamy paws. smiling a little bashfully, sage eyes shift from the flowers and up to his siblings as he murmurs in soft, lilting tones; "can i explore too?"

truthfully, atwood feels a touch overwhelmed by the affection sundance radiates, lost in his bright smile, the touch of his mouth against his cheek. he fights the urge to withdraw as reif arrives bearing pops of color, a grounding sight he finds himself unmeasurably grateful for. "yeah," he murmurs, quietly echoing his silver-toned brother.

at sundance's question, atwood tilts his head thoughtfully. at length he says, "the caves," his eyes flitting from brother to brother curiously. they have not exactly been forbidden from the c-- well, so they have, but atwood strongly feels 'don't go there' is merely a starting negotiation and not an order. and with all three of them together, it surely won't be so treacherous, and surely, so interesting to see.

something about the way his siblings greet him is different, and he doesn't mean the bad kind of different; it's...nice. they smile at him but there's something more to their smiles, everyone smiles all the time but when they do it they just move their mouths in the appropriate way. when sundance and atwood do it like that it becomes a grand gesture, he's captivated and it draws him in like a moth to a flame. it's as if their smile doesn't just stop at their mouths; it becomes them, he doesn't know how or why they did it but he liked it; it made him feel warm. which was exactly what he'd failed to make the connection to; it was that warmth that his brother's radiated that made him feel so welcomed and whilst he didn't truly catch on to that, it wasn't lost on him either as he lets his own mouth lift into a smile- wondering did his whole body smile too or was he just moving his mouth. how did you know?

he lets himself drop the topic before he can spiral into it and lose the exit, focusing on leaning down to nudge his flowers under the roots of the nearest tree, hoping they'd still be there whenever he finished their little adventure. hopefully not too wilted either, but he personally found them just as pretty. it wasn't the same vibrancy as the flowers that danced and swayed in the wind but there was a different kind of prettiness to the subdued wilted petals that drooped from jaws that carried them so carefully. 

soft eyes lift once more as atwood offers his suggestion upon sundance's request. the pale boy frowns at this; the caves? but..."we're not supposed to go there" he informs pointedly but then stops to reconsider...they had never really been told why and he was certainly curious. "but yea...yea i want to" he straightens now, light on his paws with a budding eagerness as his tail sways eagerly at his haunches; awaiting sundance's confirmation.