With the directions or the hunch to go over the mountains, Lumiya left the pack of the blind woman behind to find what she was looking for. What was she looking for? Good question. She didn't know, not really. She wanted a sign, a message that she had done the right thing by trying to find her own path and leaving her family behind. I mean, Venamis hadn't returned home after his disappearance so it must be great living out in the wild and doing whatever you wanted. Sure, the theory was that her brother had been kidnapped, but he was too much of a bother to make Lumi think anyone would keep him around, even as a hostage, for this long. No, her brother had found his own thing and wasn't planning on returning. For once in her life she could understand why he would do something.

She padded through a thin layer of snow, towards the mountains ahead. She was hoping home was on the other side, back into the dark woods, but nothing would be able to prepare her for the bitter truth that her family was split into pieces and everyone was waging war against each other. Just part of being a Melonii, I guess.

But the spirit was very aware of her surroundings. If Mother had taught her anything, it was to always worry about her safety. "The Teekon is very dangerous for a Melonii alone. Always watch your back!" is what she'd say whenever Lumiya mentioned her returning there. She didn't want to be paranoid about it, really, but somehow her Mother's words always stuck with her. They were like a growth in her brain, feeding off negativity and worry. Every now and then she cut a piece away, but it just kept coming back faster. She hated being smothered even more than her brother's behavior when they were younger. And he was a dickhole.

When she felt like checking her surroundings, she did, spotting someone's dark frame. It wasn't the blind woman from before, and it wasn't anyone she recognized (yet). She halted, narrowing her gaze. Are you following me? She questioned loudly, her paranoia getting the better of her this time.

But he was a creep - and a very insolent young fellow. But his voice, his way of stringing insults together with just a dirty look... It reminded her of someone. Her eyes caught a flash of his spider-like markings and, even though his eyes had been blue for the most part of their history together, carried the same disrespect for everyone and everything as... Venamis?

Her words got out as he passed her, the only thing chasing him being the mist that came out of her mouth. Surely she was mistaken. If this was her long lost brother, she'd eat a hump of yellow snow - scratch that because the feeling she was getting was that she was right. Doubt lingered in the air, in her eyes and in her heart. For once in her life, she hoped to hear the words; "No, you fucking idiot.".

Of course Venamis didn't leap out of joy to find out his baby sister was safe and well. Lumi was of the strong belief that Venamis held hatred in his heart for her more than anything. She didn't know what had started their feud, perhaps their differences, but despite all this she was happy to see him. Whether or not he liked it, they were family and his disappearance had left them all in a state of worry. Mother seemed especially down and angry the first few months, blaming herself for Venamis' kidnapping.

Her brows knitted together in a frown. I could ask you the same thing. She answered. She looked around then, not spotting any potential kidnappers. It doesn't seem like you're still being held captive, hm? What happened? If it had been her that had been taken from the dragon nest, she would've done anything and everything to make her escape and return home. Venamis, on the other hand, didn't seem in a hurry to get anywhere at the moment.

The corner of her mouth raised to form the ghost of a smirk. Well, it's none of your business what I'm doing here either then. And it really wasn't, they were as estranged as two siblings could possibly be. In his eyes she saw their father, but the rest of him was undoubtedly just Venamis. She guessed they were both trying to become individuals here in the Teekon, and for that she could respect him just a little.

We all thought Aries kidnapped you in an act of treason. She informed with a soft expression. The dots of her eyebrows raised in worry. Is that not what happened? She couldn't imagine Venamis wanting to leave their family; he was accepted and loved and had even been slightly feared by the little Lumiya. If mother had had a favorite child, it would've been either Venamis or Revan, Lumi thought. But if Aries didn't kidnap him and he had just left... That meant Aries was innocent and Venamis the traitor.

They weren't pups anymore, and Lumi was less scared of him now. He had left their family, not the other way around, no matter how it might've played out in his head. She wasn't on a rescue mission to find him, but Mother and father had been very worried. There hadn't been a day they hadn't missed Venamis... just not enough to go looking for him.

She returned his gaze, staring daggers at him for a change. She knew then how she was going to handle this situation. I'll tell mother and father you're alright then, when I go visit. She replied. I was sent here to find you. She lied. In a way, she was defending their parents for not starting a search party for their lost son. Whether this lie would come back to bite her in the ass later, she left up to higher powers. Right there, she just wanted to know what happened to her brother, no matter the cost.

She hadn't wanted to spook him. In a weird and selfish way, she just wanted to find out the truth. Out of their whole family, Lumiya felt like she had the strongest bond with Venamis - be it one built on mutual resentment. She cared for him like any other sibling would, but it was apparent all her concerns were for naught. Venamis didn't and would never care for her. He was a lightning storm, she was just a sprite - it wasn't like she ever stood a chance.

They miss you! At least now she was telling the truth. I did too... What a waste of time. She said as he looped around her, making a mockery out of her. She didn't move to chase or follow him. If he wanted to flee again, so be it. That was all he could do right; disappear.

She couldn't read her brother well, she never had been able to. She didn't know what was going on behind those silver eyes, but if she did she would've longed to hold him and tell him she was sorry - on their behalf. She'd been his age when he disappeared, was home-bound until a moon or so ago, and yet she'd been able to find him. She'd wished to leave for so long, but she - like any other child - had been dependent on some kind of parent figure. Had Venamis found one? Gods, she hoped he did. Or maybe he was so fucked up now because he hadn't been loved since their separation.

Well, I wasted that time now, haven't I? She bit back. She held her head up high. She felt like a piece of prey being circled like this, but she was a cow with her horns attached and ready to use them. Look, I'm sorry we - I didn't find you earlier, but it's hard to find something that's gone missing. She didn't know about Midar or Aries or anyone of the Melonii bloodline he had encountered. All she knew was that she was here and had found him at last.

She didn't regret standing up to him. Her cruelty now was for all the times he had pushed her around. She felt so very different from him - from anyone she knew. She'd felt out of place, disregarded and... forgotten. She'd never worshiped her parents like other Meloniis did and knew they'd been in the wrong for not sending out someone to find Venamis. Everything had happened so very suddenly, the rumors about kidnapping and Aries just salt in her wounds. They'd lost a child, but they had three more - Lumiya had lost a brother, a rival, an annoying ass and she only knew one wolf that fit all of those criteria.

She looked into the pools of ashen gloom that were his eyes. She could've misread, but they spelled pain.

I am your sister. She stated as he turned away. It is my responsibility to be there for you. How can I do that, when you're not there? She wasn't chasing him, but her voice grew louder as he got farther. Her brows furrowed. I'm not ever going home again. She stated in truth. She had gotten her say off her chest. If this was the end of them, she'd gotten the last word in. At least she had gotten closure, and she wasn't about to share that with the parents who had ruined them both.

Her lip quivered, but she - too - did not falter. She watched him take his leave, not even offering her a glance, a smile... - anything. Her eyes felt heavy and she looked down upon the fresh snow. The sprite had been defeated, but there hadn't been a chance for victory for either of them. Her ears draped over her petite head and, with a sigh, she plowed her way through the snow.

She'd wanted to shout mean things, thoughts that would haunt him - but why bother? It wasn't like she'd been worth such efforts. When he was far enough out of sight (if only he was out of mind, too), she continued her journey towards the mountains. She hoped they would never meet again, but who knew, fate had its cruel tendencies and a thirst for disaster.