her mind was in a daze as the mother siren got up to a familiar sound. her son, beat her to it and spoke of a white wolf. the words instantly brought her up to speed, and with haste, walked out with a desperate, or maybe shocked look; unlike her usual stoicism. 

"ying?"

her cousin remained silent, which made the siren be filled with unease. she knew her not for silence, but a raging warrior of sea. her expression, stoic, but her heart thumped, "ying, i have not seen you in months."

"the last time, i saw you, we spoke of stars."

"did you foolishly follow the jellyfish?"

she wanted to call her cousin a dumbass, but at most, felt relief she was alive.

it was hard for ruo to admit she actually missed her, but she did. the only one she truly got along with.

there was something off about her cousin. the previous energy the mermaid had seemed long gone, only to be a shell. it what was to be felt, as the spirit the ying she remembered, had not come to.

ruo could only force herself to try and continue their usual banter, "dumbass."

she looked toward the small cub, and nodded, "yes. my only son, huojin."

she flickered an ear in curoisity. ying had been gone all this time, and came back to find out she had children? "where are they?" the siren inquired.

four sound a handful, and ruo didn't mind much having only one. while wouldn't say to his face, it was a fact, huojin was a fortunate mistake. treasure him nontheless, but something, that shouldn't have happened. but it had happened, so she'll try to be a proper mother.

"he's around." when she looked at huojin, her flaming boy, it should be obvious who he took after, "after all, it's lion." 

while a smile was to be rested upon the sirens face, ruo whipped her head back at ying instead, surprised and questionable at the other, "you do not, remember?"

is that why.. she was like a shell, of her former self?

memory loss?

"thats unfortunate." ruo looked over to her bored son and nodded at him to go back instead, perhaps assuming he had no interest and would rather take a nap. it wasn't the best time, to meet his aunt regardless.

"we are cousins." now with more understanding, the siren returned to a more stoic expression, as she went into a bit of their history.

... Which wasn't a lot.

"i missed you." despite being a knuckle-brain, a pain in the ass.. ruo had to admit, she did love her cousin the most. out of all her family, even siblings, she probably got a long with ying the most. found her more sensible, and reliable. it was fun to be around her.

and it was hard to adapt, to the shell that she was.

now all there was, was ruo and hua. perhaps, they needed to reconcile.

"my rock is always open." she claimed the area, her pride rock, and often left marks for any new wolves to come by. ying was always welcome to come by.