Neverwinter Forest black & white

Day by day, life dragged on, and though the Empire had been gone for some time now, the events still felt as if they had happened yesterday. Hotaru felt tired, maybe it was the darkness of the forest, a heaviness that brought on an eternal night, even when the sun shone through. She'd give anything for a taste of her old life back...and it seemed that someone out there continued to look out for her.

A call sounded from the borders, weak, but familiar. Usually she paid no mind to the calls, they were never for her here, but this one she knew, and it had called for her. Rising from her paws, Hotaru bounded quickly in the direction of the call. When she reached the edges of the forest she was greeted by the sight of her new caretaker along with a familiar face, even if she too had grown bigger, Isa? She was still around? For once it felt like the future could be hopeful, and the tail swaying at her hocks showed it.

cameo!(unless addressed) lemme know if you'd rather him not be here and i'll delete!

it was the spectre that had led him to the treeline, her who had made a guttering flame out of the mild spark of curiosity the call had dredged up within him. but seeing her, someone who in finín's mind was still not truly a member of neverwinter, especially not if she was so haughty like her brother; approach the edge of the twisting gloom with such eager steps,,,he could not resist trailing after waiting a good few moments lest he be caught and accused of following.

there was already a small group clustered within the eddying shifts of light when finín arrived, squinting against the stab of that glare the trees did such a good job at protecting them from. he could make out val and papa, and the ghost girl; a couple of steps closer to catch sight of what it was that had brought this about yet careful to stick close to the shade.

ears leaned forward, catching his packmate's reponse to papa just as he grimaced in surprise at the being they spoke of. another child from that empire, and of course...predominantly white yet with the strangest strikes of darkness trying to provide a soothing relief from the unorthodox alabaster she was cursed with. what did they all want? a shoulder leans against the cool bark of a tree as he scowls at the reunion, half hopeful her arrival meant that the other two could leave with her but already doubting it. mal just loved kids, didn't matter who they belonged to.

frigid eyes slid slowly towards his father, hating his need to hear what he'd say, see how he'd handle this. and even moreso hating that want, that stupid flicker of hope that the wood's alpha would say that he couldn't take on responsibility for more youngsters, not when he hardly had time to 'deal with' his own abundance.

especially when the boy knew such a wish would only lead to that familiar sting of bitter disappointment.