Ouroboros Spine I'd trade it all to taste a drop

just some housekeeping because my characters are all related sorry. All Welcome!

"Boy."

"Old man."

The two, stood on opposite sides of the border, stood staring at each other a moment longer. They were each taking in the subtle and not-so-subtle changes that the intervening months had wrought. Katmai had grown into a man in that time — and Valiant had gotten older.

"I see you still got all your legs," said the younger Morningsider.

"I see you still got a smart mouth," Valiant replied — and, finally, the pair embraced. "It's good to see you, Kat. How've you been?"

The pair sat, and caught up. Katmai was evasive as he spoke of the past few months, not quite willing to own up to all the sighing and star-gazing he'd been doing all on his own. He spoke shyly of @Kinusi, and his vague plans to find somewhere nearby to settle, and even less concrete plans to sweep her off her paws. He even spoke a little of @Leonore, and asked Valiant to be especially kind and patient with her, should he ever cross her path. He asked about Rodyn, who had always been a role model to him, even though they'd not had much or any one-on-one time, and then — with sneaking suspicion — asked if Valiant had any news to share.

It was Valiant's turn to go a little shy.

"Me'n @Raindrop," he said, managing to keep his voice even — a feat that Katmai could not have accomplished. "We're gonna get married."

There was much exclaiming over this; Katmai remembered Raindrop from his time at Moontide as well, though she had been an even more distant figure to him. More clearly, he remembered her daughters — and Katmai asked after them as well.

"It's just Angel and Rosie here, now," Valiant explained. "...if you wanna say hi."

Katmai did — and so Valiant sent up a general howl: My cousin is here. If you're into that sort of thing.

Again, open to all. If Raindrop +/- daughters and/or Kinusi would like to come meet, they are especially welcome but also I know people are busy so no worries if this is just a cousin meet up. I'll close it in a few more days if there's no response.

Raindrop had heard Valiant announce the arrival of his cousin, and came trotting down to the edge of the borders to greet the young Morningsider. She had told Rosa and Angel where she was going, and invited them along, if they wished. 

Rosa, who had always been shy, followed her mother, but kept her distance, finding a tree a few yards off to stalk observe the reunion. 

Raindrop approached with a friendly demeanor, her tail swaying as she came to stand beside Valiant. She wanted to nuzzle him, but was just a little hesitant to show open affection. At least until she got to know this soon to be cousin-in-law better. “Hello! I’m Raindrop. How are you?”
She greeted, then made a reference to her daughter’s sneaky presence. My one daughter, Ponderosa, is waiting further up from here. She’s always been a quiet one.” 

Angel had been out and about, so she arrived shortly after Raindrop, one ear twisting back as she heard that Ponderosa was somewhere behind her.

"Hiya, Kat," she said to the older boy, her tail wheeling. He'd grown handsome, she noted, eying him somewhat critically. They were cousins of some sort, but it was only by adoption. She would confer later with Rosa, she thought, on the viability of such a match.

Please feel free to skip Valiant!

Katmai laughed as Raindrop introduced herself. He could not remember any direct interactions with Raindrop, but she'd still been a prominent figure in his life. She was the gatekeeper of some of his closest age mates, after all!

"Please — I remember you," he assured the woman, his tail wagging. "It's me, Katmai Morningside. You may remember me better as a brown blur chasing after your daughter with a lizard."

He and his siblings had been the youngest children in Moontide, as far as he remembered — but that had not stopped him from being a terrible menace in his youth. And, speak of the devil!

"Hello, Angel Oak," he said, just a little bashfully. She had always been older than him, but he was shocked to find that she looked like a woman, now. "You are as beautiful as your mother," he told her, smiling sweetly at Raindrop and shooting a more evil grin at his elder(ly) cousin.

Valiant aimed a little snap at his hindquarters, so Katmai made an effort to behave.

"I'd like to see Ponderosa as well," he commented, secretly quite desperate to see how the other girl had grown up. He was deeply entrenched in his admiration of and desire for Kinusi, but he still couldn't help but be curious about his childhood friend — though he'd never had as much to do with Ponderosa as her more outgoing and boisterous siblings. "How is she?" he asked instead of insisting.

The memory of Katmai came back to her. This was Dutch's child. "Ah, yes." she chuckled, "It's great to see you again. You've grown into a fine young man."

He was incredibly friendly, and had an uplifting energy about him. Not just youthful, but happy. He then greeted Angel, sweetly. 

When he asked for 'Rosa, she couldn't hide the amused expression on her face. "She's doing good. Still shy, but she has certainly opened up more. She loves to track scents and explore. Just give it some time. She'll come around." 

"How are you Katmai?" She wanted to ask about his family, his siblings, but she didn't know the circumstances. She didn't want to bring him any ill feelings.

His tail wheeled in response to the compliment she paid him. He had grown up fine and tall, and he was beginning to feel quite chuffed about it. He stole a glance at Valiant and Angel to see if they felt the same, but the former looked exasperated and the latter was snickering, so he quickly dropped that line of thought.

"I am well," he said to her, and if he heard the silent question in her words, he chose not to answer. "I am looking for a territory to settle. I will call it Morningside."

He glanced at Angel Oak again. She only seemed skeptical, now.

"Are you well?" he politely returned. His irrepressible smile was edging its way back onto his face. "I am told that congratulations are in order. We are cousins, now."

Cousins, instead of the honorary aunt she had once been. These titles were trifling matters, of course. Family was family, and Raindrop's name had been added to their lineage before he'd even drawn his first breath.