Morningside Cuesta different now; better than

Da's simple rules on how to love alleviated some of the confusion and negativity she felt towards love, yet still, it seemed something, for the better part, avoided. her was ruminating on this still when he sighed after her request, and she began to feel like it would be denied. but Da wasn't the type to keep big secrets, anyway, and when the words left his was, she listened attentively. the first part of his tale had her brow furrow in confusion and surprise, for she had always though the older pair to be the alpha's kids. when Da said that their mother was killed, her mind immediately made the jump, and her heart clenched for a painful moment. no. Da wouldn't; never. the shoved the thoughts, the suggestion of the thought, away as quickly as possible. 

why did everyone they know seem to loose their true mother? Sunny, her, Kieran and now Nikai and Keoni; being a mother sounded a dangerous job, and one she found she would be eager to never fulfil. her attentions turned back to Da fully when he mentioned the fight, its eventually end, and a fact she had never known. Keoni and Nikai had a sister? she wondered what she might be like; if she had had a sister that she didn't remember. impossible.

for a while after the tale, she was silent, unmoving, mind working. quickly she found her father absolved of guilt, for he had killed a murderer and a kidnapper and what sounded like a vile person. but still, the tale was so shocking, the information so raw, that her mind worked a time, making connections and wondering at a thousand things. eventually, what might have been minutes later, or seconds, she rose, and without hesitation moved into her father 's embrace, her muzzle pressed into his shoulder. he felt fuller, somehow. "I love you, Da." she breathed, and they were her only words for a time.