Phoenix Maplewood the floodlights only point out your flaws

Alarian drifted away from the others when he noticed his niece, Lainie, was missing from the ensemble. He hadn't had much opportunity to get closer to her, and now he worried she was feeling... disconnected. Truth be told, he had never dealt with such a situation before-- a family member he had never met? It was awkward, to say the least. Blood connected them, but no experience; he wasn't certain what to do.
The boy approached her slowly, chuffing to catch her attention. Ali was determined to say something to her, even if he didn't yet know what.