Northstar Vale She said, stay strong. don't let them drag you along.

A nervous, breathy laugh graced her ears and Liri's gaze was drawn back to Kiran with a glimmer of concern visible. She blinked in surprise at the next revelation, her heart pounding in confusion. Could it be true? 

A long-forgotten memory surfaced. 

She knew as soon as she padded into the den, silently as the phantom they had begun to name her, that she should have slept elsewhere for the night. 

Leto had gone, tucked away in some corner of the territory with Ameta. Liri had had lessons in herbology to attend and had returned home in search of her siblings - not quite expecting her father to be shit-faced. 

The girl froze within the entrance; even at such a young age she recognized the signs of an alcoholic stupor. 

Jono lay prone, half thrown onto his back having clearly stumbled about and collapsed. 

His eyes danced to her, a flicker of recogition burning within. "Echo?" 

"You came back. I knew you would. I could be...I could be good to you, to the girl." 

He struggled to rise, to reach for her, and in fear - Liri fled. 

"Your mother...she is Echo, yes?" Again she lapsed into her native language out of shock.