Blackfeather Woods let it out

@Potema maybe! But open!

Permitted, now, to leave the den without adult accompaniment, Kotake darted out of her natal den and moved after the scent of her mother. The woman, the only woman Kotake truly knew, interested her. But there were many pieces missing within Kotake, who wanted for nothing but in her heart held little. What she wanted most of all was to understand and to know. She had realized, relatively early and perhaps earlier than most, that she could do very little.

After some wandering, Kotake found a small area she could fit within. It was far too large for any adult wolf to fit into, and was protected by thorns. Heedless of this—as it would not effect her—Kotake pushed her way into the space, wanting to see what may be on the other side.

The children were growing, and despite the constant fear of death over their heads, she did not want to oppress them with her presence. She moved away, leaving them, briefly at first, but longer and longer. Sometimes they followed, like Kotake (was it Kotake? The twins were growing their personalities now; Kotake being the silent and calm one, and Koume the loud and boisterous) was now. She did not look back, instead letting the girl follow and watch, as Mother had taught her long before.

But Potema stopped, the small, barely perceptible footsteps of her daughter ended. She turned back and saw a small stubby tail disappear in a thorn bush. Potema turned back, curiously investigating her daughter's intentions, but she would make no attempt to dissuade her if she was not harmed.

Inadvertently, her altered course had earned her mothers attentions. As soon as Kotake noted this, she turned right around and moved to meet the pale Potema. Although Potema had found her, Kotake felt as though she had successfully found her mother herself in some way. In any case, she had found what she wanted—the object of her attentions, today, was the white, one-eyed witch. She was as quiet as ever, wondering what things she could learn from her this day.

Her daughter turns away from the thorns, instead looking up at her with an inquisitive glint in her eye that Potema smiled at. There was no need for words from her daughter; she wanted to learn. Potema wondered what she could teach the girl, locked in winter as they were. The visit to the Temple and the Web she wanted all four of them involved in, but there were other things she could teach them, individually.

Potema turned to the nearest roost of the ravens, one of the black-feathered factions that populated the forest. They quorked gently at her presence, Potema looking up and nodding in response. There are crows and ravens here in Blackfeather Woods. Here are a few of the ravens, She speaks to her daughter softly, her voice barely above a whisper. The ravens and crows are known to fight, over land and food. The winter quells the battles, but come spring, with their chicks hatching, they will fight once more,

Kotake looked toward the ravens her mothers spoke of. She was too young to think ahead as to how this information might someday serve her. Instead, her mind ran rampant as she imagined how they might fight. But it was Winter, now, and so they would not see it until this season passed. There were a great many of them, some in plain view and some hidden away. Her eyes turned back to her mother, wondering what other wisdom she would impart to her.

Kotake remains silent, but the woman does not mind, looking down as her second daughter looks up towards her, searching for more. They are known to be the servants of the Daedric Prince of Night and Darkness, She turns to Kotake before gently nosing her. Nocturnal,

Nocturnal. This word caused Kotake to attempt to push her nose against her pale mothers elbow region. I know that name, the gesture seemed to say. Or at least the word. Kotake was still learning the distinction between words and names... but Nocturnal seemed important. Her eyes sought her mothers. As ever, she wanted to know more.

Kotake nudged her elbow, to which Potema chuffed in agreement. Your middle name is Nocturnal, She says, nudging her daughter back gently. Koume was born at dusk, so her middle name is Azura; the Daedric Goddess of Dusk and Dawn. You were born at first dark. You are her twin, like Nocturnal is to Azura,

Her mothers history lesson was listened to with much attention. Kotake appreciated the lore and the way her mother spoke, but she wished to know more of this Nocturnal—this was told by the way her body shifted and her ears perked each time her mother spoke the word. Kotake wondered all about her namesake, without knowing truly that this woman was her namesake. But she had heard the word used frequently around her presence, in some way Kotake (inherently) knew that she and it were linked.