Northstar Vale Dig up Her Bones but Leave the Soul Alone

title inspo/maybe background music set morning after Reiko's death

Morning came just as it always would, although it was not with the kisses of the rising sun. No, the sun had been gone for quite some time now, perhaps the closest thing to a warning young Hotaru had to the darkness that was slowly consuming the Empire. Unfortunately, she was young, and her mind was still so innocent despite her full conscious awareness of the world around her. Reiko had warned her of dangers of course, but never of what they could be, what they could look like. She would never know it could come from her own father.

She stretched, each limb sprawling out with a yawn as the Princess pushed into her pillow usually made up by her mother, though when she opened her eyes she found a much larger figure had taken Reiko's place. Hotaru blinked in surprise, her daddy had been gone for some time now and never really did he cuddle up beside them though that too would be due to a hidden battle that Reiko had long since lost.

Of course, the initial reaction was excitement. The young girl hopped to her feet to push her paws against @Takeshi 's side as she often did when she wanted attention from her parents in an attempt to wake him. Daddy's home! Rather that was for Takeshi, @Haruki and @Sumi, or herself she wasn't sure, but it felt as if the words were needed to confirm he was real.

Though that left one much larger question. Where was Reiko? The Princess looked around the den, yet the only adult white wolf had been their father. That wouldn't do, she'd want to know he was back too. Plus if life worked with one parent switching off disappearances she wasn't going to be too happy. She wanted them both here. Where's Mama?

*ugly sobs*

Their mother had been there, a warm, familiar presence curled around them just as always when he had fallen asleep, only to be replaced by a much larger figure come morning. Haruki's eyes blearily blinked open as Hotaru's excited voice cut through his sleep-addled consciousness, taking a moment to register her words. As soon as he did, though, the young prince immediately shot right up, looking first to his sister before focusing on the adult who had taken Reiko's place. Father was home!

He vaguely remembered being roused in the night, disturbed from his sleep as Reiko had gingerly stepped over them before that fateful argument with their father. Only, the memory of that was hazy, and he did not put two and two together, instead assuming their mother had only stepped out for the time being.

At Hotaru's question, Haruki took it upon himself to let Reiko know the joyous news. Untangling himself from the mess that was both of his sisters' pale limbs, the boy stumbled eagerly towards the entrance of the den, head popping out into the rain with an exuberant: "MAMAAA! DAD'S HOME!"