drip-drop, drip-drop. The sound called the pale pup out of his dreams, blurry eyes fluttering open to gaze around the den. The snuck space was dim, blurred shapes outlined faintly around him, all three so familiar. As usual he'd snuggled down between his sisters, acting as a barrier to take the blunt of the kicking and biting. He didn't really mind, in fact he found it kind of cozy, it had become his usual and he doubted he'd even be able to sleep if it stopped. Right now, his smaller sister was surprisingly quiet though, sleeping soundly against his back. Everyone else seemed to be asleep too, undisturbed by the continuous dripping outside.

The sound made his floppy ears twitch, preventing any further attempts at sleep, and stirring his curiosity. As quietly as he could, the pale boy wiggled himself free of his family, turning his small nose towards the den entrance, where grey-green light filtered in. Though his legs were still wobbly and his eyes hazy, Kyrios wasted no time in making his way towards the strange light, gazing out into the clearing where their new den had been dug. He couldn't see the rain, only hear the ever persistent drip-drop. He growled lowly in frustration, challenging the strange noise to show itself, ready to defend his sisters.

Nothing happened though, and the young boy tentatively stepped out, one shaky step at a time. The first raindrop hit his back like a tiny prickle, making him jump in surprise, a bark escaping his tiny maw. One more found his nose, again causing him to jolt, shaking his head wildly. He was being attacked by an invisible enemy!

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”Speech”

A prick at his hip, he turned to snap at the attack, then another hit his head and he jerked it upward, looking desperately fir any sign of the enemy. But there was nothing, more tickling touches continued to hit him all over, but there was nothing to see, no one to turn his righteous anger at. The soft call from the den made him spin around, jaws parting to warn his sister, but too late. Clearly hit by the same foe, Atty jumped back, yelping, and Ky's ears flattened back, teeth clenching in a silent snarl. It was one thing for this ghost-beast to attack him, but even touching his sister… And what about Beany, and Moma? No way, not on his watch!

With an angry bark, the pale boy spun again, backing towards the den entrance as he postured at the empty air, challenging the invisible intruder with his best threat display. Still there was nothing, no sign of any danger, anything that could cause them harm. And as he slipped all the way into the shelter of the bush-roots above, next to his sister, the prickling stopped as well. His anger bleached into confusion and he tilted his head, making a questioning sound as he looked over at his twin. He still felt threatened, something was challenging him, keeping him from the world, and his sisters with him. His ears tentatively perked as he looked back out into the gray-lit world, still cloudy eyes wide as he tried desperately to understand; What was this? Nervously, he started opening and closing his mouth, clicking his teeth together as an outlet, while he tried his hardest to wrap his head around this new thing in his ever expanding universe.

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”Speech”

As his sister checked over his back, the boy returned the gesture by gently pressing his head against her chest, sniffing her to make sure she was unharmed as well. She seemed to be fine, and he whined in a mix of relief and confusion, looking up at her. They were both curious and adventurous creatures, itching to get to the bottom of this new mystery, but Kyrios, at the same time, was consumed by his protective sense, his need to keep his sisters safe beyond all else. This was why, when Atropos leaned forwards he growled a worried warning, watching her with anxiously widened eyes as she gazed upwards. He tried to be ready, tightening all his muscles so he could spring at the foe as soon it attacked, even if it was invisible.

The pale girl jumped back, and her equally pale brother lunged forwards, snapping at the open air, without hitting anything. As he could have expected. Quickly he turned his attention back, biting a lip in worry as he looked at his sister, searching for wounds or any other sign of hurt. Salmon tongue went to her nose, and he reached to touch it with his own, happy to see no blood. Instead he saw her face light up, and made a questioning sound, almost unconsciously shaking his shoulders, he was wet. A drop of water that had loosened from the fur atop his head made its way down his face, trailing the length of his muzzle as he looked at his twin, so focused on her discovery that he was missing his own.

Word count: 268

”Speech”