Naira might have been looking for her daughter, but she was about to come across a wolf somewhere in the line.  A bit redder, a bit taller, but it was becoming increasingly obvious just who Kyna’s mother was, even without the same surname or a proper introduction.  Aponi was in the way she walked, the way she carried herself, even the way she tilted her head just so.  There was poise and grace, and while the Aquila woman might have worried a childhood spent with Phineas would result in a lack of spine, it seemed there was one growing there all the same.

Kyna was out and about, as she usually was.  Staying in one place too long put an itch in her paws, and where she might not be ready to depart from Oak Tree Bend altogether, she found the need to move all the same.  Patrolling the borders often seemed a good way to stretch her legs and support the pack in one single task – she was quite mindful of the duty when she came across Naira’s scent.

Shortly thereafter, she came across the woman in question herself.

Brows raised upwards as she chuffed, drawing the older female’s attention.  “What are you doing out here?” Didn’t she have puppies to care for?

Pick up the slack, huh?

One of Kyna’s ears shifted, but she had no reason to believe the older wolf was lying to her.  She supposed she could not rightly blame Naira for getting a little free time for herself – after all, she’d watch Lila on occasion, and allow her mother to do the same thing.  Idly, she wondered if Sahalie was expected to do the same thing, given the litter shared their father with Hal (and Drift).  She’d have to ask her friend.

“Oh.”

The sudden compliment--  Was it even that?  An observation, more like.  The sudden observation caught the yearling off guard and her mind drew to a halt as she tipped her head to one side.  Like Naira’s brother.

“I suppose that explains a lot of things.  My father was grey, too.  Like Aponi.”  Well, white, really, but whether that was from age or he was born like snow, the young woman had not the knowledge.  She didn’t look like any of her brothers or sisters, however – they could have taken after their own mothers, though it did limit the possibility of the bright red color coming from the Argyris line.  “What was he like?  Your brother.”

Perhaps they were alike in more ways than one.

Kyna fell into silence, her curiosity finally outweighing everything else that tried to invade her mind.  Orange eyes studied the older female, her inquisitive nature evident in her gaze as she allowed Naira to reminisce and murmur in silence, in peace…  Well, until she mentioned something killing her brother.  Eyebrows shot upwards, ears straining forward as white ringed her iris.  Had she heard that right?  Had Naira actually killed her own sibling?

For all that she hated Celandine and her ugly attitude, she’d never once considered killing the older Argyris.

Before she could ask, the older wolf continued on, removing herself from her memories and plunging into a new topic entirely.  It took Kyna a few silent moments to catch up, ears swiveling hither and fro rapidly while the gears in her mind groaned to life.  After a moment, the statement finally seemed to click, and the girl straightened up considerably.

“My cousin?  I didn’t know I even had a cousin.  My mother--  My mother hasn’t told me much about the family, I suppose,” she murmured after a moment.  “But, I suppose I have never asked, either.” Aponi might not have mentioned, but Kyna never pressed for anything.  Once, she had been satisfied with the simplest of answers.

“Who are they?  My cousin.”

Oh.  Oh.  No wonder Aponi hadn’t wanted her to meet Naira – if she’d kill her brother, who else?  Given, her own mother had thrown a wolf off a cliff (supposedly), but--  Oh, her head hurt.  Already, the wolf regretted her decision to speak with the woman. 

(She couldn’t wait to tell Sahalie all of this.)

It was to Naira’s great benefit, honestly, that she returned to her granddaughter’s actual query, because she knew that name.  That was enough to stun the redhead back into silence, blinking owlishly as she had a hard time believing her luck, that she and Hal had simply run into the other girl while playing in the snow.  All this time they were related, and she had no idea!

“She does not like to share with anyone, not even her own daughter,” Kyna replied waspishly, eyes narrowed by a fraction.  Oh, that was cruel.  Perhaps she shouldn’t have--  But there was no taking that back once it’d gone free to the world.  She sighed softly, shaking her head.  Best to abort the topic of the silver woman.  It could not lead anywhere good.

“But…Nalda.  I know her.  I actually know her.  Is there any other family, that my mother doesn’t speak of?”