It had seemed like a lifetime ago that Eve had witnesses these things: newborn pups, mother's milk, the grunts and little mewing from the den. She had not since she had been so small, settled happily between her two brothers at the side of her mother.

Now, it was not her mother within the birthing den. It was not a place where her brothers and herself might be wanted, to see their new siblings at their mother's belly as they had once been. It was another. One that had not been around for all that long. One that had not shared (and suffered) all of which they had. Now, mother seemed sad and distant (though never spoke ill of anyone) and Iseldir? Issy was distant. He was missing and all that while their father fussed over his new lover and new pup.

Eve tried not to be bitter. Not to be hateful. After all, their little 'birds and bees' chat allowed Nineve to know that sometimes pairing did not mean being mates. Sometimes, children came because it was an Alphas right to have them and for the good of the pack. If mother had not loved father... Eve could hardly blame him when he found someone who loved him back, now could she?

The chocolate girl, so mixed in her emotions, nearly was scowling as she looked towards the dark den opening from afar, both wanting to see and equally feeling like she had to ask, because, well, Niamh wasn't family and, well, Eve just couldn't run up on her like she could have mother! She takes a deep breath and snorts with frustration.

Her father didn't look at all well. Tired was an understatement, as she turned to look at him as he came walking into the direction of herself and the den-site. It took a minute for him to notice her but Nineve did not think it was because he was so focused on just his newest pup. He looked exhausted and obviously a bit out of it. Once before it had been Ra who had looked so rough, now her father instead. Eve frowned deeply even as he came to her and nuzzled affectionately at her crown.

There had been so many things Nineve wanted to say, but in that moment she found herself lost for words. She turns her attention back to the den, her nose crinkling. She had been ready to throw a wirlwind of emotions at her father and yet upon seeing the wear in his eyes, the fire had simmered out before it could really even call itself a flame.

Instead, she sighs and lifts herself up off the ground from her sit, turning and stepping as though ready to leave. "You should really get some rest dad. You look like shit."

He didn't scold her. In fact, he laughs. The sound of it causes her tail to wag and her own lips turning up into a cheesy smile. It seemed he could not deny the obvious.

It seemed, even in his worn state, he was still swift enough to catch Eve off guard, probably because she wasn't expecting it, same as he had not from her comment. She laughs as she falls on her side, limbs scrambling to shove (though half-heartedly) into her father to try to get him off of her. "Daaaaaaddd...!" She quickly gave up with a huff, pretending to pout and yet happy to be close with her father again.

Then, snorting, she turns her sky eyes to the den opening. "So when am I allowed to see my new sister? Do I have to wait like the commoners?" She would grumble, crinkling her nose. "You know I could hunt and guard the den too..." He looked like he needed the help. Eve was still learning to be a good hunter, but surely she could watch out for danger. The struggle always seemed to be real with this family. Eve and Daegal were still young, Ra was blind, Niamh now bed ridden and now Hagar was being pushed to the breaking point. Would it ever end?

Then, with an honesty... "Dad, I think we should leave..."

There is laughter from him, a wiry smile as he goes to slump onto his side and off of her. What commoners? Eve rolls her sky blue eyes playfully. However, he still had not exactly answered her question.

The den settled in the background- silently. Likely so then that Naimh and her new sibling were deep in slumber. Eve had no intention of waking them up now, but she didn't want it to be a full month before she even knew what her sister looked like. Happy enough at least, their dad had come to them and told them how many pups, gender and her name. At least she wasn't in the dark about that. Having never had a one-on-one conversation with Niamh, it had not yet dawned on her if the 'new lover' would be reluctant to have her near.

Then, she found herself shifting her front paws over one another, hesitating as she tried to find a way best to explain. "I just... I feel like this land is cursed or something sometimes." She shrugged. "There was a drought. Last winter sucked... everyone keeps disapearing. I just don't want to go through that again this year. I know mom loves this place and I know it has alot of meaning but, those Archers are gone. I feel like we have been trying to revive something and it's just never going to be whatever it once was. I think we should go somewhere else. Start fresh, make something new of our own."

Her eyes shifted, looking to her father from the side of her gaze. She wondered if he would be mad at her or plain out disappointed. "I know Clouse had been with some wolves west, around those mountains..." She pondered, having went out that way once with Ra and then having met Claw there. She hadn't gone further then the Lagoon but, there was others, some of which were family. They wouldn't have to struggle. Her dad wouldnt have to kill himself trying to keep up on his own.

Her ears fell along with her eyes, cast upon her front toes which wriggled in the dirt. "No..." She admitted with a bit of defeat. Yet, maybe Avella would at least hear them out. This had always been home to Avella and she wanted to come back to it, for her children to love and cherish it the way countless others which called themselves Archers and members of Willow Ridge had. Eve, she just never had the chance to see this wonderful vision which her mother held so dear in her mind..

"Maybe we can, together?" But it was never to be so.