Her eyes scoured the lands before her, intrigue sparkling in the amber depths of her gaze. It had been far too long now since she had been within these lands, and the only embittered thought she held now was that she never should have left. Still, her paws had swiftly carried her to Cedarwood Forest first, where she had trailed the length of the borders. But before one could come and question her, she had fled, unable to rejoin the only father she had known: Maksim Baranski.


Instead, she explored closer to the heart of the lands, further than she had been before. She had been such a tender age when she had left that winter.. fled from the memories of her missing family, now.. Now, all she depended upon was herself.


But somewhere along the lines of her travel, a rather distinct scent had caught her attention – one she could discern anywhere. Quil. With a flash of her teeth, the youth had prowled after the trail, her pelt bristling dangerously before she came upon the stronger scent of pack wolves – her sister’s scent got lost amongst the rest, and scrunching her nose, she pulled her lissome figure back, wondering what to do next.


Scathingly, the slender she-wolf swiped her tongue across her teeth before tilting her muzzle back, requesting the presence of the once Darkwater Rapids princess -- come out, come out wherever you are, Quil, she prompted, her lips writhing in her own angry injustice of the disappearing act her sister had given her when she had all but depended on her so very long ago.

Quil was suddenly there -- her appearance was almost ethereal in a way, a twisted fantasy that Cinder had so long yearned for. Now, with her sister before her, she could not decide if she wanted to further close the gap between them to embrace her.. or to sink her fangs in to her neck.


Her sister seemed so different, and yet nothing had changed. Cinder had called to her, and ever as doting as before, the she-wolf had come to her beck and call. Her sides heaved with the exertion she had used, and Cinder regarded her almost coldly, despite the warm hue of her eyes. She had missed Quil.. and she had despised her, all in one. Mace, as well, ahd left. Rowan was god knows where with her parents -- the trio of them were faces she no longer remembered, and as each day passed, she realized no longer could she even recall their voices.


She opted for neither of her choices above (at least not yet), and with a stomp of one forepaw, her hackles bristled. "You broke your promise!" Her tone was shrill -- the pitch a screech as it escaped her jaws and in to the quiet air of Willow Ridge. She stood there, her lithe body trembling as she stared at her sister, demanding an explanation. Wanting to know what the hell had happened to forever. As far as she was concerned, family meant nothing now.. the Attaya's played a fabulous magician with their tricks -- it would seem they excelled at the disappearing act.


But Cinder had learned to act as well, and Quil was very justified when she thought her little sister had changed entirely.

Quil seemed silent as Cinder’s accusation fell between them in the air – a boundary that both stilled for, and neither crossed. Her hardened gaze stared at her sister in fired defiance, her chin jutting up a notch as she waited for the challenge of Quil’s words in return. Instead, an apology rolled from her sister – a hidden excuse that fit the both of them equally.. because after all, hadn’t Cinder left her sister as well? Could she not have tried harder to find her? To stay by her side? The winter had swallowed her whole, and even when the spring had melted the snow, and the sun had stirred life about her once more, she remained cold to the world. She wasn’t even sure she would ever truly be alive again.


The deflation she felt clung to her shoulders in that moment, and she sagged beneath the weight of it. Her heart twisted then, and her paws gripped to the earth as she felt like falling forward. Far too many times in her life had she wanted to give up, and yet her nature would never truly let her. She might not have been a princess of Darkwater Rapids any longer, but not once had she ever removed the crown.


“You can come hold me now,” she whispered, her voice cracking with the emotion that weighed on her now. In that very moment, she could not hate her sister – not when she needed so desperately to be comforted after all of these months.

The demand left her lips, and the venomous mask fell from the lissome girl’s face. No sooner did her anger fly out the window did Quil hasten forward to bend to the will of her command – the ever protective sister, just as she had always been when growing up. Cinder rocked forward then, burying her face in the beautiful chocolate and black of Quil’s nape as she inhaled sharply, a sob racking her entire frame then.


It was strange how disconnected she had felt from herself until this very moment – Cinder of coursed had wooed her way in to another pack over the winter.. a means to a meal, and even some entertainment as she grew older and caught the attention of the youthful males. But it was not where she had belonged and the search for her sister had begun. She almost never would have thought to look for her where they had last seen another.


Her heart raced as she took in the scent of her sister. So familiar and it was the warmest welcome home she would ever receive. She compiled herself, a sniffle escaping before she pulled back, Quil’s words running over her like a wave of relief. There was much to say – the agreeance to it all, a threat that Quil couldn’t get rid of her even if she tried.. but nothing summed it up. Nothing except: “I love you, Quil.” She didn’t known if she had ever said it before – something she had regretted. “I want to stay with you.” The words were spoken as she finally stole a glance around the area – this was the pack her sister had settled in? How long had she been here? Why here? Instead, she bent her muzzle down to smooth a stray hair from her limb, attempting to make herself look as appealing as possible – if she wanted to stay with her sister, she would need to learn humility.. and look her best while doing it.

sola bona quae honesta

Bow before your Matriarch

Those things only are good which are honest

"You broke your promise!" The voice was shrill, a screech that did not escape the yet still keen ears of Elettra Archer, though at this distance she had been unable to exactly make out what the words said. Though the yelling and in particular to a voice she did not know at the footfalls of her home, had set the woman's fur along her spine standing at attention. She moved towards the location swiftly, ensure to figure out what the problem was and directly place a stop to it. The voice was unknown and should it be a couple of loners, she would see them off. Should it be someone wishing ill against her members, she would do much more then see them off.

It seemed, however, as Elettra finally approached the scene, the situation had more or less settled itself out. Her swiftness slowly, lingering along the edges as she approached slowly long enough to take note of their embrace, how heart felt the situation suddenly had become. The other young woman, darker in hue (unknowingly more so resembling her mother) spoke of her love for Quil and Elettra would then decide by this and this alone, they were ether very close friends or more importantly, family. Elettra takes a deep breath of the cool air, the exit eased out long and deep, making enough sound to surely gather their attention. For the time being, Elettra remains back, yet steps out into clear few of the pair.

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