<blockquote>Far from a scout, it was only coincidence which caused Kinis to be in the immediate area. In hindsight, he would not have called it coincidence, but misfortune. Perhaps one of the only graces of his family's desertion - and there were truly too few to bother counting - was that of a certain sister's absence.
Borlla had made Kinis' life <i>difficult</i>. Now that he was older, and could afford spending great lengths of time considering the matter knowing that he was unlikely to be interrupted, he looked back and wondered if she even meant it. Thinking about her was hard, if only because it conjured mixed memories; on the one hand, she had never been anything but nasty and aggressive towards him, but on the other... Borlla's presence meant the presence of everyone else. It was a tough call to make. Ultimately, though, Kinis would have put up with her if it meant having everybody else back home.
To ask for Borlla alone, though? That wasn't even a consideration for his wishlist.
It was with uncertainty - <i>fear</i> - that his subconscious picked up on a certain scent, a familiar but not loved scent, when wandering their territory. With so few wolves in the pack, but no smaller area to protect, Kinis had taken it upon himself to get out more. He constantly feared being the one to come across a loner, and didn't really know what he would do in the circumstance that he did, but it felt productive. Ruiko did it, the stranger-who-was-in-the-pack did it. Kinis was obligated to do it.
Given the choice, would Kinis had preferred to encounter his own litter sister?
Her scent was undeniable, but that didn't stop Kinis from trying. It seemed impossible; she had left, <i>she had left</i>, they were all gone! Long gone! Kinis had once tried to follow, too late, too long after already choosing to stay with Ruiko - and the fact that he had tried still pained him, but he told nobody, it was something he would bear the shame of alone - but he had failed. They were gone. She had left!
<i>Why would she come back?</i>
For a long time, Kinis toyed with the idea of meeting her. The very fact of her presence compelled him not to leave, at the very least, though the notion of her returning and spoiling what little peace he had been able to create was sickening. He did not know how long it took him to decide. In fact, he didn't know if he even did decide; it seemed more like disgusting obligation which ended up dragging his paws forwards, towards that stationary scent. Perhaps he had been hoping Ruiko would appear first, but he had not. Kinis alone was responsible for what happened to her in the next few hours. He could leave her and hope that she died of thirst, but that seemed brutal. Kinis was not capable of it.
A small, harsh part of him wished that he was.
She was not as he remembered, but he had also grown over the last few months. He bitterly doubted, once she opened her mouth, he would find her too changed. With her in sight, he kept out of range, not wanting to wake her as he tried to decide what action to take. To welcome her as if nothing had happened? To greet her as an unknown loner? To challenge her as if he had the strength for it? To run her out as if he had the authority? How much did she know? Did she know Ruiko was alive? Could Kinis pretend to be the only one left, pose as Leader and demand she leave? No, he had his brother's scent all over him, she would not believe it. She knew too much of his timid nature to give the idea much credit.
Kinis didn't feel very timid right now, though. Dislike and adrenaline made for a very foreign rush, but it beat his heart harder and gave him momentary strength.
<b>"Hello,"</b> he said calmly, quietly, trying to keep himself under control as he approached his sister's figure. His head was held high, though his body trembled minutely with the effort that it took to appear confident. She would see through it. She would see through it! He had to be stronger. <b>"<i>Borlla.</i>"</b></blockquote>
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<i>at least... that's where I'm supposed to be...</i></center>
Sex: Female
