---
Siorauyak shook herself restless, and slightly upset. When Mother and Father had first let her and her sister out of their sight Krigger had taken the opportunity to run off. Since then her parents had been over protective and she’d been alone. A couple months later they were finally letting her wander away from them and she was taking advantage of that. It wasn’t as exciting as it used to be when she and Krigger would explore. Being on her own just wasn’t as fun.
Sighing she padded through her pack lands to the outskirts of Broken Shore, she hadn’t been too far out of the territory and she wanted to see what was out there. ”Krigger, I wish you were here.” The blue she-wolf muttered the words to herself, blue eyes alert and watching the area around her. She didn’t move awkwardly like she had right after her growth spurt, she had grown into her teen skin some. Her ears were perked and listening for anyone she might come across, maybe she could get them to explore with her.
---
Kriggertarpok had indeed run off. She had wanted desperately to find what was out there for her. To find the soulmate Chronos spoke so lowly of when she'd bring it up. She'd run away to find a true life, even if that meant leaving the ones she loved. Possum knew because Possum had seen her just the other day. Krigs, the silly girl, had shacked up with a grandson of Wazaam, who was his uncle. They were practically related now, with Krigger vowing her young love and loyalty to the blue-pelted teen male, Raven-Blue.
Possum had only welcomed them with a smile and a laugh. They were cute together. And Krigs was happy.
However, she had no urge to go back and see her family anytime soon. She said that her father would muffle her dreams. She said she wanted to live her life.
So Possum was taking it upon himself to tell the small Broken Shore family himself. Siora would remember him; he'd taken them on an adventure once when they were pups. If anything, they'd remember the fond badger pelt he wore upon his back.
---
It had never entered Siora’s mind that her sister had left because of the wolf she would speak of to her during the night. She knew Father didn’t approve, Mother on the other hand just wanted to her pups to be happy but was stuck between encouraging her daughter and agreeing with her mate. So, during the conversations that had come up about Raven-Blue she just stayed silent, like she had been doing more frequently as of late. The blue teen didn’t know why her mother was choosing to barely speak, but she didn’t question it. She knew it wasn’t because of her and that’s all that mattered.
Siora was snapped out of her thoughts by a pair of dead eyes staring into hers. Blinking she drew back, blue eyes searching for the owner of the eyes. They landed on a badger pelt and then slid upwards to a wolf’s face. She tilted her head confused, he looked so familiar but she couldn’t…her eyes widened as her memory took her back to the day that she and Krigger had come face to face with a ‘monster’. She yipped happily and trotted over to him a wide smile on her maw. ”Possum!” When she got closer to him she paused, but…he was older now, bigger too. It didn’t occur to her that she was bigger as well.
---
Possum slinked over the territory line, hesitant for a brief moment before wagging his tail. Reassuring himself that everything would be fine. From the smell of the boundary line's scent, no one had marked in weeks. Perhaps the alphas were growing careless. Who knew. It wasn't his business, after all.
He was headed for the den, where he knew Chronos and Akko lived. He didn't get that far. The lanky blue teen who padded up to him a moment later brought a smile to his face. Siorauyak. My, how she'd grown. She was fairly bigger than Krigger, he noted, sitting down with his tail brushing the earth back and forth. "Siora. Nice to see you again," he nodded, ears pricking up. He couldn't hide his tic as his leg popped up off the ground, then settled into a relaxed position.
---
Her mind was in a whirl. She wondered why Possum was coming onto Broken Shore territory, he wasn’t a part of the pack and he wasn’t spectacularly close with the family even if they all knew him, or at least of him. Her tail wagged as she stood in front of him not realizing that she was staring at him as she thought. His words brought her out of it and she nodded, shifting her weight from paw to paw nervously. That surprised her, she had no reason to be nervous. Trying to put it out of her mind she spoke. ”It’s nice to see you too! It’s been a while.” She chuckled a bit, her eyes shifting to his leg tic distracted by the movement. They didn’t linger long, moving back up to his eyes. ”How’ve you been?” She wanted to ask him what he was doing there but she knew that was rude, her mother had raised her right after all.
---
Possum himself wondered why he was here, but as the self-appointed middleman, he was merely relaying information. He smiled at her, chuckling to himself as she shifted back and forth. She seemed nervous, almost. But why? Why around him of all people? Possum hardly realized that he'd grown into a large, sturdy, and strong wolf with a good heart and that perhaps, to some, he was even considered handsome. The thought just never crossed his mind.
He smiled warmly. "It has been awhile," he agreed, meeting her gaze, his own olivine eyes gleaming. "I've been fine. Kept an eye out for those pupstealers, especially with Shezaam having her second litter..." He paused to muse over the thought. He didn't even know Shezaam, at least not well. Yet, his hatred for the Brotherhood heated his core. He would protect any puppy. He would risk his life for it. "I came to update you on your sister. We met the other day."
---
Siora didn’t register in her head that Possum was the first male (other than her father) she had come in contact with after she’d grown, if it had maybe she would’ve figured out that was why she was nervous. The she-wolf was still awkward around others, the only socialization she had really gotten was with her sister and then she had run away.
His smile put her at ease, reminding her of the adventure they had taken when she was just a pup. She lowered herself to her haunches as she listened to him. Siora opened her maw about to comment on the pup stealers but then he mentioned her sister. Jumping up she pressed towards him anxious now about what could have happened to Krigger. ”You know where she is? Is she okay? Why’d she leave?” Her eyes became sad at the last question, she had felt so lonely after her sister left, Krigger was her best friend and it wasn’t the same with her.
---
Possum's ears pricked up at the worry and fear in the young wolf's voice. He stood when she did, shoulder twitching but he smoothed himself out. "I suppose I am the middleman," he said jovially, wagging his tail. "I've kept tabs on her since she met up with me a few months ago, wandering on her own around my family's den. She's got a good head on her, Siora. You shouldn't worry too much." He took a deep breath, then delved into the meat of his story. "Krigger has found her soulmate." He smiled. "A troubled young thing who rarely smiles, but boy, you should see him when she's around. He lights up like a Christmas tree! His name is Raven-Blue and he is a relative of mine...somehow..." What were they, anyway? Cousins?
---
She was slightly annoyed by his jovial tone but she knew it was because of worry for her sister. She waited impatiently, unable to be patient at the current moment. Hearing that Krigger had kept in contact with him struck a note of jealousy inside her; she wished her sister had let her in on her secret. After Possum finished his explanation she was quiet for a long moment. She mulled over what he had said. Krigger had a secret love, now she knew why her sister hadn’t let her in. She knew Siora would have tried to talk her out of it and make her stay.
”I know Krigger can take care of herself, Possum, but I can’t help but worry, she’s my sister.” With a sigh she looked off to the side, unsure of what to do with herself now. After a minute of contemplation she turned back to him and smiled softly. ”As long as she’s happy I suppose I can stop worrying. Thank you for coming and telling me, I know you didn’t have to.” Leaning forwards she gave him a friendly nuzzle in thanks before retreating out of his personal space.
---
Possum's face twisted into an uncharacteristic snarl, then fell once more, the smile returning, though it didn't meet his eyes. His condition had been acting up more frequently, moreso since he'd taken Calandra back to the Outriders and spent a few days of his life there, away from home. He wasn't sure if it was stress that caused it, but he'd gotten some stares. Stares he wasn't used to.
He watched her as she gazed away, obviously torn, and he felt bad. Krigger hadn't told her family because she hadn't wanted to lose Raven...again. Not after she'd saved him. An idea tingled in his brain for a moment and he played on it for a little bit before lighting up. "Would you like to see them? I know the way. It's a two-day trip, but..."
----
Seeing the snarl Siora took a step back, her eyes confused. She hadn’t seen him angry, ever, and the snarl surprised her especially since she didn’t think she did anything to provoke it- unless he was somehow able to pick up on that twinge of jealousy. The snarl was gone quickly though and she dismissed it, her sister taking up most the space in her mind.
She let the silence draw out between them, it wasn’t awkward, just silent. When he finally did speak her eyes lit up with excitement, go to see her sister? Of course she wanted to, she missed her dearly. Her tail began to wag a mile a minute but then stopped suddenly as she remembered her parents. Her face fell and she glanced back towards home. ”I want to, but…” She didn’t think Chro would let her go. She sighed and looked back towards him. ”I don’t think Chronos would think it’s a very good idea.”
---
He felt a rush of worry fill his gut at the look in the young female's eyes. He'd scared her, unintentionally so, but still... "I'm sorry," he murmured quickly, looking down. It was his turn to feel strange and nervous. Perhaps he should just tell her that the tics, they'd been with him since day one. His family loved him even with them and so it'd never bothered him. Until now.
Of course... Chronos... His brow furrowed for a moment. Surely with one daughter already missing, he would be distraught at the thought of his second and now only daughter disappearing as well. "Well...what if I brought them here?" Them, Krigger and Raven. His tail wagged.
---
She barely caught his apology, distracted as she was, but she nodded acknowledging; she didn’t say anything her mind elsewhere. She knew it would kill her mother if she ran off too, and her father would be extremely upset. But…maybe she could chance it to see Krigger, she’d come back after all.
And then Possum came up with a brilliant suggestion. Bring her sister back, at least for a visit. She smiled widely, stepping towards him in her excitement. ”Oh could you, Po? That would be the best.” Her tail wagged quickly and she was full of excitement. Siora wished she could go with him, she’d see her sister sooner that way and she had to admit, it was nice to be spending time with someone other than her parents, but still having Krigger come to her was just as good.
---
Possum grinned widely. She liked the idea, that was obvious. Now the tricky part would be to get Krigger to come home... He smiled. If he could get Raven to come too, she would come. He knew it, deep in his heart. She missed her family; they'd been close. His tail wagged easily as he stared back at her. "Then I'll do my best. It will probably be a week or so out, with travel... I hope that's okay. I can't howl for you, as I don't want to alert your alpha, but I will find you. Does that work?"
---
A week…a week was a long time, she wasn’t sure she could wait that long, but she supposed she must. On the bright side it would make seeing her sister even better. Her own tail was constantly wagging, excited and happy about the prospect of seeing Krigger again. ”I understand, and thank you so much Possum, it means a lot to me.” She smiled at him, gratitude showing in her eyes.
---
He was so pleased with himself. He would reuinite Krigger with her family, even if it was for a short time. Maybe Raven would calm down some if he met them. He was such a little emo kid, afterall. His own tail wagged heartily as he moved to her side and nudged her face. "I'm so glad I could be of help, Siorauyak," he beamed. "I will return!" This was a promise, he decided as he turned and trotted off, back over the boundaries, and into the lone lands. He would find Krigger and Raven. That was now his goal.
