Star was getting used to her new life, slowly. Anwar was not the dashing, affectionate prince she had wished for when she was younger, but he was kind to her, and did not yell when she was silly. Instead, he gave this rather blank look, and everything felt...off. So Star didn't act silly that often anymore, trying to be a proper banu for Anwar.

If her Papamon had approached her, she would have said she was happy – which she was. She really enjoyed the Ukuucha'wafalme way of life. It felt comfortable and she didn't feel alone. She had Anwar's other banu – oh, no, his beybanu Zahra, and while she wasn't blatantly friendly, she was a good companion and taught her right from wrong within the pride.

So her life wasn't bad. It just...wasn't the fairytale she had half hoped for as a youth, nestled between her mama and her bunny-mummy and watched over by a her papamom.


Blood. Red blood. It stained the grass and the dirt and the fur.
Everything was red.
A red maw grinned, white teeth stained a disgusting shade of pink as the blood was washed away with saliva from his tongue.
Disgusting.
That's what it was.
Just plain disgusting.

Obadias jerked awake, his chest heaving almost painfully as he lifted himself upright. His cubs were nearby, sleeping peacefully, as was Parvana and Mihika, his banu. He knew both of the females wanted to help him and worried over his sleepless nights, but there was little they could do, and both were busy during the day that he felt bad to wake them at night when he simply couldn't sleep.

Instead, he lifted himself from his resting spot and tip-toed around his sleeping family. He hesitated at the mouth of the den, before stepping out and breathing the crisp night air. The stars were out, illuminating the sky but leaving enoguh darkness that he blended in quite well. Obadias was good at hiding in shadows. His dark pelt was practically made for it.

He glanced at the den next to his, at his brother's den. He knew he could crawl into that den, and hide beside his brother and Anwar would barely bat an eye-lid, used to Obadias' visions, but they were older now. Anwar had his own banu, his own family,and Obadias shouldn't interrupt.

He heaved a sigh.

Things got complicated, as one got older, he mused.


Star had left the den earlier that night. Anwar had noticed her leaving, but said nothing. Perhaps he knew all along of her nightly ritual of sneaking out into the night to gaze at the stars, or maybe he just didn't care. Either way, she was glad that he did not try to stop her. She had perched herself atop a rock not far from her den and stared up at the sky. A warm smile graced her face, as she gazed at her 'family'.

Star knew it was crazy to think she had fallen as a star, but it was the only thing that made her feel safe – comforted in this world. She was a Star, and as long as night fell, she was never truly alone.

A shadow moving out of the corner of her eye caught her attention and she turned her gaze towards it. She would have merely shrugged it off, if not for the red eyes staring out of the darkness. They were watching her den, but she knew that shape could not be Anwar's. She knew her Pad's shape well, having seen him often, and this male was familiar – but not as closely so.

“Pad Obadias,” she called out softly, to her Pad's brother. A warm smile on her face for him this time. She knew she should have waited for him to speak, but she was sure he would not have noticed her, at least not for ages.



Obadias turned at the sound of his name and title being called out, quietly so as not to wake anyone. He did not have to look far to spot the pale banu of his brother. He offered her a warm, albeit sleepy smile and moved across to her.

“Evening, Star,” he said, sounding amused at his 'pun', as there was a star called the evening star, and it was not the banu before him. “Can you not sleep?”



Star shook her head, her smile staying on her face as he approached. “No, I wanted to see my family again,” she admitted, lifting her gaze back to the stars above them. It was probably silly, to miss something that was so far away and something that could not hold her, but no matter where she was, the Stars were a constant and she would always gaze upon them fondly.




Obadias hesitated. “Are you lonely, Star?” He asked her, wondering if that was why she had sought out the company of her former family. Obadias believed that Star had fallen from the sky, if only because of her pale markings and her insistence of her affection of the stars. It was probably crazy, but how could you not believe such an innocent, who truly put her heart before her feet when diving into new situations.


It was Star's turn to hesitate and she gazed thoughtfully up at the stars as she pondered her response. “No,” she said carefully. “I'm not lonely, but I do miss them.” She glanced over at him, an almost sorrowful look on her face. “I am happy here, Pad Obadias, but...Sometimes I wish my family were with me always. Both the stars and my mothers.”

She missed cuddling with her bunny-mommy, and hunting with her mama, or making flower chains with her papamom. There were so many things she missed about her family, though she had found a companion in Anwar, and a fellow banu with Zahra and a...friend in Obadias.



Obadias nodded. “I can understand that,” he said gently. “But when you are feeling alone, you should not reach out to someone quite so far away.” He cast his gaze to the stars above them, before giving her a lightly reproachful look. “Your Pad will be there for you, whenever you feel lonely, and as will your fellow banu.”

He knew his brother was not the most outright affectionate soul, but Obadias strongly believed that Anwar was a gentle male, and would do his best to help anyone in need. He had seen glimmers of a darker side to his beloved brother, but thought that they were, indeed, simply a glimmer rather then anything more serious.



“I know,” Star admitted, with a heavy sigh, staring up at the stars with a sorrowful gaze. She knew they would not hold her while she was sad, nor would they love her when she was lonely, but they made her feel...safe, and comforted, without ever having to lay a paw on her. “But still...”



Obadias hesitated and glanced back at his den. His banu and cubs were sleeping, and he knew Star would no sooner wake up Anwar then he would wake up Parvana or Mihika to keep him company.

“I know a spot that has a beautiful view of the stars,” Obadias suggested lightly, smiling at the banu. “Perhaps we should walk there, so as to tire us both and perhaps we may sleep after we have seen your family and breathed the night air.”


Star's eys widened and her face bloomed into a smile. “Yes!” She said quickly and far too loudly. Getting hushed, she lowered her voice so that it wasn't quite as loud and repeated. ”Yes, please.” She beamed at him, hurrying from her rock to reach the ground beside him.

She knew he was not her Pad, but she wanted so badly to see her family, unobstructed by anything, and if Obadias could do that for her, then she wouldn't care if it was a 'scandal' going off with him. He was her Pad's brother...and the perfect 'prince' that she had dreamt of, she thought, feeling her cheeks heat as he began to lead her towards wherever it was they were going.

It was almost...romantic, Star mused to herself, casting tiny glances at the somber faced male walking beside her. Obadias had caught her looking though, and flashed her a small smile, causing her cheeks to heat further.

A walk under the stars, how sweet! She gushed, unaware that Obadias had done this before, with his own banu. In her unknowing state, she felt...special. It was nice. She cared deeply for Anwar, and would be loving to him as he was her Pad, but he had never taken her for a walk under the stars, she thought, with-holding a girlish giggle.


Obadias was pleased that the banu was smiling and looked happy, but could not help but feel guilty. Not for taking a walk with Star, he knew his brother would understand and likely approve if he knew it would have saved him precious sleep ours, but guilt for leaving his den without his banu knowing. He often walked at night when visions kept him awake, but never with another person.

Perhaps he should have woken Parvana or Mihika, but it was too late for that, and - casting Star a gentle smile as her walk turned to an almost skip - he continued to lead her to the spot where she could see her family clearly for the first time since arriving to the pride. A gift, to her, so that she might sleep while he knew he would not, not tonight.

At least he had company though, he mused. The night could be so dark, and lonely, but with Star and the stars to keep him company, it did not feel as isolating.