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Jove was starting to get used to the train ride to his brother's house. But whether it was just anticipation for seeing little Baroque again, or truly an enjoyment of the ride, he was in good spirits the whole way. He was perhaps a bit too enthusiastic for a train patron, pressing his face against the glass to see outside, and actively sniffing the air whenever he caught the scent of a new passenger, his tail making a soft thump-thump noise against the seat as he wagged it.

And then finally they were there!

The pup almost dragged Ren up to the front door of the large building, stopping halfway to let his brother pass... And then he proceeded to push Ren from behind to make him go faster, making an exasperated whining noise. It felt like ages since he had last seen his adopted little sister, before the JOY invading Amityville, before the hunters came and took the horsemen away, even before the horrible field trip! Baroque could have grown up so much since then, would she remember him? He just had to see her, so she wouldn't forget him!

The pup had no answer to that question. Maybe if he was aware of his natural little-brother charm, he would have grinned impishly, and perhaps used that cuteness to his advantage more often. If his pride would allow it!

Jove's fluffy tail curled upwards and wagged as he was finally let into the house, but the almost-dancing little prance in his step vanished quickly when the weight of the silence hit him. Sure it could have been a pleasant silence, like naptime, everyone peaceful and snoozing, but it was hard for anything to be entirely comfortable in that house.

The little wisp's ears fell backwards in discomfort, and after a second of wide-eyed observation he dashed up the stairs. He knew where Ren's room was, and was gonna go make sure Baroque was safe even if he had to knock over three evil gryphons in the process!

Jove slowed outside the door, ears perking to listen for any sounds inside. Then hesitantly he opened it and peered inside.

Fluffy ears perked as he followed Ren to the side of the little tiny bed, and the moment he saw that little freckled face his tail wagged. Yeah, she was okay. Safe and sound and sleeping, without a hint of peppermint in the air. It was quite a relief for the pup, even though he knew she was probably as safe here as anywhere. Seeing her there made it real.

Jove put his hands on the edge of the crib as he peered in, tail wagging, and then he shared a quick glance with his brother. But he had another thought.

There was a soft ruffling sound as his clothes fell to the floor, and he hopped into the crib in his small natural form. They were almost the same size, the little scareling and the little pup, and with plenty of room in there for both of them, so for the time being, Jove was not interested in holding Baroque. Instead he padded around her once, and then curled up at her side with his head on her round little belly. Then Jove let out a comfortable sigh.

Jack yes, he was gonna be a good big brother. Jove was determined not to let anything bad happen to her, even if that meant literally dragging Ren out of bed every single Spiderday morning. Sometimes waking Ren up was a lot of work, but he would do it for his little sister!

At the sound of the door opening, Jove's eyes opened and he glanced up at Ren, sensing his mood suddenly on edge. And then when he heard the evil twin's voice, all the fur along his back began to bristle. The pup didn't make a move, but by the time he saw Medieval look in he was a fully fluffed up little caterpillar with a determined frown.

Finally, at her expression of confusion, he made a little grumbling noise. Not enough to be considered a growl, or loud enough to wake his baby sister, but it was definitely a displeased sound.

Jove's grumble ceased, but the fluff didn't immediately settle down. He was not a stray, and there was nothing wrong with him being there! He was just as much a person as she was, and a less evil one on top of that!

The pup let out a surprised wheeze as the little scareling flopped on him in an exaggerated, childish hug. He had forgotten how dense they were compared to foxfire wisps! Baroque clearly outweighed him, although she did sink a ways into the soft fluff. He made no further sounds as the pudgy infant fingers explored his fur, he was almost worried he had woken her with his warning noises except she seemed to have no fear of him.

Unlike the evil twin, who seemed to think he was infested with mange or something. Like he would EVER let himself harbour parasites...

Jove slowly shifted so he could look at Baroque's curious little face, he had never seen her awake before! She had such big eyes! The ghost sat very still for a minute, just letting himself be squashed and hugged, and then he gave her cheek a little lick. A little puppy kiss.

Jove's tail began to wag, slowly at first, but with more enthusiasm as he realized he wasn't scaring the little gryphon at all. She was friendly and brave, and freckled just like her biggest brother, and the ghost knew if Ren had ever been this size, this is what his hugs would have felt like too.

He gave her another little puppy kiss, and snuffled happily at her blonde baby-hair, a warm feeling rising in his little chest. This was his very own little sister! And he could be for her what Ren had been for him, a special person he couldn't live without.

But the pup paused, and his ears perked a half second before the sound of a door below.

His expression wilted, he knew who had just arrived, remembered their stares of disapproval. It was so much like Medieval, but worse. They were going to make him leave again, like a stray Ren had been feeding, but he wasn't a bad dog! And he wanted to spend some more time with Baroque...

He heard the door open, but he couldn't see above the edge of the crib. Jove heard that cold voice though, and snuggled deeper into the scareling's clumsy embrace.

Glowing blue eyes stared back at the gryphons, but the pup looked anything but fierce with the scareling nuzzling him, fur askew from her attentions. He wasn't going to just hop out like he had done something wrong, if he was guilty of anything it was leaving his clothes in a mess on the floor, not sitting there with his sister. She certainly seemed to agree!

A displeased mumbling noise rose in his throat as Ren's mother spoke up, but it ceased when another voice cut her off. And then it was literally everyone, except maybe the scareling, who was staring at Medieval. Jove was as shocked as Ren that the evil twin would intercede on their behalf. But then again... Hadn't she agreed to give Baroque his present after his last visit? She might not have liked him, perhaps she thought him an unpleasant mutt like the elder gryphons, but...

His fluffy ears perked, and he pulled away from Baroque only long enough to look around the room. Were his glowing mushrooms there somewhere?

Jove could feel the tension in the air. The elder gryphons disapproval, Ren's surprise, Medieval''s tired defiance... It seemed to radiate off everyone except Baroque. She was happily oblivious, coaxing a little murmur from the pup as he was pulled into her lap and squished back into a hug. For anyone else he might have thought about resisting, but he was like a limp rag doll for the scareling. Soft and squishy and light enough to pull around even by someone his own size.

But while Baroque had her way with her adopted brother, Jove's focus was now on his own brother. Ren seemed so conflicted... The pup's glance turned towards Medieval, then back at Ren, and over to his bewildered parents. Then back to Ren.

Finally the parents stepped out.

"Ren?" Jove chirped, wanting to go stand next to his brother, but unable to free himself from the chubby little arms wrapped around him. It was like the first time, he wanted to be close and make sure his brother was okay. He had to!

Although Jove was unaware of Ren's troubled history, he could tell how hard it was for the gryphon to face his family. And Jove wanted to remind him that he was right there the whole time. Whenever Ren needed him.