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Chapter Text

There is still dew on the leaves, early dawns rainfall now brightened by the morning sun, steam rising from the moist earth and the chill air warming up.

Water droplets fall from the plants as the small group of creatures pass through them. The smallest, toddling on behind the tail of their parent, looks up at an overly large leaf overhead, dark eyes shining.

Then they chirp in surprise, squinting their eyes and shaking their head, scrubbing at their face - some water had fallen on them from the plant.

The rough chuffing from ahead gets them moving again, however, chirping in reply before bounding to catch back up. Little twitters rise from their sleepy sibling, clinging to their parents tail and back - their dark eyes open to squint, blinking in the bright sun, before a little yawn takes them, showing sharp pup teeth, before tucking their face back and hushing into a doze.

They chitter, tail flicking at the sight of their sibling not even wanting to come down and walk with them, but then their parent gruffs out another low sound, slowing to a stop and tilting her head back. Vines scrawled down the wall, thick with budding alive plant life. The humid air was warming, steamy as the sun climbed the sky, and far up the cliff massive trees loomed at the top, their twisted boughs hardly giving shade this far down.

The little slugcat stares upwards, blinking, before the movements of their parent take their attention - she starts to climb, their sibling clinging to her swinging tail with only a sleepy huff of a complaint.

They don't waste a moment scrambling up after her.

It's been a long time since they've come up this path - most of the journey had seen them be carried, too small for the strenuous climb. But now that they were older they kept pace with their mother, digging sharp claws and flexible paws into the vines, finding nooks and crannies to cling to.

Up so high, and a glance showed them the lush valley that was their home, an expanse of green that rolled in huge hills and mountainous cliff. Other things still poked through, thick spires twisted with creeping vines, huge top rounded towers, thin crooked leaning pipes of old rusted metal, tangled with the branches of close growing trees.

Sometimes, when they looked at these things, they felt they've seen them before in dreams.

Unlike a lot of their colony, however, they did not remember much of their dreams.

Reaching the top took some time, and though they pushed themself in the end their mother scooped their lagging self up, a quick motion to raise up before her mouth grabbed their scruff, gentle with her cracked sharp teeth. For a few free swinging moments they warbled, tired but disappointed as she dragged them atop the edge.

Then their sibling slipped off her tail, shaking themself and rubbing their eyes, chittering as they had a look about. The older sibling complained a bit more before finally let free, loose and instantly leaping away to explore. Behind them, their mother nudged at their sibling before following after.

They remembered the path, a bit. They had toddled down it before, and they even remembered what lay at the end. The mass of greenery, old twisted boulders covered in moss, the faint trickles of puddles slick with algae - they bounded atop a few of the lumpy masses, the moss softening the odd, rough gritty texture. Leaning down, tilting their head before they pawed at the odd long divot the rocks had in the middle of them - their little claws scraped on the line, then the other that cut through it, a symbol of sorts - before their mother chuffed at them to get down and off they hopped.

Most of the ground became those rocks, turning their leaping into a game as they jumped from one to another, balancing as they raised their tail and chirped in delight every time they didn't slip off, claws digging into moss and weed growth and crawling vines. Their sibling watched them, coming over and sniffing about before making an attempt to haul themself up, back paws scraping at the odd stone.

Their older sibling helped them up, dragging them atop with little barks of noise, tail slapping on the lumpy rocks curves, before showing them how to leap about.

Their mother let them for awhile, following a forgotten path that inclined ever so slightly before leveling. The vine twisted trees lined all about them, plants sprouted and growing thick and heavy everywhere about the stones.

Eventually they came to a clearing. The oldest paused for only a moment, taking the sight in, before leaping down to go and explore again - the youngest took a little longer, face pinching and snout curling up, blinking almost in confusion.

Their mother continued, tail curling to brush against their side with a chur of encouragement, before she went on by to the far side wall.

There, before the thickest mass of old round rocks and bursts of plant growth, she had a seat, tail curling about her feet.

The oldest came on by, sniffing about - they remembered this place, but not much. Pawing about the plants, wondering if they should try to hop onto the big lumpy stones - they tilted their head, blinking as they parted a few thick stemmed weeds and caught a different color to the rest of the greens and grays.

Their interest brought their younger sibling over, who twitched their ears and chirped quietly at the sight before helping brush some more of the plant life aside, pawing at all the moss that was growing over the pink metal. It wasn't shiny anymore, and some of the odd gray rock lumps seemed to be part of it on the sides, rusted and pockmarked, little plants growing through the cracks as the eldest tilted their head and chirped questioningly at the odd form, eyes squinting for a moment as they tried to remember something.

Then their mother chuffed at them, a deep gruff sound, her thick pelt puffing up a bit - the eldest immediately took off, yelping as if in deeper trouble even as they twittered out giggles, scrambling up the rocks once more.

The youngest, however, took a few more moments to look over the form, old and broken and left laying here surrounded by green plants and grasses. They leaned down, sniffed over its achingly familiar face, the wide, dull blank eyes and bent metal antennae.

Then their now approaching mother chuffed again, and this time they listened - a low spark of noise, like a smokey crackle in her tone, had them know they were pushing her patience, so off they went to follow their sibling.

…Who was attempting to climb up the tallest section of caved in stones, digging their claws into the thick bedding of moss and trying to haul themself upwards. At the youngest trilling they tilted their head back, blinking down at their sibling.

They watched as the other tried to follow after them, struggling and mewling at them.

They glanced over at their mother - she was over by the trampled and pushed down grasses, loafed down in the spot of sunlight that fell through the trees over there, eyes closed.

Their sibling cried up at them, quiet enough but still whining at the unfairness of their differing strengths.

With a huff, the eldest unhooked their claws and attempted to drop down beside their sibling.

But they had underprepared for the drop, not realizing how high they were, and with a cough of surprise they tumbled head over heels into almost smacking into their sibling and instead falling right off the rocks into the surrounding brush.

Something softer than plant leaves and stalks broke their fall - a ragged short wheeze had their fur stand up on end, immediately jumping back up and going on their tip toes, tail raised and all poofed up in surprise. Their sibling chittered from up above, leaning down in confusion, but the eldest didn't pay them any mind as the brush shifted about.

They leaned forward, ever so slightly - everything that lived in this place knew to be alert for danger, but they were still a pup and curiosity won out over caution.

A little dark nose suddenly poked through the leaves, the green offset by an oddly pale shade of pink.

They blinked, hesitated a moment, before leaning farther forward. The other snout twitched, taking in a deep breath.

And then sneezing, shaking the leaves before out tumbled another pup.

The youngest had scrambled down by now and at the sight both siblings froze, staring at the stranger. It squinted its eyes at them, seeming unused to the bright light, tilting its head and looking around with an almost pouted look to its face.

When the eldest leaned forward to sniff about it, the pup immediately complained - what was supposed to be a yelp came out too wheezy and quiet, but sounding stronger than before. The younger sibling chirped, tapping their paws in the ground with sudden apprehension, eyes wide - the eldest paid them no mind, instead inspecting the pup, sniffing over its scent and poking and prodding at it, ignoring its whines.

It made their mind itch funny, looking at it, but the way it reacted so offendedly at their poking was too funny and any deeper thought to the situation left them for playfulness instead - they pushed against it, going around it and wagging their tail as they hopped about, hoping for another playmate, maybe someone stronger who could keep up.

At the low chatter of their sibling and the steadily higher pitching yelps and whines of the strange pup however, their mother finally took notice, shadow over the little pink tinted thing.

It looked up, blinking a few times with its odd pale eyes, before letting out a low, confused noise as it stared up at the larger creature.

She stared back, eyes wide, still and silent for a long few moments.

Then she exhaled, making a strange sound that made both siblings flick their ears and stare, before reaching down and picking up the pup.

It stared for a bit longer, both looking at each other.

Before suddenly growling and whining, struggling against her grip and slapping its tail about - she paid it no mind, holding it close even as it tried to nip at her long crimson fur, little paws closed into fists and waving around.

With a stern chuff, turning and slapping her tail against the ground, the siblings hurriedly got behind her and followed as she led them out of the clearing, to climb down the cliff and head off back to the colony, little pink pup nattering and whining as it was carried away.

Back behind them the high risen sunlight lit up the clearing, the plants alive and well amongst rotten old stones and deteriorated metal - atop the rusted remains of a long ago fallen god unfurled a delicate yellow flower.

In full bloom.

Chapter Text

The sun shines bright, the waters are chilly, and one of the pair chirps mournfully as they step into the lapping waves.

Already ahead of them the other twitters back, pitching into giggled yowls as they dunks themselves into the water before breaching back out, shaking out their bristling thick fur.

The other watches before looking down, their large paws flexing in the sand - then, with a sigh, they hobble out after their companion.

It isn't a deep swim, though paws scrape on coral and slippery rocks, the shallows comprised of flooded pools, tide having long come in. It would last for days worth of time, and life had started to crowd about again with the change, little groups of twirling flat jellies, tendril covered worms darting too and fro from dug in holes and coral dens, the even smaller larvae sacs floating up to the surface, tangled together with insides withering with multi legged life.

Even as they followed, paddling through the deeper pools with head stretched to keep the water away from their face, every once in awhile something caught their eye and they couldn't help but dip lower and snatch it up into their mouth - this little adventure was making their stomach growl.

The other warbled up ahead, giggling and slapping their tail atop the surface into quick splashes - there would be more filling food ahead. A promise that had caught the interest of their companion in the first place.

Neither were supposed to go out here so far, away from the colonies more well tread paths, but the leader didn't care - they've swam out here many times, following what their paws remember from dreams, and though things have changed and there was more open air out here than before they still knew exactly where to go.

The other, however, followed with less reason. Their dreams had this place too, but it had been much quieter then - the earth settling from a great fall, the mud and silt still disheveled with the constant strong rainfalls, food wilted and not quite so succulent.

They followed more for the companionship than anything else. If they had stayed at home, then they'd miss out with the food stuffs they were being promised. Unlike them, the other didn't have cheek pouches to store treats for later.

Eventually a shadow grew overhead, a large tilted mast of dark stone - slick with algae and thick cluttered masses of snail colonys, the deep divot holes of slug worms coating nearly every other surface.

It was here that the lagging one paused for a breather, hauling themself out of the cool water and splashing atop one of the raised coral stone islands, small and barely enough space for them - their short tail flicked about, a quick shake to get some of the water off their fur.

The other trilled, whistled as they circled about, head dipping under and squinting their eyes as if looking for something - then, with a high pitched yowl, down they dived, tail slapping above the water before only their clear shape under the surface was visible, reflection breaking and reforming.

The other leaned down, sucking in a deep breath before dipping their own head under the water - blurry and faintly stinging with salt, but they watched as their companion plucked a few pods off floating plants, bubbles bursting upwards from the disconnect.

Then up they went, both straightening above the water before a pod was flung at the larger of the two.

The other demonstrated its use, raising to their mouth and opening their large maw wide, wide, tiny sharp teeth all packed in with a gleam from the sunlight - then bit down hard on the pod and ducked back underneath into the water. A faint trail of bubbles floated away from them as they darted away.

The other scratched their head, looking over the pod - a large seam went from one end to the other, and outside of the water its leathery hide had little soft bristles to it - but a splash a good distance away had them realize they were being left behind and into their mouth the pod went, their tusks hooking before stabilizing the thing, a quick bite and dive into the cool water.

Air flooded into their mouth, almost making them cough it out, before adapting to the now slowed trickle, bubbles rising from their snout as they kicked about a moment before catching sight of the long bushy tail of their companion, all waterlogged and stringy now.

Off they went, ignoring the dry scratchiness of the pod atop their tongue, legs kicking out in a hasty, clumsy paddle - they were never really much of a swimmer, this life or the last many.

Their companion wasn't much different, but they liked water too much to let anything stop them - they used to dunk their head into streams and pools and hold their breath for as long as they could, just to amuse themselves!

With a quick swish of motion the other darted through a tangle of slimy kelp, leaves wiggling with feeding worms - they followed after, wondering vaguely what the brown green striped things would taste like. Stone and metal surrounded them as they dove in, finding themself less swimming and more sliding and pushing and wiggling, clenching tight to the pod in their mouth as they struggled on through.

By the time it opened up again the air trickle was growing thin, chest squeezing tight uncomfortably as they pushed forward - then their companion was there, shoving another pod at them, replacing their own. Even with the thing in their mouth their wide eyes gleamed with delight, practically wiggling underwater with excitement. They've never really got to drag a friend off to this place, so this was the first time they were sharing the experience.

Wheezing some bubbles from their snout, the other tightened their resolve and spat out the used up pod, replaced quickly with another, fresh air once more - the squeezed open plant drifted downwards, seam broken, hazy seed spores drifting out in the chamber.

With that done, they once more followed their companion, this time less tense - more pods were bundled under the others arm, held close as they whisked through pipes and across flooded chambers of stone and glimmering slippery reeds.

One more time the pods had to be replaced, a long swim through a crowded room of stones and boulders jutting about oddly, as if not natural in the formations - the waters have smoothed them out, and only in a few places did small clusters of snails bunch up, vibrating threateningly whenever a paw brushed over them.

Finally a surface was breached, pods spat out and excited, abet nearly gasping, chitters exhaled into the open air. With a few splashes and prodding guiding, the two made their way to a small protrusion of stone, reeds and grasses growing across the unassuming island. Sunlight shone from up above - to either side the walls of stone cliffs rose, an awkward canyon as the open seas could be seen if one rose up and squinted a look into the other open directions.

It seemed that this was the place, the secret place of the leader - they darted about, racing around and chirping and whistling about this and that, slapping their soggy tail against the ground as they ran in and out of the reeds. The air was quiet besides them, and the other looked about, head tilted upwards at the warm sunlight that flooded this little spot - it seemed an almost solemn place to them, really.

After a few moments, ignoring the hyper antics of the other, they turned about and trudged over to where the opposite wall rose, mass growth of reeds and seeding grasses, smooth stones and pebbles under their paws. Pushing aside a fair amount, sniffing and squinting their eyes for a moment, a glint of almost blue caught their eye.

…Their dreams always felt more unsure than what the other seemed to take from this place. Their ears flicked, the background noise of the others ramblings continued, before leaning forward and sniffing about the rust and algae slickened surface, warped and ruined now by the exposure. No dark eyes lit up, no hum of soft sound, no ghostly floating white lights. Nothing, anymore.

The other suddenly tackled into them from the side, tumbling away from the reeds as they chattered with more ferocity - sitting up and letting their long tail coil atop their companions belly, they waved their arms all about, eyes wide and ever so slightly damp.
Their gestures twisted and turned, mocking floating and drifting, a dance before rain - the other chuffed, enough to let them know to get off and let them sit up, and this time they listened as the other painted a picture through sound and words, a story of an old dream.

Halfway through, hoping about with a found large stone in both paws, tumbling about and trying to let imagination show forces outside of their usual imagination - and in the quiet a soft plunking splash of water echoed out.

Both immediately went quiet, heads raised and ears alert, eyes wide and looking. For all the life about the surface, there was more that lingered in the deep - more that was far more dangerous too.

With a soft chirp, standing and waving an arm out to keep their companion quiet, the larger other waddled over to the islands edge, the soft rippling waves continuing their usual tide motions.

Before they could react the other darted past them, leaping into the water with a dive, before popping up a few feet away, head turning this way and that, eyes lit up with curiosity and daring.

They chuffed, growling in complaint, but the other didn't pay them any mind - shaking their head, they slipped into the water, unwilling to let their friend put themself into danger alone.

Trying to keep their paddling quiet like this time, forcing themself to not struggle as they dipped and bobbed from the slight currents, they kept an eye on the other as they both scanned the area, head dipping below to squint through the murkiness.

Kelp and soft kelp lights - down deep, deep below, the glow of suckered anemone plants, too deep to be dangerous to either of them unless they dived far. The tendril lights drifted and shifted about, following each of the twos movements in vain.

Nearing the thicker set of reeds that bunched up off the island and grew raggedly in the water, a slight incline of edged stone allowing for the plants hold, they swam with ears open and eyes wide, keeping track of any inclination of motion. In their dreams, this place was safe. This was no longer a dream, however, and they bared their tusks, ready for anything.

What they weren't ready for, however, was to catch gaze with a pair of round eyes hiding in the reeds, dipped low in the water.

They paused, hardly treading the water and more tip toe clinging to the stones they could just barely reach from here, blinking at the odd sight.

Then there were splashing trills from their companion, an indication of nothing, all clear at their end - their focus pulled away for a moment, and just like that the pup shot up the reeds and away.

Or, at least attempted to. Little claws scraped on the thick stemmed plants, limbs trembling and heavy tail dragging behind, and they let out a yelp of sound, caught off guard as it tumbled and splashed into the water beside them.

Their friend whistled out questioningly, but they didn't have time for that, immediately diving down and catching sight of the small shape kicking about frantically, already sinking down far too quickly as bubbles rose up in a trail to the surface.

With a powerful kick off the underwater stones they paddled right after it, wincing at the frantic kicking and scratching as they scooped it up in their arms - down below the anemone lights flared and converged, pulsing in awareness at prey so near.

But up they rose, breaking the surface to the panicked yelps of their friend before making their way to the island.

The pup in their arms shivered, coughing weakly as they tried to assess it. After a few moments of worry, however, it blinked its eyes up at the both of them, taking in a deep breath with an even deeper exhale, its dark eyes wide and heavy with confusion.

Then it tilted its head and whistled up a few odd sounds, higher pitched and tuned as if wrong, still rough and a hint squeaky from its throat.

The larger one looked to their companion, who glanced over at them. The blue hued pup looked back and forth between them, and it sung at them, the sound almost similar enough to that which they both once heard in their dreams.

With a quick slap of their soggy tail to the ground one chittered, scratching at all the whiskers that grew like a beard from chin down neck and chest. The other rumbled, heavy tusked jaw wiggling, before having a look about with a mumbled whistle of sound.

It didn't take much to make a decision - that was done the instant they had dove down to save the pup - but now they were feeling peckish.

The other got the clue, perking up and racing off across the island, a quick hop into the water and close to the stone walls heavy with plant life. By the time they returned, arms heavy with clustered round fruit, the pup had settled and was watching the other with the utmost fascination. Every once in a while, it would look away to instead examine its paws, or tail, or shake its head and large ears, scrubbing at its eyes with a displaced look of confusion and wonder.

The food, however, was taken happily, one showing both how to pop the small fruits into the mouth and then spit out the round hard seed into the water, watching as it bubbled up before sinking down below.

Soon enough they'd go find more pods of air, gather more than before for the third of their group now - then back through the tunnels and pipes, out into the shallow reef and tide pools.

They were both old enough now to go wherever they wished from the colony, but being out so long would probably get them into trouble. Maybe having this third member would soften the scolding.

When the time came where all three started to leave, there was only an odd pause as the pup took a long look back, staring into the large split open chamber for a few moments, looking up at the faint sunlight that still shone over the island clearing, a quiet, clear air to the place, clearer than ever before.

Then the two called out and it hurriedly stuffed the pod into its mouth, wiggling its jaw with a sense of new excitement before biting down and diving into the water to be guided carefully in the long swim.

As the sun started to dip, hidden by the walls with only the motion of the waves making sound in the canyon, within the reeds and grasses that grew through the old bent blue metal of a past god bloomed a soft yellowed flower.

Petals spreading wide in a faint, fragile glow.

Chapter Text

The sun was starting to set. Washes of yellowed light and blurred shadows from the great towering trees - the air was warm, the padded down earth was soft, the small colony bumbling all about, socializing and greeting and getting ready for the nighttime hours.

And the Saint heaved a sigh as a pup continued to gnaw on its tail, tongue hanging from its crooked toothed maw in the exhale.

Said pup wiggled about, pale eyes narrowed and frill of spines about their sides and back puffing up, the sunset lights making their furs shine nearly iridescent purple - with a few kicks of their feet and nipping at long green furs, they suddenly gagged and darted away, hopping about on little chubby legs before rolling right over and swinging their tail about, little baby fangs gleaming.

The Saint churred out a low, rough sound, not minding the pups antics as they leapt right back into batting at its flicking tail - it kept the little one entertained, which ensured they wouldn't go trip up under anyone else's feet. Out of the entire colony and the few litters that have been had here and there, this one was the most mouthy - sometimes their purs and chitters would come out of them without even opening their jaws, muffled and whiny.

They kept forgetting they had a mouth, the Saint knew. Even after all the times they've now lived through, having such a thing must be such an exciting experience.

The pup spat at the long furs they kept snapping at, waving their paws with squinted eyes and slapping about as the Saint's tail swished about for a moment.

Of all the things to now experience, the Saint wondered if its fur was hitting the mark. Perhaps the pup just needed to get out some energy - it was this, or running off to go scrape and claw and dig patterns and lines into the dirt, then getting mad and huffy whenever someone accidentally stepped on their clumsy creation.

Leaving the pup with the Saint was probably the most logical course of action, especially with the sun setting. The colony had to tend to more than an energetic pup getting out of hand.

A commotion made both old and young perk up ears, the Saint raising its head ever so slightly while the pup rolled up, straightening and peering wide eyed over at the chittering and chirping.

Red crimson fur, along with the now dull grays and hued oranges of her pups - the Saint recognized she had come back from her once cycle done pilgrimage.

More to pay respects, but it understood what she meant by journeying out in that direction. Not many others remembered what it was like, back before the snows had melted away.

The chatter, however, didn't seem to just be from her return.

The pup tripped right over the Saints tail, muffled whistles of sound from still closed mouth - then open and high pitched, excited as they raced over to greet the others. A touch of noses between them and the two siblings, then chatter and warbles, paws waving about and tails thumped against the ground - then the eldest reached over by their mother and proceeded to drag out the newcomer, who had been hiding narrow eyed in her thick curly tangles of fur.

It proceeded to make a strange racket, voice high pitched and chirping - the other pups didn't seem to mind, hopping about pushing and shoving, introducing each other to the pink ones obvious grumpy displeasure.

That was when the Saint rose, thin limbs trembling ever so slightly underneath it, and it made its slow, hobbling way over. A few of the colony chittered at it, brushing noses in fur and light taps and patting - its age was far more visible nowadays, and the colony treated it as carefully and respected as any other elder.

The three pups parted away at its approach, trilling and yammering little mewls of sound, all babble and excitement - the two siblings seemed eager to introduce their new playmate, a little shove from the eldest pushing the new pup forward.

It growled at that, a quick narrow eyed glance and ears pinned back, but when it looked back up at the looming, ever so slightly swaying Saint it went still.

The Saints half lidded eyes glimmered, ever so slightly, and the being who had once been named Five Pebbles shivered.

The eldest pup trilled questioningly, head tilted as the newcomers furry mane about its neck and chest suddenly poofed up, hunching backwards and standing tip toe with pale eyes wide, staring at the colony's eldest elder with sudden fear.

Then their mother rumbled, low and smokey, and the pup spun away and darted back to her to hide in her curly furs.

Her eyes narrowed at the Saint, a slight twitch of the lip into a threatened snarl - but the old slugcat only hung its head, sighing heavily as its tongue lolled out, limp and hanging. It sat down, limbs trembling ever so slightly, and just like that the odd shiver in the air was gone.

In its place the pups chattered, waved their paws about and danced around the Saint, trilling about this and that, the journey to their mothers sacred place and back - the little iridescent one tripped over its tail and repaid that back with some light nipping and kicking, which got the eldests attention and thus devolved into a wrestling match. The other sibling hung back, unsure, before the mouthy one pulled at their tail and flipped them over, bringing them into the fray.

The Saint relaxed, loafing down as the pups played.

The pink pup eyed it warily, still clutching fur and half hiding its face away - but there was nothing left to fear, not anymore.

The sun had disappeared into the tree laden horizon, warm colors cooling gray blue, the faint lights of stars in the farther distance - and the last trickling of the colonies members finally arrived.

The self appointed leader went over to scoff at the two of them, waving their spiny tail, armor hardened spine clicking into place as they waved their paws about, the snapping of their curved tusks grating against each other - they leaned back at the barrage, ones long furred tail swishing and the others shortened tail tucking sheepishly, before both whistled in unison and stepped aside.

Revealing a young pup sitting patiently behind them. It's wide dark eyes looked all about, shining with the coming stars and the sight of the chittering colony all about.

This time the leader paused, struck by the suddenness of having two new, very young pups arrive out of nowhere - but then the blue pup twittered, curious and warbly, an eerily familiar tune to its soft voice.

The leader blinked, then leaned down in one swift move, eyeing the pup with wide, surprised eyes.

The pup stared back, before tilting its head and warbling again, this time short and questioning.

The Saint watched, as the self appointed leader hesitated a moment longer - before raising a paw and carefully patting the pup atop its frilly, fluffy head, their throaty chatter rumbling out in almost awestruck, borderline overjoyed even.

Then they scooped up the pup and gave it a hug, still chattering - the little ones eyes went wide, confusion swiftly blinking away with almost familiarity, before it was set back down and the leader let out a whuff of a sigh.

A click and trill let the other two know they were off the hook, and with that the colony accepted the second little newcomer.

The Saint watched from the side - curled up about its tail three pups laid in a sprawled out pile, sound asleep. They had exhausted themself in their play earlier, the siblings mother having dipped her head to the old slugcat with gratefulness in her eyes - handling the new, malnourished and skittish pup took most of her focus. Keeping an eye on them was the least the Saint could do.

The blue pup paused mid step when it caught the Saints eye. It tilted its head, dark eyes round and deep, and stared long and hard at the old green thing, laying there with sleeping pups at its side, head hanging low and long tongue laid out in the dirt.

The Saint gave it a moment, examining from a distance - too tired and bone achy to get up and see what it already knew was there.

It was an innate, personal kindness, that the one once known as Looks to the Moon came toddling over, tail rising and swinging in the air, friendly and welcoming as always.

The pup leaned up, little whiskers bunching on its face as it gave the Saint a good look.

The Saints eyes glimmered, shimmering with lowered eyelids, before it let its eyes close, relaxing.

The pup chirped, head tilting, the squinted happy look of its dark eyes.

Then there was a call of the other two, the sharp, excited yammering of the long tall furred one, the low rumbles of the pudgier of the two - the pup looked away, perking up before darting back, the arrival of another with a smokey rasping greeting, coming no doubt to pick up her pups-

The Saint watched.

The pink pup still clinging to curly crimson fur froze, pale eyes widening, furry mane prickling.

The blue pup froze beside the two, frills and fins blooming out, short fur standing on end and dark eyes blinking with shock.

For a moment, the Saint watched as time went still and the Cycle held in a breath.

Then, with a high pitched yowl, the pink one leapt away, forward - with a warbling shriek to match, the blue one sprinted past its two guides. A direct beeline to each other, eyes on no one else.

For once, for the first time since either of their conscious making, without barrier between each other.

The Saint heaved a sigh, gaze drifting away, off to stare at nothing in particular.

The three colony members murmured in confusion as they hovered over the two embracing pups - worry entered their chatter when two began to cry, a brother sobbing against a sisters weeping hug, anguish and grief, past history finally washing all away.

The Saints ear twitched, turning its head in a slow sway.

One of the piled sleeping pups shifted, scrubbing at their face with a clumsy paw, eyes blinking open - for a moment, reflecting the nights casting stars up above.

Then they yawned, tiny toothy mouth of pink and fanged white, before ducking back down against their younger sibling and family, eyes closed, dozing off once more.