Auri

Auri was growing fast. She was now the size of her grandmother, whom she was named after. She hadn't gotten the chance to meet most of the Shadow Lurkers; they usually seemed busy. The ones who had met her looked surprised. Nightshade, her half-sister, said they would. She was an exact replica of Aurinka.

The young coywolf was curled up in a corner at the moment, shivering a bit. Kobalt had gone out to find some food for his sister, leaving her alone. He still hadn't come back and Auri was getting hungry.

Desmon & Sipala

Although he was still a Shadow Lurker and spent most of his time with them in the Alleys, Desmon had taken to visiting with his cousins and friends in the western mountains. He wasn't suffering nearly so bad as his uncle Bullet was, or at least, he was far better at masking the internal pain that still ate at him after Aurinka death. And with a majority of his own offspring still alive, he had the emotional support to help him go on.

Today, the hybrid was sauntering down a road, casually moving along the curb as the occasional car or human passed by him - feral dogs were such a common sight that not many bothered with them, and Lurkers were street-wise enough that they didn't dare attack the two-leggers and incite vengeance on themselves. It was as he was nearing the Aegis Den, seemingly lost in his thoughts, that Sipala swooped down from above and landed neatly on her friend's furry shoulders. "Desmon?" The young peregrine, the youngest daughter of Black Feather and Pirqua, cautiously queried for his attention; though she certainly already had it, after plopping down on him like that, with little warning, "I think there's someone you need to see inside."

"Hhm? A visitor?" Desmon questioned, with one ear turned back to better hear his avian friend. "Where at?"

The falcon bounced off his shoulders, now that she'd successfully gotten his attention, and hopped along the ground in front of him, "She's right in here, last I saw." Sipala continued onward, scuttling into the building through the partially opened door, and bounced along she led Des to the corner where Auri was resting.

There was a sense of familiarity in Auri that immediately hit Des, but with her curled up as she was, he wouldn't realize just how closely she resembled his deceased mate until he could see her face. "...hello?" Not wanting to be rude and wake her up, and yet so startled by her similarities to Aurinka, Desmond couldn't help but give a quiet woof to get the young hybrid's attention.

Auri

Auri wanted to sleep, but she was too cold. And not to mention scared. The war was coming. It was her mother against her sister, and Auri didn't want to lose another family member. Nightshade, that is. She didn't care whether Saydin died or not. Really, she'd rather that her mother was slain.

The coywolf rose her head when she heard voices. She couldn't make them out, but she thought she heard a name. She had heard her family talking about a hybrid named Desmon, but she knew nothing about him other than that he was close with her grandmother. She stared at Desmon, with a mix of confusion and curiosity. "Hello?" She even sounded like Aurinka. Her scent was probably the same too. She was indistinguishable from her grandmother. "Are you Desmon?"

Desmon & Sipala

He sucked in a sharp breath when she lifted her head, and met him with the face and voice of his dear Aurinka. Sipala, who was standing solemnly and quietly beside him, didn't say a thing. She didn't want to see her friend hurt, but in a way, thought that this might help him somehow. Of course, she could always be wrong.

For a few moments, the hybrid just stared at the coywolf, gaping in stunned silence at her and looking for the world like he'd just seen a ghost. Truthfully, that's exactly how it felt to him. Finally, it was the falcon who spoke up when Des seemed lost for words, "That's Auri, daughter of Saydin and Kahvi." In saying that, she dropped the hint of who Auri was, because Desmon knew the names of his mate's offspring, even those that were not sired by himself. And of course... he knew Saydin.

"...yes." He fumbled with his words a little, "I... I'm sorry, you just look- nevermind." Desmon shook his head abruptly and tried to clear his thoughts. It didn't work though, as his mind continued to race and his heart pounded like a jackhammer in his chest, "...how did you end up here?"

Auri

Auri knew what Des was thinking. Desmon had lost his mate, and she was almost Aurinka reborn. "I know." The young coywolf stated affectionately. "My father says I look like my grandmother. You knew her, yes?" She got up now, sitting on her haunches. "I know that you were her mate. I'm really sorry that you lost her." She paused, listening to Des speak. "Nightshade brought me here. We know that it's safer with the Shadow Lurkers than it is right next to my mother's territory." She seemed almost ashamed to even speak of her mother, whom she assumed could probably be the devil's sister. But that would make Auri the devil's niece.

Desmon & Sipala

He nodded his head once to answer her question about knowing Aurinka. It was just too hard for him to speak for another moment or two, and his eyes grew a little misted, but he blinked rapidly and took another deep breath, "I appreciate your condolences, Auri." A small smile peaked through his somber expression, "Nevermind all of that... you are safer here, and I'll make sure you're well taken care of." It was too difficult for him to think of Aurinka right now, and yet... looking down at her granddaughter, he felt a strong urge to see the young coywolf taken care of and protected, and spared the fate that Aurinka had been dealt.

Auri

Auri was glad to be here now, knowing that she was making her late grandmother's mate happy. But at the same time, she felt unwelcome. She was the spawn of Saydin. Evil blood ran in her veins, the blood of all four wolves that she heard the Lurkers despised: Vicious, Windsong, Tahti and Saydin. Even with their genes, she was a good coywolf, most told her. She was simply confused.

Auri just nodded when Desmon spoke again. Her eyes got a bit teary too. She never met Aurinka, but she felt like she had known her. She looked up at the hybrid, paying close attention o him. She smiled when he offered to take care of her. "That would be great! Thank you, De-" There was a pause, and she continued sadly, "...but wait... You leader would want me around, right? I mean... knowing who my mother is and all..." She was ashamed to be related to such filth, and she'd gladly kill Saydin if she got the chance. She saw her father murdered right before her eyes. She watched her father's blood spill over the ground. There was nothing that could keep the bad memories and nightmares away.

Desmon & Sipala

In this moment, he could choose to let the sorrow of his mate wash over him by seeing her reflected in Auri's appearance, or he could embrace the idea that he could do his late mate some good by seeing that at least one of her granddaughters was well taken after. Desmon choose to smile softly. "Lyckos will not mind you staying here with us." Well, he couldn't say for certain what Lyckos would say, but he could safely judge that their leader would sympathize with Auri's plight. Old enemies were not welcome, but pups and youngsters in general were traditionally brought into the pack without regards to their lineage. Of course... not all would be happy to have the spawn of their enemy in with them, but Des was keen on making sure Auri was welcome here. "You'll have to speak with him officially, but I wouldn't worry at all about it."