Akki*Kihaku

The adolescents were abroad today, wandering away from the basement. Akki was in the lead of them, his over-large paws still making next-to-no-sound against the floor as he padded about, investigating the world.

Kihaku hadn't wanted to come, but her larger and frightening brother had bullied her into it, mostly because if he got caught outside the pup room and got in trouble, he didn't want to be in trouble alone. Her sweet, black-speckled white face was pale and very frightened as they made their way outside the basement, out where she wasn't sure it was safe. Slowly, as a pup, she'd been able to get used to the basement, and now it was her safe haven. Everything else... was dangerous and frightening.

Ardeth & Malacath

After a confrontation of sorts outside the Ruins, Ardeth led his younger half-sibling back to the Temple of the Haunted. Malacath had been out training with his brother, but was now tired, and eager to be back home. He was quick to spot his siblings, and bounded towards them, aiming a playful snap at Akki's face as he passed him. "Hiya! Ardeth just took me out to learn stuff!"

Ardeth, also worn out from trying to keep Mally in check, approached his younger relatives with an indifferent face. The torture of Coriscan on the opposite end of the temple didn't gain a reaction from his, and Malacath was too busy paying attention to his siblings to notice the disturbing punishment across the room.

Akki*Kihaku

Malacath's snap only brought the usual snarl from Akki, though he did not, at least, snap back. Akki had a nasty habit of going for flesh-tearing grips, and the Mothers had made it ABUNDANTLY clear that it was intolerable for him to tear his siblings apart. Already Kihaku sported some scarring from her elder brother's abuse, though how the quiet, unassuming, and obedient pup could have possibly offended Akki was anyone's guess.

Hi Mally... was her soft, timid, somehow sad reply, but then her family had mostly grown used to that by now. Kihaku, sweet thing that she was, was PAINFULLY timid.

Malacath & Ardeth

Malacath, knowing all too well of his brothers flesh-tearing habits, had made a point of placing himself just out of reach of Akki. Himself and Akki had been in many a fight, and Malacath also bore small scars from these fights; they weren't as bad as Kihaku's at all, and luckily his fur covered his.

Kihaku's timid reply was no different to usual, and while most would have tried to comfort her, Malacath knew it was no good. Still, he would protect her, and had made himself her personal guardian - she just didn't know it yet.

Ardeth made a point of putting himself in the line of sight of Kihaku, so she wouldn't be able to see Coriscan's torture. The noise of his pain would not be heard any longer, for his jaw had been removed. The elder half sibling of Akki, Kihaku, Malacath and Vaermina was tired and irritable, and Akki snarl earned a flash of fangs from Ardeth. A warning to avoid attacking both Malacath and Kihaku while he was around.

"Where are you guys going then?" Malacath asked, his tail wagging.

Akki*Kihaku

Kihaku may not have noticed Ardeth putting himself strategically in her way, but Akki did and, standing a little off to the side, understood why. His soft, sweet, timid sister... she could never bear to see another living thing in pain.

This thought, combined with his elder half-brother's flash of teeth, only made Akki scowl back, though he at least had the sense not to meet Ardeth's eyes with that ugly grimace on his face.

Kihaku, on the other hand, managed a tremulous smile for both Ardeth and Malacath, and spoke, though so softly as to force them to listen VERY carefully. "We're... exploring. Right...Akki?"

A snarl was his only answer.