What They Didn't Know...

[Hoshiko]

<sub>He had left the pup to herself after he had shown the pup around. He'd told her that if she ever needed anything, that he'd be available. And then he'd left...

Golden amber pools gazed out over the terra before him. Upon the high part, the faint sillhoutte of Devil's Canyon casting him into shadow. High above the ground, he slowly made his way forward. The ground was still beneath him, as was his presence.

His reflexes were precise as he traveled a bit too far towards the edge. The ground groaned beneath him, the black crevices of the cracks splitting out around him. He tensed, golden amber pools narrowing. The air began to rush around him, gravity taking hold. Talons scraped against the hard ground, his sheer presence shifting in a defensive mode. He kicked off faster than he was droping, and faintly he could hear the clatter of the large piece of rock colliding with the side of the high wall, clambering down, down, down.

Back legs kicked out against the rough surface of the wall, massive pads gripping the edge with a deadly grasp. His stomach twisted, his mind blank, and for a moment, all he could see, taste, smell, hear, and feel was fear. Cold, blinding, seering fear.

He hoisted himself over the ledge, powerful muscles shoving him forward. He didn't stop until he was in the center, collapsing onto the rocky ground. He was shaking, ever so lightly, and he stared silently before him. He sat up, slowly. Golden amber pools gazed at the land before him, pupils slowly opening from their shrink-like form. Muscles were tensed, and he noted that they were tensed so hard that it hurt.

Slowly, he relaxed. Features that had been emotionless, shifted to a hardened, yet bored expression. He was fine- nothing to worry about. Pure white pelt was shaken free of the rocky debree, and wearily, he rose and padded forward.

He came to a stop at the very center of the ledge, where both parts on either side were equal. Despite the earlier event, he sat ever so close to the edge, slowly lowering himself upon haunches. Tassel curled around him, and he stared, features melancholy, before him. Today wasn't his day...</sub>

[Ashers]

<sup>Her once cheerful features had since long ago disapeared, left behind only reminants of what had once been.

Jostli was never the serious one.
She was always the happy one.
The one always bounding around happily.
The optimistic one.
The bright one.

Well my friend, this one time seemed to prove those very facts as nothing more than lies.

Her face was contorted in an emotionless stance, her once twinkling eyes void of any sort of emotion. Since when had she looked so..serious? So..old. So..menacing?

Jostli? Menacing?

That was enough to make any wolf that had known her for more than two months to laugh and yet here she stood, or rather walked w/e you prefer, proving just that fact right.

Her tassle was wavering high above her and she almost seemed as if another wolf. Almost..

Her scent seemed the only thing that hadn't changed and as she approached her brother, her pace slackened, her void gaze meeting his.

"Ah, Akuma. Just the wolf I've been looking for."

Without being invited she reclined upon haunches alongside the white brute, tassle curling around her hinds just as his had done moments before.</sup>

[Hoshiko]

<sub>Instantly, he tensed. She really needed to stop doing that. A sigh escaped him, features shifting to a monotone one. Golden amber pools turned to waver on her for a moment, before he turned to look back over the endless view of land.

Faintly, a weary smile could be seen upon his features. Perhaps he had always known that Jostli would put two and two together, but he had also known that it would be up to her. The months had already past, but the memories were still fresh. Ands truthfully, he didn't like recalling them.

Black lips parted, tone low. It was odd how you could pick up the wavering shakiness in it...

"You were looking for me. How odd."

He wasn't a fool- he knew she had changed. It was in her very aura that something had changed. For a moment, he was tempted to ask if something happened, but thought otherwise. They had kept her sheltered for far too many days of her life, and it wasn't fair. Himself? Hardly, but Vulcan... Despite his beastly appearance, he wanted what was best for her, and would see fit that it happened.

Akuma usually kept to himself, and didn't bother with whether or not Jostli was doing the same, greeting new comers, or getting herself in trouble.

Features became suddenly weary, and he slowly relaxed. The relentless wind brushed past the two, and he slowly turned to stare into her own emotionless gaze. She had business to attend to...

He turned away, the sigh one of depression that escaped him. Or perhaps it was pity for her, or maybe even himself, but either one of those was a good suggestion. He blinked, slowly, and head lowered lightly, narrowed golden pools staring out over the land once more.

It really was beautiful...

"What have you come for, Jostli?"</sub>

[Ashers]

<sup>She was silent for a long time, emotionless orbs traveling over the vast land that stretched as far as the eye could see.

His words brought her back to the present and she shot him a gaze, before silently sighing. Her lips parted, and the voice that poured forth was anything but soft, the words were lined with aggrivation and a devine seeking. If she didn't find answers from him, then she'd most definately find them elsewhere.

Only with Akuma there was no need to be violent.

"Ah, so you are not as oblivious as you act at times."

She was silent as she shifted her weight, her words being weighed out heavily.

"I want to know what is going on. I want to know why the bloody hell Vulcan drove us from these lands only to return under a different name. I want to know why the hell I can't remember certain things and yet some just fling themselves upon me. "

Here she grew silent, before softly adding.

"I am no longer a child, Akuma, and although you have never treated me like one, I'd prefer to know the truth. I deserve to know the truth"</sup>

[Hoshiko]

<sub>At her words, his brow rose questionably. What did she mean? Akuma had never treated her like a child, and before they had left the terra, he had told her...

The fall. That's what it was. But then- she didn't know. Had Vulcan not told her yet?

With each thought, different emotions were clearly sown upon his face. Golden amber pools shifted, rising to meet her own. Slowly, he sighed, shaking his head. He rose lightly, auds pricking lightly, features becoming stern as he stared off into the distance, voice low.

"I don't treat you like a child, Jostli. Before we left the terra, I told you everything I knew at the time. And that was that there was word of the group moving across the land, and that no one knew where the leader was. Also, that there could possibly be a spy within our mist. I'm not sure if it was a coincidence or not, but at the time, we had gotten a new member. I had come to speak with you when I saw him. Gray wolf, a bit smaller than me... But I remember him."

Gaze shifted to her, features hardening. Muscles tensed lightly, and he slowly shook his head.

"And from what I hear, you don't knwo much of your 'accident'. Obviously, Vulcan hasn't told you, and I agree completely. You're not a child, and you do deserve to know, which is why I'll tell you. Even if it costs me my hide..."

Words were spoken in a lowered manner, and he sighed. Of course, he wasn't too worried about Vulcan, but he couldn't help wonder nontheless. Gaze flickered away, before returning.

"You didn't go into a deep sleep, Jostli. You took a fell, and we found you... In the river. You didn't recall why or how, and from what I see, Vulcan took it as a warning. He didn't want anything happening to you, so we left. I think that's the main reason, but Vulcan may have others. I told Vulcan exactly what I told you, but..."

Here, he sighed, features becoming suddenly weary, his eyes moving towards the land, the large, glowing orb slowly lowering into the West.

"But that wasn't everything. Something happened after that that I've kept to myself. Maybe I was scared, or maybe I just wanted to protect who it pretained too, or maybe it was because I wasn't sure what Vulcan would do... But either way, I regret it, and I've kept it hidden. However, I had taken care of most of the problem when I found it. It was dark, I could barely see... But I couldn't sense anyone or anything, so I left."

He sighed once more, swallowing lightly as he sat back, eyes gazing ahead of him. And then, he began from the beginning of the strange black wolf...

------------

"And once I found him, I knew that because of the information he had, and that he knew father, he had been killed. The proved my suspicion, but there was nothing I could do. It was outside the terra, not inside, and I recall Vulcan saying that what's outside the terra isn't out business, unless we make it our business."

He took a deep breath, voice weary from speaking. He had told her everything, from the beginning to the end, and up until now. Every fact he knew, and every opinion, he had spoken it.

Golden pools burned as he gazed at the fading sun. It was getting late, he knew. Hesitantly, his muzzle opened once more, words quiet.

"I didn't tell him. Then again, can you blame me? You know for a fact that me and Vulcan aren't on the best of terms. And yes, I regret it. I was close to telling him when you had your fall, but we had left too quickly. I don't know anything else than what I've told you, but the terra's felt... Weird. Whenever I'm alone, I can feel someone, or something with me, and it's... Unsettling. They, or others came here, but was your accident just a coincident? Could they still be here, waiting? We know from Blaze that they're after us, but..."

He broke off, shaking his head in dismay. Eyes traveled to her own, and he slowly, wearily, rose. Black nose pressed against her cheek, amber pools softening. Voice was mixed with adoration, trust, responsibilty, and pride. It scared him, actually...

"If anyone deserved to know, it's you. I didn't know you couldn't remember what I said, until now. You're my sister Jostli, and I'd do anything for you. And even though I don't treat you like a baby, doesn't mean you aren't."

At his words, he grinned lightly, before it faded. Teeth nipped the tip of her ear, and he sighed lightly, shifting so that she was looking at him. Features stayed soft, and yet hardened all the same, all teasingness dissipating as his lips parted.

"We're all we've got, Jostli.</sub>

[Ashers]

<sup>She was silent through his entire speech, taking time to only switch her weight from side to side at certain moments.

Audials tuliped forwards with his end and she was silent, obviously in thought.

"I knew there must have been a reason for all this. It's odd though Akuma. I remember things clearly up until that day and it's just like a black slate. I feel like there's something I should know and yet I can't pry it from the darkness. I have all these emotions against or for certain things and I can't even remember why."

Her voice broke there and she shook her head violently.

"I thank ye for sharing with me. I know Vulcan has his reasons and perhaps we were safer when I didn't know, but nevertheless I'm a part of this family too. And family isn't just one of us carrying the burden."

She sighed softly before growing silent, her tassle beginning a steady drum on the rock face beneath her.</sup>

[Hoshiko]

<sub>At her words, he smiled lightly. Teeth nipped her aud once more, rising slowly. Features were light, emotions playing freely as the amber pools danced.

"I know... But you've got to give me credit for trying."

He shifted, jaws clamping softly on the fea's tassel before he turned, massive pads carrying him away at a lope. He cast a glance at her from his shoulder, a laugh escaping him.

"I'll catch you around, Jostli."

And with that, he was gone.</sub>