Dayspring Discipline

[Mokobo]

The sun was just starting to rise above the rolling eastern horizon to cast its warm rays upon the snow-laden slopes of the great Northern Mountains. In a few peaceful moments the land began to transition from the gloaming of the night to the waxing brilliance of the day. Nocturnal beasts returned to their dwellings fulfilled from their escapades of the previous evening, while the creature of the day arose filled to the brim with hunger or hope or ambition. Ambition most likely was the more common of the trio, taking many forms in the hearts of many creatures. Once such example was particularly active this morning.
Having risen before the sun, Gjelu had stealthily crept from his chambers within the Hall of the Vorlfur to attend the practice fields outside known as the Ludus. During the day these fields were often visited by hopeful recruits or seasoned Vorlfur looking to spread their wisdom or perhaps brush up on a new technique. In short, this made for a rather loud setting, which was the opposite of which this particular wolf desired. A part of him longed for when his home had been small, filled with their small family with their not-so-small problems. Yet he knew this was a selfish sentiment, and choose not to dwell upon it. These lands were better as they were now, and he had a duty, an obligation to keep it that way.
It was for this reason that Gjelu rose every morning before the sun to train. Every day he changed his regimen so as to condition himself to the uncertainty of battle. To keep to the spirit of chance he had a pile of river pebbles hidden in a stump at the edge of the clearing. Each day he drew three stones which told him how his morning would be spent. As the stars began to fade from the sky he had flown to top of the nearest summit thrice. With the first hints of light in the east he would have been found flipping a large log across the field, using his front paws to lift it enough to fling the felled tree with his back. Currently Gjelu was balanced precariously atop a series of thin poles cut from ash trees that protruded from the earth at odd intervals and angles. This obstacle has forbidden to the Imus, the recruits, as it was particularly perilous.
A small breeze began to rise, stirring the wolf's brilliant white pelt and causing the faintest blue tint to catch the morning light. However his frame was as rigid as the nearby sentinel oak standing guard over the Domus. Bright blue eyes watched the poles in front of him with a fierce concentration. With a sigh the wind began to subside, and it was then he made his move. In a fluid motion the warrior wolf leaped to the furthest pole from himself, large wings snapping open only for an instant to slow and guide his jump. All four paws landed lightly atop the pole, his claws hanging off the edge to bite into the wood below. A feeling of triumph swelled within Gjelu's chest at his own feat.
Yet this feeling of success was to be short lived. The wood below creaked and popped shortly after his landing, drawing a quick nervous glance from the wolf. However it was too late, and with a loud snap the ash wood broke in the middle of its bend. Gjelu was promptly and unceremoniously deposited upon the hard earth of the Ludus. With a frustrated growl he would leap to his paws, casting a look around to make sure there were no witnesses before approaching the offending pole. A quick inspection revealed the cause of the break. Teeth marks were set into the wood, most likely from some headstrong Imus trying to impress his fellow recruits. With another growl Gjelu would kick the pole away before heading back to his stump near the edge of the forest.

[Relairah]

On any normal day, Aelariah would visit her brothers at some point in the afternoon or in the evening. She had long since learned that if she bothered them in the morning, they were far more likely to be doing something of importance. After all, they were among the leader figures of the pack. Still, she made it a point to see them. Sometimes for nothing more than to spend time. It was of Aelariah's opinion that she should value every day she had with them because it seemed things always came up and one could never be sure when they might be parted again.

So perhaps Gjelu might find it odd that she was approaching him this morning, and so near to beginning of the day. In truth, Aelariah was somewhat hesitant. But not because of the time of day in which she was approaching. Rather with the information she was bringing. She had just learned something that for her was a mixture of exciting and troublesome. Of all of the members of her family, Aelariah had probably seen the least of the world and so the prospect of a journey was something she was eager for, curious about... even determined to go. But from the experiences of her family, she also knew that the world could be treacherous and the information she carried was not particularly joyous.

Soon, the lavender and white wolfess was approaching the training field called the Ludus. She paused at the edge of the field, her pale gaze sweeping over it quickly as she disregarded anyone present who wasn't the one she was looking for. Soon, she spotted him and in that same instant a pole landed in her direction. She frowned, quirking a wolfish brow. The instinct to say something snarky rose in her chest, but she pushed it aside. Aelariah stepped forward then, moving toward her sibling that looked most like her father. "Gjelu," she called, her melodic voice carrying over the empty space toward him.

[Mokobo]

Just as he had begun placing the river stones in their usual hiding place an all too familiar voice called his name across the clearing. His shoulders would hunch up for a brief moment, almost as if he expected the embarrassment of the earlier fiasco to come as a physical blow. It was a brief reaction, born of the usual good-natured teasing most siblings are often prone to. However, in a blink of the eye he returned to his usual calm, collected demeanor, his frame slackening to a nonchalant posture. Rather than respond right away, the white wolf took the time to finish his task in an almost purposeful way. Gjelu took the time to consider this change from the norm.
There could be no doubt that his sister had witnessed his tumble, and yet she had chosen to ignore the chance to poke fun. Also, while on any average day she almost always managed to find him at some point, such an early visit was a new occurrence. In truth, Gjelu was surprised that Aelariah was even awake this early. His brow furrowed and a frown crept across his lips as he pondered the implications of this visit. Again, this expression was quick to fade, and by the time he turned to face his sibling a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips in a reassuring way. With a measured pace he would approach the other wolf, pausing at one point to shake some dust from his tail.
"Good morning Aelariah. Have you come to take me up on the race to the top of the bluff? Very well, but I feel I should warn you, I've made the trip three times already this fine morning." By the time these jesting words were finished, Gjelu would have closed the gap between himself and his sister to pause a few feet away. He had come to the conclusion that something had to be on her mind. Rather than brusquely approach the subject, he felt it would be better for her to bring it up in her own time. Slowly he would take a seat upon the hard ground of the Ludus, raising his voice again once he had made himself comfortable. "Or perhaps you came to become an Imus?" The smile on his lips broadened into a grin of perfect innocence that did not match the mischievous glitter in his eyes.

[Relairah]

Once Gjelu was facing her, his composure gained and the presence of the seemingly never-ended light-hearted teasing present, she almost forgot the seriousness of the information she carried. A trip to the bluff? Ah, yes. She did owe him a race. And she was always up for a good challenge. Even if her brothers were stronger than she. She couldn't resist a little competition. It had simply always been that way. As he asked if she came to become an Imus, she couldn't help the scoffing snort and the roll of her eyes, followed by a smile that matched his own. She gave in, unable to hold back her teasing nature. "Hardly, brother. I would no more become a member of the Vorlfur than mother. You and Zef are much better suited to such rigorous training." Though Aelariah had certainly done her share of training in the past should she ever have need of skills, strength, and other things in battle.

"Although on that race to the bluff... sounds like you've already worn yourself a little and have given me the advantage. A rare opportunity I simply can't pass up!" She stepped back slightly, preparing to use the earth as a boost to propel herself skyward. She even flexed her wings. "See you there," she said with a wink and a grin before bursting skyward.

Perhaps the trip to the bluff was in fact just what they needed. It was almost as if fate really did have something in store for them... the way he had mentioned it before she'd even spoken of why she had come. Talking in private would be best, she thought. But that was not on her mind now. With expertise and skill, she flared her wings to catch the wind and propelled herself forward toward the mountain. She was determined to win this time!

In no time at all, she was stretching out her paws and landing on the ledge, running forward and slowing from her momentum as she tucked her wings against her body and looked to see if Gjelu were trailing behind or if once more, as he had many times, he had beaten her.

[Mokobo]

With a soft chuckle, Gjelu watched almost lazily as his sister accepted his challenge and immediately took flight. Slowly he rose from his seat upon the ground, dipping his front paws to arch his back in a stretch. Did she really think he was worn out from his morning exercises? After a brief moment into his stretch, the arctic wolf would snap out his own owlish wings with a soft whoosh of air. A quick glance of his bright blue gaze showed his sister was already a good way into the race, and he decided that was enough of a head start. Rising from his stretch, Gjelu would began to jog across the field of the Ludus before alighting from the ground with a powerful push from those glorious appendages.
Flying had always been Gjelu's favorite way of travelling, even when he had been a child with broken memories. There was something about how the wind played with his fur and flowed through the fanned feathers of his wings. Each time he left the restraints of gravity below a weight seemed to lift from his heart. While flying, he could never seem to maintain the collected demeanor he had learned from his father. While still some distance behind Aelariah, Gjelu would let out a playful whoop. The exhilaration of competition had taken hold, even if he had no intention of pushing himself to his limits.
While it's true that the young wolf had been quite active this morn, rather than feel a loss of energy there was instead an abundance. Daily training had increased his stamina and strength to new levels. Ever since the end of the War, he had decided to not let himself grow lax in the following peace. Those alabaster wings of his began to beat against the air more forcefully as he pulled his legs and head closer to his body to lower his wind resistance. The small figure of his sister began to rapidly approach, as did their destination. Those icy blue eyes hardened with determination as he focused entirely on the ledge of stone which jutted forth from the mountain.
Just as Aelariah was setting her paws on solid ground, a white blur would shoot past her. So great was Gjelu's speed, he choose to show off a new trick to his sister. Rather than use his paws to slow down on the ground, the arctic wolf kept his legs folded beneath his torso as he approached. Once over the ground he curled into a ball with his wings fanned out like two feathered parachutes. With small clouds of dust Gjelu would roll across the stone of the ground once, twice, thrice, before leaping to all fours and skidding gently to a controlled stop.
Quickly he would turn to face his sister, practically beaming with elation from their little competition. "You almost had me this time, maybe I shouldn't have given you such a big head start!" Another chuckle left Gjelu as he paced toward his sister and edge of the small cliff. With a soft sigh of satisfaction the wolf would gaze upon the lands below as a doting father would his children at play. Oddly enough, it was on this very spot he had first gazed upon these lands years ago. Yet that was back when he had not known who he was or who he would become. Gjelu's smile would slowly fade as he contemplated all that had changed since that day when he was just a lost pup with no memory of his past.

[Relairah]

On most occasions, Aelariah would concede to his victory. She accepted he was physically superior to her. But in this case, she couldn't help a playful protest. As he zoomed by in a blur of white and did his rolling performance, she had to admit she was kind of impressed. She had to give him props. But that was it. She inhaled at his words, giving a soft gasp in the process. "I did have you!" she exclaimed, though the look in her eyes indicated she was hardly upset. Granted... he had given her a head start. But if he wanted to, more power to him. "You didn't actually touch ground until after I did," she said smugly. "I definitely win this time." She raised her head proudly as if her emphatic nod afterward solidified the truth of her words and she grinned at her brother.

He was walking past her and looking down at the land below. One could see the entire packland from here... and far more. Aelariah released her breath, moving toward him and plopping her rump on the ground. Things seemed simpler here. Like taking a step back and taking it all in and figuring things out. But with the those thoughts came once more to her the reason she had approached Gjelu that morning in the first place. Admittedly, she was still somewhat hesitant. Gjelu had already left home twice... and neither time had been good. But that's why she was determined to be by his side. And she gazed outward beyond the packland with a mixture of curiosity and cautiousness.

Finally she glanced toward Gjelu. "So... I have something I need to tell you," she started.

[Mokobo]

For a moment the two siblings seemed to loose themselves in the peace and quite atop the mountain ledge. Gjelu's warm smile remained on his lips, but the mirth left his eyes as he gazed down upon the lands below. By now the sun had fully risen into the sky, an orb of bright fire rising from the horizon. The Hall of the Vorlfur began to stir to life. Figures that seemed as tiny as ants began to mill around the Ludus or take off from the Domus on unknown tasks. Other creature began to awake as well. Songbirds trilled away in their happy songs, and somewhere nearby a raven added it's own course call to the otherwise sweet music.
Then their reverie was broken as Aelariah finally began to draw near the reason for her visit. Gjelu would close his eyes for a moment, almost as if preparing himself mentally to some blow. However, in truth, he was preparing himself to keep a smile despite whatever his sister might say. Their family was no stranger to strife and tragedy. With how peaceful things had been as of late, Gjelu fully expected the world to come crashing down any moment. This was why he trained every morning and spent his days patrolling, but he would never voice these thoughts.
With an almost comical sigh of exacerbation and roll of the eyes, Gjelu would turn his head to face his sister. "Well that's painfully obvious. Almost as obvious as the time you tried to blame my missing meal on a sparrow." This last sentence was followed by another chuckle as the arctic wolf shook his head softly at the memory. Within moments he turned his gaze upon Aelariah once more, this time letting his icy shell fall away completely. Revealed in its stead were two bright blue pools of sorrow and a face of apprehension and dismay. "Tell me it's not mom or dad-"

[Relairah]

Aelariah frowned and glared slightly at Gjelu. Couldn't he take this more seriously? But then... he didn't know what she did. Then... he broke down and she almost cringed the way he said the last phrase. Her pale gaze looked away, anywhere but his eyes. "Mom..." she started, but continued quickly lest he fear the absolute worst. "Is being affected by the lake at the center of the territories. I don't know how bad it's going to get. But she's been having brief episodes of..." she paused, not sure quite how to describe what she had seen. "Her body shakes and she says it's like her soul is sick. I don't think she meant for me to know... but I walked in and she begged me not to tell Dad yet..."

((I'm thinking Antarctica doesn't want Icey to know quite yet because of all the stuff she saw in the Grotto << also I'm going to assume that all the wolves of the territory are familiar with the history, the lake, and magical info and such))

Aelariah wasn't sure how much she needed to explain. All of them had heard the stories from their parents about the history of the packland and knew well both of the lake's magic and its ties to the land, and the implications of what could happen should the lake be disrupted. "She says the lake is imbalanced," Aelariah said after a moment, "that it has been, but instead of getting better, it's getting worse." Aelariah paused again, sighing slightly... though she sound was carried away in the wind.

"There's a way to make everything return to normal," now Aelariah met Gjelu's eyes... or at least looked into his face. "There's a magical artifact beyond the independent packlands and the outlying territories that restores balance to magical spirits. Mom believes it will to the lake because of its nature. I couldn't tell Zef... but I don't want to go alone," she finished. Afterward, she said no more. She instead waited to hear Gjelu's response.

[Mokobo]

The first word of his sister's reply tore like an icy claw at Gjelu's heart. Thankfully she did not give a moment's pause to allow him to consider the worst. A frown of concern settled upon his lips as Aelariah described their mother's symptoms. Sorrow was still heavily in his eyes, even more so when his sister spoke of Antarctica's desire to keep her illness secret. Even though most members of the Vorlfur considered their founder to be an everlasting pillar of the community, Gjelu was of the opinion their father's strength stemmed from their mother. That she would put the concerns of others above her own made Gjelu both proud and more somber.
Yet then Aelariah was discussing the source of this newest trouble for their family. A problem that could, would affect the entire pack if it were not set right. The calm, cold demeanor began to creep back in like a late spring frost. The arctic male would rise to all fours to pace as his sister continued to speak. Each step strengthened his resolve, returning him to an diligent state of mind. As Aelariah's final words drifted into the distant music of the songbirds, Gjelu would stand erect with his gaze trained on the distant lake. In the early morning light the waters sparkled so cheerily, even so far away, that it was almost inconceivable that malice lurked beneath its depths.
After a brief moment the pure white wolf would suddenly turn to face his sibling. "Right. So it's not as bad as I thought then? Just a little mortal peril for all good living beings, nothing we can't handle sis. It seems to me this is Vorlfur business through and through, and I can't let you go wandering off alone." With a beckoning gesture Gjelu would approach the edge of the cliff, stretching his grandiose wings in preparation for flight. "I have no doubt mother told you much of where to find this artifact, but, and I mean no offense, but I would prefer to hear it from her myself." And without waiting for his sister's reply the warrior wolf would leap from the cliff, dropping down rapidly before swooping over the canopy of the forest below. His reasons were true, but not the whole of it. He needed to see for himself that his mother was alright before they left on a journey to unknown ends.

[Relairah]

Aelariah smiled at her brother. "Right. Yes. Mortal peril and the entire territory at risk and it's not as bad as you thought." She shook her head, but held back a giggle. After all, it was no laughing matter. She followed suit, spreading her own white-tipped lavender feathers. She could understand his thoughts. She would want the same were she in his position. And she knew her brother well enough to suspect his hidden reasons. She didn't say anything more at that point, simply waited for him to take flight, and then followed after him.

Soon, they would be reaching the den not so far away where Antarctica usually lounged at this time of day. As soon as they landed, tucking their wings once more close to their bodies, Aelariah moved toward her mother. She couldn't help the concern in her eyes even if she'd tried to hide it. Once she had learned the situation... she had taken it to heart.

Antarctica had spent the morning in rest. Though Aelariah had encountered one of her episodes... she still had not quite shared with her the extent of the imbalance she felt nor the fact that the episodes had steadily grown both in intensity and frequency. She would not be able to easily hide them for too much longer. But she was grateful that it was Aelariah who had discovered it first as opposed to Icewulf. She was not yet certain how this news would affect him.

She was not surprised that Aelariah would have sought out Gjelu. Though she had mixed feelings about him going on a quest... still, she supposed there was really little choice in the matter. Her blue eyes saw them coming long before they landed, and a warm smile graced her lips. She was always happy to see her children. Antarctica rose, moving toward them. "Good morning, Gjelu," she said first as she had already spoken to Aelariah earlier in the day.

[Mokobo]

After they had landed, Gjelu would keep pace with Aelariah. Hidden beneath the fragile, frosty surface of his cool demeanor was a veritable typhoon of emotion. Worry, sorrow, anxiety, frustration, and more emotions swirled inside the otherwise cool hand of a warrior. After the Demon War any fear of battle and bloodshed had been lost. However, this unknown danger threatened not only one dearest to him, but all he was sworn to protect. There just had to be something he could do to prevent this, even if it was a fight that could not be won by force. Gjelu was determined to make right of this wrong, and to do so with the strength he had learned from his parents. He must not let his concern be shown, so that his family could rely on his resolve.
As they drew near to Antarctica, Gjelu would offer a small bow as he was welcomed. A warm smile beamed forth from his lips like the glorious sunrise which had been so recent. Bright blue eyes, which could not reflect that smile, watched as his sister attended to their mother. In an attempt at nonchalance, Gjelu would recline on the ground in a carefree manner. When he spoke, his voice was a little too bubbly, giving away just how concerned he truly was. "Good morn mother. My dearest sister here tells me you are a little under the weather...perhaps some bad berries?"
Bad berries- if only our family problems were ever that simple.

[Relairah]

Antarctica's gaze softened further and she glanced toward Aelariah briefly as if to scold her, but of course she was neither upset nor surprised. The pale wolfess sat back on her haunches and curled her tail about her hind leg, her ears also turning about her head as she focused her attention on her son. "Indeed... bad berries," she said with an amused smile on her lips that also didn't quite reach her gaze. "I think perhaps Aelariah elaborated a bit more?" Antarctica said. She knew her children well.

"My illness is not one caused by anything physical, darling. I have sensed it for some time now... but it's begun to grow worse and I can no longer keep it to myself. The ancient spirit lake has been cast into imbalance. The spirits are not being born equally but rather are in chaos both among themselves, and in the balance of different types of elements and abilities. When I first felt it, it was during the Demon War. My connection with water and the lake itself is within my soul. I had hoped it would correct itself once the war was over. But it seems that is not the case."

Antarctica rose then and moved closer to Gjelu, offering him a brief touch of her nose against his face. "But don't worry. There is a way to restore the necessary balance and banish the effects on me and anyone else who feels them. So long as you are up for it, of course," she said. Of course she knew both her children were. In fact, if the rest of the family knew they'd probably dive head first into the quest as well. But that would not be a good thing.

Aelariah had sat back, listening ask Antarctica filled in what she had missed and recounted the same things she had shared earlier in the day for Gjelu. When their mother mentioned the quest, Aelariah moved toward them and sat beside Gjelu. "Well you know I am. There's no way I'm staying here and watching you get worse when I could be getting something to make it better," she announced matter-of-factly.

[Mokobo]

The warm sunrise of a smile remained upon Gjelu's lips as his mother returned his earlier banter. By now its true counterpart had risen fully to begin the cycle of the day. The warrior wolf was relieved to see Antarctica's health was in no dire situation. Even with his sister's earlier assurances a part of his heart had gnawed with anxiety. Gjelu listened attentively and silently as the situation was elaborated, all the while keeping his carefree manner. However, at the mention of the Demon War, the smile would soon fade from both lips and eyes as old memories rushed forth. For a fleeting moment a slight frown took hold as the wayward thought ran its course.
Yet Gjelu's attention snapped back to his mother as she rose and approached him. Gingerly he would return her embrace before rising to all fours with a militaristic deliberateness. A frost settled over the canine's demeanor, his muscles tense with anticipation and his mind sharp with the determination. Standing in such a way, Gjelu seemed the spitting image of his father without the iconic golden Mark. As Antarctica presented the challenge of their task, a small smirk would tug at the corners of his lips and his bright blue eyes would shine like two chunks of ice in the sunlight. "Up for it?" Here his tone changed to a playful chide," Mother, I'm an Archus of the Vorlfur. This whole protecting the pack, saving loved ones, preventing total doom thing? This is just my morning workout, I still have Imus to train after lunch."
Although I think I'm going to have to fish a new stone out of the creek for this particular exercise. As Gjelu mused to himself, Aelariah took her seat near to his side and pledged herself to the quest as well. The sunrise from earlier almost broke through the frosty shell, but the smirk on Gjelu's lips only widened ever so slightly. "Well that's settled then. So what do we need to do to fix this imbalance?" His shortness revealed just how restless the warrior wolf truly was. Slowly Gjelu would begin to pace while listening to all that was to come with a collected scrutiny.

[Relairah]

Antarctica's gaze remained soft as she gazed proudly upon her children and the smile on her lips was warm. And far more genuine than it had been only moments before. After all, Gjelu truly was the spitting image of his father... not just in body but also it seemed in spirit. She knew his words rang true. It seemed their family could not live in contentment without something interesting going on. It was simply how it had always been, and probably would always be. She had a feeling that if a time ever came that something weren't coming up, those in her family might find themselves restless. In fact, that was already the case in many ways with her beloved mate. At least it had appeared so until he had showed her the grotto.

Still, she worried. This quest was no small task. Of course she had known her children wouldn't hesitate. She had only been teasing in a small way. But even so, she wanted them to understand. "There is an artifact that possesses the power to balance unrest in the spirit. It can be used in many ways, but I believe it will restore the balance we need. You will have to journey west far beyond the outlying territories to the edge of the lands where they end and there is only a great expanse of water. There is an island on which the artifact lies. As of yet, no one has obtained it. As far as I know. The island is not in one particular place. It travels freely and may be near to the coast or a great distance away. And the journey to it is no easy task. I know all of this only from legend. The rest will be up to you."

Aelariah listened closely, clinging to every word so that she would remember it. She watched as Gjelu paced and then settled her gaze on their mother. "Don't worry," she said with a smile, hopeful despite the implications. "We are not so ordinary ourselves. And besides, how could we pass up such an opportunity to stake our family name on this achievement?" She turned her pale gaze toward Gjelu. "When do you want to leave?" she asked.

[Mokobo]

As Antarctica laid forth the task, Gjelu felt a bubble of excitement grow within his chest. Since the end of the Demon War his life had become so habitual, almost monotonous. The prospect of adventure to legendary lands put a softer light on the otherwise dark situation. He was still anxious about his mother's health, but even this slight hope of setting all right made the weight on his heart lift ever so slightly. Gjelu had never been one to mope, even when his memories had been hazy and his life confusing. Even if no one had seen this moving island for centuries, his would be the first gaze to find it.
As Aelariah would begin to speak, Gjelu would approach her side. Her words were tuned precisely to his own unvoiced thoughts. At the hint to their own exceptional skills, a playful thought came to mind. Dipping his snout, the white wolf would sniff the earth before lightly touching the tip of his nose to the ground. A small pool of water would rise up from underground, trickling at first as the liquid worked its way to the surface. About the time his sister asked when he wanted to leave, Gjelu had conjured a small pool of crystal clear water. As he lifted his snout to return Aelariah's gaze, a drop of water would fall from the fur of his nose. This drop froze mid-air, forming a small dome on the surface of the water as it landed, which then began to float about lazily.
"I'm ready to leave now if you are dear sister." Stepping over his miniature ocean and floating island, Gjelu would approach Antarctica. He would offer her a gentle, but quick embrace before speaking in a soft, concerned voice. "We'll find this island and this artifact. Aelariah's right, it's our family duty to fix this. You've done your part by figuring this out, so you just make sure to stay rested and healthy alright?" His last words cracked a little as he turned to take his leave. However, halfway through the motion he would pause to gaze back at his mother once more. "Zef has a lot to deal with right now, and Dad needs to rest just as much as you do. Don't worry though, Aelariah and I will make this right."
With these words Gjelu would turn and step over the small pool once more. By now the ice island had grown to the size of his paw with small, with tree-like hairs beginning to grow. Playfully he would nudge against Aelariah's side before motioning toward the distance. "Seems like you get a rematch after all. How about a race to the edge of the territory? I'll even let you decide if it's in the air or on land." This last sentence was spoken with a teasing wink that only a brother could give with such a mischievous smile.