Desperation

The passage of time had long since blurred for the weary, heartbroken wolf that now trudged dejectedly into the familiar clearing near the lunar pool her father had once guarded. A long whine of relief left her as she padded to the pool and slumped beside the water, nose sinking to drink deeply. Minutes later she lifted her dripping muzzle from the pool and glanced cautiously around. It was very quiet, not even the subtle sounds of nature disturbed the silence. No birdsong. No chirping insects. Silence.

Golden ears twitched this way and that. Snout lifted into the air, drawing it over her scent glands. Nothing. Dropping from the rocks she headed out of the clearing towards home, longing to slink into the cave and see her mother and Naia. But that eagerness was drowned out by the fact that she would face them alone. No Solus. She had failed to save her father and now she had failed to find her brother. The weight on her heart was heavy and transferred directly to her paws, slowing her pace and making her hesitant.  The den and shed looked just as she'd left them, but she still had no idea how long she had been gone.

Realising that there was no sign, no sound, no scent of the other two females she suddenly picked up her feet and trotted quickly towards the den, growling out a call to them. Her massive nose pushed aside the furs and she stepped into the empty, dark, cold cave. No fires or candles burned. Food that had lay prepared was rotting. Naia's stitching equipment lay undisturbed on a stool. With a howled cry she burst back out into the daylight and hurried into the shed, nose snuffling the ground for clues. As she crept back out of the shed having found nothing, she paused and looked down at her paw. Lifting it slowly she tilted her head at what she had stood on. It was dusty and damp, but she recognised it instantly, the twisted leather band still holding its three brown feathers. Delicately she picked it up in her teeth and continued her search. The faintest hint of the two female's scents lingered in corners where the breeze didn't flow so freely, but after hours of searching no discernible trail had been uncovered.

By now Graea was ready to give up. Hungry, tired and mentally exhausted, she slunk into the den and curled up in a dark corner to rest, sinking quickly into the blissful release of a deep, dreamless sleep. When she finally awoke she set about hunting, the day lost to tracking prey and searching once again for any trail that could give her an idea of where her mother and sister had gone. Her only solace lay in the fact that she found nothing to suggest that they had died... no blood, nor scent of drow or death. She knew it was no guarantee that they were still alive, but after recent events she would cling to what she could. She stayed at the den for several days, hunting, resting, searching. She wandered further and further in her searches but always returned to the den come nightfall hoping that somehow Dynae and Naia had returned home.

Eventually her unending persistence began to fail her. Hope faded further and further from her grasp and she realised that nothing good could come of remaining here amongst memories of her family and constant reminders of her own failure to protect them. Weeks of fruitless searching came to an end and packing a bag she set out with no particular destination in mind. All she knew was that she needed to be elsewhere.

Lost

Slowly her eyes began to open, blinking slowly as she looked around to try and get her bearings. It was daylight, after midday as a quick glance at the sun told her. She was laying flat on her side, sore and still weary. How long had she slept? The time of day held no clues... it was possible she'd been out longer than a day. The scent trailed had been faint before she'd collapsed and once she'd struggled to her feet and padded around some it became clear that she was not going to be able to follow it any further.

Why had it suddenly spread so? Scattered throughout the clearing but with no path out? She'd searched for hours and now she did so again. Futile attempts to call to her brother were howled out into the air. Maybe he  was lost, trying to find his way. She howled again and again. Hours passed until again the sun had set. A passing hare had met its end and filled her stomach just a little. A nearby stream had quenched her thirst. But she was dirty and tired and still not prepared to give up. She began to track outwards from the clearing in straight lines, searching for the scent of the drow or Solus. Each time she found nothing she traced her steps back and tried again. 

The sun rose on another fruitless day. Slowly but surely she began to give up hope. Thoughts of her mother and sister left alone began to fill her consciousness. She'd tracked the drow away from them blindly. But now the trail was lost... could the drow have cut back. Panic filled her chest as she turned quickly and bolted back out of the clearing heading back the way she had come. She ran for what seemed like an age before she slowed and looked around. Which way had she come? Panic swelled within her pushing out rational thought as it filled her consciousness. Her massive head swung from side to side as she looked for something familiar. She'd run for days, following only a scent trail, not paying much heed to the path she'd trodden to get here.

Hours later and the weary golden garou was still wandering. A vague instinct told her that the pool lay North, so that was the way she headed, paws falling heavily on the ground with each exhausted step. As night fell she stopped to rest, drink and try to find some prey. Still, the sun rose next morning on her still tired and hungry. She would not be deterred though as was soon back on her feet trudging through the undergrowth. She lost track of the hours, or the passing of night and day, her journey passing with little incidence out in this remote realm. Still, she felt the subtle draw of the pool and moved forwards with a steady determination.

Searching

She had no idea how long she remained there... kneeling beside her father's pool. The night was still black but for the glow the moon cast on the pool, and by now her tears had run dry. Rifling through her hunting bag, she pulled out her water skin and filled it, before standing and inhaling a deep, centering breath. Slowly, carefully her emerald gaze shifted around the clearing, using Luna's light to find the path she'd followed the drow through earlier. The foul scent of the drow and her father's blood suddenly hit her like a hammer as she entered the woods again. Recoiling, she turned away, bile rising in her throat until she found herself crouched beside a tree retching.

After a few tortured moments she rose shakily to her feet, the back of a hand wiping across her mouth then held beneath her nose. It made little difference to her finely tuned senses, but it gave her some mental strength as she squared her shoulders and continued into the woods, grateful that she'd not chosen her wolf form to track them in just yet. The smell would have been unbearable. Solus's scent began to drift towards her as she moved onwards. Her father's body no longer lay amongst the trees... she didn't wait to find out what had happened to it, she'd just have to hope that Dynae had retrieved it as the alternative was too much to consider.

The hours tracked by quickly as she hurried through the woodland on Solus's trail. The smell of drow constantly accompanied it, confirming her fears that he'd gone after them. Her poor, unthinking little brother. At 18 years of age his physical build was impressive, a huge golden male wolf or a tall, heavily muscled blond man... yet emotionally he was little more than a child. The thought of him trying to tackle the drow alone made her blood run cold and her pace a little faster. She didn't tire as she trotted quickly through the undergrowth, bare feet placed skilfully with each step. She was swift and surefooted, but she had no idea how much of a lead the drow had, or how close Solus was. How long had she been unconscious?

On she ran.... minutes becoming hours... hours that flew past until the sun rose, lighting her way. She picked up the pace, still running doggedly along the scent trail, nostrils constantly flaring into the breeze. The sun climbed in the sky and still there was no sign of them, but the scent trail remained, still fairly fresh. She'd need to move faster to catch up with them. Slowly she began to remove her clothes and straps and belts, packing them into her bag and slinging it around her waist before she fell onto all fours with a low howl, still running through the shift back into her natural form. She had matured into an enormous golden wolf, her massive head bigger than almost any crinos wolf and her jaws immensely strong. Her limbs were long and powerful and suddenly she was whipping through the trees at a much greater speed.

Trees and groves and clearings passed by unheeded, her muzzle held low as she tracked the scent. It was getting stronger now. Hope began to swell inside her, giving her new energy as the sun began to set again. Slowly her eyes adjusted to the retreating light and her pace dropped just slightly. Massive paws thudded rhythmically against the soft earth as she bounded onwards. The moon rose and fell once more and she began to realise her pace was slower.. much slower. She needed to stop... rest... drink. But she knew that the second she stopped running all was lost, she'd lose them. Nose to the ground she snuffled at the scent. It seemed weaker. What? No! She dug deep for the energy to give another burst of speed, but there was nothing. Still the scent grew weaker.

As the dawn broke Graea burst out of the woods into a large clearing, a meadow of pale yellow flowers swaying gently in the breeze, heads beginning to turn to the rising sun to greet the day. The huge golden wolf moved, panicked, in a circle, nose to the ground. Sniffing this way and that. No! It was too faint... which way? Which way?! She darted around the clearing. The scent was faint but now it was everywhere, scattered amongst the plants by the breeze. "Solus!" She threw her head back and howled his name long and loud, melancholy drawing the tones of her cry out over the wind. Over and over again she howled his name, barely waiting for a reply. But there was none. Finally, exhausted, sore and hoarse, the golden wolf collapsed in the clearing.

Grief

 Graea winced as she blinked her eyes open. A quiet groan left her lips and somewhere nearby a stool scraped over a stony floor. Her eyes snapped open and her ears pricked as she tried to turn to the sound. She realised she was in her human form and blinked down at her hands before looking around. It took a few long moments for her to recognise the den in the dim light. The fire was out and a single candle burned. "Graea?" Naia's soft voice murmured from the darkness. The woman stood and walked to the pile of furs that supported Graea. "Mother!!" she screamed "Mother, she's awake!". Graea flinched at the volume of her sister's voice and tried to sit. As she moved a searing pain shot through her shoulder and she cried out. As her hand flew to her shoulder she found it bandaged.  Slowly, recollection dawned.

"Daddy!"

The scream was loud and long and howled. It echoed around the cave until even the shadows seemed deeper and darker. The tormented voice rang within the cave for what seemed like far too long until it faded and was drowned by the sobs that wracked Graea's broken body. Naia stood ashen, rooted to the spot with horror. Graea was the strong one... the fighter... the protector. Yet here she sat broken down and in tears. Naia collapsed to her knees just as their mother ran into the cave. Her eyes were swollen and red, voice hoarse from the endless howls she cried out into the night sky for her lost mate. She stared at Graea for a moment, no words able to form in her grief-stricken state. She sank to the ground beside Naia, arms folding around the weeping woman and shook her head over and over again.

Somewhere in the corner of the cave, Graea's scream had prodded the consciousness of her brother, slowly awakening him. His wounds were not severe, but the drow's blast had stunned him. Clumsily he struggled to his feet and shifted to face the three females. Graea's sobs quieted as she watched him, her eyes narrowing as she recognised the determined look on his muzzle. "Solus....." she warned in a low voice. "Solus! No!" She struggled to the edge of the bed, ignoring the pain in her side and her shoulder and the painful shivering of her muscles. But she was too late.

Claws scraping against the cave floor, Solus cast one last look at his mother and sisters and darted from the cave and out into the night. He howled a long, mournful call as he ran towards the lunar pool to find the scent of the drow. Crying out in pain as she got to her feet, Graea stumbled after him, pulling a thick woollen tunic over her bandages and snatching up her hunting pack. Dynae looked on in horror as her daughter fled the cave. Her howl would echo in Graea's ears for months afterwards, but the determination to bring Solus back would leave the golden haired female undeterred. Ignoring the pain in her side she ran on, towards the pool, nostrils flaring as she followed her brother's scent.

As she broke into the clearing and the moon lit the pool with an even more powerful glow than usual, Graea realised that Luna was also mourning her lost Guardian. She circled the pool, trying to pick out her brother's scent as Luna wept into the glowing pool. Pain and grief finally took their toll on the weakened female and as the scent of blood filled the air around the clearing she howled like she had never howled before. The heart-wrenching, plaintive cry would be heard for miles around, chilling those who heard it to the bone. Eventually she dropped to her knees, head in her hands and wept.

Agony

 Graea stepped out of the shed that housed the forge, blinking slightly in the daylight. Her eyes had quickly grown accustomed to the dim light afforded by the fires within. In her left hand an oiled rag was being drawn slowly over a scythe blade bringing a glinting sheen to the well polished and brutally sharp metal. Her ears perked towards the den. She could hear Naia arguing with her brother. "Get that out of here!" the human female was screaming. An 18 year old Solus suddenly bounded through the cave entrance in his lupus form howling with glee, his golden fur shimmering in the light. Dragged in his wake was a tree branch, covered in dead leaves and bugs and other such things all intended to rile his neat-freak eldest sister. Within the cave the soft, soothing voice of their mother could be heard trying to calm Naia, but their words were lost to distance and the breeze.

 Graea watched Solus bolt into the trees, vanishing from sight. A small smile played on her lips as she shook her head and sat down on the stump by the shed door. She picked up the scythe handle from the ground and began to slowly set the newly sharpened blade into place. She appeared lost in thought as she deftly wrapped the bindings into place, securing the curved metal and when it was done she set it down beside her and pulled her father's armband from her waistpouch. She gave it a few experimental stretches and smiled. Cleverly twisted and folded leather along with a rubbery substance made from tree sap had made the normally rigid leather band that held three brown feathers able extend and snap back to shape without breaking. Pride was clearly etched on her face. He would be so pleased. He did break it so often when he shifted.

 Suddenly the still calm of the forest was shattered by a horrifying howl. Solus's voice carried desperately on the wind, panic and fear etched into every tone. Before the sound had even registered in Graea's mind, instinct had wrenched her to her feet, dropping the leather band to the ground. She barely even noticed her shift, something deep inside taking over as she sprinted through the trees, first bare feet and then massive clawed paws hitting the ground in sure-footed strides as she quickly covered the distance between the den and the lunar pool where her father had been meditating. "Solus!" she cried, howling out a reply as she neared, golden ears perked for the boy's response. There was none.

 Snarling, Graea burst out into the clearing, a vicious glint in her eye as she scanned the area. Her muzzle lifted as she took in the scents around her... her father... Solus.... blood. She growled a low rattling sound. Solus's unconscious form lay beside the pool, blood staining his golden fur. With a furious roar, the huge crinos female stalked towards her brother, emerald gaze still searching... searching.... there was another scent. Evil mingled with fear, exhilaration mixed with panic. Then another howl came. This time deeper, louder. "Father!" she howled, darting into the trees on the other side of the clearing. The scent now was unmistakeable. Drow.

 It took mere seconds for Graea to find them. Four hooded drow surrounded her father's limp form now laid out on the ground. A fifth stood off to one side, his head back and his hands stretched out at his sides. Snarling and snapping her jaws, and without a second thought Graea ran at the group around her father. She launched off her massive hindlegs with her jaws open and her claws extended, hitting the nearest drow in the back. Her teeth sank deep into the side of his neck, even through his hood. Enormous paws folded around his shoulders, every movement of the raging female carefully calculated and executed. The drows head was wrenched easily from his neck with a sickening, wet tearing sound and he slumped to the ground with the golden wolf standing on him as she turned snarling to the others.

 Two of the remaining drow had by now unsheathed weapons, one a sword with an impressive and ornate curved, silver blade the other a long sickle. The third held his hands before him, cupped, as a small ball of blue light crackled and churned into existence. Graea's emerald eyes moved quickly from one to the other assessing them. She had all but forgotten the more discreet fifth standing off in the trees. Quickly determining the sword wielding drow as the most immediate threat, Graea pounced once more. A twisting roll of her body onto all fours brought her up beside him as a massive paw aimed at his throat. The sickle bearing male was equally fast though and as a huge golden paw closed around his companion's neck, he had sunk his curved blade deep into Graea's thigh, twisting his whole body to kick up at her chest.

 The kick would have had little impact if not so well timed. With a heavy grunt she stepped back, her rage not allowing her to feel the searing pain of the steel blade in her thigh, even as he slid it out and swung it again. Throwing the sword wielding drow aside she turned to dodge the sickle as it cut through the air towards her stomach. The fourth drow now turned a burning ball of energy between his hands and she became aware that he had not yet used it. An agile leap backwards meant that the sickle missed and she had time to assess the fourth male if only for a fraction of a second. The glowing ball left his hands and she tensed, but it was not aimed at her. Following its trajectory she was just in time to see it stun the golden lupus wolf that was running towards them and Solus fell once more.

 An enraged howl left her throat and a red mist clouded her vision for a brief moment, suddenly all else was forgotten and her sole focus was the drow who had cast. That was her first mistake. The sickle cut deeply as it slid across her side, following the line of her ribs. Crimson flowed freely from the wound, staining golden fur. She didn't feel it, still intent on landing her paws on the fourth drow who by now had turned to face her with another growing ball of energy. Her senses were bombarded, the echoing of her brother and father howling still  ringing in her ears, the scent of their blood... and her own... along with the foul smell of singed fur filled her nostrils, her vision narrowed by the cloying mist of Rage. She would not realise that the howls she heard were her own. Nor would she see the drow priestess standing off to the side lift her staff.

 The burst of energy slithered through her body, shattering every nerve ending into a painful oblivion. All at once everything seemed clear. The emptiness that grew outward from her gut slowly began to consume her. Every muscle screamed in agony as the bolt from the staff ate its way through her until it dissipated and her massive limp frame slumped heavily into the leaf litter with a soft thud. Just before her eyes closed she caught a glimpse of her father, his crinos form battered and bloodied, laying not more than a couple of feet from her. The whine that echoed in her head never left her paralysed body as she stared at his lifeless body.

 Consciousness remained with her long enough to see the drow kick aside their dead companion and retrieve something from the grass. A small dark stone, polished and glowing with runes. It was handed to the priestess who turned without a word and walked off in the direction of the lunar pool. Solus, still unconscious and still was ignored by the drow, clearly not a concern. The remaining three circled Graea, mumbled words exchanged in a language she couldn't understand even if she could have focussed on it. Her mind screamed and raged from within a body that could not, would not move. A million permutations of their gruesome deaths at her hands played out in her mind as the drow wielding the silver sword stood over her with a malicious smirk playing on his dark lips. Emerald eyes tried to swivel upwards, more screaming from her subconscious, willing every muscle into action.... but there was none. The silver bit into her skin over and over again as the drow marked out six perfectly parallel marks into her shoulder and left the poison to do its work as the three stalked off to follow their mistress. Slowly darkness took Graea's mind and her eyes finally closed.

Souvenir

The old garou male nodded his massive dark gold head slowly and thoughtfully as he turned the dagger over in his hands. "It is beautiful." he conceded. "You are clearly skilled my child." He looked over at the blonde haired teenager perched on the sharpening wheel stool. "But we have no need of weapons." he added with a smile. "We are our own weapons. What we need are tools. Perhaps some protective clothing." he mused, thoughtful once again. "But Father..." the girl protested "I just wanted to try it... to see if I could." Her beautifully thick golden mane was twisted into an untidy knot at the back of her head and she was covered in soot and grime from the forge fires. 

"My daughter, you spend far too much time in here." the old wolf muttered, but he had to agree. The dagger was impressive. He walked to the wall and reached up to hang the weapon against a couple of old hooks no longer used, out of reach but in full view. "There... now your work can be admired but not abused." he nodded. "Now... how do the lessons with Naia progress? How is your leatherwork?" he said turning back to Graea. She pouted. "Naia is bossy. And jealous. I'm better than her you know." she said sulkily. Grae chuckled "Of that I am certain." he humored his daughter. "And that is good... I have a job for you." he held out a leather band, snapped in two with three feathers stitched onto it.


"Daddy you broke it again!" came the accusatory voice of the young female. "The feathers from your first kill." the old wolf remembered fondly. "I cannot lose them!" His voice carried a hint of seriousness. "You must make me a new band so that I can keep them safe. Naia has always stitched the bands, but since the feathers are your gift I think it is only fitting that you take over the repairs." Graea arched a brow at him, but she couldn't keep the smile from her lips. She darted over to hug the massive wolf who towered above her. "Thank you Daddy." she mumbled into his fur. "I will make you the best band ever!" she said with absolute certainty... little did she realise she'd have to remake that band many times over the years as it snapped under the strain of the shifting wolf.

Learning

Graea perched on the edge of the pool, staring into the subtly glowing waters. She shook out her golden head, furred ears flapping against her skull before she turned and hopped down. She began to pad through the grass heading out of the clearing in the trees. She was huge, despite her tender years. At only 9 years old her lupus wolf form was already much larger than any traditional wolf. Thick golden fur shimmered in the breeze as she moved slowly, stealthily through the grass, large paws making barely a sound as she moved. Suddenly she crouched slightly, reacting to a potential threat, head sinking down into the long grass, but her muzzle lifted just enough to catch scents in the air above. She turned slowly to face the source of the sound and her long legs folded beneath her, tensing ready to pounce.

As the threat moved around her slightly, she turned to follow, ears perked to every subtle sound and body ready. A sudden flutter of movement in the grass ahead and she leapt towards her attacker. She landed smartly on the back of the massive dark creature that lurked in the grass and kicked out at it with her hind paws as she jumped down into the grass. An agile spin left her facing the creature once more. Her lips curled back to reveal long pointed incisors ready to bite, and with another kick of her hind limbs her massive head and its powerful jaws were moving towards the attacker again. Her jaws clamped around the back of its neck as she once again hit her mark. Her bite was firm, locking securely onto the thickly furred scruff so that she could begin to claw at the creature.

"OUCH! Graea!" came the cry from beneath her, growled in the wolven tongue, as the enormous garou male stood, leaving her dangling from his scruff. She dropped to the ground with a soft thud, landing neatly on her paws and turning to nip at his tail.
"Don't sneak up on me then Daddy." she growled playfully, bounding around him in circles. Grae frowned and shook his head, but he couldn't hide the smile in his eyes, even if his wolven lips couldn't form it properly. "You will be a fine Guardian my little garou." he murmured, with more than a hint of pride in his voice. He turned to walk back to the den. "Come... dinner time."

Graea gave herself another shake before trotting off after him, occasionally nipping at his heels to be rewarded with grumbles that carefully disguised his chuckles. She was used to his tests by now. They were the most fun part of her lessons. The fighting and hunting was good too, but her father knew that she needed more than basic skills. She needed to finely hone the gifts that Luna had given her. But he did it discreetly. She was a child and she didn't need the pressure of her future weighting on her just yet. The old garou looked fondly down at his daughter as she hurried along beside him. Despite her size, he was even bigger and his strides were impressive.

"Daddy... tomorrow will you teach me to use the forge?" the golden haired child asked after their meal. She lay on her belly beside her father, muzzle slightly bloodied from the carcass they'd eaten. Naia, her human sister, sat nearby on some furs stitching together leather strips. "Now why in Luna's name would you want to use the forge." she asked incredulously, clearly not keen on the idea of such heat and grime. Naia glanced over to their mother for backup. Dynae smiled and shook her head slightly, deep chestnut red hair tumbling  around her shoulders. "I'm staying out of it." she murmured, scratching lightly at the head of the small golden wolf laying in her lap. Graea gave her head an indignant shake and sat up, head canted to one side. "Because Daddy can." she said as though that explained everything. Grae reached out a massive paw and hugged her to his side. "What more reason do we need?" he said with a chuckle.

New Life

The child ran through the long grass with surprising speed and agility. Thick golden hair billowed out behind her as she bounded and leaped towards the clearing in the woods. Despite her speed, she barely seemed to need to take a breath and as she darted out into the open sunshine her energy was boundless. She ran towards the trickling music of the pool and its constant flow over the rocks piled within, gazing at the strangely glowing waters. Then she stopped dead in her tracks, barely needing to catch her breath. Beside the pool stood a massive, dark coloured wolf. His eyes were closed, huge clawed paws held before him and lips moving wordlessly to reveal rows of razor sharp canine teeth. The sight should have brought terror to any child's heart, but not this one. With a huge smile she ran excitedly towards the wolf.

"Daddy! Daddy! Naia said come get you! It's Momma... she needs you. The pup is coming!" She danced around his feet, dainty fingers burying into his thick dark gold fur and tugging gently."Daddy!! Hurry!" she urged with the irrefutable insistence that only a treasured child could. The massive wolf bent with a growl and a feigned frown and scooped up the tiny child. "Hush Graea. I am coming." he rumbled softly in their feral tongue, hugging the girl to his chest. She curled up in the single enormous muscled arm that he used to hold her, hands clinging to the fur of his chest as she rested her ear against him and listened to the calm rumbling. He knew how to keep his daughter in check. "I like this sound Daddy." she reminded him as she did every day. "Do you think the pup will like it too?" The old garou male chuckled and gave the golden haired child the gentlest of squeezes, but his expression held a touch of apprehension that went unnoticed by the excited four-year old in his arms.

He padded along at a gentle trot towards the den, holding little Graea close until they neared the cave. Lowering her to the ground he hooked a huge clawed finger tenderly beneath her chin. "Stay here, and be safe." he growled softly before hooking her blonde locks behind one ear with a careful movement of a single claw. His gentleness with the child was at odds with his appearance. Standing 12 feet tall, massive and muscled, the garou had dark golden fur, speckled grey around his long muzzle. His head was huge and his eyes dark. To the unknowing he was a terrifying sight, rarely leaving his crinos form whilst performing his duties as Lunar Guardian. He almost never left the pool he was appointed to protect. This was a special exception though. He turned from the child and padded into the cave, drawing the skins back over the entrance. Growled voices came from within as he and his mate spoke in hushed tones.

Graea was not to be put off by such attempts at secrecy though and scrambling onto the rocks beside the den entrance she perched with her ears pricked. She could hear a quiet whimpering, the hungry yelping of a new pup. She could also hear the voices of her parents heavily laced with concern.
"He seems fine." her father's deep voice mumbled.
"He is perfect, Grae."
"Can we be so lucky twice?"
"I don't think so... but it matters not. He is our son and to us he will always be perfect. Come what may."
Graea slipped from the rocks with a frown and skipped off towards the shed where her older sister sat. She slumped cross-legged on the ground, clearly worried by what she'd heard. Naia gave her a concerned look.
"What's wrong Graea?" she asked kindly, aware that the child had been snooping.
"It's not fair...." the little blonde girl began, sulking and pouting. "It's a BOY!"