(Private for TheWhistlerify)

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Mjuvi's lip quivered. We all want mom back, there's no shame in it. He hung his head and the tears that leaked from his eyes hit the dusty ground. He wiped his eyes with a paw and turned to face his siblings again. He watched as Dakari held Siri close. She curled up in his mane, and wept for the loss of their mother.

The adolescent male had never willingly wanted affection from his brother or sister, but seeing at how much it comforted Siri made him frown. Despite being completely different from his litter mate and despite having had conflicts with his brother in the past over his behaviour, the comment of how they still had each other dismissed him of the panic about their future. He didn't know what was going to happen now, but he felt as though Laini and Siri would look to Dakari for answers; and so they should, for he had none.

“You’ll never leave me and go up to the stars with mother and father will you, Dakari?” Siri wept hopelessly. “You won’t either, will you Laini? Mjuvi?” She was unaware it was a silly question but she needed a optimistic answer. Mjuvi sighed again; he pulled himself together and smiled for the sake of his sister. He was going to be selfless at least once today. “I’m certainly not going anywhere Siri”.

[TheWhistlerify]

Dakari forced a smile at his sister. He knew he couldn't promise for sure that he, Laini or Mjuvi would always be there by her side (even though he wanted to be able to do that more than anything). He most certianly wasn't going to lie to her. "I promise that I'll protect you no matter what. I'll do my best to keep all of you safe." It was the least Dakari could do and he knew it. So that his mother wouldn't have died in vain. He continued to lick Siri, his tongue easily able to go over her entire tiny form, intending to keep doing so until she calmed down.

Laini also managed to smile. That urge to support her sister was strong enough to get her to push her own sadness aside for the time being. "Not if I can help it..." she said softly. She'd have nuzzled the little cub, but she didn't want to interrupt the efforts of her older brother. Sighing, she looked at Mjuvi, finding comfort in the fact that he'd actually said something reassuring to Siri. "Mjuvi?" It was a bit out of the blue, but she auddenly really wanted him to join them. "Could you come here? Please? Next to me?" After the tragedy that had befallen their family they were going to have to stick together and remain united.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Slowly, the sobs of Siri died down to a few whimpers and sniffles. The attentions of her brother had indeed quietened her. She stayed curled up beside him, not wanting to move from the warmth or love she was receiving and so desperately required. Mjuvi watched her with sympathetic eyes, although his attitude showed otherwise, he cared.

The young male’s ears twitched at the sound of his name. He looked, quite blankly, at Laini. She wanted him beside her? "Sure" he muttered with a shrug as he wearily led beside her. His head lent against hers, and he soon found himself enjoying the closeness for once.

[TheWhistlerify]

Laini couldn't help but smile happily as Mjuvi listened to her and came over. Even though he'd answered her rather bluntly, she knew better than to take offense. After all, deep inside he was a softie and she loved him for it. When he lay down beside her she leaned her head against his, beginning to quietly purr at the contact. In a way, they were quite different from each other, but she felt a little closer to her litter mate than to Dakari and Siri.

Dakari meanwhile continued to caress Siri with his tongue, relaxing a little as she began to finally calm down. They'd all walked a long distance yesterday, and it took very little time before he had to carry his little sister. She was obviously still worn out from the journey not to mention dirty, and this was a good opportunity to clean her up a little. He couldn't help but smile as Mjuvi joined them at Laini's request. "See?" he asked quietly, looking at Siri reassuringly. "We're all together."

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Siri looked around at her siblings and felt at ease and she rolled onto her stomach to make Dakari's job easier. Her purr matched the one emitted from Laini. Mjuvi licked Laini's ear tenderly in response to her purr, before glancing outside again. It was still rather early in the day for the sun was low; it was certainly cool enough to be on the move.

The cub, still teary eyed, looked up at her oldest brother. “I’m thirsty” she declared. Mjuvi realised his own thirst as Siri said the word. He licked his lips. There was probably water close by for the area had a fair amount of vegetation. “So am I” he concurred. He didn't want to propose to go look for water, he left the decision in Dakari's hands.

[TheWhistlerify]

Dakari continued bathe his little sister, feeling relief wash over him as she began to purr in content. While she was probably still very upset about their mother and had every right to be, at least she'd calmed down. As the little cub mentioned water, Dakari ceased to lick her and briefly looked at Mjuvi and Laini, who looked like they were thirsty as well. And even if it were the other way around, there was no doubt that they needed to drink considering the distance they'd created between them and their old home.

Dakari was about to suggest they went to find water, but he said nothing. He had no idea where they were and who lived there. There could be rogues, prides that might prove hostile, hyenas, tigers or, if they got unlucky, those two-legged creatures... That didn't change the fact that they needed to find water. "I'll go have a quick look around." He was the one most capable of defending himself, and he had just promised Siri that he'd take care of her and their siblings. "You stay right here, okay?"

Smiling warmly at the little cub, he gently nudged her in the direction of Mjuvi and Laini with his nose. "Make sure she doesn't wonder off..." he said, a little more seriously, looking at the two adolescents.

"We will." said Laini, a little hesitantly. Dakari was just about to leave when she spoke again. "Be careful..." Giving her a small smile, Dakari left.

Spoiler: show

Should anything happen? I'll leave that to you. ^^

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Siri was about to protest to Dakari's departure without her, but the look Mjuvi gave his brother silenced her. It was an approving but rather serious look, as though something might happen to Dakari. Maybe I should stay here with Mjuvi and Laini, she thought. The cub watched him leave with more miserable eyes. Mjuvi noticed she was feeling down; he wasn't envious of Siri admiration of Dakari, but he felt it restricted the cub a little.

He prodded her gently with his paw. "What did you say about my mane earlier, Siri?" he asked with a smile. Siri's face lit up a little. She turned to face him. "I said it had grown!" she chirped back as enthusiastically as she could. Mjuvi ruffled her head with his paw. "Well, I hope it has. I bet it'll be longer than Dakari's" he said with a smirk.

Siri shook her head, but smiling all the same "No way!". Mjuvi rolled his eyes and looked back outside. With a stretch, he climbed out of their sleeping arrangements to sit where he had sat a moment ago, deeming it safe enough.

Spoiler: show

As I said in the PM ^^ I don't there is any real need for danger just yet :)

[TheWhistlerify]

Laini noticed Siri become a little nervous as Dakari left on his own. To her surprise, however, Mjuvi had noticed their little sister's concern first. Remaining silent, she couldn't help but smile as she watched the two of them interact. Usually when Mjuvi talked or played with Siri he was either rude or too rough on her, so it was touching to see him lighten up the cub's mood like that. When he stretched and began to take his oeave Laini let out a quiet 'aww' which was only auidible enough for him to hear, unable to resist the opportunity to tease him a little.

With Mjuvi gone (in a way, seeing how he was sitting right outside), Laini decided it would be better to keep Siri with her so that her little sister wouldn't end up seeing something outside that would attract her attention. After all, they didn't want her to run off to investigate because it could be dangerous. "Siri!" said Laini with a chuckle, smiling warmly at the cub. "What do I always tell you?" she chuckled as her sister pretended to be clueless, obviously wanting Laini to say it. "That you're absolutely adorable, that's what!" Giggling, she brought Siri over and nuzzled her before whispering quietly to her. "Mjuvi thinks so too, but don't let him know I told you..."

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Mjuvi knew that his positivity wouldn't last for long. He knew he was moody and sarcastic at the best of times, but even he knew that everyone needed to be able to smile right now. He rolled his eyes are Laini's awe, but shot her a toothy grin. Siri, over the moon with the attention that Mjuvi had given to her sat with a wide smile. She wanted to join him outside, but Laini captured her attention

The cub giggled. Laini's whisper tickled her ear and she grinned broadly, staring back out at Mjuvi.
"Does he really?" she said back, not in a hushed enough voice. Mjuvi sat on his haunches outside and rolled his eyes again, having heard Siri. He toyed with a bug that crawled across his paw before taking another look around. Nothing seemed too out of the ordinary.

He could see a small herd of wildebeest in the distance. The wind was in his favour so they did not notice him, but they were too far away to be a threat. At the thought of wildebeest he sighed. Would they be able to hunt? Sure, he had killed a couple of rodents, but hunting for real was hard. Neither he or Laini had much practice.

[TheWhistlerify]

Laini couldn't help but feel delighted at what had happened a few moments ago. Mjuvi was more impatient towards Siri than towards anybody else because she was loud, energetic and she always wanted attention. But that's what all cubs were like. Still, she knew that Mjuvi cared about their little sister way more than he let show and she was certain, once Siri's energy would mellow as she grew, that the two of them would be as close as two siblings should be.

Chuckling to herself, she nodded even though Siri wasn't looking at her because she was staring at their brother. "Yes, of course he does." she said, speaking less quietly that time. Affection, or any sort of positive attention for that matter, was something Siri barely received from Mjuvi, so Laini understood why the cub was so excited. "He won't admit it because he's really shy..." chuckling once more, she gently pinned her little sister onto her back using her paw. If she recalled well (and she did); Siri was ticklish in her stomach. "How about a tickle?"

Mjuvi was still staring at the wildebeest when Dakari emerged out of the tall grass nearby. "Mjuvi?" he asked quietly, intending to ask whether Laini and Siri were okay when his little sister's uncontrollable laughter reached his ears and made the question unnecessary. "I found a waterhole." He'd learned from their father that the grass was richer and taller when a water source was nearby, and that made his search a lot easier. He was also fortunate to have found water not so far away from their current location.