It's late by the time Astra gets back to the Cove, covered in red berry paint that he still hasn't washed off. The clouds above hide the stars, darkening the night into a thick, oppressive blanket over the land. He's been in Caladan long enough to know his way around, and he knows where @Oriana has picked her den.

"Ori?" He murmurs into the darkness, squirming to see if that lumpy shape within is her, or something else. "You awake? It isn't like him to bother his sibling so late at night, and he knows he should wait but... The boy is nearly jittery with excitement, with the prospect of adventure - he won't be able to rest until he's talked to someone he trusts about this all. So of course he comes here.

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It had taken Oriana quite some time to finally fall asleep. She couldn't find the right position to settle in, tossing and turning and staring up at her den's ceiling. She could feel sleep heavy on her eyelids, but her body decided it wanted to make things as difficult as possible. With growls and huffs she continues to battle, until finally she is able to become comfortable enough to slip into sweet, sweet slumber.

That is, until she hears her name whispered.

She groans softly, squeezing her eyes tight and hoping she was just imagining it, that the wind was what sounded like her name on the breeze. But the scent of @Astraeus wafted toward her, causing for eyes to slowly and sleepily open. She stares at the entrance, making out his silhouette before letting out a huff. "I just fell asleep," she complains, staying laying down but giving a flick of her tail to tell him he could enter.

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He grimaces at the sound of his sister's groan, his mistake obvious, but there's no taking it back now so Astraeus stands there and waits to see if Ori decides to wake up or not. She does, but she doesn't move. Instead, the patchwork lion is invited in. Astra has to hunker down a bit to get inside, but he flops onto his belly once he gets settled.

"Sorry," he mumbles bashfully, ears folding into the thick locks of growing mane around his head. "I just wanted to talk..."

How could he explain this properly? He can't think of any truly unselfish way to put it, because what he wants is selfish. And it means leaving what little shreds of his family that he has left...

But they all left him, didn't they? Everyone leaves or dies.

So he just says it. "This friend - they want me to come live with them." But that doesn't feel like enough, so Astra presses on. "I know you just got here and ma, she -" She's here too. Not that the boy has done anything except avoid her. It's better off that way. "You two will be happy together, right? And I can go - do things. I'll still visit."

@Oriana

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Oriana continues to blink the sleep from her eyes as her brother squeezes himself into her den. She moves so that she's now laying on her belly as well, facing in his direction. Straight ear cups forward with floppy one twitches at attention, eyes watching @Astraeus. He seemed a bit anxious, causing for the yearling's brows to knit together as she wondered what had him in such a state.

And then he began talking.

She had to fight to keep her bottom jaw from dropping, had to take in calming breaths so that her tail would not deceive her and show her slightly irritation. "You want to leave?" After all the work she had put in on getting herself here? Oriana stays quiet for several long moments, inner thoughts battling one another. She knew it was selfish to try to get him to stay; they were each so very different and all had adventure in their spirit. She knew she wouldn't be able to hold onto her dear brother for much longer. Just look at her others and how they had left? "Is this something you really want to do?" Voice is soft as she asks her question, eyes bowing as a flash of sadness radiates through indigo. He wants to leave me?

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