Dad? Dio calls ahead of herself as she wanders amongst the fields, alternating between raising her head to look around and lowering it to follow the scent of her father. She looked up occasionally to the star filled sky overhead, focusing on one pinpoint of light or the other fora few seconds before letting it change her direction and path. She'd wager her father would be where the view of the stars is best...

She needed him, she needed his guidance. While it was immensely joyful that her cousin had won back the Brook, there was a cost. A cost that to everyone else Dio has put on a brave face despite knowing what it means will come. And she could feel both the want to celebrate the victory growing as the mask did slip down her face inch by inch...

@Caligula

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Caligula had cleared a spot on the ground free of snow so that he would have a dry place to rest, if not substantially warmer. Resting didn't involve sleeping though. Instead he was staring up at the sky and silently naming off the stars in his head. His gaze flicked from one lucky star to the next. He couldn't help but wonder if Aquila was doing the exact same thing right at this very moment. After all it had been these select few stars that had brought them together in the first place.

His ear twitched as he was being called out for. "Right here." He responded, though his attention was still mostly focused upon the star speckled sky. "Arcturus is hiding." The male commented, dictating on just where his attention lay. There hadn't been the sound of urgency in his daughter's voice and so he hadn't felt the need to give up his search.



@Diomedeidae

She, to a sigh of relief, hears his response. She heads his way and eventually even spys a few of his footprints ensuring she's on the right path. She follows along in his tracks until ahead of her his bronze form, darkened by the night's moonlight, laid out in his cleared spot is visible. Her pace quickens and she aims to walk up along his side, head reaching over to rub upon his cheek for a second.

Teal gaze flashed upwards into the stars and with a quick scan she spys the wayward star. There. She whispers gently and uses her muzzle to nudge her father's into the right position. Sneaky little guy. As much as she loved the stars too she would admit to more than once going cross eyed trying to find specific ones amongst so many.

I have news. Her voice is eager. Both excited and pressing. Waivering on that line between bitter and sweet.

art by scarf & code by me

A smile transforms his lips at the nuzzle. He easily leans into the bit of affection. And then he was being guided to where the star had been hiding. He hoped that Aquila could end up finding it as well. He'd hate to think that his mate would end up a star short because he didn't have an extra set of eyes out there to help him. Or perhaps Aquila did have help. Maybe he did find members of their scattered family and they were together right now.

With all the lucky stars now found did Caligula fully focus on his daughter. "The stars have brought someone special into your life?" The bronze male guessed at the news even if it hadn't been indicated that he should do so. But what else could cause such a tone in Dio's voice?

@Diomedeidae

She softly, but sadly, laughed at his response. No such luck. Plenty of cute lions around but if they're special the stars are going to have to talk a little louder.

Cassandra won back the Brook, she's offered our family a place back home if we want it. It would always be special, a home, with or without someone "offering" the spot to them. But to accept would be to live under her... authority. It was really a question if her father wanted to move back under a rule than anything. There's more to it though. Morrigan and the male lion that helped take the Brook had a deal. No violence between the sides. If that was broken- And it had been -the two agreed to fight to the death. A fate not yet come to fruition, but almost a guarantee now.

Aunt Morrigan all but outright told Cassandra to go do it. It would not be a surprise, there was no betrayal between mother and daughter. But it was something Dio and her family would have to live with as well. It would impact their lives in the Brook. As she looked at her father she wondered what her own choice would have been, between parent and ancestors. A father and her family's history. Silently, she came to her own conclusions. She knew what choice she'd have made without doubt... And she locked the answer away deep in her heart.

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"Or perhaps you just need to figure out what special means to you. The stars may have led them into your life but it is up to you to decide if they are worth keeping or not." Yes, he had something of a belief that the stars could bless someone, but only if they were willing to put in some work as well. He didn't think things were just given, only the stars were there as guides, one still had to work for what it was that they actually wanted. That was about as close to religion as Caligula came.

"I am happy for her." The bronze lion said when he was told that Cassandra had won back the Brook. And he really was. He didn't know how she felt about all of the responsibilities of ruling but certainly she must be glad to have her family home back. But then more was added to that. Things that caused Caligula to frown. Strings attached.

"So even if going back there is no guarantee of peace as there had been before." Not that it had been specifically guaranteed but there had been a lack of outright enemies and death threats previously. "So to go back means to risk the Brook being lost again." That was if Cassandra followed through on the death threat, or if the male chose to go against Cassandra instead.

"It would also mean safety for you and Cassi for a time being. There are those in the Brook that can fight and keep you safe." And wasn't that really what mattered the most? "And your Papa will know where to find us." Which was important to Caligula.

"Do you want to go back home?" That really was the most important question of all.

@Diomedeidae

She gives her dad a slightly rough nudge to his shoulder. A little smile on her lips. It was Caligula's fault after all - Dio's bar was very high having seen what her fathers have. Why settle for less? It seemed so obvious for you and Dad. I want the same. I want to see them and all of a sudden just know. But he was, frustratingly so, right about that.

Not only is there no guarantee of peace, I'd go so far as to say there is a guarantee that eventually there won't be. So much could be said of the world as a whole and not just within the Brook. Dio had grown and seen enough to know peace was never persistent and it was always shattered. We've been safe enough on our own lately... I wouldn't want to go home just because of safety. We'd be going into a powder keg anyways It wasn't going to last. It was not guaranteed at all. Not for herself, not for Caligula, and most concerningly not for Cassi. I want to go back because we could help, not because they could keep us safe. Maybe she was overestimating the abilities of her small nuclear family, but going anywhere just to be safe felt ... Felt weak. And her family was anything but.

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"I didn't just know. It took work and getting to know your father. It helped that both of us were open to love as well. Things just happened to fall into place along the way." Sure, it had been a short enough courtship but there had been deep conversations that last well until the sun rose to allow Caligula to get to know Aquila. Plus they were already both at an age to know exactly what they were looking for in a mate and what they wanted in life. So there was age and wisdom on their side as well. And chemistry. Chemistry really was a big thing. "Rather than just expecting to know, take to heart someone whom remains on your mind even when you are apart. That is how I've always felt about your father. There is at least one moment every day that my thoughts go to him." Even more so as of late.

It seemed lately there was no peace to be found anywhere. The Brook had been a safe haven away from the trials and tribulations of the world for awhile. Caligula had enjoyed that while it lasted. He only wished that his children had been able to grow up enjoying it as well.

"No, you would be able to help. I wouldn't. Right now Cassi can't." He didn't doubt that Cassi would try though but she wasn't of an age to be able to make enough of an impact. And Caligula was all too familiar with his own shortcomings. "The only thing I know how to do is talk but no one seems to wish to listen any longer." Everyone seemed all too quick to want to come to blows now.

@Diomedeidae

Well- She says, not entirely believing there wasn't some magic at work between Caligula and Aquila when it came to their love. -you both do a great job at making it seem effortless. And maybe with time it had become as easy as breathing, as easy as Dio obsered it to be. But to think it was ever anything but was wild. If there is ever someone, you will be the first to know Dad. She promises, but for now can not say for certain there is anything that she thinks of everyday. Not yet.

Hey- She refuses to believe her father can't be helpful. I know at least Cassandra seems to need someone to listen and someone to offer advice. This world is breeding fighters. You are a rarity Dad. And thus, infinitely valuable. And there's all the moments between the chaos that can be filled with love and adventure, if someone... Anyone... Thought her Dad could not be helpful and not keep a family safe they were dead fucking wrong.

@Caligula

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"By the time you came along, it was easy. But it didn't start that way. Believe it or not, your father had his doubts about worthiness in the beginning." But by the time that they had cubs they had managed to find their rhythm. So of course Dio didn't get to see the beginning of their relationship but only what was already in place.

"I won't be upset to be the second to know should you decide to tell the one you like first." Caligula said with a teasing smile on his lips. Of course he knew how hard it was to tell a crush and sometimes guidance was needed in how to tread those waters. By the time Aquila had come along in his life the bronze lion had already had enough heartbreak and hardship in his life that he wasn't so wary about putting himself forward in such a way. What was the worst that could have happened except another rejection? But luckily for him it hadn't ended that way.

Well, that much he could. He could listen and offer advice. Politics might be something of his specialty but he had managed creating friendships and alliances with unlikely sources in his time. But now everyone seemed quick to want to fight and not to listen to each other and come to understand each others differences.

"I have no doubt that Cassandra would listen but I can't say the same for those on the other side. Everyone is quick to want blood rather than trying to settle differences. An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." Yet it felt that only he recognized that. That once blood started to be shed it could never be stopped until no one was left from either line.

@Diomedeidae