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for Caan ! sorry this is very overdue :')

fa'liya had been lingering at the fringe of the woods since dawn, tracing her path for so long that the girl’s paws had begun to worry trenches into the snow, pacing a few lengths before circling back again.

she had not seen her brother since her first life. not properly, at least, and she'd been dreading the reunion. her fear was not an entirely senseless thing after so many months apart—she did not know what to expect. she did not even know if he would recognize her. the pack was growing with new faces day after day, and she'd made herself scarce in the face of them—even him—in her anxiousness.

but today, she told herself, todayshe would brave herself, if only to spare herself an awkward introduction later.

twigs snap in the distance, and her ears cant forward to catch it. her neck stretches subconsciously, huffing at the wind, searching. a thin breath wisped from her, soft against the gray hush. she followed his scent like father had taught, and finally his figure came to view. black against stark white snow.

caan?

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sorry for the wait, please tell me if this doesn't make sense i think i'm starting to come down sick lol

Caan still spent many idle hours down by the lake's edge, staring into the deep dark depths, but the boy had begun to range as of late. To be still caused an unease for the boy currently slotted to inherit the band. New faces within the Sun Clan brought new eyes to judge the injured boy. Caan had only just gotten his father's attention, he could not lose it yet.

Nutuyikruk had less time for him with Aivar now tethered to her. The stormcloak chose to stay, regardless of his mistakes. The hunter did not have Caan's full trust, but the boy would secretly admire the gall the man had. With a lack of care for how the clan perceived him, Aivar was privileged in a way that Caan envied.

During his internal musings, a voice called for his attention. This in itself was not unusual, but the voice caused the boy to pause. It was soft, small, and unfamiliar. Turning his head over his shoulder, Caan found a delicate girl of shadowed hues. A petite, scrawny thing. He had not met this wolf in the Saastine, but his mind immediately pinned a name to herface.

With rounded eyes, Caan called out in turn. Fa'liya?

fa'liya froze mid-step, breath misting between parted teeth. hearing her name in turn seemed to jolt her to the reality of it—for a heartbeat she only stared, wide-eyed and bright, like she was finally realizing he was no conjuration, but flesh and bone.

her tail gave a small, uncertain sway. brother, the smile that finds her face is an easy one, soft in the way their mother's was. you remember me. it wasn’t quite a question, but the disbelief in her voice softened it into one. she took a tentative step forward, then another, then another until she is only paces from him.

he looked different than she remembered. certainly older, but colder, too—even then, she could not say she blamed him.

i wasn’t sure if you would. she admitted in clumsy speech, ears tipped forward, shy but hopeful. i—uhm, you are well?

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no worries at all!! sorry shes awkward lol

In a single word the girl confirms her identity.

Brother.

Caan could only return Fa'liya's stare. Dumbfounded by his own ability to bring her name forward on his tongue. The memories of his litter were fogged by the simple fact that they were so young when their family had been torn asunder. But this isn't the first time her name came to him, was it?

I do. His speech stilted and awkward, the boy's mouth moved of its own accord. You're still small?

Tactless!

Wincing internally, Caan allowed her to stand close. He himself leaning forward to catch to her scent.

When their father pulled him from the plagued cave, the man listed off his children born to Morwenna. Caan knew of his sisters, but their brother was lost to him. C'ede', Fa'liya, and Ghenaya. All shadows within the rain boy's mind that danced without focus. Now Fa'liya stood before him.

At no point could Caan deny their familial relation, nor did it even cross his mind to. She was their father's shadow, with eyes to match.

I couldn't blame you, it's been a long time. How does one talk to a sibling? Cen and Meleys weren't the most talkative examples. Uh. I'm alive, if that counts as well. You? Have you been okay?