Warmth in the Winter.

<LilacPetals>Ash strolled through neutral with her head hung, nose lolled to the ground in a casual sniff at the cold dirt beneath her paws. A yawn made the female pause, but soon she- with a quick arch of her neck, continued her travels. The train yards scent flooded through her memory, nostalgia rolling over her shoulders like a blanket. She rarely stepped out of Trieste anymore, why would she? Hunting was there, so was her pack. She adored staying put… But sometimes you just need a walk. And what better time than … late at night. A haul allowed the female to clamber into the back of a train, the rust scraping off in chunks under her claws. Weathered metal creaked beneath the capo but she thought little of it. A couple of kicks and she stretched her back legs out behind her, head resting down onto her paws and her nostrils flared with a content sigh. Yes. Alone time was good for any dog. But Ash took special exception to that.

<Gutter-Mutt> The same could be said for Mavro. The Di Fonga boss had been spending quite a bit of time by himself since the move back to the sewers... choosing to stay away for hours, and even days at a time. He wandered through the dark train yard in silence, shoulder blades rolling with each step-- a limp hitched in his hind left leg. A sour reminder of his puppyhood. The creek of worn metal warranted an ear twitch and the massive canine to lift his head and stare; eyes narrowing coldly. Hn. Turning in the direction of the sound, Mavro would stalk forward... but soon pause as the familiar scent of Trieste reached his nostrils. Great. Sniffling along the ground, he'd soon find himself beside the train car, staring up at the shadow of a dog atop it.

<Whitelupine> Brown eyes that lacked the youthful glow that they should of held. However, the dog those eyes belonged to was aged well beyond her short life. Head held high the merle pointed capo stepped from her sewer home and followed the trail of her alpha, her life. She followed at a distance to give him some privacy, but never tried to hide the face she was always on the edge of his shadow. The silver capo had stayed in the shadows for years during her conditioning but took the opportunity to get out seeing as her alpha traveled a bit more and more.

<LilacPetals>Ash had been rather comfortable where she was, another yawn showing contentedness that spread through her bones. Ohyes. She rather liked this. She’d have to make a note to do it more ofte-… And now there were more dogs. She heard them before she smelled them, head jerking up and legs rolling underneath her while the blue female sat up and shuffled her paws square beneath her. Heart hammering in her chest, she finally managed to peek out over the edge and… “Mavro?” the name left her maw in a quick breath of air that sent her chest contorting into itself. Ears pinning back to her head, she allowed a quick double sniff before poising her shoulders straight and glancing between Hera and her brother “s… I-…didn’t expect to see you here.” Long time no talk? Long time no anything? What should she say? What could she say? Think of something don’t just sit there in silence like a buffoon “hi?” .. Oi.

<Gutter-Mutt> Mavro wasn't ignorant to Hera's presence. He never was. But he prentened, for the time, to ignore her. His attention was on his sister... shocked when it was her head that popped over the edge of the train car. His ear rested back some as a wave of mixed emotions washed over him. He'd never been particularly close to Ash. He couldn't recall a time he and her just talked... and yet a sense of familiarity was there, hovering like a cloud over his mind. He'd step back a bit and lift his head, the greying on his muzzle a bit more obvious in the low dim light of the moon. "Ash... surprised to see you here. And so..." Glancing from side to side; "...alone."

<Whitelupine> Hera stayed a little ways away from the two, sitting down slowly and looking up at her alpha’s sister. Her pointed ears set forward curiously as the female spoke up, but Hera remained silent, just an extension of Mavro’s shadow at this moment. His voice made her sit up a bit straighter but, she remained the ever silent silver shadow.

<LilacPetals>Ash couldn’t help that her guard rested. Her brother wouldn’t do anything to harm her. She’d be okay. She wasn’t too sure what to make of the new one but y’know a friend of mavros was- wait. No. Wrong pack she was in Trieste. “I- like to come here now and then. Gives me time to think.” She gave a tiny nod, allowing herself to look over Mavro before back at the train car and quickly skittered to the side to sit against the wall “you-y’wanna come in and laydown? S’nice up here.” Another shuffle of her paws and she patted the metal “What happened to your face?” woops. “I mean- because its. You. Uhm. It- “ her nose scrunched “You look awful.” She gave a tiny laugh, trying to show her words kept good nature but.. The last thing she remembered was far from this situation.

<Gutter-Mutt> Mavro squinted. His face. Ah... A setting of his jaw had him glancing over his shoulder at Hera. "Come." And a pained hop and he'd be up at Ash's level, staring her down. Her light hearted demeanor calmed him, but... "I see. What.. rank are you, again?" He knew Trieste had a rule about going out alone, and for good reason. He'd stalked closer, head lowered a tad, though still held above his sister's. "How've you been?"

<Whitelupine> No threat was felt as the two talked, so, she remained where she was. Ash’s attempt at a meek joke did not warrant even a hum from Hera. Once summoned however the alpha’s shadow would stand and follow to oblige his command. She would hope up to where the siblings at and made sure they had enough room for themselves.

<LilacPetals>Ash splayed her ears, looking over mavro when he joined her in the car. He was uh- a lot… scarier? Than she remembered “High. Niras a rank above me. She deserves it though. Does a lot of work. She-she’s terrifying, too. Not that you’re terrifying. I mean … You- er.” She squinted, huffing and looked forward “I’ve been good. How about you? And the whole… Other pack. “ think of something to talk about dangit. “Oh!” A lightbulb and she turned to him, she was never this talkative with Nira, but Mavro and her needed to catch up a little. “congratulations on the puppies. I mean they’re not puppies now but . Er… Belated.” she twisted to Hera, one ear perking forward a little "Hello." She was quiet. Was she shy? Or just creepy?

<Gutter-Mutt> Mavro finally sat, allowing himself to relax a bit as Ash spoke. "...yes, she is. And it's okay, I know my appearance is... shocking." He sighed softly, single ear rested back against his scruffy skull. "Livin'. Moved the pack back home; to the sewers. We're going by Di Fonga again." Little did his pack know. At the mention of his puppies, he'd nod and glance toward Hera, though responding; "Thank you. Most of them have passed, or left. Things turned out about as I expected." Finally, his gaze would fall upon Ash once more, as though sizing her up. A small smile managed to grace his muzzle after a moment; "...you look like mother."

<Whitelupine> Hera listened to the siblings talk, it calmed her, seeing Mavro speak to someone without threat of injury. It was nice. But then when Ash turned to address her the silver capo sat up straight and would offer up a soft nod in greeting. But when Mavro brought up the name change her ears would twitch slightly and when Mavro glanced to her she would offer up an air lick of ‘yeah I’m here sir’ before returning to her nearly expressionless face, However, at that small smile from Mavro to Ash her heart would almost melt from happiness.

<LilacPetals>“Di Fonga? Like father had it?” she tensed a little as thoughts barreled through her mind “I thought you’d be the last to name it that.” Fonga? S’big difference. She peered out of the cart, eyes following the horizon and obstructions there of while she tried to piece her sentences that flew away in the chilling breeze. “I’m sure you understand puppies though.” She said “Always needing adventure- needing to challenge something.. Head strong and egotistical.” A small laugh, but it quickly hitched in her throat “wh- I do?” She peeked over to him and rested her ears back “You ever think about her, Mavro? About how things turned out?”

<Gutter-Mutt> "Oh.. no. I..I miss Atro. Badly." He'd sigh and close his eyes. "It just makes sense since we're back home." When Ash acknowledged his comment about Quinn, he'd lift his head and cant it to the side. "Yes... a lot. I didn't get to know her like Harley did. I..I wasn't allowed to see her much. But.. I often think how things would have been had we all grown up together. I... want my family." It was an odd moment, Mavro allowing himself to speak his emotions.

<Whitelupine> Hera felt a wave wash over her at the mention of Quinn, she knew this was a rather hurtful subject to her alpha but, she remained quiet as Ash talked about Mavro’s pups. She would let out a near silent whine as Mavro shared his emotions about his father, try as she might, she knew she could never fill in any of those voids torn from his tattered soul.

<LilacPetals>Ash gave a small nod, frown pulling at her maw that twisted delicate features into a solemn expression. “Makes me angry.” She murmured “That you never got to see mom. Never got to be a puppy. Never got to do anything. It made you a good leader but…” She gave a small shake of her head “But it makes me question a lot I guess…” she stood, slowly, peeking over at him, then sat a little closer and leaned her nose forward. A hesitation, followed by a gentle nose into his fur before pulling away just as quick. She wanted to give him space, but comfort at the same time. “I understand that, Mavro.” She murmured “But- but we have packs now, yes? Your pack is your family as Trieste is mine. Right?”

<Gutter-Mutt> The alpha allowed Ash her nuzzle... and stood to move closer, maybe a wee more boldly than he should. He'd wrap his neck around hers and exhale a low breath from his nostrils. "It is what it is... this is what was meant to be, for me... and for you guys. I'm happy you were saved... and got a good fulfilling life. Something I should thank Trieste for." There wasn't much else to say. A dog of little words. He'd rest his head down and sniff along her neck... before backing away. He didn't want to seem overbaring.

<Whitelupine> Ash may has well of been speaking from Hera’s heart. She made a move as if to speak up but didn’t, letting the siblings have this moment. Those pointed ears of hers would flatten out slightly.

<LilacPetals> Ash nodded a little “Exactly” she said quietly, leaning into him ever so slightly – but he pulled away and she tilted her chin up to stare at him, nose twitching while rounded eyes looked him over “I’m happy about that, too. I wish you would have been with us, Mavro.” She sighed “Everything that happened was for a reason and I believe that but I just- I want my brother to be happy as well. Happy for himself. ‘Sides.” She sat straight, turning her gaze to the outside of the cart “From what I smelled you still have a bit of pup in you” she’d smirk “Nira came back with your son that night and it took me a while to place the scent but.. You can still pack a fierce bite according to Finnegans version of it.” She swiveled her ears towards him “So you still have plenty of time to create your own happy, yes?”

Gutter-Mutt> Mavro nodded and stood back a few steps. "That's setting my sights a little far." Him being happy? Seemed to always be just out of his reach. Meh. "I suppose I do." His meeting with Ash was... heart wrenching. Harley had left him, Arty was gone; per the usual. This had become the norm. "Have a good night, Ash. Tell Nira I said hello." And without much more warning, he'd turn and hop down from the train car, ear pressed back and eyes closed.

<Whitelupine> Hera continued to listen and observe, watching Mavro with his sister warmed her a bit. Not many moments did that to her anymore so she enjoyed it. When Mavro moved the silver capo would stand and follow after him without hesitation. She saw that expression of his and would walk up to gently press her nose up against his chin and offer a gentle lick, if he accepted her affections she would look up to him with her warm brown eyes, wanting to say something but always being bad with words.


<LilacPetals>Ash didn’t speak, she didn’t object. She simply watched him stand and frowned, her eyes turning back to Hera for a moment before finally watching Mavro jump down “Goodnight, Mavro. Maybe I’ll come back here a little more often. Just in case you need to talk or somethin’?” She offered, but- she stood and turned, heading to the back of the car and laid down. Silence didn’t seem so affectionate as it once had. But she welcomed it anyway.