(posting from my sister's account)

Tamarand refused to let his relief show, but he felt a huge weight lift from his shoulders. Retaining his composure, he asked, "Why did you suddenly want to know? Kioko, are you allright?"

---

Lyanti sighed, glaring at the trees. He said, "I don't approve of that pup in the least, but I trust Kioko to be sensible. Either way, you're probably right in worrying. Who knows what that mangy dog is doing to my precious daughter.... flea bag... mutt...." The rest of the alpha's mutered insults were lost as he drew further and further away form his mate and into the direction of where his eldest pup had gone.

----

Medina saw Lyanti leave and padded over to Fayte, asking,

"I have been meaning to ask, Fayte, what is your opinion of all this? The three newcommers I mean."

Fayte shrugged, watching where Lyanti had left carefully before answering.
"It is not my right to judge. They are not joining our pack, and therefore, I won't judge. However, I do have my observations. I myself don't mind them. They seem to be as nice as any other wolf."

~~~

Kioko stood suddenly, slightly shocked by the answer. Calming herself down, she sat, sighing.
"It's...uh..nothing. Nothing. I promise."
She flicked her tail slightly in joy, still relieved that he hadn't been in love. She reddened slightly and looked away.
"It's just..."
She broke off, not really wanting to finish the sentence for fear of being made fun of, though she was positive Tamarand wouldn't.

Tamarand felt his heart drop; not in fear, not in dismay, but in utter adoration. The way she was shyly looking away, the unigue orange fur on her face turning red, it was driving him insane. Without thinking, he moved forward and lightly nuzzled her, muttering, "Kioko... I think I love you."

---

Lyanti stopped dead as he barely overheard what Tamarand had just said. He was bare inches away from stepping into the clearing but he stopped himself, interested with this new development. Using his lifetime mastered stealth, he crouched down to watch.

((*dies with laughter* Lyanti and his timing! XD Its gonna take a bit to recover so I can reply...XD))

Kioko glanced at him, then nuzzled him as well. Relief seemed to flood her veins, and she let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd held. She took in his scent, glad to finally know what she was to him.
"Tamarand...I love you too."
Her voice was barely a whisper, for all the joy she was in. She resisted the urge to jump for joy. But now, she felt as if she could conquer any obstacle.

(lol)

Tamarand was so happy, he could probably die right now. This wolf, this beautiful wolf, was his to love, his alone. He never had something like this. His sister was always going off by herself and bringing rogue males back only to run them off again later, Tamarand never had the stomach to do something similiar. All he knew was that he was happy, and that nothing would stop him from being with her, not even her stubborn father.As if on cue, Lyanti stepped into the clearing, a blank ex
pression on his face. Tamarand flinched at the sight of him, not knowing what to do after he had seen, and probably heard, somethign like that.

Kioko glanced up at her dad, wincing at the sight of him. How long he'd been standing there, she was unsure. She padded around Tamarand, flicking her tail at him, sfotly, as if saying 'I'll deal with it.' She looked at Lyanti, her eyes almost pleading, She stopped, a few steps away from her dad, ready to fight if need be. She touched Kirano's mind, which was ever present.
Tell Tamarand that if it gets down to a fight, I'll hold him off, but not for long. After all, I can't bring myself to fight Dad...If it does come to a fight, I'm going to have to leave...
"Dad..."

Kirano nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of Kioko's voice, then calmed down. He acknowledged the fact mentally. He lightly touched Tamarand's mind, cutting off from his sister's.
Tamrand...Kioko says that if it comes to a fight, she can hold off Dad, but not fight him. She says that if it comes to a fight, she'll have to leave...And she almost expects you to come with her....She's risking alot for you, Tamarand. You don't know howe much she looks up to Dad.

Lyanti continued to stare, almost imp*censored*ively, at Kioko for a while, not a word uttering from his graying muzzle. Finally, aftr what seemed like an eternity, he opened his mouth to speak.

"When I asked your mother to be my mate, it was both out of love and out of a need to have someone strong by my side, a strong female to help lead the pack. You, Tamarand," he looked at him, "You have no such need and yet you so ferverently chase after my daughter." The old wolf sighed, his head dropping slightly towards the ground. "I am old, little one. I did not imagine watching such a scene unfold before my eyes, to see such a small bud bloom into such a magnificent flower."

---

A smile touched Tamarand's lips as he replied to Kirano, I don't think that will be nessesary.

((Aw. T.T How to respond? DX))

((lol, ure so cute foxeh XDD))

Tamarand stepped closer to her, nuzzling her affectionately. Without looking at the old alpha, he said, "I as.sure you, I'll take care of her."

((That helps. <3))

Kioko smiled, her joy practically glowing off of her pelt. She nuzzled him as well, finally at peace with herself. She glanced over at her dad, her blue eyes shining with tears of joy. But she blinked them away, again grinning. She silently mouthed the words 'thank you' to him, not wanting to spoil the joy, for fear of it being a dream.

Lyanti nodded, swelling with pride at how much his eldest daughter had grown. He suprised himself by silently adimitting that he was prepared to finally let her go. As he turned around and walked back toward the rest o fhis family, Lyanti silently growled, Aurora is another issue entirely.

---

Tamarand watched Lyanti leave, waiting until he was gone before looking at Kioko, a smile on his muzzle. he had never been so happy before. his male ego also took prid ein the fact that he had landed a really nice female but he quickly pushed that thought away, finding his relation to his brother beginning to show in his line of thinking.

---

Kale sneezed. Someone must be talking about him.

Kioko watched her dad go, and closed her eyes peacefully. Suddenly, her stomach growled, ruining the moment, she laughed a bit.
"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm hungry beyond belief. How about you and I go hunting, eh?"

Fayte smiled as she opened her eyes. Sure, it was an underhanded thing to do, spying on her daughter through the trees, but she was worried. She released her grip on the trees, and returned her attention to her pups around her, before glancing at StarMoon.
"StarMoon, would you mind helping me out?"

The blue-pelted wolf was jerked from her thoughts by her alpha's voice. She glanced at Fayte, nodding.
"Of course. Right after I check something, if its okay with you?"
The alpha nodded, and StarMoon stood, paddig over to where Shyra stood/sat(I dunno which). The blue-pelted wolf sat a few steps away, watching the younger female carefully. She knew she looked odd, just walking up to her without reason, but she had to know.
"I'm sorry if this is an odd question, but...you look familiar. Do I know you?"

Tamarand smiled and nodded, breaking out into a full-throttle run.

---

Shyra's heart thumped. This was why she had been avoiding Starmoon ever since she entered the clearing. Looking at the ground, she muttered,

"You kind of... look like my mother..."

Kioko followed with a quick step, weaving around bushes and flowers until she caught up with him. As soon as they broke through the treeline, she grinned and gave it her all, weaving between trees and shrubs with unnatural ease.
"See if you can keep up."

StarMoon looked at Shyra with a look of slight shock.
Could it be?
"What...what's your mother's name?"

(sorry, I'm posting from my sister's account just this once <-- too lazy to switch over, been one hell of a long week T,T)

Tamarand grinned, letting loose a howl that contained every ounce of joy and excitement he felt. to his ears, it was the best howl that had ever come from his throat. His smile widened as his call was echoed by a soft peal of thunder. He dodged the trees and tore through bushes, using his bulk to practically ignore them. Comming up beside Kioko, he said,

"Don't underestimate me!"

---

Shyra stumbled over her words as she took a moment to gather her shattered resolve and say, "H-her na-ame was C-celeste..."

(omg O.o i thikn im going to really like this X3)

((Its okay. And lol, this is going to be interesting. <3 I'll edit in a sec.))