Ghosts on the Border [Alphas-Anyone]

[sarhea]

Autumn had arrived in full force across the lands to the northwest of Arnlan. The trees were mostly bare by now, the moon’s glow casting an eerie glow across their dark trunks. All traces of water vapor hung as if suspended in time, a frosty mist creeping across the early morning landscape. Two weary travelers made their way steadily towards the dark land’s borders, steady, deliberate strides carrying them to a land so familiar, yet so strangely foreign. Their metallic coats reflected the moon’s soft light, a rather strange, eerie sight to any creatures who would be away at this ungodly hour. One bore hues of silver, the smaller of the two, female. She appeared ghostly, moving in and out of the mist, the moon illuminating her form before passing behind the clouds-her form disappearing once more, blending into the mist. The other-larger, male-he could not blend in. His metallic hues of copper and gold stood out like a sore thumb, but he paid no mind. In his mouth, he carried a section of moose’s antler.

Excitement grew in the pair as they knew they were nearing their destination. Cepheus, the golden male, and Lyra, the silvery female, siblings, had been born in the great lands of Arnlan. The first two years of their lives, they spent there, along with their parents and remaining 3 siblings. Those had been grand years, and troubled years at the same time. Both the siblings had been surprised and honored when they were approached by the Alphess Sofika herself to go on a mission of great importance-finding allies for Arnlan. At first, Cepheus had protested that Lyra had to go. He wanted the glory all to himself, but after their capture, he’d silently thanked his lucky star that she had been there. Ah, the past 3 years….it was on both their minds as they made their way back home-

Lyra raised her nose to the breeze-there was something faintly familiar about the distinct odor that greeted her. Joy and relief flooded over her, her gray eyes sparkling. She threw a quick glance toward her brother, who seemed just as excited, but much less cautious. He picked up the pace as the scents of Arnlan greeted him, his breath huffing out from his clenched teeth, which gripped the moose antler.

“Cepheus! Now just hold on a minute!” she called out in a hushed tone.

Cepheus abruptly came to a stop, turning his head about, giving Lyra a questioning glance. He lowed his head quietly to drop the antler.

“What’s wrong now? We are so close to finally being home! Don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts. I’ll have to hu…” he exclaimed, agitation clearly written on his face before Lyra cut him off.

“Just shut up, will you? Do you forget that it has been 3 years since we’ve been home? The scents of Arnlan have long since faded from our coats. Who knows if the Arnlan we approach now is even the same Arnlan we left so long ago? Much could have changed in 3 years.”

Cepheus glared at her. Typical Lyra. She always had to rain on his parade. But she did have a point. He turned, looking longingly into the dark trees that loomed ahead. Hopefully nothing much had changed. Hopefully, Sallin had not attacked. He missed those he knew all those years ago; his parents, his sister Pollux and his brothers Apus and Lepus, his good friend Castor. He’d never admit missing his siblings, but he did. He turned back to Lyra.

“Well, then, what the heck are we supposed to do? We’ve come all this way, endured the last 3 years, hoping to get free and come home. Now we’re home-and you don’t want go in?” Cepheus was getting angry, and it showed. His gray eyes grew darker, his brow furrowed as he glared down at her.

Lyra just ignored him. She knew better than to let him get under her skin-he could be so pig-headed. She took a few steps closer to the borders, then raised her head to the sky, letting loosed a silvery noted howl. It’s musical tone echoed quietly into the night. She turned back to where he stood.

“Now we wait,” she said simply, and sat on the cool earth.

“Greeeaaatt,” Cepheus moaned as he flopped to the ground, his paws resting on the moose’s antler, their gift from their nomadic captors-the nomads pledge of alliance to Arnlan. Then they waited, unsure of what would greet them.

[Squeeji]

After drilling herself with monotonous chores for the majority of the day, Pollux laid down in the cool, moist and snowy soil of Arnlan, trying to soothe her aching joints and relax some. Autumn had come earlier than usual or at least, it felt like it, but that too could have just been the Scout's mind playing tricks on her. She hated the fall more than any season...it always came to quickly for her.

Sometimes, when the Autumn wind howled, she could hear the voices of her missing family and loved ones howling with it...fall was the sound of better times starving off into winter. Her ears twitched as she listened to the voice of the reaper mocking her...until...

Did she just hear an actual howl?

The tone was familiar, more effeminate and musical than her howl, but similar just the same. Pollux was on her paws quickly, her stance at high alert. Either she had finally gone crazy, or, the dead had risen.

"Lyra?" she whispered back against the wind before taking off like a sharp colored dart into the shadowy foliage. Hoping she could catch the wraiths before they could sneak back into the ether...

As she ran she tipped her head back in a reedy and tired reply...sounding much older than she should have, but more enthused than she had been in seasons.

*****

Else where a runty sparrow colored male gnawed casually at a discarded antler, keeping himself out of view and out of trouble, as he should. As he was expected to do. He kept his head and tail low, denoting his rank. The omega had little to keep him company but the rare litters of pups that sometimes came to Arnlan.

There hadn't been any pups in these parts for more than a year. Which left the straggler without much to keep him company, only his slow thoughts and his plodding pace marked the passage of time.

The sound hit him from a distance, and while his sister Pollux doubted and second guessed who it was, there was no doubt in Apus's mind who that was.

It was his sister, his beloved sister. He shambled to his feet wobbling and tripping over things, his body was just too excited, for his brain to tell it where to go. He rushed off, crashing through the underbrush like a demon, trying in vain to stay quiet like his elders had told him...but failing for the most part.

[sarhea]

Cepheus couldn't take much more of this waiting stuff. He was a native born Arnlanian, a large one by his standards at that. Surley the pack had not changed that much in 3 years. There had to be some of the original members around that would recognize him and Lyra. He remembered the alphas being especially resourceful-they would not have let their territory fall into any other hands. Though it had only been a few moments, it was a few too many for him. He abruptly stood to his feet, shaking the bits of freezing debris from his golden pelt. He shot a glance at Lyra, who sat silently watching the borders. Under normal circumstances, he would pay a little more attention to her suggestions-it had been to his benefit that he had in the past 3 years-but they were home now. He could handle himself quite fine now. He took up his prize and trotted boldly across the borders, blowing Lyra off like she wasn't even there.

"Ceph-now wait a minute!" she called, jumping to her feet, rushing after him, stopping in front of his path. "I'm as ready to be home as you are, but we shouldn't just rush in."

Cepheus just snorted. "O 'it on te 'order 'en. I 'oin 'ome" he sputtered through clenched teeth; his head held high as he set a steady trot straight toward the heart of his beloved Arnlan.

Lyra glared at him. He could be so stupid! She wanted to just box him upside the head, but knew better. She rolled her eyes with a huff. "Fine-go get yourself killed by some gun-ho sentry who may not have a clue as to who we are. I don't care" she spat without emotion.

Just then, an answering call rang out into the night. Both siblings stopped dead in their tracks, senses on high alert. That voice sounded so familiar, a voice from the long lost past. Instinctively, both knew in their heart who it must be, but only Lyra spoke it aloud.

"Pollux?"she whispered, bounding ahead, passing Cepheus before stopping once more, every tired muscle tense in anticipation. "Pollux!?" she called out, much louder this time.

Cehpeus came out of his momentary trance, trotting stiffly up next to his sister, his eyes peering deep into the dark forest, hoping to catch a glimpse of a familiar and long lost face.

[Squeeji]

Pollux stepped in hesitantly, her limbs stiff as she moved, her nose and ears twitching like mad. She couldn't trust what she saw, she wouldn't trust them. How could her eyes see her siblings who had been gone for so many years.

"What brings you to Arnlan. Do you return to us, or intend to cause trouble?" her voice sounded weary, and jagged, her tone was more skeptical than anything, were they returning after being lost so long? Or had they come here to cause some trouble. For her pack's sake she could not be so careful.

Though a little bit of her smiled on the inside, thinking of Castor after her siblings had left. And some joke he had told her to make her feel better about their long trip. "I guess Castor was right...if you two did disappear, it wasn't because you died...it was because you two were too dumb to find your way home." Her tail wagged slightly, a smirk developing on her face. She was happy to see them, even if they were just in her head.

[sarhea]

It was not long before the keen ears of the hunter picked up the slightest noise of an animal moving swiftly through the forest. Lyra's head snapped about the same time Pollux appeared hesitantly from the darkness of the trees. Lyra was speechless-Pollux was really there, standing not far from them. She noticed how much older her sister was from what she remembered, not that she or Cepheus looked any better, having just survived a major famine. Her eyes sparkled with happiness as she smiled and began to wag her tail. Pollux seemed so tense-which shouldn't have been much of a surprise-Pollux had always been the family work-a-holic.

"Pollux? Is that really you?" her voice finally found enough strength to come forth in a whisper.

"What brings you to Arnlan. Do you return to us, or intend to cause trouble?"

Lyra's eyes widened in surprise. Surely Pollux recognized them-didn't she? By the look on Pollux's face, one would think she'd just seen a pair of ghosts...

Cepheus dropped the moose antler, and after casually killing an irritating itch behind his hear, strolled right up to the overly tense Pollux.

"Nice to see you too, Sis. Yes, we are fine. Three years of captivity have not been too rough..." he replied slyly as he made a quick circle around her. She was definitely the same uptight Pollux, just a bit older. "Of coarse we have returned. Were we not sent on a mission? And when have I ever been one to cause trouble," he added, his eyes bright with mischief as he stopped several feet in front of her.

Lyra let out an agitated growl as she shoved past Cepheus, sending him a nasty glare. "Shut up," she growled under her breath before turning to Pollux. "Yes, Pollux. We have returned from the mission that Sofika sent us on all those years ago. Much has happened, but we are home, no ill intentions, no trouble..."

Pollux's temperament seemed to change slightly as her tail began to wag, but still Lyra felt as if her sister were not seeing them completely, as if she were looking at two figments of her imagination.

"I guess Castor was right...if you two did disappear, it wasn't because you died...it was because you two were too dumb to find your way home."

At that remark, Cepheus snorted, his eyes darkening a bit. Castor was one of his best fiends, and that definitely sounded like something he would have said. "Castor's just jealous that he wasn't chosen to go," he snorted indignantly. He'd have to come up with a good one to get back at his friend for that comment.

[Sofika]

She had been silently contemplating Arnlan in it's recent years. Of all the members of the pack, there were but a few left who were Arnlan born and bred. There was the young pup Ziko, who was the last remaining of his family. Great expectations were of him, but perhaps the pressure of these would prove too great for him.

Then there was Pollux and her younger sibling Orion. They were the remainder of their family, who had served well under Sofika and Karolek's reign. A loyal family of wolves, many of whom remain in Sofika's thoughts. It was this family she so happened to be contemplating, when an old bell began to ring, as a howl reached her ears.

Could it really be? For a second she remained still, frozen to her spot upon the highest hill that had an open view of the whole territory. It was a hill not many of the wolves climbed. Perhaps they knew that it was not their place to look down upon the lands of Arnlan. The wind carried the voice stronger, and the scents with it. Perhaps she was imagining things... all due to the thoughts she had been previously experiencing.

Still, she'd better investigate, although the probability of Cepheus and Lyra's return was slim. Rising to her feet she made a slow decent down the hill before breaking into a run, heading their way. Into the wind she gave her call to them, and only to them it would go, if they were there, announcing her arrival in short time.

Perhaps not all hope was lost.

[Squeeji]

Pollux froze as the two talked, her nose twitched as she sniffed cautiously, but any sign of her good nature crashed as Cepheus talked about the missing Castor. Her expression went sullen but she tried to keep a smile, hallow as it was.

"Yes, of course..." her ears dipped down and she sat, waiting for one of the alphas to come. She did not know if they'd come, mostly, because she did not know her siblings were real, or perhaps, she finally died...but if she had, surely they would have known that Castor had joined them..."I'm sure Sofika, or Karolek will be here soon...they have been quite busy as of late."

Pollux's tone was quiet and deadpan, but not unkind, it was surreal to see them, but she was as happy as she could be to see them. "You can tell your story then..."

*****

It took Apus some time to get to where he had heard the call, it had been some work to not kill himself running through Arnlan, his thick coat was full of brambles and burrs, but he was far too enthusiastic to give it any mind.

Though even given his excitement, the Omega didn't storm into the business of the Scouts, even if those scouts happened to be his blood siblings, he wouldn't want an Alpha to show up and put him back into his place.

He got down on his tummy and crawled in, his ears dipped low, he just wanted to see them, just for a little bit...but he didn't want to be seen just yet...it was embarrassing to be seen by his brother, who was so much more successful than he was...

[sarhea]

Lyra sighed as she sat upon the frozen earth. They had been gone too long. Even her own sister seemed to be having trouble believing that they were really here, alive, standing before her. And Cepheus was not helping. Taunting and teasing only seemed to make Pollux stove up more, especially the mention of Castor. Cepheus seemed to take no notice of her sudden change of disposition at his arrogant remark, but Lyra did. Something just didn't seem right.

"Yes, of course...""I'm sure Sofika, or Karolek will be here soon...they have been quite busy as of late."

Her voice seemed so lifeless. Yes, Pollux appeared to be trying to smile, but Lyra could tell it was all a show. What had happened to her sister in their absense. Before Lyra could comment any further, a rustling in the underbrush caught her attention. With it came another vaguely familiar scent. She turned her gaze from Pollux, her eyes scanning the underbrush. She knew that scent....Apus?

*****

Lyra was right in knowing that Cepheus didn't notice Pollux's change in mood. He was still stewing over the fact that Castor had called him dumb. It turned over and over in his head, and his brain worked over time on a good response to dish out to his old friend once he saw him again. But he did hear the names Sofika and Karolek. His distracted gaze fell back to Pullox.

"Sofika and Karolek? Boy, am I glad to hear they are still alphas over this territory. Lyra here was all worried that things would be so different after 3 years. I knew this land was too strong to change too much. Lyra worries about some things almost as much as you do, sis..."

No sooner than he made the comment, a distant call came on the breeze. Both sibling instinctively knew who it belonged to...Sofika was coming! Both snapped to attention, the air charged with expectancy. Cepheus turned quickly to snap up his section of moose antler, anxiously awaiting the arrival of their alphess.

[Sofika]

Drawing nearer to the scene, in which everyone in Pollux's family had congregated, Sofika began to slow her pace to a gentle trot through the shadows. For a while she would give the family time to be together alone. She knew that it would be an important moment for them all, perhaps even a very emotional one. One in which Sofika felt was best for her not to be apart of. Later she would show herself once everyone had settled into one another's presence. So, leaping onto a dark boulder, one which was centre to an array of smaller rocks she sat there with the shadows licking around her. After 3 years... how was it possible that they had managed to return to Arnlan. It was truly remarkable that both had made it back hopefully in good shape.

Drawing her maw to her chest she inhaled the scents that were blown her way by the wind. Their excitement from her call, she could also sense but she would wait out a bit more. Yes… it appeared everyone was in good health. Pollux, Cepheus, Lyra… and was that Apus’ scent mixed in with them? Yes, it had to be. All of four of the wolves scents were similar in a way that they were also distinctive of each individual. Apus was hiding from them. He knew his place amongst the other members of his family. It was quite sad really that he was so unsuccessful; the misfit of the family.

As she sat there, reviewing that family’s history, of how the parents were retired betas of Arnlan and of how successful those betas descendants were she welled with pride of having such loyal and pure blooded wolves in her pack. The alphas decided she would give them a little more time to talk and then she would present herself before them. It was a glorious day for Arnlan.

[Squeeji]

Apus never was grade-A Arnlan material, he had not thought to keep down wind in his spying, well, he had, but a moment too late for it to do any good. The omega sighed, cursing his slow brain, before walking more out in the open, very drawn and respectful.

"Y-you, came...home." He said quietly, his tone still belying his plodding nature. However his giddy smile, and low swishing tail showed that he understood perfectly how important this was, how real it was that his siblings had returned, even when his more intelligent sister didn't understand it.

He wanted to leap up and hug and nuzzle Lyra, but he held fast, not wanting to insult the situation.

*****

The sound of the youngest litter mate crashing through the underbrush made Pollux jump. She had known he was here, at least, that he still lived in Arnlan, but who had seen hide or hair of him? He was reclusive, as one of his low standing ought to be, but who couldn't understand why he had come so quickly...still she did not speak to him, only nodded that he was allowed to stay.

Pollux eased some, this wasn't a dream, and it was starting to occur to her, though admittedly, slowly, she took a step up and promptly nipped Cepheus's ear. "You talk too much." She said simply, a tone of humor in her voice. But still the sibling once known for the gift of gab had to say, somewhere down the line, her golden brother had gotten much, much worse. She sniffed and then looked to Lyra curiously. "Where did you two come from?"

They didn't smell like Sallin thankfully, but they smelled of old places, places that she hadn't been. And apparently, Sofika had not been ready to show herself, the scout smirked to herself, seemed the Alpha thought it best the old family reunite.

[sarhea]

The tense anticipation of awaiting Sofika's arrival was broken by the sudden appearance of Apus. Lyra's gaze flew to her younger littermate, her eyes brightening with joy at the sight of him, a huge smile spreading across her maw. He approached so submissively. She saw no reason for it; they were only family here. Apus had never had any kind of even normal stature within the pack, and often the butt end of everyone's jokes, especially his older brothers. Lyra often had to come to his rescue. When it came to her sweet, slow brother, Lyra was a force to be reckoned with. Even Cepheus knew better than to mess with her when she was protecting Apus.

Apus looked as if he were about to jump out of his own skin; he was doing so well in keeping himself calm, despite his obvious joy. Lyra was the one who broke the tension.

“Apus! Oh, Apus, I’m sorry we didn’t come home sooner. I have missed you,” She replied warmly, trotting over to him, putting her own paw over his shoulders and gave him a big lick on the side of his face. She didn’t care what the others thought of her outward show of affection towards the lowest ranking wolf in Arnlan. He was her brother, and she cared for him deeply.

**********

Cepheus dropped the moose antler in surprise when Pollux suddenly nipped his ear. Her move from disbelief at their presence to suddenly humorous took him off guard. But he recovered quickly, jumping to full height, his tail and head held high so that he was looking down on her, as if ready to pounce at any moment. He used to love playing this game in his younger days-see who beat out the other to be top dog, king of the hill. Yes, he had liked that game. But he was not nearly as young as he used to be, and getting all up in that dominate stance made all his joints ache. He was relieved when Apus brought himself out of hiding and Lyra got all mushy-gave him an excuse to act surprised and tone it down.

“A-poose! You’re still around!” he called out in a half excited, half mocking tone as he turned from Pollux to face Lyra and Apus. Oh how much fun it had been to pounce his slow little brother and sit on him as he squirmed, fun-that was-until Lyra had to always come rushing in to spoil it. Even now, he noticed the glance from her-that glance that could freeze Hell over-he paused in his tracks-

“Easy sis, I’m just going to say hi-Geeze-you act as if you’re the only one allowed to speak to him.” He snorted, boldly pushing past Lyra. He raised a cautious paw and placed it on Apus’s shoulder, then quickly, then moved it to the side of the younger brother’s face before giving him a little shove.

“Well, how’s it been, Apoose,” he laughed, calling him by the name he always had in his younger days.

Lyra snorted indignantly. She’d always hated how Apus had been picked on, but at least Cepheus wasn’t hurting him. She’d keep a close eye on him. Her attention turned back to Pollux.

“Where did you two come from?”

Lyra sighed and looked back behind her into the lands they had traveled through-it was an incredibly long story. It was hard to know where to begin.

“Well, we left here as soon as Sofika gave us the mission. I figured the best route to follow was to find wolves outside these lands, who would not be in any way connected to the wars of this region. It was a few weeks before we came across any groups of wolves that we considered even remotely worthy to approach. We watched them for a week. They were a big group, full of strong, healthy members, perfect choice for allies incase Arnlan should ever be attacked. Though we didn’t realize that we, too, were being watched. They were a nomadic bunch, quite primitive in their ways, but proved to be more intelligent than they appeared-even I didn’t notice we were being spied upon also. They came upon us in a surprise attack in the middle of a storm one night-took us prisioner…..” her voice trailed off, remembering that night. She actually thought that night that their lives would end.

[sorry for the delay-had trouble gathering my thoughts and keeping this as short as possible...lol]

[Squeeji]

Under his sister's protective wing, Apus did not fear his brother has he typically did, but still the younger male winced, waiting for Cepheus to dive tackle him.

He didn't say much of anything, he just nosed his sister and tried to hide against her, he never cared much for the big gold bully, people called him dumb, but Apus had a feeling that if he wasn't so slow, he'd be a hell of a lot smarter than Cepheus, sometimes, he wanted to rough him up to to show him that he wasn't just some dumb runt.

"I'm fine." He said with some strength, without his typical stutter, obviously he was trying his best to sound more confident.

*****

Pollux nodded, it seemed they had gone through quite a lot, and had come out better than they could have. "So you were taken prisoner by these strange wolves...only to be returned? Primitive and odd indeed, lucky for you they were not cut throat as Sallin is..." saying so her head turned to the border that Arnlan shared with Sallin, wondering, if their other brother, Lepus, had gone there...where had their middle brother gone?

"But the important thing is there you are here, safe and sound..."

[sarhea]

Cepheus grinned at his younger brother attempt to sound tough. Good for him. Maybe he could finally include him in a little game of mad dash rabbit...maybe....Cepheus may have been 5 years old and often time feeling it, but being home again was bringing back his orneriness. Knowing that Lyra was keeping a close eye on him, he put his paw back around Apus's shoulder, pulling him down into a private conversation.

"You know, Apus. I wasn't a very good big brother growing up, was I? I often left you out of all our fun and games. Well, now that I'm home, I think its about time for me to make that up to you. How about later, me and you, we go play a nice little game of mad dash rabbit..." Cepheus knew that Apus probably had no idea what he was talking about. It was a mean game him and the other young guys used to play. Catch several rabbits, drag them all over the territory, through all the public areas, cover their dead bodies with the scents of all of Arnlan; then let them get really ripe, then go toss them into unsuspecting member's dens and run like hell before you got caught....

******

Lyra overheard only bits of the conversation, but sound of that horrid game, her eyes darkened. Cepheus had been lucky to never get caught that she knew of back in the days, but she knew Apus would most likely never have a chance. *Dammit, Cepheus, why cant you just leave him alone!* she thought angrily, not wanting their reunion to turn ugly already. Where did the Cepheus from the past 3 years go? He'd been a completely different wolf, a wolf that she had actually began to have a respect for in the past year, but now he was back home, he was reverting back to his old self.

"So you were taken prisoner by these strange wolves...only to be returned? Primitive and odd indeed, lucky for you they were not cut throat as Sallin is...""But the important thing is there you are here, safe and sound..."

Lyra listened carefully to what Pollux said, an idea clicking in her head at the last comment...a way to get Cepheus off of Apus's back without her having to get ugly....

"Yes, home safe and sound....though CEPHEUS didn't make that too easy," she said over her shoulder, loud enough for the two brothers to here. Cepheus could never stand to be talked about-and it worked. The golden male's head shot up out of his huddle with Apus, a questioning glare on his face...

"Do wha..?" he piped, turning from his brother to join the sisters' conversation.

Lyra turned back to Pollux, a devious grin on her face as gave her a triumphant, knowing look. Worked every time....

[Squeeji]

Apus wiggled out of his sisters protective hold and grumbled at Cepheus, he could cop a little attitude now, because until Sofika or Karolek showed, his brother was an outsider, gone for too long...making the omega, for once, of higher rank than the former scout.

"I don't...don't w-want to play with you." He stood up as tall as he could, puffing his chest out bravely. "You aren't very nice. " Apus's ears dipped down, and he looked almost guilty for a moment, but he smirked as he said it. He looked almost like a full blown member of Arnlan before sneaking backwards into the undergrowth before someone bigger and stronger showed back up.

****

Pollux blinked at the omega's blatant show of defiance towards Cepheus and made a slight humming sound. "Odd." her nose twitched as she caught the scent of him going back into the underbrush.

"He's been getting much bolder." The scout licked her lips and seemed a bit unsettled. "This is the first time I've seen him in months...maybe even a turn of the season...and definitely the most I've heard him talk in years..."

"I think times are changing." She looked at Lyra and smirked, knowing full well what her sister had done to dupe their poor dimwitted golden sibling. "I'd be careful Cepheus, he might be getting smarter than you!" She was teasing of course, but obviously Apus wasn't as dim as he used to be....

[sarhea]

"I don't...don't w-want to play with you.""You aren't very nice. "

What? The voice of the omega brought Cepheus's attention snapping about. At first, he just blinked almost in disbelief. Apus, the poor fool, was suddenly looking like real wolf, and being pretty brave at that for standing up to him like that. A smirk formed on his maw as he took one step towards his little brother. It didnt take long for Apus to deflate his stance, backing up and dissappearing into the trees.

"Hey, where you going, little brother?" Oh well..."I'll catch up with ya later!" he called after him, turning back to his sisters.

Lyra couldn't repress an irritated snarl. "Cepheus, enough! Leave him alone." she barked, her gray eyes sending him the rest of the message. He didn't respond to her, shrugging her off.

"I'm glad to hear that. Apus needs to learn to start standing up for himself. He always let everyone walk over him. There was no reason for him to put himself in Omega position-he's done nothing wrong that I know of," she responded to Pollux's comments on her little brother. She just couldn't understand why one would be content with such a shameful rank.

"I'd be careful Cepheus, he might be getting smarter than you!"

Lyra grinned at her sister's comment, but Cepheus didn't seem to take the bait. He strolled over to where he'd dropped the moose antler, and plopped down on the ground. He looked up at the sisters blankly, blinking a time or two. "Nah, that's not it-that's quite impossible," he mumbled, turning his attention elswhere.

Lyar rolled her eyes, an irritated huff coming forth. She moved a few steps further away from Cepheus. He suddenly seemed so out of it, distracted. She leaned her head in hoping that only Pollux woud hear her.

"He can be such a jerk. Funny thing is, these past three years, I got to see a different side of him. He can actually be pretty noble and smart. We were pretty much in Apus's position for the better part of a year with that pack-It did something to Ceph. Why now that we're back here, does he have to go back to normal?" She quickly threw a glance at the golden male, the dissapointment clearly evident in her gaze.