[spoiler]Hello friends! sorry for the couple week delay, I had some personal matters to attend to. I’ve also been reworking/editing some old pages before I continue and decided to post this. [/spoiler] ⚠️ So no one gets confused, this story is post forsaken, but before Variks and Shadow get together. ⚠️ [spoiler]please enjoy this total sh*tshow. I know I do. Sort of. I hate it. But it’s funny. Sort of. Be sure to check the comments ;) -Shadow[/spoiler] Page 139      Shadow watches from the corner of one eye as a mother-eliksni raises her child to a heater. The youngest of them were curled in her lap while the eldest, two sisters, observe and question everything under the sun about Shadow.      "Why are you white?" one of them -blam!-, grasping Shadow's wrist and observing her snowy skin tone.      "Judging from my experience, awoken are typically blue or white..."      Nothing seems to sate their curiosity but the hunter doesn't mind. She has been watching closely as her eliksni allies have grown comfortable in their new home and has become quite fond of the small family she and Wolf had managed to scrape together.      "Why d'you only have two eyes?"      "Because I'm not as cool as you."      They had been frightened of her, at first. She remembers how the little eliksni sitting in front of her now had cowered before her on her first day here. But it didn't take long at all for the gentle-hearted hunter to win over the curious children, and their mothers, even if that process was slower and more suspicious.      "If we share some ether... you will grow your other arms?"      An indignant clucking rises from her sister's chest. "I will share my ether with her."      "No! I will!"      Shadow had become fascinated with the eliksni culture and their children, who now took an equally enthusiastic interest in her.      "Hey, it's alright, I don't need any ether," she chuckles, separating the two who had begun to nip at each other like a couple of birds. "I don't need two arms, either."      Clearly Wolf felt the same way. Shadow rolls her eyes at the sight of the vandal chatting up one of the eliksni they had rescued. It's hard not to feel envious of his charm, how easily he would capture their attention. But she's grateful for him. Without his influence, they may never have trusted her at all.      "Shadow, Shadow!" Grasping at her, the hatchlings regain her attention. "How did you meet Varikskel?"      Smiling, Shadow settles deeper into the pillows that had been thrown haphazardly onto the floor, her legs crossed together. "We met in the Reef—" she says, her tone fond with memories as she allows the child to scramble onto her lap.      "Because you're [i]awoken[/i]."      The blunt statement makes the her laugh, and she doesn't bother to explain the technicalities. "And we had a job to work on together."      "Did Varikskel like your people?" her sister asks.      "He did. He saved my people."      "From Skolas!"      "That's right—"      "Are they [i]still[/i] your people?" the little eliksni asks more tentatively.      Taken aback by the question, she pauses, a sudden ache in her heart. She strokes her hand gently over the eliksni's molt-soft head. She imagines Glitch would see her saying no. But it was not true.      "Yes," she says decidedly. "But sometimes people make bad choices. Your mother has told you the story of Variks and the House of Wolves?"      The two nod vigorously.      "He had to leave them, and it's the same now with me and my people. It's better for me to be with my eliksni family right now."      "Variks is [i]old![/i]" one of them announces, oblivious to the seriousness of the question.      Finding their innocence comforting, Shadow smirks. "Yes, he is, but don't say that in front of him—"      She is so distracted with the hatchlings she doesn't notice as their mother comes to sit at a table beside her.      "You are good with them," Deluna says softly. Her voice is like sand on stones. She's small for an eliksni adult, malnourished. But Shadow can feel her mother-strength. "They like you."      The comment warms Shadow's heart. She smiles at her, hoping this place can help Deluna and her family, can be a safe haven where she can regain her strength.      "Have any of your own?"      Shadow shakes her head. "No."      "Ever consider?"      And just then the door opens to reveal Variks, his gaze searching until it rests on Shadow and her new friend. "Miss Deluna. A moment, if you will?"      The sister hatchlings pause to stare up at Variks with wide, awestruck eyes, excited to see their Kell. Shadow doesn't realize it, but her own expression is not far off from theirs.      Deluna takes note of this in private amusement before turning to Variks herself. "If you require my time."      "Velask, hatchlings," Variks purrs softly at her children. "I hope you are feeling comfortable here." The question is directed more so for Deluna to answer.      She nods.      "Variks will try to provide anything you or your families need," he says, looking back down at them. "You tell me or Shadow if you want something."      Shadow's heart melts. He would be a wonderful father.      [i]Have any of your own? Ever consider?[/i]      If only.      He must feel Shadow staring; he turns to look at her.      She gazes up at him, amber eyes soft with affection.      "Having a pleasant evening?" he drawls, blinking his eyes out of sync.      Before she can respond, Deluna stands.  "Will Shadow keep her eyes on them for me?"      Deluna's trust in her, even if there were other eliksni present to watch her children, tightens Shadow's chest. She swallows and nods.      "I will take only a moment of your time," Variks burbles, following up with a questioning glance at Shadow.      "Of course, of course, take your time. Do you need me afterward?" the hunter adds, leaning in expectantly.      "No—"      She sinks.      "But, you are more than welcome to come share a meal with me when you are done here."      Shadow's heart leaps into her throat. Was that like a date? She silently scolds herself for the thought but her excitement refuses to be stamped out. "S-sure," she stammers. The two of them stare into one another's eyes for a fleeting moment and then she watches him leave, taking Deluna with him.       Rapid clicking and muttering between the hatchlings recapture her attention.      Shadow raises an eyebrow at their curious expressions. "What are you two chattering about now?"      "Ask her!"      "No you!" her sister snaps in return.      Four round blue eyes suddenly turn on an expectant Shadow.      "Are you Varikskel's mate?"      The hunter nearly chokes on air and begins blushing profusely. Aside from its unexpectedness, the question is far too loudly asked.      Taking a long, deep breath, Shadow fights to regain her composure and barely manages to respond smoothly. "No, little one. Variks and I are just good friends."      Unsatisfied, they continue chirping amongst eachother. She almost laughs at their confusion when one sister is bold enough to add, "[i]Wolf[/i] says you think Varikskel is handsome—" [i]     "Alright!"[/i] Standing ubruptly, Shadow cuts off their unabashed curiousity. "That's enough questions for today." Interlocking her hands and wringing them with discomfort, she nods to Wolf. "Why don't you two go bother Wolf and his new friend?"      She lets out the breath she's been holding as they scurry off; a vengeful smirk crosses her lips as they interrupt Wolf's flirting. He growls frustratedly as the eliksni mother turns to entertain the pair.      Shadow continues to watch them in silence, chest hot and stomach still twisting with butterflies.