Huckleberry could hear the howl all the way from the nest were they were sleeping. The sound jerked them awake and their head immediately rose, their ears perking. That sounded like Kin-Kin...so that meant it was time. They looked around - there was nobody else in the nest right now, which was good news for them. No need for any kind of sneaking. Next to them, Shiny raised her head, her four ears alert as well, although probably out of fear instead of excitement. "No need to worry, Shiny, the howl is a good howl. The howler is a friend." Huckleberry leaned over and cave the little catsquirrel a reassuring lick and she responded with a small nuzzle before climbing onto their back as they stood.

They bounded through the short tunnel, Shiny clinging to their back, hoping desperately that they didn't run into any of their family members on the way. Upon reaching the exit, they spread their wings and leaped into the air, heading towards where they heard the voice ringing from. At some distance away, they spotted the two figures on the stones below and brought themselves down.

As they touched the floor and got closer, they felt a sudden rush of nervousness go through their body. Huckleberry paused and took a deep breath, focusing on Shiny's warm weight on their back. They continued forward, moving around the crest of a boulder to come face to face with Kin-Kin and the stranger.

They looked at the cat and suddenly remembered that this was a killer too. Their ears flattened with anxiety and their head bowed, wings quivering a bit. "H-hello...it's good to see you again...Kin-Kin..." Their small tail was whipping nervously and even Shiny was watching the two warily, having never met them before, not knowing if they were friend or foe to their friend.

Huckleberry nodded sheepishly, unable to hold eye contact with the stranger. "Yes...I'm Huckleberry." Even thought introductions were wholly unnecessary, they still felt like they had to introduce themselves to Imperia. They were suddenly reminded about how old these two were. Much older then them and even older then Mama. They shivered as they tried to find their words but nothing came to their throat.

They felt Shiny give their ear a small reassuring lick. Huckle-friend, no need to fear. Just tell them what you've told me. And as usual the effect on Huckleberry was strong. They sat down and took a deep breath, turning towards Imperia to start telling their tale. They felt a surge of bravery go through them, although, as they started speaking their was still some shaking in their voice and they talked slow and unsure of themselves.

"W-well, my Mama is Blackberry, she's this goose thing and she's, uh..." Crazy. "...y-yes, crazy. I guess. But I love my mama! She's my mama and I love my papa too and they love each other. She's just, uh, violent. Well, I have a whole family, brothers and sisters, most of them Mama adopted but Baneberry and Elderberry are my blood siblings. Mama and Papa trains them to fight, but its mostly Mama. She teaches us to fight and to kill and to be merciless. I used to kind of like it, it was fun to fight! I liked using my magic and winning or losing fairly but Mama wanted me to be physical. I d-don't really like blood...but she wants me to be like her and she gets angry when I'm not." One of their claws came up to their face and traced down the long, ugly scar that would never go away.

"I made her upset. She doesn't like it when we make friends outside of the family, she says that we have enough within. She didn't trust me after...after Kin-Kin helped me. But what's wrong with making friends? Why can't I love my family and love other people too! But Mama doesn't understand!" As the memories started flooding back of their estrangement from the family, Mama's mistrust of them, and that day, their voice grew higher and faster and more desperate. "Sh-she took me out, one day, after they killed someone...the whole family! Tore them apart! She f-found a bird that couldn't walk a-a-and...sh-she...she f-f-forced m-me..." Tears welled in their eyes as they relived the moment. Stepping up to the side of the bird. Leaning down, taking their neck in their jaws, the wounds on their side burning. And the soft snap and the taste of blood the blood in their mouth all the blood, it was everywhere it was never going to get out of their fur!

The broke into sobs and claws at their face while Shiny furiously groomed the back of their neck. "I killed her," they wailed. "I killed an innocent little bird and then I gave it life because I couldn't stand what I had done! And then I g-gave it to Mama and sh-she...she never let me even touch it! My child...my child hatched and xe doesn't even know! Xe thinks I'm just xer sibling!" Unable to continue, they wailed and collapsed on the ground, Shiny giving a small meow of protest at the sudden movement.

It was amazing that Huckleberry could even hear Imperia talking through all of the crying that they were doing but they did. They quieted a little bit and sniffled, looking up at him with glossy eyes. Nothing was processing properly in their head now and it took them a while to even comprehend what was being told to them but as soon as he suggested that they leave the family, it was like a switch being turned on.

They leaped to their feet, wings fluttering anxiously. "What?! No no no no no I can't leave! I can't leave Mama and I can't leave Cloudberry! I-i-i belong with them! Please, don't make me leave them!" It wasn't certain if Huckleberry was even speaking in their right mind at that moment since they immediately turned to Kin-Kin and wailed. "Please, don't make him take me! I can't leave, she'll kill me and she'll kill Cloudberry or I'll kill myself because I can't live without my Mama!"

They wailed again and backed away, ears pressed firmly against their head as Shiny did her best to console Huckleberry by grooming their mane. But it seemed the hybrid wasn't even noticing the gentle licks as they looked between the two in front of them.