Serendipity offered a quick smile in response-- not even noticing nor thinking about what might have happened if Azure tilted her head a bit more. She scooted up into the wing wrapped around her shoulders and turned to look at Pride instead, squinting lightly.

He didn't look very good.

Tired, maybe?

... they did just wake him up.

"Maybe one of the birds wasn't full bird," she suggested mildly, half a mumble. Azure did mention that her brother might be her father ('how fucked up is that?' she'd added, to Serendipity's confusion) but the concept of breeding and families was still something out of her grasp, for now.

After this suggestion she fell silent once more, pressing her cheek against the crook of Azure's neck.

@Pride

The pain, mercifully, was beginning to fade. Pride tilted his head at Azure's words, and frowned, a little.

"Huckleberry called you his daughter. I suspect that makes Blackberry your grandmother, though I've no idea who gave your stone. Certainly not Huckleberry, though I don't recall seeing Blackberry's stone--Huckleberry's is a good deal lighter than yours, I think." Huckleberry hadn't ever told her? Pride wondered why, vaguely, but pushed this thought aside as unimportant, for now.

"Your answer's good enough, though let's hope it does not need to be tested in practice. However, if she turns up, inform the leader of the cave you are in, and come tell me. She still has yet to pay for her crimes," he added, and a thread of anger and violence ran through these words. "As for you--I will allow you here, tentatively, on the condition that you find and speak to Mercurius in Eridanus. He is a kind soul, gentle and understanding, and has been speaking to both Yewberry and to Huckleberry both as part of their own... if not punishment, then the insurance that they be reformed. I will want you to speak to him so he can judge for himself if you need further aid. Is that acceptable?"

She'd suspected it, though only vaguely. So many of them had had antlers, hooves, from Blueberry--but for Huckleberry to not only have been her parent, but to have known and never told her..? Anger flared up in her.

"He is? HE KNEW?" She stood for a minute, her expression darkening, her wings slowly retracting back against her back. Fear fled in the face of hate. "That cowardly, whining piece of shit-" she snarled, but managed to rein herself in. For a moment Azure merely seethed.

The idea that she had to meet with Mercurius angered her further, but at once her mind told her that it could be worse. Much, much worse. Reluctantly, her beak briefly grinding, she responded. "...If I have to. Fine."

@Siren

It did seem a little fucked up, Serendipity realised, as she listened to Pride talk. Why not tell your own kid who you are to them in the first place? What was the point of keeping it some big secret?

Dimly-lit eyes lowered and then rose again as she opened her mouth to speak, though Azure was soon barking in her ear. She flinched, more in surprise than in actual fright-- though the raw anger that came from Azure certainly made fear a part of it.

She let go of the hybrid and scooted back some distance in wide-eyed alarm. The instinctive thought that occurred to her was that if Azure were to get any angrier, she might attack her. But that wasn't true, surely? She said she wouldn't.

She certainly seemed like she might. But she wasn't a fighter?

Siren crinkled her nose uncertainly, half-fearfully, and looked towards Pride. "Why keep it a secret from her?" She asked in a small voice.

@Pride

"Mind that temper," pride advised, and though his voice was mild, it held a slender thread of warning.

"See to Mercurius within a few days, then. And remember, we--the Seven--we live in Orion. We are responsible for the safety of those within; aggression toward others will not be tolerated. Other than that, if either of you require me, I will be back and forth between Eridanus, and here. Oh, and should you wish to speak to Huckleberry--he is most often there, as well."

Pride then bowed his head, and took his leave, gracefully striding away.

exit Pride

"Right,"" Azure responded sullenly. She glanced to Dip, then, as her friend pulled away; her brow furrowed. "Dip..?" Bafflement was quickly replaced by hurt as she realized that Dip had pulled away out of fear. "Shit, I'm not gonna attack you," she reassured, face knotting into consternation. Worry, disappointment, guilt, they all twined within her and knotted her gut into a confusing, miserable mess.

She looked away. "I didn't mean to scare you. I get mad, that doesn't mean I'm mad at you. And it doesn't mean I'd bite anyone, or anything."

She couldn't help but think it was the fault of her opening her big mouth about her family. If Dip didn't know about her murderous, idiot parentage, she wouldn't be afraid of her--would she?

@Siren

Serendipity took a sharp breath, and then another.

She watched Pride as he stepped away, slinking out of sight like a ghost. For a moment she watched even the space where he'd been just before he'd gone, only jolted back to reality by Azure saying her name. She jerked, looking back, and shook her head.

"You didn't scare me," she lied, as children do when they're afraid. Siren took another breath, puffing her chest up like she'd seen some hallowed callers do. "And I don't think you're gonna hurt anyone."

That part, at least, was true. Serendipity didn't have any reason to think that Azure was lying and that she would hurt someone-- anyone, even a lesser. "Friends don't hurt each other," she added very knowingly, despite just coming up with this factoid on the spot.

The child stepped back towards Azure, setting her hand against her shoulder gently. "Are, uh, are you okay? Do you wanna talk about it or just-- forget about it for a while and go find a place to live?" She asked.

@Azure

Azure shook her head, a little.

"I don't... know. Maybe for now just--find someplace." Azure ruffled out her feathers, giving Dip a little nudge. She didn't know if she believed Dip, but she wanted to, so she didn't push it.

"...Let's find somewhere. I'll follow you," she murmured, taking a few steps before glancing back.

exit Azure
@Siren

Siren offered a gentle nod as she turned, heading out into Orion. She didn't want to push anything, especially if Azure was hurting about what had happened to her and her family.

"We'll find the best place," she promised, half-assured.

[exit]