Huckleberry shivered, his nerves alight and sparking with intensity. He couldn't be seen by the family, especially mother. She'd have warned them already. They all knew about him and the gem. The magpie's blue gem, filled with Huckleberry's life. The gem currently held tightly in his mouth as he sought a moment of peace alone with his little treasure.

Mama was so protective of the gem. She seemed to do everything in her power to keep it away from its rightful parent. Of course, Huckleberry had given it to her as an apology, as repentance for whatever he had done, but still, it felt wrong. It felt so wrong to be parted from what would soon be his child. He wanted to raise it himself. He didn't want Mama to make it another one of her dark children. Despite being directly related, Huckleberry felt more and more distanced from his family. He thought that things would get better after the fight. But this trouble with the gem was dividing his relationship with his mother, and with the family, more and more.

He sighed and sat down at last, setting the stone carefully down on the ground. He curled his body around it and, using his wing, pulled it in as close as he could. He was always so tense with the family, always unable to relax and let himself go. He needed this time alone. And he hoped that nobody would disturb him.

@Jayberry

The she-wolf perked her ears.

Strife seemed to have filled their family. Father had vanished not long ago, and she hadn't seen Elderberry in ages, nor Mulberry. She missed them, really, she did. But her loyalty belonged with those who remained loyal to the family.

Of which, Huckleberry was not one. He had attacked mother, and refused to do as she said. He was on thin ice with the whole family, and she hadn't quite forgiven him despite his attempts to make amends.

But it was impossible to miss the familiar sounds of Huckleberry, and the scent of them in the air. So she followed the scent, until she spotted her brother.

"Huckle, hello." she called coolly.

@Huckleberry

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

So enthralled by the gem pushed against their side, Huckleberry didn't notice Jayberry approaching until her scent his their noise and her voice touched her ears. She flinched and jerked her head up, instinctively pulling her wing closer to conceal the gem. Her eyes flashed nervously just for a second before she forced herself to visibly relax.

"Oh, hi Jayberry." She tried her best to keep her voice steady, but it was difficult - she knew that Jayberry was the most like Mama and that she didn't trust her either. She was terrified of the wolf. She was almost as cruel a killer as Mama and possibly just as dangerous, with her snapping teeth and strength. Although she knew that she could face her in a fight, weilding her magic, she never wanted it to come to that.

She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. As long as she didn't freak out, this interaction would go smoothly. "What brings you here?"

@Jayberry

Jayberry tilted her head, eying Huckleberry. She was no fool, she knew that something wasn't right. And her hunch told her it had something to do with the gem that had been such a source of contention between Huckle and Mother.

"How are you?" she asked with a toothy grin, sitting down. Her tail tapped a slow rhythm on the ground, her eyes scanning the hybrid's form.

The she-wolf tilted her head the other way, and she asked, "Can't a wolf visit her sibling?" with a far-too-innocent smile.

@Huckleberry

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

Huckleberry almost sighed with relief, completely fooled by Jayberry's facade. She was extremely gullible after all and was searching for any sign that this would be a relatively normal interaction. She smiled back at Jayberry, her head lifting a little bit. "I'm okay. Still healing. How about you?"

She traced her claw bashfully on the ground, a little flattered. Did Jayberry really care about her like that? The wolf had never shown particular interest. Actually, nobody in the family really showed that much interest in her. The probably thought she was weird or a traitor, like Mama had told them all. But if Jayberry was nice, maybe the rest would come around! "Yeah I guess. Sorry, we just never talk like this, do we?"

@Jayberry

Jayberry allowed herself to slouch somewhat, as though relaxing. While Huckleberry was much bigger than her, she had been told that she was rather intimidating when standing, or even sitting, tall and proud. It made her muscles flex beneath her hide, emphasizing her 'predator-ness'.

"I'm glad to hear that," she smiled with a tap of her tail. So she was still healing, then? Then she was weak. "I'm doing well, fit as fit can be."

Grim satisfaction flickered in her eyes as Huckleberry seemed to fall for her ruse. Well, it was sort of a ruse. Huckleberry was family, and so she was pack. And thus she was under Jayberry's protection.

But, yet, Huckle was wandering from the family. Soon, she wouldn't even be pack. And if she became no longer pack, she would suffer beneath the wolf's fangs. No one hurt Mother, and got away with it.

But she smiled at the hybrid, laying down and resting her head on her paws. "No, I suppose we don't. We should make a habit of this." she smiled.

@Huckleberry

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

Desperate to convince herself that Jayberry's intentions here were good, Huckleberry let herself believe the relaxed pose of the wolf. It's fine, it's fine, she just wants to talk. Perhaps her efforts to regain their trust were working, that the others would come around soon as well. Yes, hopefully this would turn out okay. Jayberry would help her return to the family.

But it would all be bust if she found out about the gem concealed under her stomach. Mama had told them that she wasn't supposed to have it. She would be in trouble.

There was a moment of silence between them as Huckleberry struggled for words to start conversation. "So, uh, what have you been up to?" It was a dumb question, but at least it was something. It was better then sittingi n silence or letting Jayberry take the lead in the interaction. Huckleberry just had to keep it away from the gem.

@Jayberry

Jayberry eyed Huckle, allowed her muzzle to rest on her legs to hide her grin. Yes, Huckleberry was family. But family does not betray each other. And Huckleberry had. So, while she did feel some guilt for betraying a member of her family, she was willing to do it.

The tension was palpable between them, but she held her tongue, waiting to see what Huckleberry would say. She was no fool to think that Huckleberry was merely going for a walk, and she had a hunch that her sibling had stolen the gem back. But she couldn't yet confront them, of course, as she hadn't any proof.

The hybrid asked what she had been doing, and the wolf smiled easily. "Been hunting, practicing my fighting. And you?"

@Huckleberry

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

Of course that was her answer, there really wasn't any other answer a member of the Bloodberries could give, especially one like Jayberry. But Huckleberry honestly couldn't say the same. All she had been doing was practicing her magic and mooning over the gemstone that Mama kept away from her. And, of course, wandering. But that wasn't something she could tell Jayberry.

"Oh, practicing my magic and stuff." She shifted just a little bit, discreetly moving herself a little more on top of the gem. It jabbed painfully at her stomach, but at least it was better concealed. Hopefully.

She looked around the room, snatching desperately for a conversation. She never really talked to people that didn't have their own words ready. "I like wandering around in this cave," she blurted out. "It's pretty. And I feel funny when I'm in here."

@Jayberry

Jayberry hummed as she watched Huckleberry, trying to figure out what seemed to cause her to be so twitchy. She twitched her ears, tapping her tail.

"I have to say, I'm rather jealous. Your magic is so diverse, and strong. All I can do is make mushrooms." she chuckled. Although, she had to admit, Hallucinate was a personal favorite of hers, alongside Terror. She was physically strong, but her magic was good only for mental things. Of course, it did make it easier for her to get in an attack.

"As do I," she smiled, and this time she meant it. "It's so different from our Tunnel, isn't it? I like watching the Lessers run around, it's so full of life."

@Huckleberry

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.