Meagre the tally of occupants once housed in subterranean den, thinned as time saw fit to advance a select few, bolstered as the merger staged had beckoned forth children lacking in parental guidance. Common ground such, deposited on grains once golden in hue one child within particular, yet burned the bridge before construction may begin, decision to welcome these interlopers coming with the small print they were deemed beneath the care of Rhine. Had been different the situation, a better basis allowing more tempered thoughts permitting slight chance of connection, welcomed may they have been. Unforeseen the issues that plagued, sullen grown mood and thus irreparable the situation.

Lacking his presence where it pertained to the discovery, and subsequent move of the overly large egg, yet made note of how it had once occupied a space, odd the creature once housed. Soured what had begun as a baseline curiosity, a desire that was mere embers sparking with jovial questioning and gentle inspection, dwindling into ash as the days passed. Allowing another a space within his fickle heart had brought only pain, aching still claws that carved ragged grooves into his bedding, beneath his own selection of blankets huddled.

Lacklustre the atmosphere present in hollow, rambunctious voices ringing with delight as the snow that peppered shallow divet nestled against open cliff face melted, two worlds separate that may not come together. Oversight such notion, however, entrance one uncoordinated as overtaxed the tiny body that broke the silence, only touched lightly by slow and even breath, at rest all that were present. Some offered amusement in light laughter, others annoyance at disturbance, the sleep of their own not wished to be disturbed, his own guardian lacking. Fewer the instances she may be present, expectation driving her out come morning with hastily given apologies, familiar grown the empty space, accepted as he shivered and struggled to breath.

Narrowed the pale green depths that landed upon cub that spoke in such brazen tone, grumble befalling lips half hearted and further punctured by deep sniff. It seemed his constant wandering beyond the nursery was slowly catching up, dry the cough he tried to muffle behind ivory paws. Another voice, familiar and welcome, the eldest among them and kin, if in all but the blood that seemed to ravage taunt veins with each beat of his heart.

More jovial her words, framed in an amusement Foam missed in the once brightly chaotic reptilian, shakey the grin brought forth as he listened, simply pleased to hear her voice. Improvement had been staged for them both, time and the community about assistant as no other, thought stilted the broken words Foam offered after Drift had finished. "Be not dead outside."

Quelled, in some small part, the annoyance once housed beneath overheated skin, the pitiful display in wake of vocalised displeasure carving into the insubstantial joy kindled in aching chest. Minimal the moments he may claim as such, meagre the offering of delight once heavily present in days shaped by wonder, too young the eyes that peered through jade, taken in places he may not have otherwise found it. Brief the thought arising through cotton laced strands, wrinkled nose, diet cut deep between eyes squinted near shut. Momentary the hold before expression grew lax, heavy the sigh accompanying.

Discarded the warmth he was loath to depart from, behind the retreating cub following, heavy each step and lacking in ways that drew scowl forth along lips reddened and chewed upon, boredom making enjoyable anything. When proximity permitted Foam leaned down to the other, a feat almost unnecessary for their similar age did not permit the same in stature, light the press he placed to shoulder. "Am sorry." Half hearted the apology he mumbled, thought meant muffled by position and the simple fact his stuffed up nose warped his voice.

Excited may he have been once, even welcome, but wide the vision that turns, darkened as recognition settles. Still is it there, the adoration that may not depart heart seeking connection, the comfort he may give as no other might. Cast aside those desires and Foam seemed almost staunch in his desire to ignore the other, how he tended another, Foam focused only standing upon shaky legs once more. The words Rhine spoke brought only further confusion, for a time forgotten himself as a few steps were taken, once more regarded the other, a child bearing signs of a dual nature as Medusa had.

"On… Oni… mmm." Each attempt staged further muddled the poorly structured sounds, no other word present within his limited vocabulary necessitating the final letter nor a sound that may be deemed similar. Once more frustrated his attention fixed upon the floor below, mouth continuing to move, his further attempts to speak her name proved inaudible, however.

Stilled his lips in movement that had grown halting, caught lower between grinding points. Abandoned at some point seemed his attempts, favoured over it just basic movement, mirrored in paw that swept along the organic flooring. Ceased all motion when another conducted entrance that might not be deemed such, placement filling the opening widened to allow him entry, yet the internal structure needed work with the excess number who now filled it. Brightened by the one who observed the loose rabble his prior wait for Onyx was abandoned, forth treading with clumsy steps, barely paying mind to where he was going.

Distance closed nearly in full before voice arose, ears swivelling forth and upon mouth harshly drawn the contours of a frown. By no means necessary the skirting of allowing the child time to adjust to the sudden influx, let alone that Rhine was deemed father of many, rankled. Back did lips shift, there was nothing in expression that may evoke fear but it was there all the same.

"Not sibling." It may have been a case of acting the part of single child, though chosen the closer knit connection present where Drift was concerned until the light he viewed her within had grown familial, or jealousy that attention was taken from him, none may know for sure. It mattered little in that moment with his sharp words capped by heavy, raspy breath. Not wishing to dwell away did Foam turn, the softened voice drawing him forth as though he were a mere moth aloft on paper wings.

Intrusion felt the action that saw the tabby settle near to Drift, present still distance, nest untouched if he did not seek to do so, to her facing until all may only see his back. She, too, seemed positive in her reception, annoyance biting at his skin as the realisation settled. Yet he may not turn from her, as he was unofficial her inclusion within the family Rhine had built around himself, tethered by an experience he may not share with any other, his breath stirring the grains littering the floor as he softly spoke. "Fren."