---

Sindri knew whatever was in store.... wasn't good. She'd been gone too long, Cupid must've figured out by now nobody had initially gone with her, and there weren't enough excuses in any world to keep her from the Grecian asswhupping she was about to be gifted. She'd have to tell him about the bird early, that way if he started swinging, her poor companion wasn't caught in the crossfire.
She slunk up to the den with shameful steps, purposely heavy-stepped to announce her not-so-triumphant return. A soft whine keened from her throat, head dipping low as she paused outside and waited for her Father.

Hopefully she wasn't really rousing him, though she didn't think he would mind being awoken by his daughters return either.

Papa, she crooned softly, tail swishing nervously and ears on a swivel, Papa, I know I have apologies to make, but I'd like you to meet someone first.

Good news first, right? It wouldn't soften his anger, but at least it wasn't all dour curses and misbehaving children that'd made its way back home.

---

Cupid was in his den, stealing a nap while the pack was still waking up. The loamy scent of the packed earth and leaf litter filled his nose, blotting out the return of his daughter until her voice reached his ears.

Papa, and his ear twitched, head lifting off his paws as he processed the voice and who it belonged to. It didn't take long - he knew his children by their sounds and scents. Cupid lunged to his paws, scrambling to get out of the den. Sindri - He gasped, slamming the top of his skull into the roof of the den in his blind haste. A furious curse slipped past his lips, but he crawled the rest of the way into the open air and shook off the ache now blossoming across the top of his head.

He truly didn't care. She was here, and alive. I know I have some apologies to make, Cupid shook his head once again, attempting to rid himself of the throbbing across his brow. He wanted to rush and embrace her, but her words eventually filtered through his aching head. Sindri - who?

Thump.

Sindri winced, hoping whatever he'd hit hadn't been too hard.

She heard her name, and some mutter, too, and then his sweet, pale face was emerging from the depths of the den. She thought she must've woken him; he looked so groggy, and the fur on one cheek was flattened where he must've laid it against a paw. Joy flooded her at seeing him, followed closely by the guilt of leaving him behind.

Who, indeed.

Wings of my own, I suppose you could say. He doesn't have a name yet, she explained in lieu of introductions, But he's a dark barn owl fledgling, likes to rest between my shoulders. Tyr and I found him and saved him.

She gulped, stepping forward with a whine to press into her Father's chest for a hug. She couldn't hold off her explanation; remorse absolutely swamped her now that she'd come home and saw for herself the worried creases in Cupid's soft features. She worried less that he would think her crazy than he just plain wouldn't care about what some dream visitor had to say at this point, knowing it was important for her to go out there again.

I'm so sorry, the piebald girl whispered, ears laying flat, I didn't realize how far the mountain was.