Relief washed through Ive at the sight of Ivandri, and without hesitation she moved to settle at her side. The familiar presence eased some of the tension coiled within her chest. Glancing back toward the young wolf she had found, pity softened her blue gaze.

This could not be easy to hear.

To learn that your world had been stolen away. That there was no returning home.

At Ivandri’s explanation of her mutism, Ive let out a soft whimper beneath her breath, ears twitching faintly in frustration.

Damn mutism.

It had always made situations like this more difficult than they needed to be.

Still, hearing Ivan refer to her as her sister brought an immediate warmth to the ghost’s chest. Her expression softened visibly, gratitude flickering across her features. Whatever strange fate had dragged them into this world, Ive was endlessly thankful that it had brought Ivandri into her life.

Then came the mention of cages.

Immediately, Ive’s ears pinned back against her crown.

That... did not sound pleasant in the slightest.

Blue eyes shifted back toward the young wolf with renewed concern.

Where exactly had this child come from?

Andy sat down likewise, and listened carefully to what the strangely colored wolf told him. It helped shead light on many things. He hadn't met a wolf that couldn't talk before, and just the thought of being unable to speak made him scared, maybe even more scared than of being lost.

I'm sorry about that, Andy said to Ive, hoping to soften the expression on her snout somewhat.

A more important part however remained unclear. What did the peach-eyed she-wolf mean by You are no longer in that world?. This mythris place must have been far away from his home, but he walked here, surely he could still walk back to his home? he wished he knew what question to ask to best clear this up, but he didn't want to make them any more upset by accident.

Well, it's not that bad, Andy tried to calm down their fear of the cages, We are treated well, we get to play and the expre, experimints, they do different things to us, and usually it's fun, but it's also strange.

He paused, and then added: ""I like being here, but I also want to find my way back to my world eventually. It can't be that far away, I only ran for about a day I think..."

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Elvie

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---

When Ive settled at her side Ivandri placed her head atop the other woman's for a moment before turning it back to the other. She heard the soft whimper of Ive and Ivan brought her tail to brush light against Ive's leg for comfort, when the woman pinned her ears back Ivan sighed and continued to listen as the child continued to explain a bit more.

He apologized to Ive and the pale femme smiled and dipped her head as if to say "it's okay" and questioned her words. The stranger explained things weren't that bad and they got treated well, got to play and that somebody did different things to them that were fun but also strange. Ivandri tilted her head a little and raised a brow in question.

I like being here, but I also want to find my way back to my world eventually. It can't be that far away, I only ran for about a day I think... He told her and she shook her head, It is though, we are in a different world, a completely different universe, Mythris is a million miles away... I am so sorry... I am Ivandri, can I help in any way? She asked him, her voice soft and gentle as she tried to ease his way into the world they were in.

She didn't feel like she was doing a very good job of it...

---

Shifting her blue gaze to her sister, Ive would share a look of confusion and concern. This child was strange. The insistence on going home made her chest ache. Did he not understand? Or was he simply too young to accept it?

Her ears would flick uncertainly as she watched him, tail curling tighter around her paws. The ghost wished she could help Ivan explain. Wished she could put the right words together and somehow make him understand. But she couldn't. Not with her silence. Not with the limitations that always seemed to follow her.

A deep frown settled across her features as she continued to study him. Was he the only one who had arrived? Had there been others with him? The thought of a child being dragged into Mythris alone made her stomach twist uneasily.

Blue eyes would drift briefly toward the ground before returning to the boy. There wasn't really anything she could do but sit there and listen as Ivan tried her best to explain. Quiet. Helpless. Concerned.

The ghost let out a soft whine beneath her breath. She didn't like this. Not one bit.

Andy Brush bowed his head. He still wasn't sure these wolves were telling the truth, not that he thought they were lying either. They were just as confused as he was, for some reason convinced this forest was a completely different world from the one outside it. But that didn't make sense at all. Nothing really did. And he didn't feel comfortable questioning older wolves who have shown nothing but kindness and patience to him.

Well, if there is no way home, can I at least stay in this forest? Whose territory is this, and...uh...what's life in the forest like?

Andy stepped back, and looked like as if he wanted to build a burrow under himself and hide.

Sorry, I just, haven't spend this much time in a forest since, well, I don't remember when, I know I used to live in a forest before but I don't remember it at all

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Elvie

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---

The younger wolf bowed his head before the pair, sadness enveloped him in a swirling haze as the females gazed upon him. He spoke, questioning that if there was no way home, could he stay in the forest, he asked whose territory it was and what life in the forest was like. He stepped back and acted like he wanted to bury himself alive, Ivandri bent her head a little, biting her lip and her eyes went upwards in her own sorrow for him.

The Andy Brush apologized to them and mentioned that he hadn;t spent this much time in the forest since as long as he could remember, he knew he used to live in a forest but he couldn't remember it. Ivandri lifted her head again to meet his eyes with her twinkling own, It's okay, don't worry, we are here under the protection of Elvie and Aksel, I will call for Elvie that way you can ask her yourself... It's okay really just be calm, we are here for you. The femme spoke gently, her lips forming a small smile on dark lines.

I'm sure it'll be fine if you stay... It's nice here, it's quiet and still and a lot of times it's only the wind through the branches in the tunnels and the ravens you hear. I'm sure you will like it... Ivan reassured, Oh how silly... She giggled and closed her eyes with the gentleness of her smile, I forgot to introduce myself, I am Ivandri... The pink woman bent her head in introductions and flicked her eyes up to the younger man.

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