It was a lot to take in. So young, so naive, Kyoami didn't understand the strife that had begun when his grandfather declared his father and uncles were to rule together. As a boy who had not grown up in a pack, such concepts were beyond his comprehension entirely. Why couldn't they rule together? Why did they speak against each other? Would he speak against his sister if his mother told them to rule together? No, he thought. He would do what his mother said, of course. He would do anything to make her proud of him.

Such were the ideals of the child.

His brow furrowed as he wondered why his father and uncle had even fought against his grandfather. He didn't understand. He understood even less why his uncle killed his father… Maybe he had a change of heart, maybe he was just a bad wolf. But Kyoami's world view was too small to fully grasp the whole story. Ambition and cunning were things he did not yet know.

Kyoami looked up as his mother cupped his face. Would uncle kill me and Tatsuhime, he wondered? But he did not want to sound scared. He did not want his mother to be sad or worried.

I won't let anyone hurt us, he said. If anyone ever came, that was. Kyoami didn't see a reason why they would. And even if they didn't, he would protect his family. His mother, his sister, Rio, Layre. He would have to train.