A little friendship is all you need (Hyper and Clary)

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby nodded her agreement and went to pick Iris up before hesitating and turning to Xoren. "Do you think, maybe, you could try and settle Iris down for me? I would like to speak to Sola." She said gently turning to the younger female before her, "It'll just be quick, I promise." She continued, settling her red gaze on him.

[Hypercube]

"Of course," Xoren said with no hesitation as he turned to the cub. He spoke to Iris about nothing in particular, attempting to get her mind off of what had just occurred and back to her normal energetic self. As he spoke to her, he stayed close, and protected her as if she was his own. Sola had heard Ruby speaking to her father and was already hanging her head to the ground as she walked away from the trio, waiting for Ruby to join her.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby was amused by Sola's shameful action as she padded closer, "You're not in trouble." She smirked, using her paw to raise Sola's gaze to her own. "I want your acceptance." The hybrid began pacing as she tried to figure out what to say, "If - theoretically - I had feelings for your father and were interested in telling him. If - still theoretical - he returned the emotions, would you approve of it? I know I'd never be your mother but I'd try to be like one." She stopped talking, "Theoretically still." She said again, stumbling over her words she lowered her gaze to the ground warily and waited for Sola's response.


Iris trotted along with Xoren chatting happily with him as she settled under the tree, "If Ruby is my mum, does that make you my dad?" She asked innocently, not quite understanding the way of parents. "And does that make Sola my sister and Ruby her mum?" She continued, still getting the situation all muddled up in her childish mind.

[Hypercube]

Sola began to lift the morose look off her face as Ruby attempted to find the words to describe what Sola had already figured out for herself. "If - theoretically this is -" Sola replied in a joking mimicry of Ruby's words "you did finally have the courage to tell him what he could never tell you, then I - still hypothetically - would be overjoyed." Sola did the same as she had, lifting Ruby's head with a her adolescent paw. "I have never been happier than I've been since we met you and Iris;" she looked towards his father and Iris with a smile now dominating her expression, "and I don't think my father has ever been happier either. So if - theoretically still - you did tell him and he did reciprocate," she said now looking into her substitute mother's eyes, "the I would be happy to call you my mother."

Xoren was taken back by the simple question, surprised at its hidden profundity. "Well Iris..." Xoren said to her while leaning down to meet her eye level, "that all depends on one thing. If you would be okay with that."

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby's expression twisted into a smile and nodded before she wrapped her paws around Sola's neck in a hug and purred contently before moving from the hold and gesturing towards Xoren and Iris with her head, "Let's get over there." She said starting to lead the way.


Iris cocked her head to one side, pondering what he'd said before nodding slowly, "I'd want that." She said eventually, glad Xoren hadn't made a remark on what she had said about Ruby being her mother.

[Hypercube]

Sola hugged Ruby back, happy that her and her father were finally going to act on the love she could plainly see they had for each other. Once they separated she turned in the direction they were headed and then to her father, standing in wait for him to follow.

"I would too kiddo" Xoren said smiling. When he heard Ruby's call to move he instinctively picked up the young cub and carried her to her mother, setting her down next to the hybrid with care. With Sola by his side, he looked to Ruby and spoke in his normal tone; "ready to go?"

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby padded over to Xoren with Sola and nuzzled Iris when she was placed beside her. She glanced at Sola and then to Iris, asking her silently to take Iris and pad on ahead of them a little so she could talk to Xoren, hoping she would understand. "Ready." She agreed with a smile.

[Hypercube]

Sola saw what Ruby was telling her and walked with Iris a small distance ahead of them so that the two adults could speak in privacy. Xoren, wishing to speak to Ruby alone, was relived to see the two young hybrids keep a small distance away as they strolled. He turned to Ruby and looked into her eyes, his heart racing as he reached for the right words to describe his feelings. "You know," he finally said, "what i said back there - about not being able to live without you- I really did mean it."

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby looked up at him thoughtfully, cocking her head to one side whilst she took in what he was telling her. "Is that so?" she asked carefully, she didn't want to scare him off. "I can relate." She continued, peeking up at him through her eyelashes. "I was speaking to Sola about it before - just now."


Iris padded along with Sola thoughtfully, "What are they talking about?" Iris asked curiously.

[Hypercube]

(OOC: Sorry I've been inactive for so long )

Xoren's stomach was becoming tangled with nerves and his lacking ability to convey his feelings. "I was speaking to Iris as well." Xoren said as he became lost in Ruby's eyes, "what did Sola have to say about it?"

---

Sola saw Iris in deep thought, obviously curious as to what the others were discussing. "Iris," Sola said turning her head to meet Iris's gaze, "would you say we're good friends?"

[Ruby_Fehu]

(OOC: Don't worry about it, I've not been very active myself. I've been spending time with the boyfriend haha)

Ruby looked up at Xoren with her head cocked to one side, "Oh? And what does she have to say about it?" She asked, trying to conceal her curiosity but failing miserably.

---

"Yes, you're like my big big big sister and my bestest friend." She giggled, her lips twisting into a huge grin as she looked up at Sola, "Why?"

[Hypercube]

"She said essentially what I feel:" Xoren looked down to the ground in a failed attempting to hide is obviously affection, "that she would want us to be... a family."

---

Sola knew that Iris would not fully understand what was going on between Ruby and her father so she avoided that topic completely. "I just... I want you to know that I feel the same way. I'm not very good at this..." Sola said, chuckling form her inability to convey sisterly compassion.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby nodded carefully, deep in thought before looking up at Xoren, "So what do we do now then?" She asked him warily, not wanting to push matters too far.

---

Iris smiled to herself as she shadowed Sola muttering, "Okay." To herself as she went.

[Hypercube]

Xoren felt as if he was far out of his element, yet it excited him and made him feel happier than ever before. He stopped walking and moved towards Ruby, the butterflies in his stomach dancing about and fluttering all around. Rather than resisting it, he allowed himself to become enveloped in his emotions as he closed his eyes, leaned forward, and allowed his lips to meet Ruby's. When he removed himself from the kiss, he looked into her eyes in astonishment. "I suppose this would be a good start," he said, resuming his normal logical demeanor.

---

Sola had noticed that her father had stopped following her and Iris, and turned around to see why. As her father finally expressed his true feelings she smiled and hugged her now official sister.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby stood in a shocked silence for a few moments before lowering her gaze sheepishly, eventually she peeked up at Xoren with a smile. "I guess that would definitely be a good start." She agreed, warmth filling her before she returned the gesture, briefly but still full of meaning. She glanced towards her daughter and her newly adopted daughter who were both watching Ruby and Xoren with expressions of obvious joy. "Looks like I have two daughters now." She said in a low voice.

[Hypercube]

Xoren relished the moment, becoming lost in the beautiful feeling his connection with Ruby provided him. As she spoke, his brain slowly crept back into reality, leaving him with the foreign emotion that was now imbued within him. "As do I," he responded with similar volume, looking to Sola and Iris who stood in waiting. After a brief silence and a slow passing wind that brushed aside Xoren's mane he turned back to Ruby. "Well," he said loudly, "Let's keep moving; the sun is getting low and it will be night before we know it." As he spoke, Xoren moved to Ruby, his flank once again touching hers, their hearts intertwined.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby smiled and watched as Xoren set off, she waited for a moment before following him a smile never leaving her lips until she reached Sola and Iris. "Let's keep moving girls." She grinned, her voice bright and regaining her old melodic tone as she picked Iris up by the scruff and swung her onto her back, relishing in the joyful giggle her daughter gave her. She then turned and nuzzled Sola in a motherly fashion before turning her red gaze to Xoren with a grin, "I'm ready, I'm sure we can set up camp somewhere soon."

---

"Do I have to call you dad now, Xoren?" Iris asked sweetly as the small family started to move again, not noticing how Ruby tensed at her words.

"W-what makes you think he's your dad now?" Ruby stammered.

"I know you're my mummy Ruby, I heard you say so when I got hurt. You said mummy's here" Iris quoted Ruby, not realizing that Ruby's expression had turned to fear.

"Are you not mad that I'm your mum?"

"No, I like it. I'm glad you're my mummy." The small cub stated.

[Hypercube]

Xoren turned to the cub atop her mothers back, smirking over the blossoming intelligence of the cub. "You can call me whatever you like Iris," Xoren said to her, "but you don't have to call me by anything specifically." As they continued their trek, Sola walked up to her father's free side; "I'm glad you finally said something," she said poking at her father jokingly, "I was wondering when you would do it!"

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby glanced over at Sola with an amused smile, "So you knew about this all along. Tut tut Sola, I'd have expected you to have forced him to say something." She teased, laughing a little as she spoke, cocking her head to one side fondly. The hybrid became slightly aware of a shuffling on her back and she raised her head, "You okay on my back?" She asked Iris carefully.

"Yes mummy, but I want daddy to give me a ride. I've not had one of him ever." She replied and RUby smirked at Xoren.

[Hypercube]

"Of course!" Xoren said stopping his walk, "I can take you if that's alright with your mother." Xoren looked to Ruby with a questioning smile as he keeled down to provide a small drop for Iris to jump down, knowing before she could even respond that she would not mind.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby smiled as Iris slid down her back and onto Xoren, landing with a light thud on his back before she started giggling, "Giddy up daddy, giddy up!" She chanted whilst Ruby started laughing and watching Iris, her eyes glinting with amusement, she pulled back to walk alongside Sola, causing her pace to match hers, "Do you want to go and do some hunting with me tonight before we all settle down to sleep?" She offered.

[Hypercube]

Sola's stomach responded for her with a small grumble that personified her hunger. "I would love to," she told Ruby with joy, eager to spend some time with the figure she now trusted as her own mother. Xoren walked behind them, having some difficulty becoming accustom to the added weight on his back. He could feel his new daughter as she too became used to her new place in the family, her small paws placing tiny pressure along his pelt.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby chuckled a little at the stomach. "We have a little but further to travel, do you think you can manage without food until then?" She teased, grinning at Sola as she walked before glancing up when she heard a little huff and was amused to see Iris still trying to settle on Xoren's back, eventually Iris seemed to find a comfortable position and slumped down on his back, whilst Ruby tilited her head to one side and turned back to her newest daughter. 

[Hypercube]

Sola looked back to her father as Ruby did, remembering the days she was left alone; no one to love, no one to care. Shaking those thoughts from her mind she returned to a forward face, pushing for a return to the present. "Yes I can." she replied with sheepish confidence. "I'm... I'm sorry..." she said to Ruby, aware that she would probably catch onto her change in tone, "I just remembered some... less than favorable times."

Xoren saw his daughter's change in attitude from many paces away, her body language being nearly identical to his. For a moment, he felt the urge to console her and rush to her side. The small mass on his back caused reminded him of the other feline that walked beside her, the only person he could ever trust to be like a mother to his daughter. Hoping to fulfill the same empty void for Iris, he lifted his head and spoke loudly such that the young cub could hear him. "How am I doing so far Iris?" he asked playfully.

[Ruby_Fehu]

"No worries Sola." Ruby said, her tone gently as she nuzzled the young hybrid's cheek with a smile. "We all have memories we'd rather forget." She continued in an understanding tone. "But if you ever want to talk, you know where I am."


Iris shifted on Xoren's back to put a paw to her lips in mock thought, "Faster slave!" She said after a while, bursting into a fit of giggles when she'd finished speaking.

[Hypercube]

"Thanks mom-" As the title escaped her lips, Sola's voice cut off; she hadn't even noticed what she had called the other feline until her own hearing perceived it. While surprised, Sola did not regret her vocal chord's betrayal and instead realized that she was only speaking her true feelings, those that she normally kept so tightly under wraps.

Xoren laughed as Iris's giggles vibrated her body and his back. Turning at a slight angle from the path the others were traveling, Xoren followed his new daughter's command and began to jog in a diagonal path, adjusting his body movements to keep Iris from slipping.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby smiled and nodded, her expression showed that she was not phased by Sola's words yet in her mind she was most certainly taken aback whilst she liked the name, she felt a slight guilt towards Sola's biological mother. However after learning the history of his old mate from Xoren she also silently promised to live up to the name of mother. "No problem."


Iris cheered loudly, as Xoren started running, her tiny frame bouncing up and down as he ran, she wrapped her paws around his neck as best she could and held on, still laughing excitedly.

[Hypercube]

Sola allowed herself to fall into her emotions, her hard outer shell melting away as she moved towards her new mother. Without any words, she leaned up against the hybrid, her eyes closed as small tear droplets rolled down her cheeks.

Xoren felt the cub entrap his neck within her paws prompting him to increase his speed as he circled back towards the path they were walking along. For a moment, he forgot about everything else in the world; the only thing that mattered was the family he had just become patriarch of, and he had no problem with that.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby stopped her walking when she felt Sola rest her head against her and the tears that made her fur damp, with a small smiled she rested her chin on the top of her head and let her cry.

[Hypercube]

After a few moments, Sola regained herself, stepping back from Ruby's now wet pelt. "I'm sorry," Sola said as she wiped the remaining tears from her eyes, "I don't know what came over me..."

Xoren had stopped his antics when he saw the two females embrace each other. While it made no sense to smile as his own daughter cried, his body would not allow him to do otherwise. For some reason unknown to his logical mind, the scene compelled him too to cry, a single tear falling over his smiling mouth and to the dry ground.