[imgright]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... ke_ane.gif[/imgright] Things had changed since she'd been invited into the family and then, after her dream become nightmare that would never happen, she had begun to notice things that she hadn't before.

It was no secret that she had, at the very least, an infatuation with Heritage being as he was the only wolf she had met that was not herself or her sister. Before they knew her, there had been thoughts that she might love Ashborn but soon that had cooled because Ashborn was a reminder of a sister that had left and Lightning Strike was determined to help her see the benefit and blessing of family. Now, at least to the children, it seemed to be fairly obvious who it was that truly tied the doe to them.

Lightning Strike didn't think it was a secret to anyone, except maybe Keepsake. Heritage knew. The children seemed to know. And while she wasn't afraid of this, she didn't exactly find herself able to say it aloud. It was just there, no more and no less than the pelt she wore over her head and down her back. It was only that sometimes she couldn't help the idea that she was intruding and that she had no right to be here. Even with the invitation. Even when it was obvious she was accepted there.

Either way, it needed to be discussed because she couldn't keep flitting between here and not. She couldn't leave without hurting; she couldn't stay without questions. And while she was not the alpha, she knew she had to start the conversation.

It wasn't hard to find Keepsake, it never had been, but she still took a moment to pause and reflect before coming up beside the doe.

"Keepsake," the doe's voice was soft and hesitant, "I want to thank you."

Her family had grown. She had had Heritage by her side, lost him, and gained the puppies. Then he had returned to her, she had gained her lost love, and on his heels had come Lightning Strike. Alone, hateful— she had seen the malice in the doe’s eyes, the envy for what Keepsake seemed to have robbed her of without doing anything at all. It wasn’t like she hated Keepsake for who she was... rather, it was what she had. The life she had nearly lost altogether and come to know again by fate, design, by something gracing her with this love.

But she didn’t, now. Slowly but surely that feeling seemed to have abated, leaving... well. Keepsake wasn’t entirely sure what it had left at all. Not quite a friend, not quite a sister, but there was an undeniable closeness to them. A sort of kinship born from Keepsake’s own need to care, to take care of things, to love. And love she did, watching Lightning Strike grow with the puppies in comfort and in place.

Things had changed, and Keepsake loved everything moment of it.

Lost in her thoughts, Lightning Strike came to her side silently. The slighter doe jumped in surprise, then laughed to herself as she settled back down to watch the puppies head off with Heritage.

“You don’t owe me any thanks,” she deflected, shaking her head and smiling to the other doe. “We’re happy to have you as a part of the family.”