[Archer]

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The air was cool and the waves were active, soothing crashing noises against the frothy shoreline were nearly a lullaby to ease anyone into sleep. However, the black prince was far from sleepy for once. He’d felt an unusual stirring in the evening now, beckoning him to the black beach that would undoubtedly one of his favourite spots to be. It had been the first place his mother had showed him when they moved to Gemini, and place he went to when he felt like he wanted to be closer to her, even when she was within the territory. During his time there he’d managed to wrangle a fish out of the ocean, a skill he’d practiced for months during the Queen’s downtime. Now that she was recovered and active once more, she’d had her paws full with new little ones.

Archer was glad for new siblings, even if he wasn’t sure how to handle the influx of family and was never very good at showing it. He’d forever love the depth and the bond he had with his litter mates; he was touched to see Harriette around more now that the times have gotten calmer. He knew she was distressed some days, the hefty reality of the hole in their family was hard to come to terms with. Deep down, Archer still wasn't sure he accepted it. Siblings couldn't fill that hole, but they proved to be a loving distraction every once and a while. But for today, Archer wanted to sit in solitude and watch the sun set, basking in the energy around him and likely being prayed on by silly spirits. The concept made him snicker at one point, looking at the shoreline and imagining the manifested form of his blue brother, one he never had a chance to spend time with in the ocean but could only imagine how amusing he'd be.

"I'd tackle you right in the water." He murmured to himself, perhaps to the air hoping Kariya would hear it, somewhere. His death was harder to come to terms with, for he was never found but still known to be gone. Archer wanted to ask questions but he knew they hurt; not only him but his parents. Something told him that more knowledge was out there about it... someone must know something. One day he'd want to find out, maybe... just maybe...

The sun was low on the ocean's horizon now as the sky lit up in reds and purples, beckoning the night stars to peel down from the sky as the descending fire star finished another day. Archer wasn't sure if he wanted to leave yet, if anything he felt even more compelled to stay now. Something else pulled him to remain there, with a deep, salty inhale he briefly closed his eyes.

I wish you were here.