Connor:
Connor haunched in a tree, his wings tucked firmly against his back. It was cold, he didn't much care for it, but he wanted to get out. He'd been cooped up most of the winter, not that he was one to complain. He'd been with Mel and that was perfect. Yes, he worried about what his father might be up to... But damn it, he had wings and he needed to stretch them. Flying up into the canopy had been exhilarating, just what he'd needed.

He would go back soon, even just a few minutes away from Mel made him tired. He wondered what she was up to. She'd been probably as stir-crazy as he had gotten. Now that it was... somewhat starting to warm up, perhaps they'd go for a walk together. The only reason he didn't ask her to come with this time was because it wouldn't be fair, her being on the ground with him in the air.

Artemis:
Artemis was sharpening wood, she was still full of conflicting emotions both elated, bitter, and guilty over her mothers return from the dead. She couldn't do much for it now though, all she could do was try to keep others of Angelus ilk from growing and spreading. She had her eye on some of the other demonic otters on the reserve, pleasantly enough most were like her, they didn't have any desire to wreak the type of pain and carnage that Angelus demonstrated.

Still, some were on her short list…and the red headed daughter of Pearl's was one of them. She just couldn't get the cozy image of Angelus and Melantha out of her head and just because the red-head had gone to ground didn't wipe her from Artemis' memory. She glanced up her glowing green eyes focusing steadily on a passing shadow…a familiar shadow. She followed quietly and then paused under the tree.

"Connor…" She murmured softly knowing he'd hear her just fine and respond…if he wanted. The unusual relationship with her siblings was just another reason to hate her father, he'd pushed her brother away and given Darling to Dru leaving her disconnected from the siblings she longed to know. She and Connor were more like business partners than brother and sister, maybe once the nasty business of their father was finished a better relationship could bloom.

Connor:
Connor's ears and wings twitched at the same time, having heard his name from below. His sister, the secret huntress. She was the lucky one, but then who could really say that? He was hunted, forever in danger from his father because of his honesty, Artemis was wrapped up in a lie to the enemy.

"Hello Artie," he replied, his eyes closed for a moment before he looked down at her. A heartbeat later, he hopped off his current perch, moving down, down, down until he was just out of leap-range for a certain demonic elder. Old habits.

Artemis:
"Been keeping safe during the winter? Angelus has been…quiet…upset about losing most of his toys I suppose and…afraid of her." She didn't see the point in mincing words, and if Connor had seen Angelus she knew he'd tell her.

She slowly sat down noting the distance and trying to make her brother feel safer. She didn't blame him, she viewed every other otter like her with the same skepticism.

Connor:
He hunkered down, moving to more or less drape over the branch as he stared down at her.
"Of course. Been holed up for most of it, too cold to go out for more than food. I forgot how much I hated the winter." Connor thought about what she had said. He hadn't seen their father lately, that all made sense. 'Di was back with her family, with his half-brother and -sisters, and Mel had been with him. All that were really left were Dru and Darling. He still wished he could save his sister, but that was a dream he didn't even begin to consider.

"Good to know he's tucked his tail for the moment."

Artemis:
"It's cold and unpleasant but it passes…" She shrugged lightly.

"He might be keeping his head down, but his companions might not be…like that red head." She shook her head wondering where the demonic female had been hiding, Artemis needed the evidence to stake her and the female had split from Angelus side before she could get it.

Connor:
Connor frowned when she mentioned a red-head. He only knew two that could be problems, Mel and her mother. And anyone who even remotely knew her was aware that while Pearl was a pirate through-and-through and a turned vampire, she was still more or less an agent of good. She'd turned over Spike, one of Angelus' closest friends, after all.
So it could only mean that Artemis was talking about...

"Leave her alone, Artemis. Pearl's daughter isn't a threat." His voice was low as he spoke, his fur and feathers bristling slightly both with his warning and the fact that he could be betraying so much with the statement.

Artemis:
Artemis blinked and looked at Connor startled by the tone her brother used as much as by the words he spoke. "I beg your pardon? Connor…I saw Pearl's daughter and Angelus cavorting about together with my own two eyes. She's dangerous, she has blood lust in her eyes…and once I catch her in the act I intend to take her out and deny Angelus another ally."

Connor:
Before he could think better of it, Connor was on the ground not far from his sister, gleaming eyes narrowed.
"I said leave her alone, Artemis. She's not a threat and she sure as hell isn't one of Angelus' allies." No, she wasn't Angelus' ally. In fact, she never really had been. She'd just been scared and desperate. She was the perfect catch for his father, just like 'Di had been. Angelus had taken advantage, and Connor had saved her. She was safe, getting help, and happy.

And he'd never been happier than to have her safe from his father and tucked into his side whenever either of them needed it.

Artemis:
"What is wrong with you? How can you say that? I told you I saw them together Connor…you've never cared before if I had plans to stake one of Angelus whores." She looked at her brother surprised by how much closer he'd come and how…how upset? he looked. Why would he defend anyone that stood by Angelus?

Connor:
Connor couldn't stop his wings from visibly twitching, his tail lashing at his sister's words. He would never hurt one of his sisters, never. But, damn, he knew his teeth had to be bared when he responded.

"Never. Never call her that again. I don't know about outside of the Oasis, but he'd only got one whore here and that's Dru. Melantha isn't one of his toys and she isn't a threat," he snapped back, trying to push down his agitation. Mel had a heart and soul, she'd taught him what that meant. He'd tried to, almost killed her brother and she'd forgiven him for the mistake. She'd never killed, worked so hard, even starved herself to make sure that she didn't. And she had never needed him to stop her.

Artemis:
Artemis claws made a small furrow in the earth as her brother bared his teeth. His sudden defensiveness came as a shock and irritated her, her ears flicked. "Oh please, you think she's immune to his charms just because her father found some-kind of redemption? Angelus is very good at charming lonely females and that one was cozying up to him, but fine if it offends you I'll refrain from the use of the term."

She nearly growled and then it hit her, his defensiveness and attitude were odd. She turned her glowing green gaze on her brother and her eyes narrowed. "Why is it so important to you?"

Connor:
It had nothing to do with Mel's father. The interactions he'd had with Spike, Mel undoubtedly had more of her mother than her father in her. But that didn't even matter. Artie was right, Angelus was skilled at charming lonely females. But Mel wasn't alone, she had him. And Oya, and perhaps even her brother. They hadn't talked much on the subject, maybe he should bring it up. She cared about her family, he knew she was just afraid of losing control, of hurting someone she cared about.

She asked what it meant to him. He didn't even glance away.
"I took Melantha away from Angelus. She isn't a threat." There. It was an answer, not exactly explaining everything, but at least some of it.

Artemis:
"You took her away from him?" Artemis echoed her brother slightly surprised and then raised a brow. "Well, that is an interesting strategy. I suppose if she was lonely and desperate enough to fall for Angelus coy tricks then flattering her away wouldn't be too hard. Well done, one less problem to concern ourselves with."

Connor:
Connor glared at her for a moment before shaking his head.
"It wasn't a strategy. She wouldn't kill despite Angelus' coaxing, all in all doesn't need much. I offered to watch out for her, she's never really needed it," he replied, his ire cooling, but not enough for his peace of mind. There were things he couldn't figure out about himself, how he could care so much... no, he understood it when he really thought about it. She was like 'Di, she had the hunger but fought it every step of the way.

"She isn't a problem. And I didn't use tricks or flattery, just the truth." He cared about her, if Artemis asked him straight out he wouldn't deny it. But it didn't need to be said. Mel knew how he felt, he didn't need to justify it to his sister.

Artemis:
It wasn't a strategy…she looked at Connor for a long moment a sensation of unease creeping along her spine. He had offered to watch her, to…protect her? He spoke with something akin to admiration and when he emphasized again that the red head…Melantha wasn't a problem she frowned.

"Connor…did she…come to you? Ask you for protection?"

Connor:
"No, she didn't. I stalked her to ensure she didn't kill anyone, which she didn't. I asked, she had no one but Angelus to help her, so I offered to take his place," Connor explained, wondering what she might be getting at. Did she think that Mel had used him, was using him? It was laughable. He wasn't one to be fooled by a pretty face. That wasn't him. And all the ups and downs between the two of them, no, it hadn't been a game or ploy.

"I won't tip-toe anymore. Mel is mine. Angelus doesn't know of it, he doesn't need to, I don't want him know of it. She's safe from him and won't be returning to him for help. Is there anything else you want to know?"

Artemis:
Artemis nodded softly, so Connor hadn't been duped by the female. She jerked and looked at him a bit shocked by what he said. "Yours? I-" She was shocked, her brother obviously cared for Melantha, was protecting her from Angelus, he…loved her? No, he hadn't said it but Artemis could hear it in his voice, this went beyond protection, beyond keeping a female from their father.

"No, you don't need to say anymore I understand. I'm sorry Connor, I only worried…but I know how well you can handle yourself of course. I'll try and ensure Angelus doesn't find out about any of this."

Connor:
Connor waited, watching her body language as she spoke. When she finished, his posture relaxed and he ran a paw over his hair, knocking at his blasted halo.
"Sorry, Artemis. I'm just... tired. Or wired, I'm not exactly sure. Before, all I had was hating Angelus, now..." He shrugged. He needed to get back, go... home. For once in his life, he actually had a place he called home. A part of him hated to leave his sister, the fact that he was putting someone before her, but that was just how it seemed to be.

Artemis:
"It's alright Connor…really…and I'm…I'm sorry for what I called her. I guess I've just become a little too judgmental. Take care." She felt the words bubble up, the desire to tell her brother that she loved him, that she wished things were different, that she'd love to meet Melantha, but the words died on her tongue, things weren't ideal.

Connor:
Connor shook his head.
"You didn't know and I wasn't helpful. I almost killed her brother because I'm just as judgemental," he said with a bitter quirk of a smirk. He felt the words that wouldn't come, both from Artemis as well as himself. Everything was wrong, had been wrong since the moment they had been conceived. But perhaps someday they would be right again.

His posture passive, he closed the distance from his sister and wrapped his paws around her in the first hug he had ever given one of his siblings.
"Be safe, Artie."

Artemis:
She tensed for a moment every muscle tight until she felt his paws around her, she relaxed and then slowly leaned in to her brother. She didn't dare lift her heavily clawed paws around him in a return hug for fear he would pull away. She buried her muzzle a moment against his cheek in a soft nuzzle and then slowly pulled back and smiled with a nod. Her chest ached with the desire to explain how right it had felt, how much she wished they could hug darling, how guilty she felt for leaving her mother to face their father again. "I'll see you around…"