and the stars in their orbits shone pale through the lightof the brighter, colder moon

Tobias told a lot about his history in those few words about humans. Nadya didn't want to get into it now so shuffled that information away to address later. At least now that they had all found each other she could keep an eye on Tobias to make sure he didn't harm anyone. It was time to play. Despite their size, the three large felines still had a grace equal to that of their smaller domesticated counterparts; they could just kill you easier. Nadya rolled onto her side at Tetra's feet after making contact with him, batting playfully at the large paws before Tobias' knock to her shoulder drew her attention. Tobias had a different personality once shifted and she could see the ease and relaxation that it brought him. Whether it was just plain feline instinct or his real self emerging only time would tell. For now Nadya welcomed the change in Tobias' behavior and a chance to wrestle. As his massive form came down to land on the soft earth her feline form twisted in its skin, lips peeling back as she grabbed his paw within her mouth, holding on with her large front paws as her back paws came up to kick lightly.



Tetradore broke the haze of fun between the duo with a single word. Tobias obeyed first, moving away from her to Tetra's side as a second in command, though Nadya had had a thought to ignore Tet and keep playing. Tobias wasn't about to 'disobey' Tet, that much was clear from the very beginning. Perhaps it was just their bond from childhood that made Tobias obedient but the fact that her brother and her were the offspring of the old packs alphas it wouldn't surprise her if there was that subconscious draw to the natural leadership bloodline. Tetra did always have a way to command his space and have others listen to him when he spoke even as a child. Cats in general were not social creatures, preferring solitary living to packs or prides but as Weres and with their human sides it was an inevitable thing, requiring that social interaction for safety and food. The tip of her tail flicked in annoyance against the ground, head tilted up to test the air with parted lips, letting it dance on that sensitive skin at the roof of her mouth. There was something there but it was blurred together with all the other scents of wildlife and earth. Nadya rolled back to her feet, her dark pelt twitching as she shook the loose debris from it before waltzing headlong between the boys, wedging her way between the two to take a spot behind them, using them as a natural shield of protection for whatever it was that Tetra had sensed. She could have gone around but then she would have denied herself that opportunity at showing how displeased she was at their fun being interrupted.



Nadya perched on her hindquarters, slim tail wrapping around her, waiting with as much patience as she could muster as Tobias left them, their not so little feline bloodhound slinking off to seek out the source of the smell. Her head tilted slightly as her ears twitched to track his movement through the underbrush, not noticing that her body had tensed with bated breath, unsure of what Tobias might find or would find him instead. While she was quite sure Tobias could handle himself with anything, or at least thought he could, Nadya was quickly feeling that he was just as much their responsibility to protect as they were his. It was an ingrained feeling that kept a pack or pride together, a one for all and all for one, that as time passed would only get stronger for the group if they remained together. Tobias' alert to having found the source caused Nadya to rise to all fours again, her questioning orbs flickering to Tetra to gauge his reaction so she could follow suit. However, all that was thrown out the window when Tobias emerged from the brush dragging a snow leopard by the scruff, his roughness of shaking his head liable to pierce skin. Nadya wouldn't wait for her brother's instructions or remain passively behind him for protection. Even young their size overpowered the smaller feline species so felt that this roughness was over zealous.



"Stop! Stop!"



Nadya sprung forth from her spot, darting past Tetra to Tobias as she shouted to get him to let go, throwing her whole body weight into shoving against Tobias' shoulder. Her tail whipped around frantically as her wide cats eyes stared at him in faint horror mixed with surprise; one minute she had been looking at a playful being and the next a deadly killer. True Tobias hadn't actually killed her or spilled any blood...yet, but the instinct in him was there in every tug and thrash of his head on the newcomer.