Inheritance (Animal Jam)

Intruders

The den is dark at first, from where I stand on the third stone step in front of the wide wooden door, peering into the tinted window. I wonder if anyone is home. Surely this is Blooming's den? I raise a paw and knock. The sound echoes in the silent darkness. Mage looks very uncomfortable. He shifts and narrows his eyes into the darkness.
Suddenly a light switches on and a beam of light illuminates from the window, splashing in a soft puddle around my paws.
"Hello?" A deep voice breaks the silence as the door is swung open. There stands a arctic wolf. He has bright yellow fur and black patterns. A yellow worn hangs over his back and he's wearing a founders hat.
"Hi!" I smile brightly, hoping this is the right place. The arctic wolf grins
"Hey kiddos, whatcha need?" He swings the door wider for us to enter. I bounce on my paws,
"I'm looking for Blooming! Blooming pretty paw. Is she here?" The words flow out of my mouth fast as excitement swells my chest. The arctic wolf smiles.
"She is, but she's asleep at the moment. Did you need to tell her something?"
My heart falls.
"I.. yes. But I wanted to discuss it with her." I said sadly. The arctic wolf looks sad,
"Alright," he lowers his voice, "follow me inside, but be quiet!"
My ears perk up happily as I tiptoe into the den. Mage looks uneasy,
"I don't like this Ember," he whispers.

"By the way I didn't catch your name, are you one of Blooming's friends from school?" The arctic wolf turns around to peer into the shadows of the kitchen in front of them, as if expecting a phantom to jump out.
I shake my head,
"No I'm Em-" Mage slaps his paw over my mouth.
"Her name's Victory, Victory uh, Daringclaw."
I growl and push away Mage's paw. What in Jamaa is wrong with him?
"Ah," the arctic wolf swings around, "Well I'm Duke Rainy Paw." He grins.
"Um. Nice to meet you," he looks at Mage. "And you are.."
"Major." Mage's voice gave no warmth. Duke smiled nevertheless.
"So why do you want to see my daughter?" He sits down.
Daughter? I blink in surprise, realizing this guy is Blooming's dad. I also realize he's asking me the same question.
"Um, I need to tell her something."
Duke looks confused, then sighs;
"Okay, let me get her." He glances warily around, then his gaze settles back on them.
"Stay here. And be quiet!" He dashes off.
I  frown. What a weird guy. Then I chuckle, I guess that's where Blooming gets her quirk from. Do I have something from my dad? The thought is painful and for some reason I can't think of anything we two have in common. It makes my heart twist in sadness. There is suddenly a creaking of wooden flooring and a figure clad in a nightgown pads out of a hallway. It's another arctic wolf. A guy. He yawns and seems to notice the light is on in the hallway we stand in. We freeze. As the wolf rounds the corner he gives a screech and jumps back, his fur fluffing.
"HOLY MIRA!?" he yowls. Mage looks panicked, backing towards the door.
"Hello. Sorry we scared you." I tilt my head curiously.
"Gaahh stay away intruders!" The black and pink wolf snatches a frying pan and waves it at us threateningly. I sigh,
Where the heck is Duke?
"Duke let us in, I needed to talk to Bloo-" I am interrupted as a figure throws itself down the wooden stairway towards me.
"EMBER!" Its Blooming!
I'm always happy to see her, but now I'm super happy.
"Ember?" Duke trots down the stairs, cocking his head with confusion.
"Dad what in Zios's name is going on?" The pink and black arctic wolf demands, glaring at Duke.
I happily embrace Blooming, she steps back and looks confused.
"Why are you here, and who's that?" She peers behind me to where Mage is standing.
"I'll explain later." I whisper.
"I thought you were victory?" Duke was standing at bottom stair. The pink and black arctic wolf sets down his pan.
"All I wanted was just to get some bacon." He whimpers.
"So you're the one who's stealing the bacon!" Blooming yells across the kitchen. Her brother frowns,
"Well, I'm not the one who-"
He is interrupted as the lights flick on. In the hallway doorway stands a figure.
Duke bites his lip,
"Uh oh.."

"WHAT THE-?" A white wolf with pink hearts in her fur stares at all of them.
"Honey! Sorry to wake you, we had some unexpected guests." Duke says apologetically.
"We should go." Mage whispers in my ear.
"At this time of the night?!" The arctic wolf asks incredulously. I speak up,
"I'm sorry, it was really urgent; I needed to talk to Blooming."
"Wait." The white arctic wolf pads over,
"Aren't you Blooming's friend? Yeah," she looks over me,
"Ember, Princess Ember."
"Princess?" Duke and Blooming's brother chorus. Mage growls softly behind me.
"Sorry to intrude." I apologize once again,
"I can wait till morning."
The arctic wolf shakes her head,
"If it's urgent then I suppose you shouldn't." She smiles, her gaze flicking to Mage,
"Is this a royal escort?"
I almost shake my head then realize it'd be easier to agree.
"Yeah."
"Well. I suppose you can stay overnight if you wish, but don't stay up too late girls." She meets Blooming's eyes sternly. I smile, Blooming has a mischievous history as well.
"I'm going back to bed then." The white arctic wolf who I guess is Blooming's mom heads down the hallway again. Duke follows,
"You can take my bed if you want," he offers Mage. Mage shakes his head,
"No, thank you, I'll stay awake and guard.
Duke gives a nod and pads down the hallway. The black and pink arctic wolf snatches bacon from the fridge before dashing up the stairs.
"Chief!" Blooming yells, looking annoyed. She turns to me,
"That's my brother, Chief. Sorry about him."
I laugh,
"It's fine." For a moment I wonder what it's like to have siblings.
"He always steals all the bacon." She flips open the fridge and grabs four pieces.
"Come on," she hurries up the stairs. I take a look back at Mage. He's watching me, his eyes glimmering in the dark kitchen. I turn and head up the stairs again after Blooming. Her room is filled with pink blankets and pillows and pretty sparkly things. She flops onto a bean bag and reaches for a lamp. The room is filled with a soft yellow light. I shut the door behind me.
"So, what happened? Did you run away?" Blooming chews on a piece of bacon. She knows me too well. I sigh and sit down.
"Yes, I had to. Dad said I can't see you anymore." Now that I speak it it sounds so immature. I regret everything all over again.
"What? Why?" Blooming hands me a bacon, noticing my sad expression. I shrug,
"I guess he's tired of our fun. He wants me to grow up."
Blooming sighs,
"Perhaps he's right Ember." I look up in surprise at her comment.
"You're a princess after all, soon enough you'll have to marry and take the throne."
Her words make me scared,
"I don't want to be princess!" I exclaim.
"Or Queen!"
Blooming looks into my eyes.
"We'll always find a way to be together." She smiles, "But running away isn't the answer Ember. You have a  destiny, and you should take it for the good of Jamaa."
Now she's starting to sound like father. My heart drops.
"I don't know how I can live like that, I feel like it's not for me."
Blooming looks defeated then brightens,
"I have an idea!"