Night fell over the house of the Ice Cream Pack. The new guests were given their own rooms, while Mosor, Vanos, Kyofi, Mynt, and Ahmond slept on or near the couch. Albeit, sleep was a strong word.

Mosor said, "It'd be wrong of us to separate if Baynana's powers are kept in line with Ahmond's."

Vanos said, "Yeah."

Mynt stared into the ceiling vacantly, and asserted, "Regardless, rather than blindly keeping Ahmond and Baynana together, we need to consider an alternative. Ahmond and Baynana may fight. and if they can't stand to be friends anymore, won't matter if Ahmond can counter Baynana, because Baynana will run off."

"May I have my own opinion heard for once in my life?" Ahmond asked. "Because I'm getting the feeling none of you are listening. I want to be with Baynana, and that's settled."

"You're not old enough to understand-" Vanos began, but Ahmond bellowed a furious interruption.

"I am forty years old," Ahmond said. "I am old enough to make decisions, and old enough to have a say here!"

"Everyone thinks that when they're forty," Vanos said.

Mosor pointed out, "Vanos, she's not exactly wrong. She is a strong, independent individual, and she's not our daughter - she's our cousin, your sister."

"It's just there has to be a hierarchy that gets adhered to," Mynt said.

"Guys," Ahmond said."It's not helping all of you are talking about whether you're going to let me have power, when I already have power."

"Power to get whooped," Mynt snapped, causing Ahmond to throw off the blanket and run upstairs.

"Mynt," Mosor asked, "May we have a word, about what just happened."

"We're already together," Mynt said.

"I need to talk to you alone, so come take a walk with me..."

Meanwhile, inside, Ahmond pushed on Baynana, and Baynana's eyes fluttered open as she muttered and yawned. "Is there a fire or something?"

"No," Ahmond said. "It's just, I need equal treatment, and I'm not equal. Not in this house, where I'm a fourth class citizen. Our fates are in others' paws."

Baynana shrugged at Ahmond, and told her, "We're just kids, so what can we do about it?"

Ahmond said, "Even kids have rights, and we have the right for our opinions to be heard. But now, we're running away, and I know a perfect place we can be."

Baynana's eyes widened, and she said, "Running away? Won't we get in trouble? What if we get attacked by monsters?"

Ahmond said, with a grin, "I don't have to outrun the monster, I would just have to outrun you."

Baynana frowned. "That's horrible to say Ahmond, when you know I'm a slow runner."

"Uh, that was a joke," Ahmond said, and scratched the back of her head.

"Oh, okay," Baynana said, her eyes going to bag. "Are we going to pack?"

Ahmond said, "Yeah, put everything in a bag, because we're taking all we need."

While the others snuck out, Mosor walked with Mynt. "I am the leader of this pack. Whether you want to accept it or not, I cannot tolerate your behavior."

Mynt snorted. "You mean," Mynt said, "you're butthurt because I'm disagreeing with you, yes?"

"You lost the leadership fair and square," Mosor said. "We had a battle, and I won over all. That was the deal we made."

Mynt said, "No, that was the deal you, Kyofi, and Vanos made because you're all jokes."

"I guess you wanted your voice to be heard more," Mosor said. "How did it make you feel that we didn't go by your way?"

Mynt said, "Mad. I want a decision to be rational, and instead you all make a big decision a joke, and I feel like that's all you do. Make a bunch of jokes instead of doing anything real."

Mosor nodded. "Even if we didn't agree with you, or overpowered you by a majority, would you still have wanted to say something?"

"Of course," Mynt said. "Then maybe someone would be convinced. I'd be a lot less upset if I were actually heard, and you didn't just do what you wanted to do." She paused as she stared at a grinning Mosor.

"Lemme guess, that's how Ahmond felt too."

Mosor nodded.

"You're one smart wolf," Mynt admitted, as they ended their walk in front of the house. "Okay, fine, I'll go and apologize to Ahmond."

They entered, and Vanos and Kyofi ran up to them. Vanos stuttered a bit. "Ahmond... Baynana. The girls, they, well they're gone."

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***

A teenager hyena, well forty but that was teenage to a dire, laid in bed, securely asleep, and nothing would ruin that.

A knocking came at her door. The princess of hyenas slipped off the bed, and answered. A royal guard had two wolf napes in his massive maw, and he dropped both onto their tails. "By any chance, are these yours?"

Ahmond gave a sheepish grin as she waved a paw at the hyena. Baynana looked away.

Lilu grunted, and said, "Thanks, Stohn."

The hyena guard walked off as Lilu asked the two dumb wolves, "What are you doing in my room? At... Late at night." Lilu wasn't bothered enough to consult a clock, as she had no clocks in her room. If she ever asked for one, her mother would tell her, "What's the problem, do you've got a date?"

"Please, it was a long walk," Ahmond said.

"Sunnyvilla is the next door over," Lilu said, crossing her arms.

Wysdom had six city states, all of which were linked by various portals. However, some were right next to each other as was the case of Sunnyvilla and Sandrun, where Lilu lived.

"Well, uh," Ahmond said. "We kinda got lost, a lot."

"We eventually just asked guards the way around," Baynana said, "and they pointed here."

"Our guards don't like Ahmond. Not after some stunts she's pulled," Lilu said. "Anyway, I asked you a question, and that question was what are you two doing here."

Ahmond said, "I just need a place to crash."

Lilu said, with a frown, "And so you decide to interrupt my beauty sleep?"

Baynana said, "You must need a lot," and Ahmond cowered from the hyena.

Lilu glared. "If my mother knew about this, she'd have killed someone."

"Well the guards let us in," Baynana said.

"If you're known to be friends of mine, and you are, and you have a reservation... Which you don't, they have to let you in."

"I have the unlimited best friend pass," Ahmond said, holding up a pink book mark.

Lilu's ears folded back. That was just a joke, and she told the guards that too. She figured Ahmond'd never use it, and it was easier than making her an actual gift during friendship day last week.

"Speaking of gifts," Ahmond said, "how'd you like that book?"

Lilu's felt some sweat trickling down, as she had to come up with some sort of lie. She wasn't going to read it, and she told the guards that too. She figured Ahmond'd never ask about it, so Lilu had to constantly make false claims about her favorite parts, while being generic in her explanations. "It was lovely."

"What was your favorite part?" Ahmond asked, widened her eyes as she wagged her tail.

"Well, actually, how about I tell you in the morning?" Lilu asked. "Would you two like any tea to soothe your nerves, before we fall asleep?"

Ahmond said, "Tea? Thanks."

Baynana nodded.

Lilu gave a false grin as she walked down the hallways to make some tea. she wasn't going to bother a maid this late. After all, She had some sense of dignity and sense.

Ahmond laid down with Baynana, who said, "Lilu seems nice."

Ahmond said, "She's not, and she did not read that book. But she's predictable." Ahmond grabbed a book from the dresser she gifted to Lilu. "Secrets of the Wind's Volume 1. Wonder how long I can hold you over her head."

***

Mynt and Vanos took the lead in the search party.

Mynt was waiting for Vanos to cast aspersions, but none ever came. And while it was easy for someone to shout about whose fault this was, none of that came. Instead, they remained united under one sole purpose: Find Ahmond and Baynana.

The half sisters, Mosor and Kyofi, would be going straight to the cafe. While it was possible to track Ahmond's scent sometimes, the winds were harsh. Not to mention sometimes Ahmond stepped on wet grass.

Paynut and Honay would be tracing any path.

But Vanos was Ahmond's big brother, and always seemed to know where she was, and Vanos seemingly knew she'd be with a friend.

First location to check in at was Rosod's. A bipedal weasel family came to the door, but none of the Crimsons knew what he was talking about.

So the next step was to check in with the hyenas. Mynt and Vanos went up to the hyena palace, and a guard would ask, "State your name and business."

Vanos said, "I'm just looking for my little sister and cousin. Their names are Ahmond and Baynana. Have you seen them?"

"They are spending the night," Stohn said, his gaze not faltering as it met theirs, "and they are safe."

"Not safe from us, boy!" Mynt said as she tried to push past the big hyena, But he pushed her back, and onto her rump. Vanos also tried to get past, but failed as he got a head butt.

"They are under the custody of Queen Jazmyn," Stohn said. "And that means they're there until Queen Jazmyn lets them leave."

"What, are the prisoners?" Mynt asked sarcastically to Stohn, who disregarded her gaze.

Stohn said, "She may let them leave on their own volition. Regardless, they are to remain in the castle walls, and you are to remain out."

"Please," Vanos said. "They just left because they ran away. If they run off again-"

"Stohn, what's this about?"

A bigger female hyena walked out. She was a darker pink than her daughter, and she regarded Vanos, staring him up then down.

Mynt felt her eyes sizing her down as well. "You're the hyena queen, Jazmyn."

Jazmyn said, "We go back some ways, Stohn. Let them pass, and they can tell me what this is about." Stohn stepped aside without a movement of facial expression.

Quickly, Mynt and Vanos found themselves with plates of tea and cake, already prepared by servants. "I wouldn't want you starving or thirsty, would I?" Jazmyn asked.

Mynt said, "Thanks, but we're focused on our little sister. Mm, this is good, what is this?" Mynt stared into the pink center of the cake. "Strawberry?"

"Yes, with cream vanilla on top," Jazmyn said. "Anyway, I was not aware your little sister was suddenly living in my palace."

"Yeah," Vanos said and explained the situation. "I guess your guards must have let them in after they ran off?"

"I'll have you know disobeying one's elders can be a crime in Sandrun," Jazmyn said. " I should be able to deal with her..."

"We just want her back," Vanos said, with a grunt. "She wanted independence, and we never gave it to her."

"So you're going to reward her running away, by giving her independence?" Jazmyn said. "Not what I wanted to hear. That seemingly goes against the very nature of some of my rules. And may I say it'd be a bad influence on my own daughter."

Lilu stepped out of the kitchen with a plate of tea balancing upon her rump. That's when she saw her mom, but she walked along the corners of the castle. Seemed she was used to sneaking.

Mynt and Vanos exchanged glances, before Vanos said with a big happy face, "Lilu, so glad to see you!"

Lilu froze, and Jazmyn growled.

"What are you doing up so late?" Jazmyn asked.

"Making tea?" Lilu gave a slight laugh, laughing being hyena for "I'm in major trouble aren't I?".

Jazmyn said, "So I've been learning about you and your friends' escapades. I'll be having you know, all three of you are grounded."

"Grounded?" Lilu, Mynt, and Vanos asked.

"Uh, your grace or other proper title," Vanos said, with a toothy smile, "you do know you're not Ahmond or Baynana's mother."

"And neither are you," Jazmyn said with a sneer. "I'll let them discuss the terms of their imprisonment, as they are under arrest for being incorrigible youths."

"Imprisonment!?" Vanos asked as Mynt gawked.

Jazmyn waved a paw at their direction, maybe. Not that she was looking. "They're dismissed."

Stohn came to push them away, while Jazmyn went into the recesses of her castle dwelling.