It was late, like 2:00am late and Femi had yet to sleep, she just sat on her bed, in the dark, and sobbed.

As quiet as she could.

Femi looked at her siblings.

Lotus slept on their stomach, the comfiest position for them since losing their wing. They snuggled into a cute frog plushie.

Atlas laid on his side, too snuggled into a teddy bear, a white and black Domo plush.

She smiled at them both.

Lotus protected her... and they lost their wing because of it, Mitch aimed his trident directly at her but Lotus saved her. At a cost...

And Atlas got kidnapped! He got kidnapped by Mors, yet no one knew... She doesn't know what happened. Atlas won't talk about it and she didn't want to pry...

Both of her siblings have suffered, and she couldn't help but feel unsafe, as though something was going to happen to her.

She didn't know what, when, how, or why, but considering that both her siblings have been attacked... She must be next...

Femi knew she was paranoid, she's got both her fathers, her siblings, and auncle Magnus! As well as uncle Solis, Ricarro and aunt Momiji and grandpa Xylo.

They wouldn't let a single thing harm her... but both her siblings have suffered, Lotus suffered pain and loss, and Atlas suffered alone.

So what was going to be her suffering? Was she going to suffer quietly? Or heartache? What is it going to be...

Femi wanted nothing more but to tightly bundle into her pink blankets and dream. But she couldn't - Femi couldn't escape reality.

She couldn't stop thinking about it...

She got out of bed and headed to her dad and papas room, it was very late but she needed comfort. The little jackalette shook her papa awake, "H-hey papa..?" She whispered.

"Mmm..." Inpu opened his eyes and saw his daughter. "Shouldn't you be in bed?" He muttered groggily.

"I-I couldn't sleep..."

"Why- *yawns* why not pup?"

"I-I'm scared..." Inpu turned on his lamp, it was then Inpu noticed her teary eyes, he sat up. "What's wrong?" He asked as she climbed onto the bed, careful not to disturb her dad and hugged her father. He gently hugged back.

"What's scaring you Femi?"

...

She was quiet aside from her sobs, hugging her father close. She didn't want to be alone. Inpu began rubbing circles on her back as an attempt to calm her.

And after around five minutes of silent hugging and Inpu rubbing circles on her back. She finally spoke.

"Am I next...?" She asked shakily.

'Next? Next for what?' Inpu wondered, he was confused. "What do you mean 'next'?" He inquired.

Femi looked at her papa with red eyes, it hurt Inpu seeing his usually bubbly daughter so downcast.

"Lotus lost their wing then Atlas got kidnapped, so what about me? What's gonna happen to me?..." Inpu's eyes darkened. And she broke into sobs once more and she cried softly into her papas shoulder.

Inpu stayed silent.

Going back to rubbing circles on his daughters back. What can he say? Inpu'd love more than anything to tell her that while he was alive, she would be protected but sometimes he might not be there, as was the case with both Lotus and Atlas.

He may have been nearby when Lotus lost their wing but he wasn't there... and Atlas, he was just outside the house and he didn't even realise.

How was he going to promise her, her safety when he failed the other two?

"Femi. I wish I could tell you will be safe, but you know me... I'm all about facts. I can't promise you that's you'll be safe and that I'll be there whenever you fall but I swear to the gods above... I will be there to help you back up again.

You are my pup. And if there is one thing to know about jackals fathers, it's that they are protective of their pups."

Femi giggled a bit, "Thanks papa... I love you." She smiled hugging him. Inpu chuckled, "I love you too, Femi."

Inpu and Femi both knew they weren't going to be able to sleep so they stayed up that night much to Bryans chagrin when he wakes up and inevitably finds out the pair pulled an all-nighter.

The two had some of Bryans ambrosial salad and read books on the study, in each other's comfort.

~

Yes. Femi is so definitely a Papas Girl. They are so alike in many ways... ✨

Anywho- I hope you enjoyed!

Thank you! 🤍