The snort that falls unattractively from her sister’s nostrils makes Hotaru sigh softly. She does so often, as if she is already weary of life despite being so impossibly young. Being around Raeden was a sure-fire way to bring down your moral and show you that you could never be that perfect. Even so, Ru loved her hopelessly, and always wished that someday Raeden would show her love like Auntie Kota did to Phae, or Ktulu to Ophelia. Anything, really. Hotaru was waiting, always waiting, for that day. She would likely wait for years. Dichromatic eyes softened as her twin shook back her mane, so similar in color to the one that lay still against her shoulders. Rae made that, too, look better. Hotaru was actually proud of her sister for being so beautiful, jealousy still far from her grasp at that age. Ru could sing praise of her sister for hours. Her nickname, used only by her twin and rarely on occasion their mother, was stressed and exasperated. Being reminded that they had no home made her feel sad, for she considered it home, and it was all she really had to call home. She didn’t think of them as being bums. ”I…well, no, but…” Trailing off when Raeden continued, knowing there was no use in trying to argue.

Her sisters fanciful ideas were fun to listen to, for Hotaru wasn’t as prone to daydreaming, and wasn’t very imaginative. Rae’s elaborate dreams sounded so beautiful, and Ru fiercely believed that her twin belonged there, and would do anything to push her up to that goal. Even so the awe that filled her heart at that moment was crushed when Raeden sneered at her, clearly disbelieving. The soft palomino twin glanced over at a formation that looked rather dangerous to Ru, daring her to climb it, and the strawberry younger swallowed shakily. It made her knees tremble a little to think about trying to make it to the top at all. ”D-Do I have to?” Voice was a soft squeak, but it was resigned. Slinking forward she hesitantly approached it, eyeing it unhappily as she came to its start. Nervously placing one snowy hoof upon its base and pulling herself up. By then she was trembling, tail tucked in low and ears flat against her head. She hated it, she hated doing it, but she wanted to impress Rae. Maybe if she did, Rae would stop being so mean and let her stop. Once she was halfway up though, she paused and trembled harder, feeling tears prick at her eyes. Everything beneath her felt unsteady and she was dizzy looking down even from the height of halfway to the top. ”I-I don’t wanna!” she cried weakly, uncaring if Raeden would tease her for it as she hesitantly placed one back hoof down, wanting to go back down.