The boys were the first to head out.
They didn't walk in a line—they drifted together, bodies naturally adjusting without words.
Rex tugged Theo closer by the sleeve of his pajama top, Theo letting it happen as he scrolled through his phone, already leaning into him like it was normal.
Eliot walked on Leon's other side, pillow tucked under one arm, the other sleeve caught lightly in Leon's fingers so he wouldn't fall behind.
Adrian noticed.
Too noticed.
"You always move like that?" he asked, half-curious.
Theo answered without looking up. "Yeah."
Rex added, "It's efficient."
Leon sighed. "It's habit."
Eliot nodded softly. "It's safe."
That shut Adrian up.
Inside the room, the lights were low.
The desk lamp cast a soft amber glow, the TV already painting the walls in slow blues.
Mira was arranging blankets when they came in. "Sit anywhere."
They didn't hesitate.
Theo dropped down first, shifting so his back rested against Rex's chest.
Eliot immediately moved to Leon's side, curling in close like gravity pulled him there.
Leon adjusted automatically—one arm behind Eliot, steady, protective.
Theo tilted his phone toward Eliot. "Look."
Eliot leaned closer, glasses nearly touching Theo's. "Oh—that's funny."
Rex immediately leaned over them. "What are we laughing at?"
Theo shoved his face away. "Personal space!"
Rex grinned wider and poked Eliot's cheek. "You smiling?"
Leon swatted Rex's hand away without looking. "Behave."
Rex flopped dramatically onto the floor. "Abuse. I live with abuse."
Eliot giggled quietly, pressing closer into Leon's side.
Adrian watched all of it, expression unreadable.
That's friendship, he thought.
Cassian, Elara, and Lunara arrived moments later with snacks and ice cream, handing them out like it was ritual.
Everyone settled—Elara beside Cassian, Adrian on his own near the TV, Mira on the bed, Lunara off to the side, still but present.
The show flickered on.
A while in, Eliot glanced up. "Where's Brent?"
"In his room," Mira said calmly. "He didn't want to join."
Theo shrugged. "Good."
Lunara spoke next, quiet. "Kael?"
Mira's voice softened. "In good hands."
The room fell into an easy hush again.
Theo shifted, Rex adjusted with him. Eliot curled closer to Leon. Rex reached out just to annoy them again—
Leon caught his wrist.
"Sleep," Leon warned.
Rex grinned anyway.
Four boys. Too close. Too comfortable. Like this was exactly where they belonged.
The movie kept playing behind them, voices and light flickering across the room, but Lunara felt the pull before she understood it.
Tired.
Not the human kind.
She slipped up quietly, coat back on, beanie pulled low, tail tucked tight like it always was when the world felt wrong.
The balcony door clicked softly behind her.
Cold air. Night sky.
Stars scattered across Ashfall like they belonged to someone else.
Humans slept at night.
As long as she could remember, she slept during the day.
That was why the sun made her irritable.
Why she always looked sharp. Mean. Guarded.
She rested her arms on the railing, eyes lifted.
The door creaked again.
Soft footsteps.
"I hope I'm not bothering you."
Eliot.
He stood a few steps away, pajamas loose, hair messy, glasses catching the starlight.
He held his pillow like he didn't know what to do with his hands without it.
"You're not," Lunara said quietly.
They stood in silence for a moment. Comfortable. Not forced.
"…It's quieter out here," Eliot said.
She nodded. "At night, things stop staring."
That made him smile—small, understanding.
After a while, Lunara spoke again, voice lower. "I miss home."
Eliot turned slightly, giving her his full attention without pressing.
"I have friends there," she continued. "Three. Very close. Like you and them." She nodded back toward the room.
"Always together. Always loud."
Her tail flicked once beneath the coat.
"I envied you," she admitted. "Having people here. People who stay."
Eliot blinked. "You still have that."
"Not the same," Lunara said. Then, quieter, "I was… the Leon of my group. Watching. Protecting. Never resting."
Eliot smiled gently. "Leon worries too much."
"So do I."
He shifted closer to the railing, careful not to crowd her. "You know… it's okay to miss things and still belong somewhere new."
Lunara glanced at him. Really looked.
"…You're wise," she said.
Eliot flushed. "Theo says I overthink."
She huffed a soft, almost-laugh.
They stood there together, stars above, noise muted behind the glass.
For once, the night felt like hers again.
--
Morning came too fast.
Sunlight crept through the curtains while Leon was already on his feet, backpack open, methodical. Eliot knelt beside him, folding shirts carefully, glasses slipping down his nose every time he leaned too far forward.
"Like this?" Eliot asked, holding up a hoodie.
Leon nodded. "Tighter. It won't wrinkle."
On the floor behind them—
"YOU TINY HUMAN," Rex yelled, mashing buttons on the controller.
Theo shot back without looking away from the screen. "You play like a broken manual, all noise, no strategy."
Rex gasped. "That's a textbook insult."
"Exactly," Theo said smugly.
The game exploded with sound.
"ELIOT," Theo shouted. "COME HELP ME."
Eliot didn't even look up. "Bro, do it yourself."
Rex laughed loudly. "He abandoned you."
Theo growled. "Traitor."
Leon zipped a bag shut. "We're leaving in five minutes."
"Five?" Rex panicked. "Theo, pause!"
"I can't—this is war!"
Leon turned slowly. "Three minutes."
That did it.
Controllers dropped. Groans echoed. Eliot smiled quietly to himself as he handed Leon the last folded shirt.
Down the hall, Adrian and Cassian's room was calm by comparison.
Both bags were half-packed, neat, careful.
Cassian folded a jacket. Adrian watched him, thoughtful.
"So," Adrian said casually, "Lunara. The wolf. All of it."
Cassian stiffened—just a little.
"You get used to knowing things you wish you didn't," he said. "If my brother hadn't been so curious… and if Eliot hadn't been so gentle about it… none of us would be here."
Adrian hummed. "Funny. I have a sister too."
Cassian looked up. "Yeah?"
"She's obsessed with wolves," Adrian said. "I think I'll introduce her to Theo and Eliot someday."
Cassian snorted softly. "Good luck."
They zipped their bags, shouldered them, and headed out.
The chaos, the quiet, the secrets—
All packed up.
Time to go.