There's a different quality to the way her mom looked at Aeon. It wasn't the same softness she looked at her with. It was almost feral. She wasn't used to this look on Malleah and she didn't know how to interpret it but she couldn't think anything ill of her mom. Her mom only wanted the best for her and she knew that deep in her heart. Surely she wouldn't do anything to mess up what Lucia had with Aeon. She wanted her daughter happy, right? When Lucia chose to speak for him, knowing how little he knew of the common language, her mother narrowed her eyes at him, looking none too happy. Lucia's ears flicked back at the look, thinking she must have done something wrong by speaking up. As Malleah stepped forward, Lucia held her ground, sure that her mother meant no harm. Maybe she just wanted to see Aeon close up. She said that it depended on him in that reassuring way she has which teases a quirk to Lucia's lips. That must mean everything was going to be okay! Then she asked if Aeon possessed a tongue and her brows furrowed in puzzlement. Of course he did! She opened her mouth but closed it again, afraid that her mom would give him that look again if she answered for him. She nudged him lightly with her shoulder, egging him on to say something, anything. This had to get better.

Her next questions had Lucia giving her mom a questioning look. Protect her? She had no doubt that he would but why did her mother have to ask him like that? She looked almost...scary like this. Lucia felt herself press a little further against him, as much for her own comfort now as his. Aeon seemed as light hearted as ever about the whole thing. He kept nodding and smiling at her and her heart leapt every time he did that. Why couldn't her mother see that he made her happy? She could sense something growing in Aeon too, something changing. There was a new tension and she didn't like it. She didn't want this. She wanted everyone to get along and be happy. When Malleah asked if he had a tongue, she watched as Aeon stuck out his tongue and had to fight back a giggle. He was just so funny but the tension was suffocating her. He answered her mother and she hoped that would calm things. But at her last questions, he looked confused and she let out a soft whimper, wanting to help him but afraid speaking up would only make things worse.

And then she felt a new presence and followed Aeon's gaze, her eyes widening at the sight of the female wolf. Who was she? Did Aeon know her? She looked at him in question. But the other wolf was approaching and she didn't look happy at all with Malleah. Lucia felt her protective instincts kicking in for her family. What did the other wolf want? Why was everything going so wrong? She just wanted to take Aeon and run away at this point, away from silly adults and their silly problems. The wolf spoke to Aeon in that other language but she didn't know enough of it yet to pick up the keywords. She stiffened when the wolf looked at her, meeting her gaze evenly with a mixture of curiosity and caution. Then the wolf said something else to Aeon and it clearly rang with authority. Lucia's tail flicked as Aeon looked at her before moving over to the other wolf. Her eyes widened, the pain hitting her right in the chest at the very thought of them separating her from Aeon. What was so wrong with them playing and being friends?

She took a hesitant step toward Aeon and the other wolf, pleading with him, wanting to understand. She had to know that he wasn't leaving her for good, that they would see each other again. She listened to them speak to each other in that other language, more determined than ever to learn more from Ghost until she could speak it too. Then the wolf spoke in the common tongue to Malleah, threatening her. Lucia wasn't naive enough that she didn't know what a threat sounded like. Her ears flattened and her eyes narrowed, not liking the wolf at all now. So she was taking Aeon from her AND threatening to hurt her mom? She stepped forward with more confidence now and stomped her paw, her eyes flashing anger. "NO. You do not get to come here and take away my best friend and talk to my mom like that. I don't know who you are but I can see that Aeon loves you just like I love my momma. How can you be so selfish?" She turned now to face Malleah, her eyes blazing. "BOTH of you. Can't you see that we were happy playing together? Why must you be stupid and tear us apart? You may be adults and make the rules but we weren't hurting anyone and now you're hurting everyone with your silly drama! I hate you! I hate both of you! Go away! Go away and leave me and Aeon alone!"