A Rift Between Siblings

"Big sister… Where is Mom?"

The voice that spoke was a young cub from the snow leopard clan no less than five years in age. He looked up at his older sister from the doorway of a rundown shack as he spoke. 

The girl, for her part, was young. She was older than her little brother but still too young to be left alone to take care of another child. Yet that is exactly what she was doing. Her body was burdened by the large sack on her back and a hunting knife hung from the belt around her tiny waist.

"I don't know Seiya… But don't worry," She said, crouching down to muss the boy's hair. "Your big sis Shiro will take care of you!" Her tone was cheerful, but there was a hint of anxiety in it. Still, she did her best to hide it from the boy.