((yup yup. To the morning? Or later?))

((I guess to the morning, since it's late at night at the moment.))

((okie pokie))

Emy yawned softly and blinked as she woke, then smiled a little when she saw Leandre's face.

Léan looked dreamily content in his sleep. He was still blocking the entrance to their little cave, in case Monty tried to push his luck.

Archie was still asleep, but would wake up in a bit. He had been nearly dying from lack of sleep, since he'd barely slept eight hours since his mate died.

Emy smiled and just watched him, sort of happy that he would protect her so. She gently snuggled up against him again and closed her eyes, though, she didn't go back to sleep.

Monty had fallen asleep an hour or two after Archie did, sleeping contently.

Léan woke up just a few minutes later, stretching slightly and yawning. "Aaahh...I needed that rest..." he murmured, sleepily.

Archie soon began to stir, though it took him another few minutes to wake up completely.

Emy smiled and kissed his cheek softly. "I'm assuming it was a good sleep."

Monty opened his eyes slowly as Archie moved. A small smile appeared on his lips when he woke. "Have a good sleep?" He asked softly.

"Quite." Léan shifted, uncomfortably. "...If we are all going to stay here and form a pack, we need to set ground rules...and figure out who will be in charge of it." Léan had a feeling Monty, since he was older, was going to feel that since he was elder, he should lead. Since he hadn't proven himself to be too trustworthy just yet, Léan was not about to have that happen.

"Uh-huh..." Archie rubbed at his eyes, not fully awake just yet.

Emy looked at him, tilting her head to the side slightly. "Hmm....why can't you be in charge? You seem to know what you're doing." Though, she knew nothing of what to do, but didn't like the thought of anyone else being in charge.

Monty nodded slightly. "It looked like you needed it."

"The title of alpha is usually given to the oldest, most capable merperson of the group. In this case, that would be Monty. Typically, no one will challenged the Right Of Age. But since I cannot trust him, I am going to take the lead, and fight for it," Léan explained.

"Yeah..." Archie sat up a little, stretching slightly. He looked like he felt much better--the dark circles under his eyes weren't so heavy.

Emy didn't look pleased by this. She looked away for a moment, suddenly a little sad. "What if you get hurt?" Her voice was a little quiet, she didn't even want to think about it.

Monty just smiled a little, watching him. "You look better." He leaned back a little, then his stomach growled. "Well, I think I need to go get some food." He chuckled.

"I'll be fine." Léan's voice didn't even sound convincing to himself. He was used to squabbling with older mermen, over territory and such. But he wasn't a fighter, and he hadn't scrapped in quite a while. "If I don't assert my dominance right away, he's going to take advantage of that..."

Archie tilted his head slightly. He was a terrible hunter, which is often why he lived in settlements. He was afraid of most other sea creatures, and had a problem killing them.

Emy looked saddened, then sort of moved closer to him, wrapping her arms around him tightly. "Just...please try not to get yourself killed....I believe that he would if he thought he had to."

Monty nodded slightly. "Would you like me to bring you something?"

"I'll be careful," Léan assured her, giving her a few gentle pats on the head. "I promise."

Archie perked up even more, nodding quickly. "Please...?" he asked, politely, but a bit timidly. He didn't like hunting for himself. His mate, who had been smaller and younger than him, had gladly done the hunting for him.

Emy scowled slightly at the pats on the head, but sighed and nodded slightly. "I'll hold you to that..." She muttered.

Monty smiled and nodded, slowly getting up and moving away slightly.

Léan grinned, amused. "Okay, okay...no more head-pats. I'll be fine, I swear. As long as I keep my guard up."

Archie stayed where he was, sprawling himself out and relaxing a bit more. He looked better than before, but still seemed sad.

Emy looked at him for a moment, then nodded slightly. "If you say so." She still was worried he'd get hurt...maybe she could talk to Monty.

Monty smiled, watching him for a moment. "I'll be back in a couple minutes." He grabbed a spear he'd brought and left.

Léan sighed, and then slowly edged himself out of the cave, ready to get up. He had a distinct urge to check on his brother, now that he was awake.

"Okay." Archie waited patiently, still laid out on the rock.

Emy stayed where she was for a moment, then slowly moved out of the cave. She'd seen a figure move a little ways away from them, but said nothing.

Monty was having some fun hunting.

Léan peeked up along the tops of the rocks, and seemed relieved when he saw that his brother was relaxing, laid out on one of the flatter rocks.

Archie was getting a few extra minutes of rest in.

Emy made sure that Leandre was distracted so she could swim off towards the form she saw. She assumed it was Monty.

Monty grinned and got two fish on his spear before he saw Emy coming towards him.

Léan noticed she was gone almost immediately. He raised himself up, looking around. He spotted her heading towards Monty, but he kept his distance, merely watching them out of the corner of his eye.

Archie noticed him returning from a distance as well, and his tail started to swish back and forth cheerily.

Emy came up to Monty quickly, looking sort of nervous. "Umm...Monty? I need to ask you something."

Monty raised a eyebrow and just looked at her for a moment. "Yes?"

Emy took a breath and looked straight at him. "Somebody's got to be the 'alpha' right? If we're going to be staying together. If Leandre tries to claim the spot....let him. Please?"

Monty's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Why would I do that?"

Emy looked down, looking sad. "Because...I do not wish for him to be hurt. And....I'd owe you."

Léan barely heard them from a distance, and immediately knew that what she was offering wasn't going to make things any easier. Alphas had mates, and if anyone tried something with the alpha's mate, a fight would break out anyway. Emy wasn't facing him, but Monty was, and he fixed him with a dead-on glower that clearly said 'Don't dare.'

Monty just stared at her, clearly surprised. He couldn't even think for awhile, then he smiled and gently touched her shoulder. He leaned over to whisper in her ear. "I accept, but I will not take advantage of you. Do not worry."

Emy blinked slightly and looked at him sort of confused and grateful at the same time.