Monty bit his lip for a second. "I didn't think of that one. Oh! I'll take her out to train...she wants to learn to fight."

"That works. I could distract my brother, then...maybe if I offer to talk to him about what happened with my mate..." Archie mused, beginning to work up a plan.

Monty looked at him seriously. "You need to talk to him about that anyway, I think." Then he smiled. "But that's a good idea."

Archie hesitated, looking down. "...Léan didn't even know my mate," he admitted, softly. "I really don't think he'll care all that much..."

Monty gently took his chin and looked him in the eye. "He's your brother. I'm sure he cares more than you know."

"...I guess so..." Archie sighed, softly. "He doesn't really care about much, though," he added, curiously.

Monty rolled his eyes slightly. "You're his family. Whatever bothers you he will care about....ok?"

"I guess so. He kind of comes off like he doesn't care about much of anything. I just don't like not being taken seriously," Archie replied, softly.

((Got to take a shower, but I'll be back. :3))

Monty nodded slightly. "He seems to care about anything Emy talks about. She's his mate, I know....but you're his blood." He just smiled softly at him then. "It is annoying to not be taken seriously."

"I...guess so," he murmured, softly. "We'll see. I just hope he really takes it seriously..."

Monty shook his head slightly. "You shouldn't worry about that."

"All right. I'll try not to," Archie assured him, pleasantly. "I'll be okay, I hope." He rested his head on Monty's chest, affectionately.

Monty felt comfortable like this with Archie. His hand went to Archie's hair and gently ran his fingers through it.

Archie's tail began to slowly swish back and forth, in a rhythmic, relaxed fashion. He had fallen into a serious depression after his mate had died. He'd barely moved from his spot in the cave they used to share together. He'd barely even eaten.

He seemed much happier, now.

Monty couldn't even believe how much Archie had come out of his little shell in the time they were there. It amazed him.

Archie glanced up at Monty, tilting his head slightly. He had a smile on his face. "What do you want to do, now?" he asked, curiously.

Monty smiled a little and shrugged. "We need to think of some things to do around here."

"I used to like traveling, a lot. But if we're going to stay here, we do need to find something to do. Maybe we could play a game of some sort?" Archie suggested, hopefully.

Monty looked thoughtful for a moment. "Maybe something like a scavanger hunt?"

Archie's entire face seemed to light up. "Oooohh...I haven't done one of those since my school days." He and Léan had fled home at fourteen...they hadn't completed school.

Monty chuckled softly. "I think that would be a fun idea."

"Should we make a list of what we need to find, first?" Archie asked, bouncing up and down slightly with excitement. His over-the-top reactions suggested he had never had much of a social life and very few friends to do things with.

Monty couldn't help but smile. He did like that he'd made him that excited. "That is a must."

"Okay...let's start with animals. We can spot different creatures around here..." Archie offered, tail swishing back and forth like it was wagging.

Monty grinned. "Alright. Like which ones?" He'd never been this far out, so he didn't know the animals.