The leader felt all in a daze. He couldn’t believe that the news that had been delivered by Nash, and things wouldn’t feel real until he actually saw her. For now everything felt awful, but some small part of him was still hopeful there had been a mistake. Maybe she had had an accident and they had thought she was gone but she would wake up, or maybe it was some other kid.

How fucked up was it that he was hoping someone’s kid was dead? But he was. Viorel was desperately hoping that some other dad had lost his child in the last few days and just didn’t know it and this was all a big misunderstanding.

A larger part of him knew this wasn’t true, that he was just trying not to accept what was real, but he couldn’t help it. So he lay amongst the frozen trees, counting his breaths and the seconds that ticked by since Nash had left. Every second until Chan was sure to bring both of his girls home safe and sound and apologize for everything. Viorel would be gracious and accept what they had to say, and never send his kids anywhere near the mountain again. But, he would be nice about it.

A voice rang out, and he picked up his head and turned blinking. Okay now he knew he was going bat shit crazy, because Eros didn’t live here, he had left and yet it seemed he was standing here now. Brow furrowed and he blinked hard a few times trying to make the apparition disappear, but it didn’t. What the fuck.

None of this made any sense to Viorel. He just couldn’t add up how all of this was happening all at once, that his girls may be dead or missing and Eros was here. What kind of sick joke was this? He was so tired of the gods taking things away at a faster rate than what they gave him back, knocking him down and then giving him some kind of consultation.

Yellow eyes watched in an almost glazed over manner as his son began to cry, things still not really clicking until Eros spoke. That was when everything finally came to him. Getting to his feet quickly he rushed forward to pull his son into an embrace and all he could say was, ”You’re home? You’re back?” Tears welled up in his eyes as the scent of his child surrounded him. He wasn’t just an apparition, he was living, and breathing and he was here. And soon Chan would be here to explain the misunderstanding surely, then almost everyone would be back. Viorel would finally feel full again, there was no other option.

The father felt his son bury into his chest and for a moment he was transported back to a simpler time when his first litter had been small. Back when he had thought parenthood was tiring but easy, when his children had thought he could do no wrong. He leaned forward and pressed his forehead against Eros’ neck and let the tears fall down freely, not worried about looking strong or holding it together. He had at least learned that lesson from his kids.

He stayed like that for a long time, just silently crying and holding his teenaged son close to him. Finally he murmured, ”Thank you.” There was nothing else that he could think to say, nothing else that needed to be said. Then he pulled away and nodded, trying to sniffle back any more tears, ”They probably made a mistake, they’ll be bringing her home soon.” His words were firm, and he really truly believed them. He couldn’t let himself believe anything else. Still, he looked away from Eros as soon as he finished saying them, afraid his son would question him or make him doubt his resolve in any way.