'I know. I'm here.'

It was like it was still hard to believe, even as she embraced him back, and yet it still felt deeply right. Mom had come home, where she belonged. So, why was something wrong with Dad? If he had been calling Eros to see his mother, why had he sounded anything other than ecstatic? The young wolf lifted his head to look at Viorel now, brows knitting with confusion and concern both.

'I guess that settles it. Welcome home Vanadis.'

What had there been to settle? Viorel was just leaving now, yet again, with a posture that told Eros clearly he did not wish to be followed. It was a gut reaction to turn back to his mom and ask 'what's wrong with Dad?', but he stopped himself before the words made it out of his throat. His father hadn't reacted to anything the same since they lost Seph. He would have to give him his space, and... probably never end up talking to him about it, like everything else that hurt in some way. Eros was coming close to accepting that this would always be a facet to their relationship, even if it still ate at him.

"Are you in pain?" he asked her quietly instead. The scarring looked old, healed, but still it was so much that he felt he needed to ask. He wanted to wait, but a second question chased after, almost as though against his will.

"Where were you? What happened?"

Eros figured she'd probably already given all of these answers to his father, and felt bad about immediately pestering her about it. It wasn't like Viorel was any more likely to want to talk about it, though. They were just a few, he wouldn't press too much, but now he could finally know whether his resentment had been substantiated or not.

His ears twitched at mention of the Loch. He'd gone there, he'd gone everywhere he'd known his mother (and himself, even!) to have relations. Morganna's coast, the overgrown remnants of what had once been the Estuary, his great-aunt's shipwreck, the empire of Torbine, and of course, Lichenstone Loch. Had his timing just been wrong? How could it have been? He wanted to ask, but didn't, not yet. While the thought crept around in his brain, he did his best to ignore it; there was a possibility Vana herself had requested her newer family not be told. That, or they had taken it upon themselves to lie to him, to his face about his own mother.

To give himself time to begin processing that tidbit, he motioned with his head for her to follow him inward. Where she could be reunited with the rest of the pack, as well. After a few strides, he spoke up again, choosing to stick to that main point of contention.

"Was it the same thing that gave @Vayko his scars?"

Not all of them, then. Eros wanted to ask more, but knew he was walking a delicate line. He wasn't always the brightest bulb in the box, but he understood that you didn't sustain that much harm without immense psychological damage as well. He didn't even want to begin trying to imagine what she had gone through, whether all at once or spread out over time. Vayko had been there though, that much was confirmed, and he'd either flat out abandoned her to it or it had found her again after he'd lost her.

Vana's changing of topics helped brighten him and his thoughts a touch, providing a distraction. Perhaps it was misdirected, for him to want someone to pay for what had happened to his mom. Maybe he should have only been grateful that she was alive and returned. Why did Vayko always get let off so easy, though? He'd never been reliable, always had a reason to leave Viorel alone in leadership, only around when it got him on Clover's good side... he wasn't even raising his children right, letting them cuss and fight and wander. Yet he sat so cushily, minimal expectations and not so much as a scolding from any of the other adults, somehow wormed further and further into Ma's heart.

He heard his cousin-uncle's howl then, calling specifically for Eros' father. He froze in place, head turning toward the source while his hackles prickled. What on earth was that about? He had half a mind to excuse himself and seek the two out then and there, it was his right as an alpha after all, wasn't it? He'd figure it out after, though. Catching up with his mother was still more important. Of course, had he known what Vayko was about to announce, Eros would have left even Vana's side.

Instead, he shook it off and continued walking.

"Yeah," a sheepish smile, for his transition to leadership had not been under the best of circumstances, and certainly was not a credit to him excepting that he had gotten himself so high-up in the ranks to begin with.

"There was a bad storm, and Ma got really hurt. I was next in line. I had challenged up. I'd earned my role, too!"

He grew happier as he talked, able to lean into the joy of sharing the things he'd never thought he'd get to tell her.

"The combat-medic thing I'd wanted to do, I laid out allll my training and experience, and they gave it to me."

Eros' tail wagged at the memory. It had taken a lot of work, and had been his goal since he was a young pup, to both fight and heal to protect the pack. Of course, maybe there were good things that his mom wanted to share as well.

"Was it good being with your family again, despite everything else?"

His voice was a touch softer, he'd understand if she didn't want to talk about any of it at all.

Eros' tail returned to wagging in great sweeps behind him, pleased with so much about the interaction. Still, it remained bittersweet. Because that was all the good he had to share, and his thoughts tumbled after those who could not share in Mom's return.

"I've missed you too," he spoke quietly but earnestly, big enough not to show it but thankful of the distinction she'd made. Her parents, her siblings, the extended relatives, they were of course her family too. Eros knew he was lucky, that if he did decide to start a family he would not have to leave the family he had now behind to do so. It was still nice to hear though.

He lapsed into a moment of silent thought, not wanting to taint the moment but also unable to think of much else except all that Vanadis had missed, so little of it good. Ultimately, he decided to concede the decision to her.

"Is there... anything else you'd like to know right now?"

Save them. Eros was certainly at peace with that option. The conversations might not be easier down the road, but it didn't mean they didn't still deserve a chance to ease into them. His mother especially.

She turned the question back onto him, and there was a brief pause as he considered. Eros couldn't help but keep thinking of all the places he'd gone, the Loch itself of course but also places like the nearby coast where Morganna lead and even Torbine itself, places that were connected. He should have gotten the message, somewhere along that immense tour.

"... anything I can do to help you settle in?" he looked to her with a bright smile, full of doting warmth. That was what mattered. Mom finally being at home.