home is where the heart is

Look Out!

There is a deer that was killed by a lynx nearby. +7 Health

There was a moment of uncertainty in the beast as Corinna stumbled out a reply. She had thought he was Indru. At one point in his younger years, the comment would have almost been a compliment in the sense he had always considered Indru’s level head to be an admirable trait, yet Ruiko had never strived to be his brother, and now, after all his misdeeds, the comment was far more painful than the wound he now had on his shoulder. His eyes regarded her quietly before they drifted to Aeylen. She seemed as lost as he did, and he shifted his weight, his fur just grazing against her.

He made to move then, unable to handle her pain any longer. The way she cowered before him – she was the queen of these lands, and he should have been groveling at her paws. Yet he made no more than a step before Triell was upon the scene. His golden eyes washed over his younger brother, a flicker of recognition and pride stemming within them. Triell had grown and filled out quite a bit.. it was as if Ruiko was witnessing their father before them.

“Triell,” he rumbled, his tone quieter than usual. Yet the dark features of his brother were as stoical as Ruiko’s always were, and the uneasy feeling that their presence was unwelcome became even more apparent now. Stepping back beside his mate, the large wolf made to lower himself to the cold ground, submitting to both wolves. This was not the family reunion he had expected, and while disappointed, he was not surprised. Sometimes you couldn’t always go back home.

Gone Tomorrow

Corinna cared naught for how ridiculous she must have looked in that moment. Her remorse was genuine. Pure rage had taken control of her; blinded her to reality. It had cost Ruiko some of his health and it had cost Corinna her dignity. The large Tainn stepped towards her as she tilted her head upwards to look at him. But he stopped after just a step, his attention grabbed by something over her shoulder. The crunching of leaves announced Triell's presence, and she turned her head over her shoulder to watch him approach. Her face relaxed, and as Triell came to stand beside her, she brushed back. Forcing herself to stand, the leader rose shakily to her feet. Adrenaline made her shaky, and it was clear that she was not entirely steady on her feet. But she looked up at the pair in front of them anyway, taking another deep breath to calm her nerves.

"Ruiko," she said, her voice not as strong as she would have hoped. Clearing her throat, she tried again, this time addressing both Ruiko and his mate. "Ruiko, Aeylen, I am truly sorry. I...It's been a very hard year for us." She leaned into Triell's shoulder for comfort. Ruiko and Aeylen might never know the whole truth of it, but the atmosphere and her reactions gave truth to her words. "Will you stay? Here, with us?" She took a slow step forward, tentative at first, but with more confidence as she closed the gap between them. Reaching out, her ears flattened against her head, she parted her lips once again. Rather than teeth, though, she reached out to lick the wound she had inflicted. Even if her actions would force them away, she would not let them leave thinking she had caused so much damage, physically and emotionally, on purpose.

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Allie said to skip Aelyen. I thought we could try to wrap this up.

Dust to dust

Triell was glad his presence helped ease rather than disturb. He had no trouble offering Cori support, feeling how the turn of events had left her physically shaken. It made him feel guilty he had not arrived sooner, and the fact she even had to feel like this in her own home because of the deserter. The dark Tainn was still silent, observing, trying to hear what was not being said. Ruiko easily gave him submission, and it eased his nerves, but it felt strange. He had always been the younger one looking up, seeking approval. The one licking chins, and trying to do what he was asked. Now, had he seen a flicker of pride in that stoic golden gaze?

Greatly, it made the pup in him want to seek his brother's embrace, briefly, feel something of familiar comfort. He didn't dare leave Cori's side. Triell offered a fleeting smile in acknowledgement. It was always hope for the best, but lately it seemed like they should prepare for the worst. Ruiko was always reserved until the last possible moment Triell wanted to be ready for whatever brought them here. Cori seemed to find a part of her voice, and he dipped his head against hers in turn. Ice should have been here, maybe she wouldn't feel this way at all. Always he did his best, and with a softened look turned to the pair at his sister's question. Was their plan to stay with them?

Slowly, dark tail wagged, and in step he made his way to his tawny brother's other side. The dark wolf brushed his nose to the light cheek."Is your family well?" Softly, he asked, not hiding concern in his bright eyes.

are you with me through it all?

What would only be seconds seemed to pass as longer moments, and as Ruiko felt Aeylen at his side, always the comfort of his life, he remained uneasy, his eyes flitting between the pair briefly before falling upon his mate’s beautiful features. She was as uneasy as him, and yet her grace would seemingly wash that thought away from any onlookers mind – had he not known her so well, he too would have thought her collected and calm. Ruiko Tainn, knowing the she-wolf inside and out, knew better.

Corinna drew his attention first. Her voice broke the silence, her insistence of them staying soothing him slightly. The silver regal came forward then, embracing him as family would and tending to the wound upon his shoulder. A crooning growl escaped him as he nosed her cheek, rumbling his emotions of how much he had missed her.

As Triell approached, the tawny male lifted himself then. Triell had grown to a formidable size, and while Ruiko might gave been only a fraction taller, the muscle mass of his swarthy brother managed to outdue the wolf that had once been referred to as a bear. Triell’s greeting was welcoming, offering the tawny wolf the closure he required to agree to stay. He bumped his nose beneath Triell’s chin – a sign of affection and submission. “The cubs are well.” There was a small pause, his shoulders lifting slightly, though he held back a wince at his now injured one flexing. “No longer cubs, I guess. @Mirren and Nios left the pack earlier to see the world. Vaeta traveled with us for a bit, though broke away after awhile.” The question of return dared to press on his tongue, though Corinna’s earlier statement held him at bay – refraining from asking the same question in return, he bowed his muzzle lower, swinging it back to look at his mate. “Shall we return home then?” He gave a nod in the direction of the new pack lands, indicating that he had no desire to leave. Home was where the heart was, and his surely rested with his family.

She found comfort in the bristling of her mate's fur against her own, though she shared in his unease, and she met his gaze with reassurance. They had come this far and she knew that, even if Corinna's reaction didn't sit well with Ruiko initially, he had made the right decision in coming here─one that she would support. Mirroring Ruiko's display of submission, Aeylen lowered herself to the ground where her belly was met by cold earth.

A distinct crunching of leaves announced the arrival of another, though the dark figure that emerged from the forest to take Corinna's side was one that she did not recognize. The wolf was a sizable creature not unlike Ruiko, and in his dark mask she saw many of the same features. There were aspects of the silent way he stood before them that she'd seen before but in her mate, and though she did not presume or dare to stare, Aeylen drew a likeness between the sable man and her son, Nios.

"Triell." She knew of Ruiko's brother if only from the stories and history that he'd shared with her. For whatever reason, in her mind she'd pictured a younger wolf, one whose eyes still shone with childlike light. The Tainn that stood before her, however, was a regal man, stoical and strong, and nothing less than she should have expected.

As she and Ruiko were addressed by Corinna, her amber eyes met the queen's emerald ones hopefully. Her words and the invitation she extended warmed Aeylen's steady heart as she observed the embrace between her mate and sister-in-law, and then between brothers, before offering her own show of affection and submission to her leaders─her family. Content to listen as Ruiko answered Triell's inquiry, she considered her children with pride; they were strong and as regal as she'd hoped and dreamed they would grow to be.

At Ruiko's prompt to return home, the tawny woman drew to his side, ready to begin a new chapter in their life together. After months of searching, they were right where they belonged.

Finishing this up!

Gone Tomorrow

The pack's matriarch waited with held breath, anxiously wondering how her invitation would be received. She could not rightly blame for Ruiko and Aeylen for deciding to leave, and it was only her assumption that they had arrived to stay with them. But as Ruiko's stoic voice answered her and Triell's questions, she felt herself relax. The tip of her tail wagged ever so slightly at her hocks, and as she reached out to him to clean away the blood that she had drawn, Corinna graced her brother with a smile. At least she had not ruined this completely.

The pair offered their submission, though Corinna would not have demanded it, not now. Instead, she closed the space between them once again, rubbing her face against their cheeks and shoulders, marking them with the scent of the pack. Theirs would become a part of that scent, and with winter fast approaching, Corinna was thankful to have two familiar and loyal wolves at her side. "Come then," she said, stepping back to give them their space. Brushing Triell's shoulder, she took a side step in the direction of the pack den. "I'd like to hear more, of your family and your travels. Then I'd like you to meet your nephews, @Sceral and Serach. They'll love having another uncle and an aunt to bother," she said, beginning to the lead the group into the pack's territory. They had much to share.

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