Whitestone Monadnock Nothing gets done with dust in your gun

It had been a long journey to Torbine, and he had seen and smelled things he would never forget. The spray of the sea and the way the biting wind would cut through his fur, the heights of the mountains and wolves that shared his mother's blood. She fit in like she had never lived anywhere else but her son longed for home. He had made himself useful during his stay, trailing after healers and running their odd jobs, learning of plants that he knew he wouldn't find here, while others were so familiar. He had helped the guardians and ran messages for the scouts, doing everything in his power not only to endear himself to his extended family but also show just what an asset his mother could be. Once her position was assured, he had taken his leave to begin the long journey back.

His paws throbbed but he paid them little mind, the Monadnock was so close now he could hear the familiar crow calls coming from it's peak. He had been making his way towards the speck on the horizon for days and now it was finally before him. He paused at the border, taking in the familiar scents, brow drawing down over his good eye as he realised there were very few he recognised. But not to worry, @Piety was still strong around the borders as was @Wraith, a lopsided smirk crossed his features as he huffed a dry chuckle. Was there really any point to waiting any longer? He tipped back his head and called for the Monadnock leaders. He was coming home.

after the cut comes the blood

Piety Kael

She laid sprawled out on the hard ground of the monadnock in front of the den. Her mind drifted to and fro. Piety knew she should go check on Everly just to see how well the woman was doing. The pale leader knew she was still around from occasional glances and the scent of her still lingering. Perhaps she ought to talk to Wraith and see how the progress of helping her out was going. That was if progress was being made.

Piety rolled onto her back with a soft sigh as she breathed in the cool air. For summer, today's weather seemed too drab. The clouds threatened to release rain but hadn't done so yet. Maybe they would get lucky and have it rain through the night.

Something pulled her out of her lame thoughts with ease though. A call from someone she thought she would never hear again. Without hesitation, she shot up and quickly made her way towards the border. There was only one dark spot against the open lowlands but that didn't mean more wouldn't be coming soon. Once close enough to be heard Piety let out a loud bark. "Odin!" He had grown into his frame nicely it seemed. Her tail was above her back but it wagged about with obvious friendliness. Piety wasted no time closing the gap to offer him a kind bump to the cheek. If anything he had to be a good sign.

"Look at you." She smiled and beamed with obvious pride. He was in a good condition which settled any bad nerves she might have had. Even with one eye gone he was a devilishly handsome male, which was no surprise to her mentioning he was an Archer. "It's so good to see you. I have so many questions." The pale female chuckled softly before she composed herself to seem more regal instead of acting like an over excited child. "But I suppose I should start with the most important one. What is it I can do for you?" Surely he had come all this way for something.

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A young deer has been separated from the rest of its herd. Hunt Opportunity

A white blur barrelled across the tundra and his tail started waving frantically, a low excited whine in his throat as Piety drew closer. Her dignified bump to his cheek was met with a far less dignified shove of his muzzle under her chin, pressing himself bodily into her familiar scent before allowing his teeth to graze her cheek affectionately. He wasn't terribly interested in having a dignified conversation. He wanted to run and roll and celebrate! But her presence wasn't enough to assure his welcome and clearly struggling to maintain some dignity he backed up enough to answer her questions without losing the answers in the plush fur of her chest and neck.

"I was uh, hopin' I could come home." His mouth pulled up more on the side that still had an eye as he smiled a little sheepishly. "Ma can't travel wit'th' kids but she's doin' well... considerin' there's five'o'em." He had lost all attempts to sound dignified when his mother broke the news of his parentage to him and now he spoke with the same slurred and clipped tone that she did. "How about you? Where're yours?" His tail beat the air excitedly both waiting for her reaction to the news and verdict on his request.

@Odin @Piety

The howl carried a familiar timbre with it, but not one Wraith could readily place. It sounded more like a song from a dream rather than any he should recognize from life. Shaking off his frown, the male angled towards the direction of the call, abandoning his patrol. At least whoever was at the borders would be greeted with a fresh and apparent scent marking as he had just passed a few hours prior.

It was an ugly, feeling that settled in him when he caught sight of Piety speaking with a black male rivaling his own size. A soft growl broiled in his throat, threatening to spill past his teeth as his tail lifted and his gait quickened. It was no crime for his mate to speak to another and certainly expected for her to greet someone come calling at the borders, but he could not help the possessiveness that curdled in his gut like spoiled meat.

But as he drew closer, his less than welcoming approach slowed and his stiff posture loosened. The breeze had carried with it an oh-so-familiar scent.

Odin.

"As I live and breathe..." he began, tail wagging madly. Wraith wasted no time in butting his forehead against his previous apprentice's skull in happy greeting, completely ruining Piety's fight for a regal bearing. "Welcome home, son. It's good to see you again." Though the brute's heart made an anxious thu-thump as he called Odin his son - would the boy be offended? Or look upon it with the affection it was meant to carry? - he showed no outward sign of it and carried on. "Is your mother alright? Kara?" He had to ask after them first as it was clear the yearling was doing damn well for himself.

after the cut comes the blood

Piety Kael

She welcomed his display of affection. Breathing in his scent (perhaps looking for traces of Morganna) just as he did hers. As much as she wished to keep exchanging contact there were some important things to get to!

The large male's words made her heart swell to a point where she was certain it could explode. Without a second thought, the pale female nodded her head. "Oh, of course, you can, Odin." Piety had made sure that as long as Whitestone Monadnock lived that Morganna and her children could come home without worry. This had been their place long before it had been her own. She easily saw Wraith come onto the scene and embrace the yearling before the. "He wishes to come home, Wraith!" Piety offered an apologetic smile to Odin in case she by chance had stolen his thunder. "Five children? She must certainly have her paws full." As much as the pale Kael wished to see the rascals running about the Monadnock she was aware they were fine in Torbine. "We just have one of our own. A handsome little boy named Cyril." Her tail waved about like a windy flag as her gaze looked over to Wraith with obvious love and adoration.

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@Wraith's greeting headbutt was met with playfully parted jaws and an indignantly joyful rumble that just about shattered any previous sense of propriety that he had managed to wrangle for @Piety's sake and it was visibly evident in the way he battled with his own posture, torn between tearing circles around the pair of them and standing still enough to carry out a civilised conversation. He wasn't a child anymore. This shouldn't be so hard, but he was home and so he hoped they would at least afford him a little leeway based on that alone.

The word son was enough to pause his feet, an attempt at a knowing glare thwarted by the knowing smirk that he couldn't keep from his face. His paws resumed their thumping almost immediately displaying a huge amount of energy for someone that had just spent a month traveling across the country to reach his destination. Wraith's following question was met with a nod, "Yeah, she's made a name fer'herself already o'course. Not many brave enough ter get on 'er bad side, an' Kara's... still Kara..." He smiled fondly, missing his partner in crime rather keenly for a moment. His attention was brought back to Piety as she mentioned her son and his tail waved rather happily. So it wouldn't be nearly so cramped here as it had been in Torbine. But that wasn't all bad.

Piety's excited declaration was met with a beaming grin from her mate. That Odin had come home not with just news, but to simply be home brought Wraith a great deal of relief and no small amount of joy. "Of course he does!" the brute exclaimed. "He knows where he comes from." Home was always there for those wishing to come back for it. Kara and Morganna included. And apparently an entire brood as well! Five! Fenrir above, save us from five more little Morgannas! he thought with affection.

To hear that she and Kara were doing well came as no surprise. The Archer women were and would always be capable of overcoming any odds. It was a relief, however, to know that they had found another home to call their own where they were welcome, especially with Morganna's condition upon arriving to her old homelands. Wraith found himself wondering after Craw, but refused to ask.

As Piety spoke of Cyril, Wraith stood taller with pride. "He looks a lot like you. Has more of your sister's penchant for mischief, though." The brute curled his neck across Piety's, rubbing her as if to share in his pride.

"Come on," the leader invited, inclining his head back towards the Monadnock. "I'm sure it's been a long journey. You should eat and rest before meeting with him and the other wolves we've gained since you all left."

after the cut comes the blood

Piety Santoro

She let the two dark males have their chatter. Piety had no want to stop the two from a nice reuniting. Her gaze bouncing between the two as each one took turns speaking to the other. Once most of the talking was done she eagerly circled Odin, rubbing herself against his dark pelt in order to mark him better. The pale female offered eager nips along as neck along with a soft whine. They could talk about things more once he was well rested.

Piety knew she didn't have to lead the way but she still took a few bounds ahead of the males. She still had so much to ask but she knew better than to completely bombard the Archer yearling. Of course, she could be content for now with knowing that Morganna was healthy and safe. Not to mention the handful of children! So many of them! Piety hoped that the large family would be able to visit once the children were old enough.

For a moment she trailed back towards the dark duo in order to squeeze herself in between the two large men. She gave a wide smile to each of them. It was easy to say that this was a very joyous day indeed.

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@Wraith's comment about Cyril looking like himself earned a quiet chuckle and a quick quip, "But with two eyes I hope?" The question didn't really require an answer, for he knew it must be true. Even he had been born with both, and if he had of been a little more careful he'd have two eyes yet. But there was little point dwelling on that now. It had indeed been a long journey, and his stomach rumbled embarrassingly in response to the offer for food but he tried to shake it off as nothing at all, leaning into @Piety's sweep of his flank and watching as she danced a few steps ahead.

As he moved after her with Wraith alongside he felt the small niggle of anxiety that had followed him the whole way here evaporate. Of course they didn't have to take him back at all but they were welcoming him as one of their own, just as he had hoped they would. When Piety squeezed between them with a wide smile he decided he didn't have to try and pretend to be 'all grown up' anymore. "Bet I can beat yer ter th' top, old man!" He teased before bolting forward. He still remembered the way as if he'd never been gone at all.