Home At Last (Open)

[Sivoncé™]

"Momma, how much farther? My paws are tired." Little Aubrey whimpered softly as he looked up at his mother. Why doesn't she let us rest for a bit? Wherever we're going can't be going anywhere. And she looks so tired.... Some other emotion was on his mother's face, too, he was sure, but he had not yet learned the name of it.

Annelise couldn't remember the last time she'd stepped onto Siverian territory. She remembered, very vividly, the night she had been taken right from her home, but she couldn't recall how long it had been from that night to the one they were living now. In truth, it was no longer night; the stars were fading from the skies as the first brilliant shadings of sunrise colored the heavens. Her entire body, coated in a thick layer of grit and faint bloodstains, was numb as she took those first steps into the camp she knew so well yet seemed so strange to her.
The entire world was strange to her now.
The first time she had been taken, though she'd endured far more physical torture, had been a blessing compared to the mental abuse they had forced upon her. She had had to accept the fact that she would die and try with all of her might to find a possible escape for unborn children who had no knowledge of their faither, as their father had no knowledge of them. I didn't even get a chance to tell him I was pregnant...
She barely saw the familiar shapes or the collection of stunned faces as she entered the camp, her children trailing behind her. All she saw was the sanctuary of the healer den; this is where she led her pups.
In the warmth of the den, Annelise nudged her little younglings gently into a soft nest, but did not lie down to sleep with them.
"You can close your eyes now, little loves. Our journey is complete."
Oh, no...it has only just begun, I fear.
As her children slept, soft, silent tears rolled down her cheeks.
I don't know who I am anymore.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

No!
She would not often stray from his train of thought. She hovered, a ghost, along every trail, every tangent of thinking. Mentally, he wound back the second hand, and then the minute. The hour. To that one marvelous day—to those many marvelous days—where they would lie side by side. Snuggled with so devout a faith that their warmth would not pass, that their mother’s side would not slip from their grasp. And, somewhere nearby, a father’s glance would keep them company.
But it was not this time. Instead, Kar sat, only just recovering from some nightmare that had already begun to fade from memory. There was no warmth beside him, only a cushion of autumn air. The room was empty. He was alone.
Stretching his pads out in front of him, he released a yawn and brushed away the routine stirrings of his mind. He lived for the pack now, and wherever the remnants of his family now lay, he could offer no more than the hope that he would see them again. He had searched for Annelise, yes, but she had been gone long. So, so long.
No… I’ll find her yet. Now get up and do something.
He swallowed his exhaustion and slipped from the dens, squinting away the haze of slumber. A long period of hunting fell behind him, and yet he was suddenly empowered to run. To do something other than standing still.
That is, until an all-too-familiar shape entered the corner of his vision.
Jaw drop.
Hardly daring to believe his sight for fear of jinxing the apparition, Kar waited until he felt his paws regain contact with the earth. They did not. What was more, pups fell into line behind her, and he could not even fathom their origin. It took several long, almost painful moments before he could stumble after her, attempting to find his footing. As he entered, he noticed certain tears in her eyes, but could not wait to ask any questions—there would be a time for that.
Rushing forward, Kar embraced his sister with his muzzle, offering his body warmth. Anything.
“Annelise…”

[Sivoncé™]

For a moment, she stared stupidly at the figure that rushed to glomp her in a giant huggle. Her body tensed and was motionless in his embrace, and then, suddenly, realization came into play. A familiar, loved scent surrounded her and a remembered, cherished face greeted her with an exploding elation. Her mouth threatened to burst with the largest smile ever known, and in the very same moment, a waterfall of tears crashed down her face.
"Kar, oh, Kar! It's you -- it's really you! I can't believe it!"
But the grief was quick to catch up with her joy.
She reached back from there embrace and gazed miserably into his eyes. There was something she needed to do, to tell him now before anyone else entered or intruded. Perhaps she would've trusted Magic as well, but Kar was her brother. If there was anyone she could trust now, it was him.
"Kar....I....I don't even know where to begin I....so much....so much has happened to me but...."
She turned away from him, eyes to the ground as she spoke. She took a deep breath and looked to the precious sleeping bundles of her children for strength. I love them....I love Shade....
"Kar, these are my children. Their father is Shade, and he is a Yozoran and...I love him."

[.Rabid Lycan.]

His tongue went dry.
This is all wrong. It’s so… how did this even happen? I let her slip away from me twice—she wasn’t… she wasn’t away all this time hiding with the Yozorans, was she? No… she wouldn’t do that. She could never… His gaze slipped to his paws, his pupils studying the contours of his toes. What would mom and dad say?
“Annelise…”
He couldn’t speak further, but managed to lift his gaze. Not at Annelise—he couldn’t bring himself to look at her quite yet—but at the slumbering bodies beside her. Each one, so soft, so innocent. So young. His chest tightened, then relaxed slightly. No, it doesn’t matter what they would say.
“…heh… I’m an uncle.”
Slowly, Kar slumped to his stomach, gazing fondly at the bundle of younglings. He smiled gently, not quite sure how to respond to the sight, but heartened all the same. “Sit with me… please.” And yet, there were still other matters to discuss. “…where have you been all this time?” Too soon? “Or… what would you have me tell the pack of the new pups…?”
He swallowed harshly.
“Do they have names?”

[Sivoncé™]

Still nervous, she watched his features carefully, though he wouldn't look at her quite yet. But slowly, with a mountain of relief, she saw that her judgement had been right; Kar wouldn't abandon her. They were family, and a family bound together by their experiences and the fact that for a very long time, they'd been the only ones. And now we have some additions to the family....
She had driven herself to misery so many times thinking about what her mother and father would've thought. I know they would've....expected different. They would've said they expected better, but they don't know Shade. They don't know him like I do.Slowly, she sat beside her brother, cautiously optimistic.
So many questions...so many answers...so much to tell...
She opted to start with the easiest and ease her way into the more complicated answers.
"Well...you have two little nephews and a niece. Their names are Eli, Aubrey, and Pandora. I haven't quite figured out what to tell the others, but I'm not exactly certain the truth is the best thing."
And that's it for easy. But he has to know everything, and I have to start from the beginning.
"I met Shade at a Moonless Meeting, and we crossed paths a few times after that by chance....and then the meetings became a little more...voluntary and...there were mutual feelings that were expressed. I know what you might be thinking and....how could I and things like that but..." She paused, gazing at him carefully, "I want you to...come with me sometime and meet him if you would. I don't plan on ending it, Kar...and he's their father, he has a right to see them at the very least. But...anyways....I was gathering herbs and a Blood Mist took me. I woke up and I found myself in the Destinian woods with Babylonia and....she...she took my leg, that's how I lost it. She did it to get back at...Mom. And then Shade found me and we got away -- we hid under the Eternal Tree because they wouldn't be able to reach us. And then there was the fight at the clearing and we were able to go home but....I was never able to tell him I was pregnant because I didn't really know until I was already back. And then....about a month after I...I was so restless and I thought about going to see him, and I was going to but then someone came up behind me and knocked me out. They took me to Blood Mist and....they....they made me suckle Babylonia's children because she died during their birthing. I don't know what she would've done to me our my pups but...I'm fairly certain she would've killed me and done something terrible to them. It was hopeless. But then...there was a Destinian hostage named BurnNote. She and this Regulus character....he was hideous, really, but I think he was feeling rebellious....there was some sweet talking and BurnNote managed to talk her way into getting him to let her go. She ran, and then he took me and we ran in the opposite direction, to the mountains. I've been staying there for a while, until the pups could make the journey. Azlyn found me, and Regulus took off after that but he kept an eye on us, I think. I'm not really sure what his whole place in this mess was, but whatever his reasoning, it got me and the pups out alive."At the end of her tale, she sighed heavily and gave a little chuckle. "And here I am."

[.Rabid Lycan.]

Well, that was… quick.
He never looked up at her. He didn’t need to; all the sincerity or confirmation that he would ever require was right there, in her voice. Muzzle tightened, his features not revealing (or, at least, he tried not to reveal) any emotion. Just blank, open acceptance. Send and receive.
When she finally ceased, there were several moments of silence. For a moment, he merely considered milling over his musings from within, and not say anything. But he owed her far more—she was his sister, for Lupus’ sake.
Probably better to think out loud for once.
“I… do wonder. Y’know, how you would… look outside the pack… being who you are. I’ll admit that.” He paused briefly. “…but I’ve never been in love, so it’s not really my place to judge. They say love is blind, and though it’s complicated… I trust your judgment. He’s probably a nice guy. Good-looking, too, I hope.” He smiled. “I would like to meet him sometime, though until things get smoothed out, maybe not quite yet. As for the other things…” A deep frown weighed his features, a sort of burning lighting in his eyes. “Annelise… I’m... I’m so, so sorry. I swear, if Babylonia ever goes near you again, I’ll—” He inhaled sharply. But what? This has happened twice, what makes you think you can stop this from happening?
Another voice perked in his mind, offering its voice. Nothing says I can, but I can try.
“She’ll pay. Somehow, she will. If I have to tear her apart myself, so be it, but she’s not getting away with this.” His eyes trailed once more to the pups, the fire softening in his gaze. “…even if revenge means just giving these little guys a good life, so be it…”
He pursed his lips slightly, shaking his head and beginning to shed a smile again.
“So here we are.” His eyes cast upward. “All seven of us.”

[Sivoncé™]

Slowly, a warmth began to fill her up. Out of countless months of torture and chaos came this perfect moment, here, with her brother. She mirrored her small smile and gave a slight wag of her tail. "You're an uncle," she giggled. "You're so old!" Her laughter was short, but her optimism was growing considerably. After the storm of all of her pains and agonies, she could laugh and joke with her brother. She was at peace.
And yet, there were still other things that threatened to infringe on that peace. Annelise grew suddenly serious. "What has been happening in the packs, though? I know there was a battle between Blood Mists and the Destinians but....what's been happening to everyone? And where's Melina?"
It's so strange, being in captivity and then coming out into the world again...it's like a completely diffrent universe.