The Return

((Inferno continued - with about a year time lapse - from here: https://incendio.rpg-board.net/t101p30-as-the-cogs-start-to-turn-super-open#2004 ))

A distant howl marked the otherwise silent day. Lifting his head at the unique call, the wolf pricked his ears and stared into the sky as if there were something to see. But he wanted to see, nevertheless...someone had died. A second call followed the first, and the male listening narrowed his eyes at the oath of vengeance from Xerxses, the alpha's loyal brother. Standing there so far away, so cut off, Inferno knew it was worthless at the moment to wonder what had happened. If things hadn't changed in Silverlight, if Xerxses' only strong affections still were reserved for his brother, then there'd be no question who had fallen. But there were so many other possibilities...and Inferno didn't want to consider that Blitz - old as he was - had left Silverlight forever.

There was one thing the male did know for sure, though: the pack would gather to that call. For nearly a year, the former beta had made somewhat of a home in the Banished Plains. He had a den in the cliffs of the Northern Ridge; he hunted at the edges of the Eastern Forest (Khalessi's smarts had influenced that one); he couldn't make himself leave. He was tethered to Silverlight, even if he'd cut associations with the pack. The meadow had been his once place of solace, and the spirits who frequented that place had been his driving motivation for everything he did, even until the end. For so long he'd looked for a way into the pack lands to visit just one last time, but his conscience and the technical difficulties of getting so far into pack territory had hindered any attempts. But now he turned his attention from the sky and to his new path: Silverlight.

The long-legged male moved quickly, limping still a bit from the injury that had healed incorrectly in his foreleg, but after so long living with it, Inferno knew how to endure the pain and keep it from being troublesome. The rest of his wounds from his fight with Blitz had healed completely long ago, and though his coat was flecked with numerous scars from the encounter, he was healthy, clean, and getting along just fine, almost looking like he did when he was a member of Silverlight.

The wolf loped into the Eastern Forest without any hesitation. Though the secrecy of his presence so nearby would be ruined, he didn't care, because this - as far as he knew - was the only chance he'd ever get. After all this time, Inferno still knew the pack lands so well that he could navigate them with his eyes closed, so in no time, the maze of the forest was left behind him, and the meadow was opened up before him. With no worries, the coppery wolf stepped into the meadow and walked slowly, with relish, to the center.

After a year, Inferno could smile. It was a peaceful smile, like the smile a hundred-year-old at the end of a good life wears as they pass into heaven. Rest, home.

((Khalessi continued - with time lapse - from here: https://incendio.rpg-board.net/t117p15-back-to-the-beginning-open#2412 ))

The howl wasn't familiar to her, more like a foreign language so it was only natural that she ignored it at first, especially since she was so busied with tracking a hare back to it's burrow. It wasn't uncommon for her to become so engrossed she zoned out to the world around her. Fortunately the meaning of the song broke through the cracks and she finally looked up from her lowered position and perked her ears to the male in the distance. She stood there unmoving, a feeling of worry starting to engulf her. The mournful cry from a pack member was slightly concerning, and the threat to Coven even more so. She wondered who had passed on to the spirit world and if it was someone she had once loved dearly. Khalessi blinked, turning her head and breaking her stiff stature. She was looking around for nothing that she would find with her eyes, and upon realizing that she ditched the rabbit tracks and wandered off into the brush at a brisk pace.

Gradually her pace started to increase, as did the worry that was settling in. He had to be around here somewhere, she was sure of it. Finally the white female caught a break, and she followed the trail at a jog until she reached the familiar view of a particular meadow. To be honest she didn't really take notice and was much too focused on the form limping away from her instead of the fact that she had crossed into Silverlight territory. "Inferno..." she called out softly as she caught up to him a sigh of relief escaping her muzzle. Khalessi didn't bother checking herself for presentation and in fact removed herself from her usual reserved state. Her worry was quite obvious in the way she moved to him greeting him with a gentle brush against his side and a nudge to the neck. "Are you okay?"

At the sound of his name, Inferno whipped his head around, suddenly on edge. "Khalessi?" Once the recognition set in, the male noticeably relaxed, enough to note the expression on her face and begin to worry himself.

"I'm fine," he responded offhandedly, more concerned with the prominent worry pervading Khalessi's every action and expression. Ears flipped halfway back in concern, Inferno swept his intent gaze over her quickly to see if injury or illness was the cause of her state. "What's wrong? asked the wolf, his request to understand the female's emotions encouraged by the unexpected candor in her eyes. For Khalessi, his selfless former pack mate, Inferno would do whatever it took to help her if it was needed. After everything, he owed her that much.

Inferno didn't seem to be in distress, so she was satisfied with his answer and had to trust him on its validity. The white female fell silent, looking over the meadow with slight curiosity. Where she had once felt relaxation and safety was now a foreign and strange place to her. She hardly recognized it anymore. In fact it was sad really. Khalessi had known the meadows horrid state more so than its current glory, after Blitzen had succeeded in pleasing the spirits. Khalessi shifted her weight slightly forward feeling her paws pressing into the soft earth beneath the thick grass. "Someone has passed, although I'm not sure who. I just... wanted to make sure." She looked to him, as if needing to confirm for a second time that he was indeed still a part of this dimension. According to Blitz the weirdest unimaginable things happened in this place and although never a first hand witness she had believed him.

"Though it seems Coven might be in trouble." She spoke while looking back in the direction of the dens. If Inferno was fine, and Coven apparently okay, who had died? Khalessi silently hoped it was a member she had no knowledge of, and therefore ties to. Like that time she found an old female to have died a few short months ago. She had been worried that time as well, but was comforted when all familiar howls were accounted for. This time it was just one voice, which was odd. Gradually remembering herself the female reeled in her emotions and corrected her expression and posture. She offered a weak smile to the male and slowly started to walk to the dens. "Besides, I told you I would come back when you did".

Inferno smiled as Khalessi studied him, her thoughts still openly communicated in her expression. The wolf gave Khalessi a very surprised but appreciative 'thanks' while nudging her with his nose to confirm that he still consisted of flesh and blood. He was definitely relieved that their rough reunion a year ago hadn't caused her to hate him...his mindset had been so dismal and confused back then to even try to understand what was going on with her and him both, but thankfully the female acted as if Inferno hadn't been crazy. Here in the meadow with her not holding anything back, it was as if they were pack mates again, but better.

Following the white wolf's gaze toward the dens, the male responded with a shake of his head, "He has a penchant for trouble. I expect he's bitten off more than he can chew with this one, though." Coven's fast-reacting habits should probably have been curbed; it was only time before that wolf's idiocy caught up with him.

Tilting his head and frowning slightly, Inferno watched as Khalessi steeled herself into her usual composure and started to walk off. Come back? He flicked an ear back, realizing where she was headed: back! He'd returned as his last chance to say goodbye, but though his initial reaction may have intimated that slightly, Khalessi's presence changed his mind. If she was staying, then he would, too. Mirroring her tint of a smile, the male began following, just as the short howl - much nearer now - gathering the pack burst in the air. Since when did Pravin call pack meetings? Never before, that's for sure, and an icy inkling began to set in.

((Inferno/Khalessi continued here: https://incendio.rpg-board.net/t143p60-the-beginning-of-the-end-pack-split-thread#2444 ))