ooc: This is starting in the Red Forest at Alena's den and will move to Amenti once the pups are gathered <3 It was so good to be home. The darkness hid most of the Red Forest from view, but she could see outlines of the many trees that dotted the territory in the moonlight. She padded along silently, the meeting she had just had with Deteste in the back of her mind. There would be plenty of time to think about that later. For now, she needed to go to her children. She had been away from them for quite long enough. She was ready to take them to their new home, for better or worse. She was excited to see the silver form of their caretaker as well. That thought sped along her steps even more. She moved swiftly through the trees on silent paws and soon her den came into view. It wouldn't be her den for much longer, but for now it was hers and inside would be her family. She slowed her steps as she approached the den, a soft smile on her muzzle. She poked her head inside before quietly slipping in and glancing around the den through the shadows of night. She couldn't see well, but she could tell from the scents that something was off. Her smile disappeared and her brow creased. Calix, Tocan, and Dempsey's scents were stale. But how could that be? She carefully padded around the den in the dark till she scented out her remaining two pups, sinking to her stomach beside Jian and Lel. Her ears folded back against her skull as she gazed at the sleeping pups, her heart aching with worry for the rest of her children. Where could they be? "And where the hell is Dempsey? she thought. She had trusted him, let him watch after her pups. And now he was gone and apparently so were two more of her children. Before she let herself jump to conclusions, Alena lapped gently at her pups, slowly waking Jian and Lel in turn. One son and one daughter. That's all that remained from her litter of five healthy children. She brushed her muzzle along their sides tenderly as she spoke softly, "Jian, Lel, I'm home... Where are your siblings? Where is Dempsey?" Speech Thought Others

It was quiet and dark, but the pup was barely able to sleep, even with her brother right beside her. Everything felt so empty and the den seemed huge without the forms of her siblings there or the large form of their guardian there. She slightest sound that her mother's paws made when she slipped into the den made the pup stir, but Jain stayed still, frozen with the worry that her senses were playing tricks on her and that it was some intruder and not her mother. Or perhaps no one at all. Soon her fears disappeared as the larger form of Alena settled down next to her and the warmth of her tongue pulled Jian completely out of the shallow sleep she had been able to manage. The pup blinked open her bright blue eyes and a huge smile broke out over her muzzle at the sight of her mother. Jian scrambled to her paws, throwing herself at her mother's ivory form, pressing herself into her warm fur with her tail whipping happily behind her. The strangely patterned pup suddenly stopped at her mother's question, her gaze taking on worry and confusion. "I dunno," she answered honestly, her black-colored ears folding back against her skull. "We woke up one day and Dempsey was gone and then Calix and Tocan wondered off while you were gone and I haven't seen them..." She glanced over to her brother. First Nako, then Dempsey, and now Calix and Tocan. They were all gone... But at least Lel and her mom was still here. The two wolves she cared the most about hadn't disappeared. She looked back to her mom, hoping she would have some sort of answers. What would they do now? Speech Thought Others

Unlike his sister Lel was sound asleep, the current state of his family did little to worry him; Calix and Tocan were his siblings yes, but he had not spent much time with them so it was of little consequence to him that they were gone. The same applied to Dempsey, he knew his mother was happy with him but he?d never really seen a need for him and with the older male gone Lel had suddenly felt as though he were the man of the family, something he took considerable pride in being. He had been aware of his sister?s distress, especially after the disappearance of Nako, who had been the first sibling to never return, and somewhere in his mind he had grasped that he wanted to and could be there for her. He thought her feelings laughable but had somehow grasped that he didn?t need to tell her that and so he had settled upon being a silent constant. A rock for her to lean on if she needed him to be. He had snuggled up next to her to sleep, there for her should she need him, but it was only as his mother nosed him awake that he became aware that she wasn?t sleeping. He blinked purple eyes sleepily, watching as Jian pressed up against their mother, his own tail beating against the ground weakly. Like his sibling?s and Dempsey?s disappearance he had grown to accept that his mother wasn?t around all the time, but unlike the former he had missed her. He shrugged at his mother?s question knowing about as much as his sister did. He rose to his paws stretching and releasing a squeaky yawn before sliding up against his mother nuzzling her gently before pushing up against his sister. Speech Others Thought

Neither of her children were able to shed any light on the whereabouts of their missing siblings or her missing partner, not easing any of her worries. She cared little for Dempsey being gone. She was hurt by it, but those were feelings she could sort out on her own later when she wouldn't burden her family with her feelings for the bastard. That didn't stop her for worrying about Tocan and Calix though. They were no where to be seen and their scents were stale. There was no way she could track them now... she could only hope that one day they would show up or she would get some news of them, like she did with Nako. She pulled her two remaining pups close, wanting them to know how much they meant to her. She hated that she was away from them so often... but not any more. Now they could be together and hopefully have some sort of normal life in the new Amenti. She lifted her head to gaze at each of them seriously, putting the thoughts of their missing family members aside for now. While her violet gaze was serious, it was also gentle, trying her best to make the news as easy for them as possible. "Well, while I was gone I found us a new pack. It has the same name as the pack I used to lead, but it has a new king now and he runs things a little differently. I know it'll be a big change for you both, but... I just don't feel safe with you guys out here by myself. I want to make sure you are safe and cared for and I don't think I can do it out here on my own." She hadn't meant to be so candidly honest with them, but as she spoke she realized that they deserved an honest reason for their move to a pack. "I hope you guys like it there. I know it's night time, but I'd really like to go now. The sooner we can get a move on the better I will feel." She gently licked each of them between their ears, giving them an encouraging smile. "Everything will be better now. I promise." Speech Thought Others