Hymn knew he could put it off no longer, Oria and his children had scattered again and he'd still yet to find any sign of Octave at all. But his children were grown, as much as it was paining him to know they did not need him in his life anymore it also made him proud to see them so independant. It was his missing mate that was bothering him more. He had hoped, though he could not recall if they'd ever spoken about it, to try for one more litter so that his mother would have a chance to be a real grandparent... he had one other wish for a daughter he could name after his momma as he had done with Novel.

But more than that he simply missed having her around. It was moments like this he wondered how his mother had stayed so strong for so many years with her mate and sons gone and that only strengthened his resolve to see his personal mission through. He was going to be joining the pack his mother and Athena had chosen within the next few days.

But for today at least he wanted to be allowed one last nostalgic trip. So he returned to the place of his childhood. This time his daughter was not here to greet him, instead only the gentle bubbling of the water that rushed between the mangrove roots. He considered for a moment trying to balance on those roots, but he had long outgrown that game... if only he'd cherished it more when he had been younger.

He stood for a moment, breathing in the scents, the sounds. If he closed his eyes he could almost imagine his brother was standing next to him. As children they had been near inseparable but then... well life had a funny way of changing everything you once thought was unchangeable. Not that he blamed Psalm in any way, he could only hope that he was still happy, that he had found everything he had been looking for. Who knew maybe he'd even gone to join their mother in Ahlon.

That idea brought him some small comfort, the notion that neither of their mothers were truly without their children around. He prayed it was true.


—  hymn

I gotta whisper
'cause I can't be too loud

Novel lingered in the mangroves where she has been born all those years ago. The forest was a very different place now. Cherokee, her father, has been gone for a long time. His black form has not lingered here almost as long as Jupiter has been gone. She vaguely remembered when her mother took over Ludicael. The gods giveth the gods take away. Upon Jupiter's return the majority of her family returned to the lands that has birthed them: Dimenticato. The now ancient pack of Ahlon still remained, ruled by the descendants of Series and Poem. The Destruction name still strong there. Novel now doubted the same could be said here. 

Her brothers and sisters.. Dhiren passed not long before she left. Fal'Dara still lingered but her time was short. Psalm, her lovely son, had offered to return with her, but his family there needed him more than she did. His pups were only born the season before. His mate was a beauty even Poem herself would have envied. 

She knew she would never see them again. 

Novel had given her last good byes to them, but here in Boreas there were wolves who still needed to hear it. Even with her old age Novel moved gracefully over the tangled roots, her pace was slow. She has no where to be. She was surprised when she saw the figure though. Psalm was not supposed to have come with her. 

"Psalm, what are you.." but it wasn't her white marked son. "Hymn." She wanted to run to him, to cover him in kisses like she might have when he was tiny. But she was frozen, like a deer in the headlights she stared in wonder.

He was standing with his eyes closed, head tilted ever so slightly back and the smallest of smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. He was wrapped up in his memories, it made sense to him that in this minute he might catch the memory of a scent. That of his mother, his birth mother. For a moment he stood in silence as he allowed the memory to wrap around him, taking him away from where he was.

"Psalm, what are you.." Hymn's eyes slowly opened, bringing him back to the present, back to his current location. "Hymn." It wasn't until his name was spoken that he realized his mother's scent was still sharp and her voice hadn't been a figment of his imagination but was real and still ringing in his ear.

Hymn whirled around, brilliant ceruleans searching for the small white and black marked figure he had only just conjured in his mind. Finally he spotted her; her pelt was tinged with more silver than he'd ever seen on her and the age had clearly taken it's toll but to Hymn's eyes she was as beautiful and resilient as she'd always been. He took a step forwards, then another, slowly picking up his pace until he was trotting forwards with abandon. His tail beating the air and a grin plastered on his face.

Hymn had no reserves about wrapping his mother up in his embrace, he would stop just short of charging into her, hoping to wrap himself around her smaller form, hunching over her while also trying to plant as many kissed along her shoulders and spine as he could. "I missed you." He mumbled, almost afraid to break the peace.



—  hymn

I gotta whisper
'cause I can't be too loud

She was stunned into silence as Hymn turned around quickly to see her, his handsome form chiseled with age. She felt the tears well up in her eyes as he jumped towards her, relief in his features as they were in hers. She cried as he wrapped himself around her, tears of joy and regret at the time they'd lost. Relief at seeing him well and alive. Forgiveness was evident, but she couldn't help but voice her apology to him.

"Oh, Hymn I missed you too. My heart hurt for what I left behind, and I'm so sorry I've left you for so long." She whined as she pushed herself closer to him, wanting him nowhere but right next to her. She weapt, but felt relief at the tears. The guilt dripped away with every drop. She returned his kisses, overwhelmed with emotion as she took him in. "Your brother would be glad to know you are well." She'd whisper through the tears, "And your new niece and nephew." She smiled, and basked in the knowledge that her family was well.