Though it was certainly not uncommon for him to see his children in his day to day life, seeing them in passing and occasionally joining them for meals or patrols, it had been far too long for this liking since they had all been together in one place. He had been supportive when they each had decided to take a space for themselves and make their own dens around Ashen's new territory, but it did mean that he saw them less and less. With the news and discussion he needed to have with each of them it gave him the perfect excuse to call together a family meeting. He knew he didn't really need a reason to call them all together, but they were all busy just as he was so he understood how valuable that time was.

It was late in the afternoon as he got a fire going at the center of a clearing in the Ravine, glancing up to smile at Void while Rava continued to work on the dinner he had been prepping with her. He tipped his head up, kissing Void affectionately, before turning to get more firewood to add to the flames. He had sent Virdis and Procella out to tell each of their kids about the plans earlier in the day with the when and where to meet them so he hoped they would all be along soon. If nothing else the smell of cooking meats should tip them off for where to go. With everything just about ready, he came to settle beside Rava on one of the furs that was spread out around a small collection of wooden platers, giving the smaller woman a loving smile and kissing the top of her head before turning his emerald gaze out toward the trees to keep an eye out for their children.

"Plague Klein-Destruction"

Virdis had let Seere know that the family would be having a family dinner tonight. The girl had run her nightly patrol with joyful steps and when the time arrived to meet, she was ready to go. Small paws thunder across the ground as she runs toward the gathering area, anxious to see her fathers, mother, and siblings but also, to get good food. Yeah, she feeds herself and stuff but there is nothing like homecooked meals from mom and dads!

Monochrome form breaks the tree line and she slows her frantic approach so that she doesn’t slam into anyone. Mismatched eyes take in the furs and platers of steaming food while also noticing that she is the first of her siblings to arrive. Maybe she can sneak a bite or two before they get here! Seere moves up to her parents, a huge, beaming smile on her lips as she greets them, “Hi momma! Hi dad! Hi dada!”

Each wolf is given a kiss, her fathers have to bend down to receive them, before Seere moves to settle down on the furs near them. A small paw reaches toward one of the platers laden with food as she asks, “How are you all doing?” If one of her parents scolds her or slaps at her paw, the girl will stop trying to sneak a piece of food but, if they don’t, she will happily steal a small piece while she can.


"Seere Abraxas-Destruction"

There weren’t many days that he thought about how far he and Plague had come in life. From meeting in secret on the moonlit cliffs, to living contentedly with their families. Like a dream come true he had never believed even possible. The move had been more than a little unsettling, and he didn’t really have a lot of time to think about anything more than getting settled into their new home. Now that everything was mostly in place he was free to enjoy what they had built. Void grinned while he watched Plague and Rava prepare the meal for their little family meeting they had planned. Very nearly finished Void leaned into his husband’s affectionate kiss, blissfully enjoying the affection as he followed Plague to get comfortable. While their children, who were not so much children anymore, found their way here.

For a moment that he believed they all deserved, life was fully rainbows and butterflies. Of course their time here would be full of ups and downs but Void found the current ‘up’ precious beyond words. Thinking of precious, their dear Seere appeared first. The girl was devoted above and beyond most other wolves and Void’s pride in her couldn’t be described. He kissed her forehead lovingly before she made herself comfortable and started in on the food her parents made.

"Better, now that you’re here.” He teased Seere with a wink as they awaited her siblings.

"Void Abraxas-Destruction"

Rava easily fell into the role of happy housewife as they slowly started to settle into the new pack lands. This place was more at home for Rava, especially the desert next door. She had spent a lot longer on those sands than even she wanted to admit. Plague had rescued her from a fate worse than death. Rava really did owe him her whole existence, and she wasn’t sure that a litter of puppies was near enough repayment for his selflessness. So she had remained under his wing, living with both Plague and Void. She didn’t feel like an accessor, or like a slave that she had been destined to be. She was a part of his family, and she in turn helped him build that family.

So the woman was more than happy to play her role, one that she had never imagined possible. At one time she had been a wild woman, with no direction or purpose beyond survival. As she finished the meal, realizing it was a small task for what she had in return. A loving family, and a place where she belonged. Rava wouldn’t likely ever be some kind of social butterfly, but here in there home she felt safe.

With her hood down around her shoulders Rava finished the last touches on dinner as Plague shifted and returned to her side with a kiss to her forehead. She smiled timidly at the affection as Seere made her entrance. Rava accepted her daughter’s love with a little grin as the girl moved on to her fathers. She smiled in answer to Seere’s question as she encouraged the girl to snack with a gesture. .

Life had taken a difficult turn on Saia's part, and she wondered if any of her family felt the same. With the move here to the west, it seemed her siblings wanted to take that grown up step and get settled into their own dens. She only followed suit to not be the odd one out. She felt it was expected of her as she came of age. She couldn't blame the way her brothers and sister felt if they wanted have their own space now. But it wasn't really their presence she was missing. It was their mother's. Saia had always been stuck like glue to her maybe a little too much and she saw that herself. She figured having her own den and growing out of her shell would help her discover herself a little more. And maybe that was right. But she was struggling deep inside of herself, not that she was open about that to the rest of her family.

With the invitation to dinner as a whole again she arrived shortly after her sister, typical. She wouldn't greet in words as she joined around the fire. Only giving a gentle smile and the wag of her tail before she made herself comfortable beside her mother. Quietly waiting for dinner and whatever else her father had in mind.

"Saia Klein-Destruction"

Stolas had been spending most of his time either hanging out with his newest best friend Fiametta or deeply engrossed in his studies. The more he learned about the stars and heavens, the more the young wolf thirsted for knowledge. Plus the more he learned, the more he got to share with Fia whenever they hung out! Still, Stolas had been present around Ashen, helping with the move to the new lands and even setting up a small permanent campsite out near the lake where the stargazing was prime real estate. That's where Stolas would have been right now, camped out with his grimoire and a snack to watch the shifting heavens as the seasons changed, but a message from his father's companions gave him other plans for this evening. A family dinner! He and his littermates hadn't all been together in one place for some time, and the adolescent boy was keen to get to spend time with all of his family together again!

Stolas approached the picnic area his parents had set out just as dusk was settling over the land. The smell of cooking foods made his mouth water, and as he approached the firelight, he greeted his siblings and parents with a chipper, "Hello everyone! I hope you're all well!" Stolas padded around the blankets of furs to give Rava an affectionate nuzzle, followed by nuzzles to both Plague and Void as well. Once he had greeted his parents, Stolas found a place amongst his siblings on the furs, settling in to share a meal.

"Stolas"

"Shit!" Siri muttered under his breath when he looked up at the sky as the light began to fade, realizing how late it had gotten during his wandering and explorations. He had only really realized because of Ruby's reminder of the plans that he had agreed to that night and as soon as he noticed he began to run back toward Ashen's lands, darting through the Ravine in his attempts to be at least semi on time for his father's dinner. It probably wasn't the best look considering he was making some attempts at working toward higher ranks and showing some more responsibility, but there was nothing to be done about it now other than just try to get there before they started eating at least.

Luckily he managed to do just that, slowing to a lope as he neared the fire and saw the rest of his siblings gathered around their parents as their father began to pass out the portions of the meal that had been prepared for them. He gave their parents an apologetic grin before he slid in beside Stolas, looking around at the group for a moment. It was the first time he could remember all of them being in one place in a little bit so it was good to see them all if nothing else. "Sorry, I got uh... caught up in something past the border," he told them, trying and failing to give a decent excuse for his tardiness.

"Sitri Klein-Destruction"

As he had kind of predicted, Seere was the first to appear, his dutiful and responsible daughter as prompt as ever. He grinned and returned the kiss he was given to her cheek as she greeted them. "Hello, darling." Saia was soon to follow and even though their more reserved girl quietly settled in beside her mother, Plague still leaned over to kiss her cheek as well, giving her a warm, loving grin. There was a small lull before Stolas arrived, their stargazer greeting them all brightly. "Hello, son," he said in return, giving him a smile and returning the nuzzle he was offered. That just left Sitri to round out their group and he looked up toward the trees around them expectantly, waiting for a few minutes for their second son to arrive. He hummed softly and got up with a small shrug to start the final preparations and portioning out their meal. He knew Sitri would be along at some point, it was just a matter of when.

Sure enough, just as he was nearly done passing around portions of cooked meat, their white-splattered boy came bursting out from the surrounding foliage. He gave Sitri a mostly joking disapproving glare, but quickly relented and gave him a grin before handing over his food. "So glad you could join us," he said with a chuckle as he settled in between Void and Rava, completing the circle that their family had made around the various accutraments he had gathered for their meal. Berries, roasted vegetables, more roasted meats if any of them wanted another portion, water skins, and even a couple bottles of wine. They were all adults now so if they wanted a bit of wine he wouldn't stop them. "Please, go ahead and dig in before it gets cold!" he insisted, gesturing to the meal in front of them with a warm smile before beginning to eat himself, settling into a nice meal with the occasional chatter and banter between them. It had been far too long since they had done this and it warmed his heart to see all of their children together with them again.

As they began to finish up the bulk of their meal and move on to the dessert of honied berries and wine, he started to gather all of their attention. "There is actually a reason I wanted to get you all together beyond just wanting to see all of your lovely faces again," he began with a soft chuckle, holding a cup of wine between his paws in front of him. "Something your Aunt Venom decided on along with the choice to move our pack to Ashen's original lands was to remove Abraxas from her family name. We as a whole no longer follow the teachings of that family so it made sense to move away from that name as we look forward and shift direction." He glanced toward Void briefly as he added, "I agreed with the choice and your father and I decided we would take Klein-Destruction as our new name." He gave all of their children a little smile, saying, "You are all adults now so I will not make any decisions for you, but I wanted to let you all know so you could do the same if you'd wish."

There was a pause as he shifted his paw away from his cup and turned his emerald gaze toward Rava, giving her a loving smile as he went to gently take her paw in his own. "And while we're at it... I think it's high time we officially have you in our family, Rava. You've been a part of our family from the very beginning and I know a name doesn't change or make that any different, but I would like to give it to you all the same if you'll take it." Void was his mate and his true love, but Rava had long held a very special place in his heart and it only felt right to have her join in on this new evolution of their family and their return to the values that actually matter to them.

"Plague Klein-Destruction"

Void leaned comfortably against Plague as he settled himself between his large frame and that of Rava’s slender body as their children arrived and settled down for the dinner that was offered. Void returned the affections he was given, feeling proud of the young wolves they had grown into. Independent and skilled as they forged their way into the world. He knew Plague and Rava both felt the same. However much he enjoyed their presence, family dinners were much less of a priority for them. This was a planned event, that Void was so happy they could all attend. He wondered, with them all growing up so fast, how many more dinners like this they would all be together.

He pushed the thought away as his blue and lavender gaze shifted from each face that he held so dear. No love compared to this, and it made him wonder how his own father had so easily abandoned his family. Void was content of the fact that despite that he had his own family here and now, right before him. Plague settled in and offered the food as he began to speak. He told their kids about the name change, and gave them the freedom to do the same if they so wished. What made Void really smile was when Plague offered their name to Rava.

Maybe it should have been done before, but Rava hadn’t ever been one to put much stock in a name. That was a quality that Void admired in her. He grinned over at the sweet woman who fir so easily into their family.

"Void Abraxas-Destruction"

Saia often stuck close to her and that habit made Rava’s heart swell. Knowing that her daughter took after her, but would have a much better life, was everything that she had ever wanted. For some reason Rava hadn’t died all that time ago, and she had found peace and family here. Rava leaned against Saia lovingly as Stolas followed after her with a sweet nuzzle to her before moving down the line of parents. Sitri was last, after a moment's pause after his brother. She grinned at her son as he tried to compose himself.

Plague didn’t miss a beat as he began his family meeting as soon as Sitri was settled. Rava leaned into him as he settled between herself and Void. Rava waited until she saw all of her children begin to eat before she started in herself, her attention on Plague beside her as he spoke about the decisions the family was making.

He gave them the option to choose their last name after Venom led the revolution of Klein bred wolves within Ashen. What she didn’t expect was him to turn to her and offer the name he held. Rava was speechless for a long moment, but she was a part of this family, how could she say no? ”Of course I will, Plague.” She grinned and leaned against him, burying her nose into his shoulder as she tried to hide her smile.

No matter how old Seere gets, the happy, bubbly pup that bounced around the islands does not seem to fade. Sure, when times call for her to be serious, the monochrome girl can be but that is not where she is comfortable. It is here, among their family that the girl feels the happiest. With a huge smile on her lips, she tenderly receives kisses and affection from her parents before shooting Void a playful wink. With a gesture from her mother, the small girl does not need any further invitation to eat and she snatches one of the fragrant pieces of meat and pops it into her mouth.

As she chews, her sister appears and Saia is given a huge grin. Stolas is next with Sitri rounding out the group. Each sibling is given a smile when they appear but the girl’s attention is mostly taken up by the many tasty items spread out before them. Grabbing another piece of meat, Seere’s attention is finally pulled to her father when he begins to talk. Head tilts as she slowly chews her food, listening intently to what he has to say while nodding along to his words. When he invites Rava to take the last name, the girl’s mismatched eyes widen with happiness as they slide over to her mother’s form.

Tail happily thumps against the fur as her mother accepts the name and Seere quickly swallows her food. With a huge smile, she says, “I will take the Klein-Destruction name.” It was a simple as that. No fuss or need to justify it would have been needed for her; if her parents want to change their last name she would too. Because she is proud to be there daughter. With the smile still on her lips, and once everyone has said their piece, the girl turns her attention to her brother Sitri. A brow lifts as she asks, “So. What was happening out past the border?” The question is not meant to be mean or teasing, just the simple curiosity of a sibling.


"Seere Klein-Destruction"