The rains had stopped and the day had cleared for the start of Autumn, not that Cecily had spent much time with the pack she had found herself in. She had spent the few days after finding her mother outside with her, as best protected from the weather as they could get as they waited for a break in the storms. They had gotten even luckier than that, it seemed now that the storms had fully ended and there was a promise of brightness to the day. She told her mother she needed to talk to Bass, before they could go off in search of her siblings, and since it looked like today was the day for that she couldn?t put off talking to her Alpha. With a departing word to Emer she slipped away from her mother?s form and into the caves. She would find the Abaven pack readying to depart for home now that the severe weather was over. She would pad to his familiar white form when she could and stop before him. She would take an embarrassed movement to scuff her paw in the dirt and fail to meet his eyes. He had rescued her when she was lost, but all she had done in return was keep to herself, she had lost so much of who she had once been. She had contributed nothing to Abaven, even after his help to her and she had barely said two words to him. She had spent too much time feeling hurt and alone, but now that her mother was here and alive there was something new in Cecily?s eyes, something bright and similar to the old fire she had once worn. The moment past and she raised her eyes to meet his. ?Bass? Can I have a word?? she asked him softly, and if he said yes she would plunge right in. ?I found my Mother, or rather she found me. But she... she doesn?t look the same, and I know she-we need to find my siblings and im hoping I can find Val for her again, and...? she was speaking quickly, trying to get it all out before he could comment but stopped now to take a breath. ?And well I need to go with her and find them, and I know I haven?t... I haven?t had a chance to show you I?m grateful for taking me in, but I? I wanted to ask you if I could still have a home here, once I find them again I want to come back here and I want... I want... well, if you could teach me to fight I could protect her so she won?t look so lost again...? she whispered the last part, and she knew she was rambling, she just hoped Bass could find sense in her words. "Speech"

His head rose when the scent of Cecily reached his nose, a smile growing on his maw. He had not seen her much since the day he found her, his tail beating on the earth in a steady rhythm. The girl asked if she could speak with him, and he nodded his head. "Of course you ca-" He was cut short by her rush of words, his mind spinning as he tried to piece together just what she was saying. He couldn't help but chuckle as her words came to a close. "You will always have a home here, Cecily. Take all the time you need, I understand the importance of being together as a family. When you do return, I would be more than happy to teach you all you want to know." His words were soft as he pulled himself to his paws, closing the gap between them and nuzzling the growing girls cheek. "Abaven will be back to normal when you return, we will be leaving here shortly to piece together our home. If you need help, feel free to come back and we can help you. You're such a brave girl, wanting to learn how to fight to protect your mother. You will make a great warrior." Bass whispered to her. Stepping back, he took a long look at her. She was growing up to be so big, and that spark had once again returned in her eye. "Family always comes first."

Cecily barely even noticed how like her old self she sounded in that moment, planning crazy scemes and putting them all together in a barely understood jumble of words. There was a light in her eyes as well, there for Bass to see if he chose to, a light that had once been the centre of her existence and craziness until life had thrown her lemons and she had drowned in them. Bass had pieced together her words easily enough, he always had after all. For a moment, things felt like they had once been, as she looked up at Bass with shining eyes as he once again supported her and whatever crazy scheme she proposed. His promise to teach her had her eyes shining, and she dipped her head, thankful and happy for the support he offered. He moved forward and nuzzled her gently and she found herself blushing at the little gesture of affection. Her plans fuzzing for a moment before he spoke again, his words telling her he was proud of her and she blinked at him, amazed. She had so far been a waste of space in his pack, a shadow of who she had once been but he was not mad at her for this, he was proud of her and happy to offer her a home still within his pack. ?thank you Bass.. I.. well, for everything? she stammered, astonished at her sudden toungue tied speech. "Speech"