Everything had been going well. He and Phoebe had been getting along wonderfully, something the titan had never expected to have happened. The russet woman had wormed her way into the seasoned warrior's heart and there was no going back now. He had become quite attached to her, which would explain why he hadn't separated himself from her side since having met her. But then the storm came. Conan had weathered storms before; he was no stranger to them. But all of the storms he'd braved had been on a giant mass of land, not on an island separated from the mainland. This was his first island storm and he hoped it was his last. It had been a terrible thing, ferocious in its strength and size. He had done everything that he could to get Phoebe to safety, make sure that she would make it out of the storm unharmed, but the beast hadn't been so lucky. The storm swept him away, carried him off into its dark waters, away from the russet woman. That was the last time he'd seen her. The storm carried him away to the farthest corner of Alacritis, injuring the titan in the process, causing him to temporarily loose his memory. It was a struggle when he'd come to, not knowing where he was, especially being unable to remember Phoebe. But he worked through his trauma until one day everything just clicked back into place and he realized months had passed since he'd last seen Phoebe. The need to see her drove the man to wander all across Alacritis, hunting for a trace of her scent that would lead him to her. It had taken him quite some time, but he had finally found it near the dormant volcano in the region. He only hoped that she hadn't forgotten about him in his time of absence. Sooty paws would pull the giant across the landscape, powerful muscles contracting and expanding as he moved along, ruby eyes scanning the area. Phoebe's scent was strong here; she had to be here somewhere. Massive skull would be thrown back towards the heavens, lips parting as a call hummed from deep within his chest. He called to the russet woman, hoping that by some miracle he would receive an answer. A moment later his skull would drop back to its normal position, audits attentive as he patrolled the area, listening intently for the familiar voice of Phoebe. "Burn Baby Burn"

Raising children had never been Phoebe's life goal. She had never seen herself as a mother. Instead she had always been the wild child, the doting aunt, the cheerful sister. She had always been around for the rest of her family and took care of their children, but had never dreamed that she might have her own branch of the family to care for. Well, that wasn't entirely true. She had let herself dream that dream for the briefest of moments after she fell for Conan. But the huge male had disappeared and no amount of searching for him had helped her find him. She had given up, not just on Conan but herself. Her mind had snapped and she went spiraling into insanity, sleeping with every willing male she came across just so she would feel wanted. Her pregnancy had been her wake up call and now, as she sat outside her den watching Hera and Aura play, she could pretend to be content with her life. She had shut out thoughts about Conan and her brother long ago, the memories just too painful to bear.

Then the voice that had echoed through her mind for months, the one that still haunted her dreams cut through the air and her whole body froze, her silver gaze widening with shock and disbelief. "It can't be... That's impossible, I'm imagining things. I have to be." But she realized with a start that her girls had heard it too when they came running toward her, wondering who was howling. Her ears flicked back for a moment before she could put on a calm face, smiling and standing while nosing the pups into the den. "Don't worry, it's just an old friend of mine. You two stay here and don't leave the den till I get back okay? Be good girls, I'll be right back."

With that Phoebe turned and ran. She ran toward the direction the howl had come from, her paws skittering over the rocky landscape, legs pulling her forward as fast as they could. Moments later she saw him. His large, dark form was unmistakable and it made her skid to a hault. She was behind him with at least a dozen feet between them. Her heart was racing, her mind still trying to process that he was really there. She slowly started moving closer, more slowly this time, tears sparkling in her silver gaze. "Conan..." Her voice was soft and rough, her heart aching and lungs barely able to put air behind her words.



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She had plagued his dreams, his thoughts, his every waking moment. Since having recovered his memory, there hadn't been a moment that the beast hadn't been consumed with the desire to see the russet woman again. He had to find her, to make sure that she had made it through the storm alright. She needed to know that he hadn't left her of his own volition. She had to know that he hadn't abandoned her, that he'd been trying for months to find her. He needed to tell her how he really felt...he needed to confess his love for the woman. His time spent away from Phoebe had brought on the realization that he loved her. They had spent so much time together before the storm that it had been something in the making, but after the storm and the loss of his memory it was when Conan realized that he loved Phoebe. He would do anything for her, even give his own life if it meant she was able to continue living. He couldn't go the rest of his life not knowing if she didn't feel the same way. He could feel the organ in his chest thumping against its constraints, each beat a moment longer that he was without Phoebe. Would she hear his call? And if she did, would she even want to see him? Question after question circled his mind but he could do nothing to abate them, simply stand in place, his gaze roving the area around him, hoping, waiting to see any trace of Phoebe. The sound of paw steps had the beast turning to see who was responsible for them, only to have his heart leap into his throat. Phoebe. His phoebe. She walked towards him, whispering his name as tears glistened in her eyes. Conan ran forward to close the gap between them, his massive skull curling around Phoebe's neck, holding her tightly to him as he breathed in her scent. I love you. He murmured into her fur, unable to wait until they had said their hellos. He needed her to know and he didn't want to wait a second longer. "Burn Baby Burn"

Phoebe's eyes found his red gaze and she stopped in her tracks, her emotions overwhelming her and something similar to fear swirling in her gut. Not fear that he would hurt her or even that he might not care about her any more. No, this fear was toward herself. A fear that her fragile mental state might not be able to handle his return, that her heart might actually burst from its furious beating. Her wide, silver gaze watched as he suddenly ran toward her, her body unable to move as his long legs quickly closed the distance between them, throwing himself into an embrace around her neck. She stood like a statue, unable to even breathe properly while her eyes shut and the tears that had been building there were sent rolling down her cheeks.

His touch was enough to make her crumble, but his words were the final blow that sent her reeling. They were so sudden, so abrupt. The words she had been wanting to hear when they were last together, the simple statement of 'I love you'. After her mental break she had put herself back together the same way someone might put a broken vase back together. Very, very carefully. Each piece of herself had been placed in such a way that she could put on a strong face and pretend that nothing was wrong, could pretend to be the mother she thought her daughters deserved. It only took one tiny sentence from this man to destroy all of that.

Her body finally crumbled, her hind legs buckling under her and her whole body leaning into his larger form. She buried her face in his thick fur while heavy sobs shook her, her breaths so short she honestly thought she might hyperventilate. Her whole life she had tried to be strong, beautiful, a goddess. Now here she was, curled up against Conan's chest, sobbing like a child, unable to even sort out her own thoughts. The weight of everything that she had been repressing the last couple of seasons in his absence came crashing down on her and she could do little more than cry.



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The moment he'd been working towards for months was finally his. He had Phoebe within his grasp again and there was nothing better in the world right in that very moment. He had tried to imagine what it would be like to see the russet woman again after so long. He'd imagined some scenarios where she would never talk to him, some where she would come rushing back into his embrace and still others where he never found her again. He thanked every god that existed that he'd been able to find her and that she'd come to meet him. He wasn't entirely sure if she'd come here because she too had missed him or she was here to tell him that she'd moved on and had found someone else, but he didn't care right then. He just wanted to hold her and pretend that the past few months had never happened. He wanted to pretend that everything was like it had been before the storm; but that was all wishful thinking of course. He felt the russet woman tremble against him, her smaller body leaning heavily against his own. He would gladly take on her weight, supporting her with his large mass he held her, breathing her in, taking her in. It had been so long since he had touched her and he didn't realize how much he'd missed her touch until now. His heart thundered in his chest and he had to swallow a few times to get rid of the lump that had formed in his throat at the sound of her sobs. Oh my Phoebe...please don't cry...don't cry anymore. I'm here. I found you. I've come back...I need you to know that I never left you. I never abandoned you. I've spent these months trying to recover from the storm and find you...every single day was a fight to find you and I finally have...I love you so much Phoebe...Please forgive me... His own voice was beginning to break, thick as emotions surfaced. Phoebe was no longer just a figment of his dreams, a distant memory that was almost lost. She was real and she was here and she was his. Or at least, he hoped she was. He couldn't live without her, he knew this now. He just hoped she felt the same way. "Burn Baby Burn"

Phoebe let him cradle her against him, listening to his words in wonder while tears continued to fall from her eyes. Some part of her, some shred of her that was still the woman he had met on the beach of that island so long ago, was comforted by the news that he had been searching for her all this time, that he had never abandoned her and that he loved her. So much had happened since that day, so much had changed. Shame swept over her and she felt like even the dirt under her paws was better than she was. Fear gripped her, so terribly afraid that when she spoke what had happened in his absence aloud he would turn and leave again and never look at her the same. But she had to tell him, there was no way around it. Here was no hiding her daughters, there was no hiding her broken pieces.

Oh Conan..." Her voice was thick with tears, the lump in her throat making it hard to speak. "Conan... I-I'm not worthy of you. When I couldn't find you and after my brother left... I broke. I'm broken. My mind snapped and I was with so many brutes... I just wanted to feel loved..." Her eyes were fixed on the ground, too ashamed to look him in the eye, feeling as small as an ant as she spoke. Her tears making darker colored dots in the soil at her forepaws. "I had two daughters and I have no idea who their father is... I don't deserve you, I'm not worthy... I'm tainted and broken and I don't deserve your love..." Her eyes squeezed shut, not wanting to see when he walked away or the look of disgust that was sure to be on his face. That was what she thought she deserved. She couldn't fathom Conan still wanting her after knowing how fragile she really was.



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It was ridiculous and ludicrous of him to think that things would remain the same after months of being separated, so he wasn't necessarily surprised when Phoebe began to explain what had transpired during his absence. Oh Conan...Conan... I-I'm not worthy of you. When I couldn't find you and after my brother left... I broke. I'm broken. My mind snapped and I was with so many brutes... I just wanted to feel loved...I had two daughters and I have no idea who their father is... I don't deserve you, I'm not worthy... I'm tainted and broken and I don't deserve your love... He pulled away from her, just enough that he could get a good look at her face as she spoke. She had been with others...A bout of rage and jealousy sprang up in the beast's chest at the mention of other men. Other men had come to touch his Phoebe...because he hadn't been there for her. If anything, all of that was his fault. Had he been able to brave the storm and stay at her side, none of this would've ever happened to her. It was all his fault. As she continued to speak, explaining that she had daughters, Conan didn't balk at her confession. So what if she had children? He would take the girls in and raise them as his own; he would take responsibility of them if Phoebe allowed him too. But what really got Conan was when she called herself broken and undeserving of his love. If anyone of undeserving of anything, it was him. He didn't deserve to have her take him back after he caused all these things happen to her. I love you Phoebe. I love you more than you can imagine and nothing is going to change that, whether you believe it or not. You are the most beautiful woman on this earth, more perfect than anyone I could've ever asked for. He murmured, leaning down to raise her chin with his nose so that he could see the beautiful silver eyes that he had missed so much. I can not deny it pains me to hear that you were with others, but in the end that is because of my own fault. Had I been able to stay with you, none of this would've ever happened to you. If anyone is undeserving of anything, it is I who is undeserving of you for having put you through all of this. I don't know what I can say to ever convince you to forgive me except that I'm here now and I'm not going anywhere. If you will allow me back into your life, I would be willing to be a father to your daughters. I would raise them as my own...with you by my side of course... Was she too far gone in her own pain to realize that none of this was ever her fault and that it never would be? He sincerely hoped not. He wanted his Phoebe back and he would do everything in his power to bring her back. "Burn Baby Burn"

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. When he had pulled away she thought for sure that he would leave and that would be the end of it, but no. He started to speak, his words so kind she wasn't sure she was hearing him correctly. She blinked open her eyes, but still refused to lift her head until he pulled it up for her, her silver eyes meeting his with confusion and disbelief. His fault? How was any of this his fault? In her mind it was impossible for his gentle giant to be the cause of anything wrong in her life. Every moment she had spent with him had been a dream. He had saved her life! And now it was looking like he might very well do it again, but this time not with brute strength but with kind words and gentle touches.

Her gaze softened when he finished speaking, the smallest of smiles touching her muzzle. "Maybe the gods are still watching over me after all..." she whispered as she stood and closed the small distance between them again, leaning into his form and nuzzling her face into the fur on his neck. She still felt like she was shattered into a million pieces, still felt like she was the scum of the earth, but if Conan was willing to love her broken pieces who was she to deny him? Any other brute would have run from the possibility of raising some other bastard's children, but not Conan. She pressed herself against him, letting him be the rock she needed to gently put the pieces of herself back together again. "I love you too, Conan. I've loved you since that first night we spent together on the island. That's why it ripped me apart when I couldn't find you. I had to force myself not to think about you when I returned to my family after I snapped to keep from spiraling out of control again. You're my missing piece, the glue that holds me together." She lifted her head from his chest and tilted it up to tenderly lick his muzzle, smiling up at him with adoration and love shining in her eyes.



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ooc;; Lolag said she mentioned this to Shelby earlier, and Wolf approved, so Nat is crashing the party ;) Few had called for the Olympus wolves on the mountain since they had made their temporary home there and Natalya was still trained to answer every summons at what she considered her borders. The voice seemed familiar, yet not, something lost in her memories behind all of the recent dramatic occurrences. Natalya knew, from the unfamiliarity, that the visitor did not seek her, but she was curious nonetheless. She took her time to follow the sound, eventually happening upon her sister in the happiest of states. Though she hadn't recognized his voice, Nat did recognize the scent. Conan. She had met him once herself, long before he and Phoebe had found themselves infatuated. She knew that Phoebe would not be so overjoyed if she had not confirmed that he did not abandon her, but Nat needed to know where the brute had been. Phoebe had fallen apart in his absence and he would be to blame until a proper excuse deemed him innocent. Natalya approached slowly, stopping a yard away and barking in greeting. "Sister," she said with a nod to Phoebe, before turning her attentions to the male. "Conan. It has been a long time. Tell me, where have you been?" ""

Thank you, Sea, for this gorgeous table! I owe you my life!

Maybe the gods are still watching over me after all... It had been so long since he had heard her voice, felt her touch, had her scent fill his nostrils. He had missed so terribly and the ache for her came crashing down on him with force as she nuzzled herself into his neck. He didn't know how he'd been able to make it all these months without her at his side. Now that he had her back with him, he was never going to separate himself from her side. She was his and he was hers. Done deal. He curled his neck around her, holding her to him, wanting to mold her to his body so that no harm would ever come to her again. His little warrior had fought a tough battle without him and she had managed to hold her own, but he was here now. He was her protector and he would fight each and every battle for her, no matter the cost to him. I love you too, Conan. I've loved you since that first night we spent together on the island. That's why it ripped me apart when I couldn't find you. I had to force myself not to think about you when I returned to my family after I snapped to keep from spiraling out of control again. You're my missing piece, the glue that holds me together. She loved him too. She loved him too! After months of searching for her, he finally heard the words that he'd so desperately needed to hear. Phoebe loved him too. She was all he need in his life. Nothing more. He would gaze down tenderly towards his little warrior, a grin splitting his lips as she kissed his chin, his tongue reaching out to swipe the tip of her nose. I'm here now my little warrior, I'm here to keep you safe and love you because without you I am nothing... He trailed off, preparing to ask her to spend forever with him as his wife when the presence of another had the words dying on his lips. He would lift his head, ruby eyes falling on the ebony figure of Natalya. He remembered the dark dame. She'd been one of the first wolves he'd met when he'd arrived in Alacritis. A frown would furrow his brow as she spoke, addressing Phoebe as sister. He glance down to Phoebe then back to Natalya. That was certainly unexpected. The dark woman would turn her attention to the behemoth, greeting him before getting straight to the point; Tell me, where have you been?. Good to see you too Natalya. And up until right now, I don't really know. Few months ago a storm came upon the island Phoebe and I were holed up in. I managed to get her to safety, but it swept me away in the process. I was injured in the storm, and when I came to I couldn't remember anything. It took me two months to regain my memory and when I did, the first thing I did was start looking for Phoebe. I needed to see her. Took me months to find my way back to Alacritis and now I'm here. He didn't know if Nat would believe his story, but it was the honest truth. He hadn't abandoned her sister. Phoebe knew that. Now Nat would know that too. "Burn Baby Burn"

Phoebe was grinning from ear to ear when Conan kissed her nose and spoke. "Little warrior." She could get used to that. She sighed contently, glad to finally be back in his embrace once more. For the first time in longer than she could remember she felt safe and loved, really, truly loved. Conan really was her missing piece. After she met him she had been changed. He had stolen a piece of her heart. No, not stolen. She had handed it over without a shred of struggle. When he been swept away it had been like losing a piece of her heart. She had hung on alright until she realized Atlas had left at the same time... That had been too much. A little part of her still wouldn't be complete until she had been reunited with her littermate, but Conan could feel that hole in the meantime and be all she needed.

Her sister's bark caught her off guard and she gave a little jump back away from Conan like a teenager being caught with their boyfriend by their parents. She blinked and turned around to see Natalya addressing her first and then Conan. She glanced back at Conan in surprise before remembering that Natalya had known of him before Phoebe had spoken of him all those days ago. Sitting herself down on her haunches at Conan's side she listened as her warrior explained where he had been to her sister-in-law, nodding in agreement to back up his story. She remembered the storm, but somehow she had never put two and two together. It had never occurred to her that he might have been swept away by it. "I've already told him about Hera and Aura and how they came to be... He's already forgiven me and offered to act as their father," she added with a grin, turning her adoring silver gaze up toward his face. Oh what an amazing male he was.



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Natalya found herself dropping to sit before the pair as she listened to the brute's story. She knew that Phoebe had spent a length of time on an island with him before returning to tell them of the wonderful man she'd met. The gods had approved of him then, something Natalya had known from the first moment she spoke with the man in the north. Now, their approval was dependent entirely on his reasons for being absent. His story, while at first seeming a bit outlandish, was acceptable. Alacritia had faced a number of storms and catastrophes, and Nat could only imagine their impact being far worse on the islands. She nodded as he wrapped up and Phoebe offered support, then sat silently for a moment with her lids closed. She listened for the word of the gods while fitting the pieces together like a puzzle. Conan was everything they wanted in an Olympian wolf - strong, brave, honorable, caring, and obviously, a family man. The fact that he chose to stay with Phoebe to raise children he had not fathered spoke volumes of those qualities on its own. Finally, Nat's eyes would open and she would smile. "Conan, the gods and myself welcome you into our family if you agree to join us in claiming new lands and devoting your life to the protection of Phobe and her family. We can offer you a place as our lead warrior, with high potential to move up if you choose to make the effort. What do you choose?" ""

Thank you, Sea, for this gorgeous table! I owe you my life!

He could feel Phoebe take a seat beside him, almost encouraging the behemoth to do the same, but because he was addressing Natalya he would stay standing, wanting to appear as respectful as possible. But he wouldn't restrain himself from being affectionate towards the little russet warrior, especially as she spoke of him in regards to raising her girls. He would shake his head, knowing full well that there was no need to forgive her, for she hadn't done anything wrong. You haven't done anything wrong to be forgiven for my heart. He would murmur into her ear as he leaned down towards her, tongue swiping against the corner of her ear in a kiss, his gargantuan mass leaning gently against her own, grey and russet pelts meshing. Returning his attention to Natalya, he would wait with baited breath to hear what it was she had to say. Would she accepting of his return into Phoebe's life or would she council her sister against having him in her life again? Conan, the gods and myself welcome you into our family if you agree to join us in claiming new lands and devoting your life to the protection of Phobe and her family. We can offer you a place as our lead warrior, with high potential to move up if you choose to make the effort. What do you choose? He didn't even need to think about it. Wherever Phoebe went, he was going to be by her side, no matter what. I would be honored to join your family. Phoebe's family is my family, and I will stand by her until the end of time. My life hers, and subsequently the packs. I accept. He would answer proudly, allowing himself to stretch up to his full height. He would do his best to protect Phoebe, his new daughters and his new pack. "Burn Baby Burn"

Phoebe wiggled excitedly when Natalya finally looked up at them again and declared that the gods approved of them and invited Conan to join their family. Her gaze darted up to her love's face with anticipation, but she wouldn't be kept waiting. He answered without hesitation, making Phoebe even more certain that this was the right decision for her life. He was strong and resolute, traits she and her daughters certainly needed more of to keep them on track. She had always been more of a wanderer and a free spirit so she knew Hera and Aura deserved to have someone in their lives that they could lean on and protect them. Conan had saved her life that first night on that island and now he was back, apparently ready and eager to continue protecting her.

A huge smile broke out over her muzzle and her tail wagged furiously behind her, completely overwhelmed by the sudden positive turn in her life. The last few months had been nothing but difficult and now things were finally turning around. She laughed and leapt up, throwing her forearms around Conan's thick neck and nuzzling her face into the fur on his neck. "I love you so much." She dropped back down onto her own paws with a giddy laugh, before turning toward her sister and jogging over to her, throwing her neck around her in a tight embrace. "Thank you, sister," she whispered. Natalya must now how much this meant to her, how much she adored this gray and red scarred man.

She bounced back with a gasp, her tail wagging furiously. "We can have the festival we were talking about before now with mine and Conan's wedding! Maybe we can find Hera and Aura a match too!" She wiggled and turned back toward Conan, a huge grin on her muzzle. "Oh I can't wait for you to meet them. Hera is a headstrong little thing, but Aura is such a sweetheart." Padding forward, she nuzzled his chest with a happy sigh. "I know they'll love you once they get to know you. I've felt so guilty about them not having a father figure, but now they will."



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Bringing these two such joy, especially Phoebe, satisfied Natalya in ways she couldn't describe. Her tail swayed gently, brushing over the ground behind her as Conan delivered his acceptance of her offer to join them. She was excited for a number of reasons. Phoebe would have love and her children would have a father. Their pack would have the strength of another seasoned adult to aid in its growth. They could begin to show the wolves of Alacritia that the hit the Olympian name had taken had only made them better, stronger. She returned Phoebe's brief embrace, laughing as her sister vocalized her happiness again and again. "Yes indeed, sister. We will have the festival once we have claimed our lands. We will invite all of the allied and neutral packs of Alacritia to join us to celebrate your marriage. We will allow them to present prospective matches for our children and we will lead a hunt in neutral territory to provide for our celebratory feast." She turned her face toward Conan, eager to welcome him officially. "Thank you, Conan, for returning to Phoebe and for offering to be a father to her children. It is extremely noble of you. I look forward to seeing the part you will play in our lives from here on out." ""

Thank you, Sea, for this gorgeous table! I owe you my life!