Let it Be

He looked over his younger brother again, wondering just what had gone wrong to make him run away. However, he didn’t ask, at least not yet, instead nodding to acknowledge that he had known Tornach was near. “I know,” he supplied. “Since I don’t know why you ran off, I didn’t want to push you before you were ready… But we have missed you.” They were all genuine words, honest, and his face showed it. However much Tornach had hurt them by leaving without even saying why, or goodbye, the love was still there for his thundercloud colored brother.

Tornach’s reaction to the news of more siblings brought a big grin to his face, his tail sweeping the ground behind him. And the blurted beginning of a question, he could guess the completion to. “Alright? Yeah. She was sick during the pregnancy, and there were two still born pups… But Rasiel, Laisrén, and Kieryn are all healthy, and more of a pawful than you and Baine ever were.” He chortled, but the smile fell away at Tornach’s request. He shook his head, slowly, then more firmly. “No, brother. I think you need to tell them yourself. I’m not going to request that you join the pack; clearly that’s not who you are, and I respect that. But you are family. Mom thinks you hate her, because you ran off after she told you she was proud of your actions, and you never told any of us why, or said goodbye. If you really don’t hate her, she needs to know, directly from you, so that when she has to go… she doesn’t die thinking one of her sons hates her, and she never knew why. She would never rest in peace. And she isn’t getting any younger.”

A lump rose in his throat, and he blinked several times to clear the blurriness from his eyes, shaking his head quickly before he went on. “You don’t have to join the pack, not ever, but I don’t want our brother and sisters to grow up like you and Baine did, not knowing all their siblings. You’re free to enter Celestial’s lands anytime you wish to visit us and the kids. I’ll pass that on to the pack so they know you’re not a threat. I don’t want our family to stay fractured, Thundercloud… I really don’t. All I ask is that you spend time with us and visit. I’ll give you time to think on what you want to do. But just know that if you ever need us, we’re here. We always will be, and I would die before I break that promise, okay?”

He gave his brother a long, steady look before he inclined his head and said, “As for how we’re doing, Mother stepped down just a few days before birthing. I’m the Archangel now. She’s gotten better, but I don’t think her health will ever really be the same. Creed’s the Right Wing. Faite’s risen to Legionary and doing well, and Baine to Emissary. Zuriel is working hard to keep the herbs stocked up; mom and I haven’t exactly been helpful, since we both got sick. Eh, life. Uncle Castiel’s back after he went missing, and we have two cousins that joined a while back. Acapella and Dagger; you should get together with the family now and then, meet everyone. Dagger’s as big as you and I.” He grinned at that; it seemed large wolves ran in the family. “Overall, everyone’s alive and well at this end of the family.”

“Now, what’s your plan? It sounds big.” He leaned forward, heavy topics set aside for an intently interested expression, hips wiggling as his tail swept the ground. His brother was a smart one, so he had no doubt whatever he was putting together was going to be interesting, possibly even doing as Tornach suggested.