give me forever for a while[PACK CHALLENGE]

In the end, it would be the Archangel that rose above the threat. He felt the give as the older male fell away. He knew he’d won. He let his opponent fall and stepped away, teeth still slightly bared, hackles lifted. A snort huffed through his nostrils as the chilled sapphires bore into the exotically marked male. By now, some connection at the back of his mind had clicked into place. Something from before his mother had raised Celestial’s standard. About Arian being chased by a strangely marked male.

His mother had defended Arian, and she had told Regulus about the encounter, given him a description of the male, and the name. It had been long enough ago that the memory hadn’t been brought to the surface upon the initial sight of the male. But now? If he was right, this was the bastard who had made a promise to Surreal never to harm the family. And yet, here he was, challenging for Celestial, which was about as harmful as you could get to a family without killing one of them. “The Liar lives up to his name. If I ever see you again, I will exact the same punishment my mother promised you should you break the promise you made to her.” His voice was level, cold, and carrying as he turned away, dismissing the failed challenger with a flick of his tail.

Sapphire eyes swept the surroundings, finally taking note of all that had gathered. Mostly his family. Judging by their expressions, Tornach and Baine had heard about their mother, perhaps just now. There were a few unfamiliar faces, and one familiar, but… not quite right. Epiphron? No. Aunt Pip’s left wasn’t dipped in black. And she had a white ear. But this one was clearly related, if much smaller and missing most of her tail. And… Solveiga. Despite everything he’d been through for the last who knew how long, the sight of the little healer gave him a thrill of relief. At least she was alright. And she was what he needed right now.

He closed the distance, careful to avoid putting weight on the injured foreleg, and embraced the little healer, holding the hug for several heartbeats if she allowed it, before drawing back. His eyes turned to Tornach and Baine, the chill in the fathomless blue depths having fallen away, and the control breaking enough to fill his eyes with a few rebellious tears, though only his family and Solveiga would be able to see them. He wasn’t sure what to say to his siblings beyond “I’m sorry we couldn’t save her.” The loss was still too fresh, too raw to really know how to approach the subject, especially near strangers who supported a wolf who had just challenged for their family’s home and failed.

"Tá mé ag dul ar ais go dtí an chríoch. Ní féidir liom seasamh a bheith amuigh anseo ar bith níos faide, agus ní féidir liom brath linn a bheith i measc cairde anseo." He said, shifting to the family tongue. He didn’t look forward to the long trek home, with an injured leg, and every muscle aching to the bone in his body. He hurt, from the physical to the emotional levels. His language shifted back to the common tongue as he glanced down at Solveiga, offering a wan smile. ”I’d be happy for you to come home, if you want to.”

The storm above had petered out to a dense drizzle, veiling the Field in a misty haze. He stepped away from Solveiga, heading south toward Celestial’s lands, keeping his tail above his hips, and trying to moderate the visual limping, a mental ‘ow, ow, ow..’ chanting through his head as he went. He paused long enough to dash a lick over Baine’s brow if she allowed it and to look directly at Tornach, who hadn’t seen their mother since… Gods, since she’d started Celestial.

"Bhí sí ag iarraidh a dhéanamh cinnte Lig mé a fhios ag gach duine; loves- sí grá dúinn go léir. Agus theastaigh uaithi a dhéanamh cinnte a fhios agat, deartháir." His voice shook, but he made sure the message was delivered. Tornach, most of all, needed to know that their mother had never stopped loving her thundercloud.

He continued on his way, wanting to run, but knowing better and taking his time. It was going to be a long walk home.

-Exit Regulus-