Lights of Home

Exodus followed his brother with a thrill of excitement fluttering through him, the knowledge that they were going home once and for all was elating. The Nomads surrounded them, and it felt to him like he'd known them all along. Their kindness was something he'd never known from other strangers, and it had taken no time at all for them to morph in his world from strangers to family. Without Paladin and the Nomad tribe finding, he may have died from heat and exhaustion. Now, he felt well and alive, and his burnt pads were healed thanks to their knowledge and skill. He wasn't sure how he could thank them, except to go forth in life and be grateful for the opportunity of life he'd been given, and to do his best to learn and grow and one day share his own skills.

As they came closer to familiar land, Exodus needed to keep himself in check, holding back the urge to go running forth like an excited pup. He knew he needed to show some control and maturity, despite how he felt. So instead of bolting ahead, he drew in the scents of home, the familiar wolves, and everything he looked forward to seeing again. Some scents were strong, others not so much. He didn't notice his mother's scent at all... but he longed to see her. What had happened?

Having been distracted by scents, he'd wandered a bit, and so when his brother spoke to him,
he bounded forward to draw up to the boy's side. He nodded to Paladin, ready to call to the Alpha,
and to their family. He tilted back his head and added his voice to the chorus as they called out.
Waiting was painful, but it wasn't long before Justice came running toward them, and a great smile began to spread across Exodus' dark face, joy filling him as their sibling approached. Oh, it had been too long... but the pure happiness was short-lived when Justice lashed out suddenly.
Exodus knew where it was coming from - she'd been worried about their disappearance - but it was sudden, unexpected and stung a little anyways.

The way Justice glared at them and bared her teeth, she looked quite ferocious, and he had to say,
he was glad she was his sibling, and not some stranger. He wouldn't want to have to face her wrath on the wrong side of the fence. But he knew she would calm down, once everything had been settled. "Justice!" he barked, trying to draw attention to himself as he padded toward her, "What do we have to say? Well, it's good to be back, that's what I have to say. No excuses,
just... it's good to see you." He grinned widely at his sister, his dark, white-tipped tail waving back and forth, wondering if Justice would unleash some of her wrath upon him.