Lights of Home

Regulus padded carefully along a rabbit trail, nose, ears and eyes alert for the little creatures. He intended to bring one to his cousin, in hopes that she might rouse from her listless stupor enough to eat. A howl from the border pulled him away, however, and he broke from the rabbit path with a huff.

However, his pace quickened, rabbits forgotten, when a whole chorus of voices added to the first. So many? Was it a raid? Or a siege? No, the voices were friendly. And raiders would want to get in and out with as little chance of injury possible, wouldn’t they? At least, he would want to take that much care if he took the pack raiding; not a likely thing to happen. He preferred to keep Celestial on good, or at the very least neutral, terms with other packs.

As the group drew near, he broke into a quick trot, spotting Justice’s dark frame heading in the same direction and smiled slightly. She was keeping active, applying herself with initiative to patrols, healing, and intercepting trespassers. That pleased him. His eyes flicked back to the group, now that he was close enough to pick out details. It was the tear markings that tipped him off as to who the snow based fellow was.

He reached the group just as Justice began her greeting, and he smiled as she caught sight of Knight and launched into him with a joyful greeting. He thought he could see another young male with bright green tears pushing to the front of the group as well, but Justice’s abrupt whiplash switch of mood redirected his attention before he could attach a name to the face.

He stepped forward, letting a rumble thunder out in warning before he sought to knock the small female aside which the broad edge of his left front leg. He let the green marked boy – Ah, yes, Exodus – speak up, before he added his own voice, heedless of the bared teeth.

“As I seem to recall, the story I got when I returned was Knight disappeared after you followed myself, my mother and father, and your mother out of the pack lands. When you were all very clearly told not to follow us. You have not been caring for your mother alone. If you recall, I have been trying to get her to eat since she fell into the depression that ails her. Before you returned home. Now. I think you can greet your brothers without your teeth showing, and stop shaming them in front of our guests. Neither of their paws have waltzed over the borders, and they called for an alpha and their family first, instead of assuming they could walk right in without consequence.”

His eyes were stern, even if he could understand her anger. His voice was mild, but no less cutting for it. His eyes turned to the two young boys and looked them over. Exodus showed some recent signs of malnutrition, but Knight was vibrant, if looking bruised in the eyes at his sister’s mixed greeting. He bore a mark between his brow points, and Regulus smiled, recognizing a Nomad’s first mark.

Upon glancing at the group that accompanied the two boys, it was clear that they were all Nomads. “Nomads, I thank you for keeping our kin safe. Please, Share our dens and all that we have.” His head bowed, respectfully, and deeper than he might even give most other alphas. And the phrase was one carefully taught to him by his grandmother, should a group of the Nomads ever pass along the borders of the pack once Surreal raised the standard of the pack.

To the boys, he smiled. “No doubt you have both experienced hard trials in your absences, and have learned a lesson or two about leaving the pack borders when told to stay put. I will not punish you for disobeying, especially since it was so long ago when it happened. No doubt you’ve had enough close calls out there to learn your lessons. Welcome home, both of you.”