When The Lights Come On

The howl sent a strange flurry of emotions through him. Relief, joy, excitement, nervousness and under it all a current of dread. It seemed he was about to find out exactly what his mother thought of it all... well maybe not right away but she wasn't going to be left in the dark. He trotted towards his mother's howl, a sharp glance cast in the direction of his cousin as he passed the boy, but as he laid gaze upon his mother's form his tail began to wag weakly behind him. He approached just as Jewell was babbling into their mother's chest. He gently nudged his sister with his shoulder. "Calmez vous." He mumbled, not unkindly. "Not all at once." Not that he didn't sympathize with his sister, if it had been just the two of them Torin wasn't sure he wouldn't simply begin babbling all that had happened to his mother.

He turned his gaze to his mother, searching her face for some sign of pain or injury but she seemed fine, maybe a bit ruffled but unharmed. A small smile, broke across his face and his voice wavered slightly as he spoke. "I missed you." Oh? Was that his voice breaking slightly? An indication of the tears he felt prickling at the corners of his eyes even as he fought to keep them hidden. He gently pushed up beside Jewell, aiming to butt his head against his mother's shoulder before stepping back again.