Spirits of the Past [Pack Meeting!]

Paladin watched as the pack filed in, waiting on tenterhooks for his cousin to arrive. From the sound of Regulus’ howl, he wasn’t coming home empty-pawed. A brief smile of welcome was given to Gwen, and he briefly considered asking to check in on the pups later on. It was in his nature to be deeply interested in the new lives in the world. A brief sigh left him as he quietly regretted not having his own yet.

Patience. His time would come, he was certain. Justice’s arrival garnered a faint nod in her direction, though she didn’t even seem to realize he’d been sitting there before anyone else arrived to Aurielle’s call... He’d given up, for the most part, on trying to enjoy his stormy, moody, snarky little littermate’s company when she didn’t exactly put herself out there for a friendly talk unless called for. He’d been less than thrilled with her attitude at his first healing lesson, to boot.

If she wanted to mend bridges, she’d have to make the first step. From the first moment he’d finally arrived home with a tired, sore-pawed Exodus at his side, she’d barely shown joy at their return, instead whipping almost immediately to snapping his face off. He was well and truly tired of dealing with her.

And finally, he felt a thrill as a familiar crimson form appeared in the distance, and Regulus did indeed have Solveiga and Aramis with him. And still so thin… He’d been privy to the rumor that had sent Regulus off that night, and he’d felt rather ill at the thought that two wolves who were such sweet-natured creatures should undergo that sort of torture. No wonder Solveiga looked as timid as she did.

He rose and padded to greet them, butting his head into Reg’s shoulder and greeting the tired mother and son with warm grins and a softly murmured, “Welcome home. It’s good to see you both safe again. And goodness but you’ve grown, Aramis.”

He lowered his haunches to the ground beside the three, head turned to gaze up at Aurielle and grinning as she won her struggle and calmly began to speak, though her joy was audible in her speech.