Changes

Minutes felt like hours while he waited anxiously for someone to answer his call. He desperately wanted to be right, to have proof that another piece of the family he remembered still existed in this world. It felt like he was clinging to any puzzle pieces he could find to put the life he had missed back together again.

“Patience.”

The single word in the familiar and distinctly feminine voice that echoed in his mind made his ears flick, but it was enough to make him sigh and settle on his haunches. He knew being impatient would do him no good, but it was hard to wait for something that he had been wanting for so long. Luckily, his uncle’s form came into view soon enough and satisfied his curiosity, easing his worries in an instant. Casso stood to meet him, his dual-toned eyes watching the recognition cross Acere’s face as the older man took in his matured, scarred appearance.

”Acere,” he replied in turn, the relief fully evident in his tone. A small grin pulled at his lips and his tail wagged slowly behind him despite the fact that his uncle seemed a bit cautious. ”I’m glad I found you. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to find any of you again.” He didn’t even know where to start. He wanted to know what had happened after they left, he wanted to tell him where he had been, he wanted to know who else was here... He craved the answers to all the questions he had wondered for so long and he struggled to find the words to ask them. ”This is your pack?” he finally asked with a curious glance over the older man’s shoulder.