Nothingness is bliss

Thankfully Veigar did not shrug off her embrace, and though Aryn still had the feeling that he was keeping something from her, she was happy to ignore it and pretend that there was no hard feelings lingering within him. She hugged him tight as he assured her he was fine and begged her to come home with him. Couldn't he see that it wasn't that easy? Aryn sighed, leaning her head against his as Veigar let out a small sob.

"I would do anything for you." She whispered, her own eyes stinging with tears. "I'll come home, but only because it's you who's asking." Veigar was still a child, still unsure of the ways the world worked sometimes or of the cruelty Recluse could show. Aryn had seen both types of alphas having been raised first in Lirim and she knew that Recluse was not as patient or forgiving as her father had been. Even if she was able to explain to the boy what suffering might await her back in Habari, Aryn could not bring herself to try. He'd likely blame himself for whatever her punishment may be.

She pulled back from him to eye him up and down, lifting her paw to try and brush some of the muck from his chest. "Does Recluse know you're here?" Had the alpha sent the child she'd helped raise to find and drag her home, or was Veigar here of his own accord? Were there others out there looking for her, aside from Kali who she'd already once escaped?