The Point of Return

It seemed Ezra was just about as thrilled with the news of their relationship as she was. She was sad to hear that Ulric didn’t live with them anymore, and was surprised to hear that like herself Ezra grew up without his mom… though it was a different case, with his mother disappearing when they were little, and Meme’s mom falling apart and then disappearing, well… that was that. At least her uncle had a mate again, however, and they were on their own kind of adventure now. He was happy and, for Memento Mori, that news came as a relief. She had wanted so much for her uncle to be happy, and it seemed he already was. She could smile at that.

She was pleased to hear that there were a couple of other cousins still in the pack, The Hallows, alongside Ezra. There had been two others but one cousin had disappeared with their mother while the other went to explore the world alongside a partner as her uncle had. She made a mental note of the names of Jane and Emile just in case she ever came across them as well. The femme was curious about them but there would be a time to sate that curiosity. Right now she had Ezra here, and he would get her attention in full.

Hearing Ezra reassure her soothed Memento Mori’s worry. “That sounds like him.” She chuckled softly. “He tried so hard for mom and me but I think by the time he came back mom was too far gone.” She shook her head. Though she wasn’t sure if he had come back into her mother’s life earlier if it would have made a difference.

Then came a question about herself. Memento Mori smiled slightly. “Well, no, not really.” She chuckled. “I’m not part of a pack or anything but I have a pair of traveling companions. They’re jackals but two of the best companions a wolf could ask for.” She perked up at this, finally lowering her own haunches to the earth to get more comfortable.

“It’s funny…” She began.

“My mother had always expected me, her miracle pup she called me, to become this great alpha that would take down the Abraxas family. Follow in the pawprints of my father and avenge my grandfather and all this junk.” Meme shook her head. “I had no littermates so I guess her hopes were laid in me… but… it was never my battle to begin with. I don’t think she ever told me the whole story of why he died, or why my father and my mother were so adamant about fighting them either. But… I feel it was all pretty pointless.” Memento Mori shrugged at this.

“My father disappeared before I was even born. My mom had a litter before me but with the exception of one who passed away, they disappeared too. Turned out my older sister was with uncle Ulric and granny Roza though. I would have thought that seeing them would have made my mom happy, and sway her crazed ambitions.” Meme lifted her muzzle skyward and focused on one of the clouds above them.

“I had an adoptive father back then too. A rainbow marked man. He was kind. But when as mom started to deteriorate and be gone more and more… I started to wander. I got in a bit of an altercation when I was young. Ironically with who I believe was an Abraxas. And he kicked my ass.” Memento Mori laughed at this. “I kind of deserved it though. I was being a little shit and talking big and bad. I shouldn’t have harassed a stranger, really.” He hadn’t asked for an explanation of her story but here she was, laying it out. Maybe it was just something she needed to get off of her chest after all this time.

“My uncle tried so hard to hold us together, but I think I needed to find out who I was and stop trying to live up to some crazy expectations of my parents. Turns out I didn’t really want to lead a pack at all. If I’m being honest, the idea of it right now kind of turns me away.” She looked back to Ezra. “I don’t see myself leaving Auster much that I’m back but… I haven’t picked out a place to settle yet.” Her smile brightened a little. “Maybe that’ll change at some point, but for now, I’m happy wandering. It’s freeing.” She tilted her head to the side, her hair-like fur shifting as she did so.

“Since you’re out here I imagine your pack, The Hallows, must be out here too, right?” Meme asked. “...It’s not weird if I’d want to keep in contact with your, right?” Her smile became sheepish. “Haven’t really had the chance to know my kin up til now. It’d be a shame to let one of the last around slip through the cracks.”