The Summer Bonfire Festival (Year 18)

The Summer Bonfire Festival was happening once more, and as the annual event drew closer, Tamsyn had expressed her deep desire to hold a family reunion of sorts so she could see her children and grandchildren again. Kane acceded to the simple request—he would never deny his mate anything that made her happy—and as the day drew closer, the nomadic family began to wander their way across Auster to the castle-dwelling pack. It would be nice to see everyone again, especially for Tamsyn, who hadn't seen her family in a few months' time. The wolves arrived at the Hallows the day of the celebration, Sierra and Juniper having already arrived earlier and Malik in tow next to him. At a year old, his son was already showing that he had inherited his father's height, and had swiftly grown to be the largest of his three children. Kane smiled at his little doppelgänger when they crossed the border and got settled in around the unlit bonfire, giving Artorias a respectful nod while Tamsyn made her rounds greeting everybody.

While they relaxed and waited for the celebration to begin, Kane noticed a very familiar little dark-furred girl coming to join them. He smiled at Juniper and pulled his daughter into a happy nuzzle. Just like her mother, she preferred to venture on her own, so when the girl had headed out for a few days, he knew she'd find her way back to them. During the interlude of waiting, Juniper asked him a surprising question, catching Kane momentarily off guard while the two wolves watched Tamsyn surrounded by her other family. "No, it's nothing like that," he reassured Juniper with a shake of his head that jostled the hawk feathers tied up in his scruff. "Your half-siblings were already adults when your mother and I began courting one another. It was strange for them, a difficult change to get used to. I do not fault them for the way they felt. But I would also never try to force myself into their lives or make myself a parent to them unless they wished it."

When Tamsyn finally returned to their little staked out spot around the fire, the dire wolf greeted his mate with a loving smile and a wag of his bushy tail. The happiness he saw on Tam's face lit her up like a star in the night and it made his heart swell for her. Once she had settled in beside him, he curled his tail over her hip and leaned in to kiss her cheek back in return. Then all eyes were on the Aegis to commence the festivities.

"Kaneonuskatew"