Scattered Scents

Walk | Talk | Think

Knight was surprised. She could tell in the way his body stilled within those first few seconds that she pressed against him, ignoring his shock and being rewarded for it when at last he reacted. He moved to embrace her and hold her against him, and melting into his touch she allowed him to. It felt truly wonderful, the first time in so long since she felt significant, safe, and loved. Loved. It could not be that, could it? Was it that that drove her to him when he opened the door for physical contact like this? Was there something within her that only he could stir to make her this way, to wish for the closeness she had been missing since Awaken's disappearance? Caught in the moment, Merci was incapable of separating herself from it enough to think wholly upon it though there was no denying the sense of joy and comfort she took in being beside him.

She drew back only as much as was necessary to meet his green gaze and felt her own heart begin to thrum away faster in her chest as he again assured her with a nuzzle and a lick that what he did was what he wished to do. The look upon his face, the smile he wore, were confirmation enough for her to believe his words as sincere and to make the quiet moment with him that much more precious to her. Don't leave me too, her thoughts pleaded, and in that moment she knew she cared too much. There was no more denying it; he had become an integral part of her life and she wanted him there always.

He was on the verge of saying more, the words stumbling their way out of his mouth, when she heard the first young voice call to her in a howl. The sound of it was like a shock to her system, freezing her in an instant and then leaving her absolutely rigid with a multitude of feelings she could not process fast enough to react. The stunned white wolf turned swiftly away from Knight as he drew fully back and set her dark brown eyes on a growing black and white figure reminiscent of her child but beginning to show the signs of age turning him into an almost gangly youth. "Clover." His name was no more than a whisper but the emotion behind it was a visible thing, filling her eyes with joyous tears as she realized her son was returned to her.

Oblivious of the white woman who traveled behind him, Mercianne rose to her shaky paws and took only a few wobbly steps toward him before he reached her and with her tail beating at the air she laughed and cried and nuzzled her child with excited licks, the occasional whine of disbelief sneaking out as well. "Oh, Clover," she spoke, broken voice muffled within his black scruff, "I love you, I've missed you so much." It was all she could say around the huge lump inside of her throat, which only grew in size as another voice spoke up, calling to both her and the son she currently held close. No words came to her though her eyes filled with fresh tears as another audible whine was made in his direction, welcoming Sage completely into the embrace she shared with his brother. My boys. My boys are home.

She continued to kiss and nuzzle and hold close her sons as she cried openly, laughing at random when she could not bring herself to speak. It was possibly the happiest day she had had in quite some time, or at least to her immediate recollection. As Sage drew back so did she, blinking back her tears and watching as he allowed his attention to shift and address the white woman who she only then noticed. Unbidden, Mercianne's heart constricted; was this possibly someone who had tended to her children when she had given them less attention than they deserved? Had she picked up the slack? Guilt gripped her tightly like a vice until Sage turned to address her with an apology that sent her crying all over again. "No, no, Sage," the distraught mother assured him, brown eyes looking into his own. "I'm sorry. I should have paid more attention. Do you forgive me?" The trembling question was spoken to both boys, a pleading look about Merci's features as she hoped to patch together what remained of her family as best as she could.

Perhaps it was having three of their family gathered altogether that triggered it but in the midst of the reunion another voice chimed in, howling from a distance but no less familiar to Mercianne than either Clover or Sage. Her ears perked as her heart leapt once more, mumbling, "Emery," below her breath. Emery too! At the rate things were happening, they would all be back together by the day's end. "Emery!" She did not howl nor did she wait for a response but instead with a glance to both of her present children she took off at a lope across the sand and then further inland, knowing him to be close. So close! With an excited yip and more furious wags of her tail she raced right up to her other son and embraced him with warm licks and plenty of nuzzles. "You've come back," she whispered as she succumbed to even more tears. "I've missed you all so much. So much. I love you."