Emer wasn't doing well.
The challenge had left her homeless and not only that but found a way to break and scatter her family. Cecily, Signy had vanished only Taddeo was by her side these days. Even Valerius had left her and whilst she'd always known he never really had any reason to remain committed to her little family the fact that he had gone so suddenly was just as devastating as her other losses. Even whilst Valhalla had still been around she had come to rely on the male so much and without him, without her little family she was taking steps backwards. All that recovery she'd gone through had been completely undone.
She hated the affect her behaviour was bound to have on her son but with the majority of her family, he world missing Emer simply couldn't help it. The dark male had begun haunting her dreams once more, taunting her whilst her daughters were trapped behind him. By day she couldn't recover from those nightmares either, once more she found herself too frightened to move, terrified of course for the safety of her daughters, but unable to dare leave the lake, the closest thing she had to a home and haven for herself and Taddeo.
Her hunting efforts were poor and it was perhaps only through her son's aid that Emer had managed to keep eating. She'd lost her appetite though and had lost a little weight. But it was the fear that had really left her looking so frail and she once more resembled that broken figure that had turned up on Valhalla's doorstep a little less than a year ago.
As Valerius' howl sounded over the lands she would barely move at first. A part of her was convinced it was a dream, there had been many a time to begin with that she had imagined she had heard him and her daughters though of course each time she had been left disappointed as reality would strike her and reveal the truth. It'd take a few moments before she realised that this wasn't a dream however, that truly was his voice. What should she do? Countless times she had imagined Valerius returning to her though now he was here she was so uncerntain of what to do.
A part of her hoped that he would have Cecily and Signy with him, that perhaps he had been caring for them in the absence and now finally the family could be reunited. The girls hadn't called to her though and it meant she had no idea still where they were, where he had been. Rather than rush towards him, her den, or prison perhaps was a more fitting description really, kept her enclosed as her mind continued to wonder.
Eventually some strand of sense pulled through. Whether he was back for good or just here to say a proper goodbye he was Valerius, she would be safe with him even if it was just for a few short moments. She longed for that safety once more and so she would move and make her way towards him finally he would be in sight. He was alone and he was well. She cared little about her own state, cared little about where he had been now and would simply close that last bit of distance to embrace him. It had been a long time since she given any physical contact to any beyond her children but there was certainly something about Valerius that was different and after so long apart from him, her protector and crutch, she simply couldn't hold back her joy at seeing him once more.
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