Today was the day! Bellamy finally felt well enough to return to Ethne and Haydée had eagerly raced over to the Hallows in the early morning light to escort her and Gav home… much to the disappointment of the small winged boy. It had hurt her heart to see the way he struggled to get back to his friend and the young Leader had almost relented and allowed him to remain at the Hallows but she had remained strong and resolute in taking him home because she knew exactly how worried and sad Lucette has been.

Finally, the borders to Ethne appear and the boy seems to have calmed down greatly. There is a bounce in her step as she walks beside her mother, a huge smile on her lips as she cheerily says, “Well guys, welcome home! I have missed you both so much. Gavroche, your mother and father have missed you horribly and so have I! We were all so worried about you.” The smile on her lips falters and falls for a moment as the memories of the fear and sorrow that her sister had to deal with burns hotly in her mind.

But the memories fade in the light of the joy and today is a day that sadness will not touch. Haydée’s smile returns, even strong than before, as she leads them into Ethne lands, making sure that she does not share about the stresses that she has faced since her mother has been at the Hallows. There is nothing Bellamy could do to help with them and there is no need to have her worry needless when she is still recovering.


"Haydée Kedieo"

Gavroche had been crestfallen when Bellamy told him he wouldn’t be saying goodbye to Dusk, and, in fact, had darn near fought her tooth and nail to do so. With some wrangling, she got the pup into a carrying state, though not before he gave her a pretty good chomp on her left foreleg. When had he’d grown so fierce? But rather than be upset, Bellamy could only marvel at the strength and life he held. The boy cared deeply for his friend, and she promised he would be back to see Dusk, but she needed rest right now. She hadn’t got all the details about what had happened, but she knew the girl was recovering from some sort of injury. He had fought her a good portion of the way, but eventually the boy had settled. Just like in his past life he had so much love for those that he cared for, not that the woman could blame him for that.

As they neared the borders, Gavroche was let down. His gloom had shifted the moment he recognized the familiar territory, a light entering his eyes as he realized he would be seeing family he hadn’t seen since he was small. Bellamy could only softly chuckle at this shift, allowing the boy to walk between herself and Haydée. After… Whatever events had transpired during that strange evening with her guide, Bellamy was still a little on the sore side, but she had more hope in her heart for a brighter future. The Gavroche she had known was gone, but the wolf he had become, her grandson, was undeniably the sort of wolf she had hoped for him. Despite being more willing to fight, and stand up for what he loved, he had never lost that deep love and appreciation for those close to him. He was still with them, just in a different way.

“I do apologize for not sending word about his arrival.” Bellamy offered her daughter an apologetic look. “I’m just glad that we’re both home, back where we are meant to be.” She reaches down to nuzzle behind one of Gav’s ears. “I hope you’re ready to be smothered by your mother and father.” A soft chuckle left her lips. She’d be surprised if he was able to leave the den for a few days while he was checked over and loved. But that's alright. She let her gaze flick back to her daughter, her smile brightening. “Seems things are looking well since you’ve taken over, Hay. Maybe you didn’t need my guidance after all?” Her voice is light, teasing. A way of showing the young woman that she is proud of her, though she is here now, and if her daughter has any questions at all, all she needs to do is ask.

"Speech," 'Thought.'

To say that Gavroche took leaving the Hallows poorly would be an understatement. He had run, even going so far as to kick at his grandmother and bite her leg before she managed to get him scruffed. A good thing too, because he wouldn’t have willingly walked away from Hearthstone without saying goodbye to Dusk. He was pretty miserable the first leg of the trip, whining and protesting despite the promise that he would get to come back to visit. In time however he fell quiet. He already missed Dusk, and worried that she might have been more hurt than she had let him in on. Was he a bad friend? Shouldn’t he have protected her? Protests turned to tears, until eventually the lad drifted off, lulled into sleep by his grandmother’s rhythmic steps as she carried him. When he slept, he dreamed of the Hallows, of the warmth and friendships that he had there… and when he woke, Gavroche realized that he was seeing a landscape that was familiar. Once he was set down the boy perked up, bouncing forward in the realization that he was almost home. Even with the ache in his heart for one friend, the excitement of seeing his parents and siblings again was enough to brighten him up for the most part. He had missed them, and he hadn’t realized just how much he missed them until they were walking back into Ethne lands with his aunt. His ears fell a little, a soft whine leaving his lips as he looked up at Haydée. “Sorry auntie… I didn’t know how to get home… and Dusk really helped me keep my mind off that.” He admitted. Was it wrong that he had been able to enjoy himself away from his family? The gentle nuzzle from his grandmother was reassuring though. He perked up again, brushing his feathered wing against his aunt’s foreleg. “I’ve missed everyone too… I feel really happy seeing home again.” Staying down for long wasn’t in his nature. His tail wagged back and forth as he bounced forward. “B-But now me and grandma are both back! I helped make her smile again!” His face lit up. “So now we can all be happy and safe~” He wiggled forward, breaking into a run so that he made it a bit before his aunt and grandmother before dropping into a play bow. “C’mon! I bet everyone is waiting!” "Speech," 'Thought.'

With the approach of Ethne’s borders, it is delightful to see young Gavroche’s struggles to leave turn into excitement at the thought of seeing his family once again. As Haydée gently talks about how his family has been missing him, Bellamy is quick to offer up her apologies for not sending word to her sooner. However, the girl is quick to wave it off as she easily says, “There is no need for that mom! Gav was having the time of his life and you were healing. The way I see it, he was right where he was meant to be.”

The laugh that follows is light and filled with joy because Bellamy is here walking back into Ethne lands beside her instead of buried in the ground alongside her mate. This truly is a wonderful day. At her mother’s next words Haydée puffs out a short chuckle as she teases, “Well, we didn’t burn the pack down in your absence so I call that a win!” Green eyes catch her mother’s gaze and there is a sparkle of mirth and excitement that had been hidden for so long after her father’s death.

Looking to the young Gav as they slowly plod toward the waterfall of their home, the girl leans toward him to bump his shoulder and say, “I know you are missing your friend, Gav but, I will take you over to the Hallows anytime you want to see her… okay?” Hopefully, that will help ease the boy’s mind about his absent friend and show him that Dusk is not beyond his reach. At the brush of his feathered wing, Haydée looks to her reincarnated father and blinks as bounces forward.

For a moment, she sees her dad, his kind soul beaming out at her from underneath the veil of lost memories and youth. Yet, even as she spies him, she realizes that, where her father had grown up with hardships, their little Gavroche has only known love and that is all he will continue to be shown. As the boy’s face lights up, a happy laugh bubbles out from Haydée and her eyes dance with cheerfulness as she watches him almost burst with the merriment that only youth seem to know.

Gav dips down into a play bow and Hay is quick to mirror him, butt high, tail curling up over her back as her paws jitter across the ground. Eyes widen with excitement as she says, “You think so? Well, guess what? I know they are waiting! And, I heard there are a couple surprises waiting for you two!” Leveraging her front end up, the girl bounces from side and side, keeping her attention on the enthusiastic little boy before she pauses and asks, “Do you remember the path to your den?”

A challenge is about to be issued if the boy remembers but, if he doesn’t they will all run to the falls… together. The young Leader’s heart feels fit to burst from all the love she feels and she is happy that her family is home once again.


"Haydée Kedieo"

Her daughter’s reassurance is welcome, and Bellamy gives a small nod. Gavroche’s presence helped her healing, just as Acere’s presence in her dreams had helped heal her as well. The lighter joke from Haydée brings forth a chuckle from the older woman. “As if you would. There is a reason I chose you to be our heir… you are so much like your father, with just a touch of myself. You’re going to lead this pack in love.” Bellamy had always felt safe in that decision. Hay had a good head, a loving heart, she was what Ethne needed. Especially as Bellamy got older, and needed to recover in Hallows, the woman was realizing that stepping down had been the right decision. She relaxed, allowing Hay to focus on Gav. The little winged wolf knew nothing but love, and his big heart still shone so brightly. No matter what life he lived, he would bring that light and love to others. And… after all he’d been through in his past life… she was glad that he was having a kind existence now.

"Speech," 'Thought.'