How long had it been? Weeks? Months? Longer? Cael had lost all track of time since he had left in a delirious frenzy all that time ago. That night that he was jerked awake by an all too vivid dream of his dear sister's death... That image haunted him and still did from time to time. What bothered him almost as much as the picture of Claire dead was the thought of how he had ran off without a word to his mate or his family. He was miles away, running for his life, searching for Claire, before the thought had even crossed his mind. But, here he was. He had been lingering around the very borders of Alacritis, too ashamed and afraid of their reactions to his leaving to face them. What brought him back now was the shaking that racked the earth the day before. He was sure that if he felt the trembling from where he was hiding out on the far edges that it had to be a terrible earthquake. The worry for his family and for Imena pushed him on, drug him toward Valhalla. Would Valhalla still be where he left it? What had happened since he left? What had happened with Imena in his absence? He had so many questions he needed answered and as he neared the Plains he had once called home he hoped they would all be answered. He stopped when he smelled the pack's scent, his heart pounding in his chest. The scent had changed since he had left, but he could smell Aunt Erani's scent strongly at least so he knew he would at least have one friendly face to come back to... he hoped. Cael, feeling like a stranger in his old home, let out a howl. A hopeful, searching howl, wishing so desperately that he had never left the life that he had worked so hard to build. Speech Thought Companion Others

Erani

The land was picking itself up after the earthquake. Surreal and Alpine would be commended greatly in the next meeting, which she intended to call shortly enough. She hadn?t seen everyone in the pack yet to assure herself that no one else was badly injured. Erion, the poor child, had so far been the worst injured, one of his legs broken. Surreal and Alpine were injured as well. Surreal with a gash across one leg that would heal with a scar, but wouldn?t hinder her daughter too badly after a while. Alpine had some broken ribs that would heal as long as he was careful. Yes, soon, she would call the pack together and make sure everyone was alright. However as she decisively pushed the last herb into place, the end of Summer air carried upon it a familiar voice. A smile pulled itself upon her muzzle, and she rose with a flick of her tail and took off at a lope, clearing the three natural stone stairs with practiced ease and followed the howl through the lands to its source. Deep blue pools roved over her nephew?s form, checking for injury and illness. He seemed well, unhurt by the quaking earth. As she came to stand before him, she welcomed him with a gentle woof. ?Cael. I knew you would be back, Nephew.? Velvet tones were gentle, warm and welcoming. However she grew serious. ?Perhaps you can shake your mate out of her illusions of no-one wanting her, when it is she who is distancing herself from everyone. A Theta Primary walks among her people. She is not doing that.? Deep blue gaze pierced the male?s mismatched blue and gold eyes as she spoke. The message was clear. He would be welcomed back, but should he vanish again, his next return would be met with less warmth.

Cael's ears perked up excitedly when he heard his aunt's welcoming tone, a small smile crossing his face as he trotted up to meet her halfway. Her words were encouraging and he replied, "I'm glad you believed that, Aunt Erani." But, of course, his disappearance did not come about without a price. Her next words made his heart sink, and his two-toned gaze slipping from hers and settling on the ground between his paws. He could drown in the shame he felt for leaving his mate, the one wolf who he should have stood by through thick and thin. "I just hope that she will forgive me for everything I've done... I have been an awful mate and I don't deserve her." The reason why he left came back to his mind and his eyes shot back up to hers, the shame pushed away for just a moment. "Aunt Erani, I found Claire! She's alive and well, and to top it off she has a family of her own. I invited her to come back with me, but I don't think she was ready yet. Maybe she'll wander back eventually too." A smile found its way back onto his muzzle. Nothing could kill the peace knowing his sister was okay brought him. Not the mental image of her death, not the fear of Imena's reaction when he finally saw her again. The disappearance of his sister had haunted him since the day she had left and finally he had closure. He took a moment to look over his aunt, happily seeing that she was well. "How is everyone? I felt the earthquake and I had to come make sure all of you were okay. I've admittedly been a coward about returning... but my worry made me finally return. I've missed all of you dearly, I really have." Speech Thought Companion Others

Erani

Erani watched the dawning sadness as Cael?s eyes dropped to the earth between his paws at her words. ?In time, she maybe will. But you have a great deal to make up for. Not just with her. With the pack as well. A great deal has happened since you?ve been gone.? She gazed into the eyes of her nephew as he seemed to recall something. His words brought her a sense of pleasure. That her niece had found love, and made a family was a comfort, and she knew Cormalin would feel a great deal better knowing his daughter was alive and well. ?I?m glad. And she will always have a place here, and her family as well, should she come back. Welcome home, by the way. You?ll be joining back in the ranks of the Etas. I wish for you to train in all three skill sets of hunting, fighting, and fishing.? Would her words strike him as odd, seeing that the last time he?d seen her, she?d only been the Head Theta? Cael?s eyes roved her form, pleasure shining in them. His question brought a nod. ?We fared it with no deaths. I?ll be calling a meeting to be sure all are accounted for. Surreal has a gash in her leg, one of our newer gamma?s has some cracked ribs and a cut above his eyes, and Frictions son has a broken leg. Beyond that, I?ll need to see everyone before I can say no one else is injured, or missing.? She gave him a soft smile of reassurance. ?You?ve been greatly missed, as well.?

Cael listened carefully to everything his aunt said, knowing that if anyone would tell him the truth she would. He also knew that she was the wisest wolf he knew and anything he could learn from her, no matter how small, was something worth paying attention to. As she continued he caught the fact that she had instructed him on what to train in, which confused him slightly, but he didn't think too much of it. For all he knew it could just be a helpful instruction from aunt to nephew. He was very pleased to hear that there had been few injuries from the earthquake and was excited and nervous for Erani to call the meeting she spoke of. He wanted to see everyone in the pack that he had missed for so long, but at the same time he had no idea how they would react to his return. Cael smiled at her mentioning that he had been missed, hoping that was the truth. Once she had finished what she had to say he spoke again, "I'm very glad to hear that, to both accounts. I had feared the worst of the earthquake, but luckily my fears didn't come true, as far as we know anyway. But, I do have to ask because I'm curious, why did you tell me to study hunting, fighting, and fishing? Have there been new rules put in place since I left?" His gaze was curious as he awaited an answer, completely oblivious to the fact that his aunt had in fact made these rules. Speech Thought Companion Others