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Motif was in mental agony, her heart was burning with, god she didn't even know what, rage? Fear? It all mingled together until she felt she might hyperventilate. Rhythm told her to wait, at the end of the fight right before she was taken away her last words to Motif was that this must be a mistake, do nothing, Valentine will fix this. She had to trust in her sister, believe that her reason for life and soul would be home soon, so when Bass told her to return to the pack so he could go and speak to Valentine she, very reluctantly, did as she was told.

She waited at Abaven's borders pacing back and forth for a long time, in fact having her patience last even this long was a minor miracle, and so at last she fled back into the rouge lands after the two people that not just held, but where, her heart. She reached Imperium borders but found Bass's scent both going in.. and leaving.. alone. Her heart withering in her chest in fear, aggravation and the need to lash out or hold Rhythm safety in her arms, she went after Bass. He was still injured after the battle, and her hear ached and worried for him also, her and Bass had once done everything together – and well some things had changed with him becoming a leader, a husband and a father, their bond had not.

She followed his trail away from Imp and to the borders of Traveler's pitfall. His scent added at the cover of some bushes and she stuck her nose inside to find him. Her voice quivered with anxiety as she spoke. “Bass.. Bass what is it? Are you okay, is Rhythm okay?” god, this was killing her, she wanted to hit something, how dare anyone do this to her family.

"Speech"

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He had passed out in a bush on his way out, utterly exhausted and completely drained of energy. All the terrible things that he had said to Rhythm came rushing back to him, making him flinch and curl into a tighter ball. That was until Motif's voice called to him, her nose sticking into the bush that had sheltered him from the light rain that had started to fall that night. He rose his head, and slowly rose to his aching paws. Stepping out to pretty much fall against Motif, he tried to hold her close. She asked if he was okay, and if their sister was as well. He ignored the question about himself, pushing himself up to a proper seated position before his eyes met hers. "She chose to stay in Imperium. I said some harsh things on the way out but... she chose them over us, Motif. After she watched me fight for her she decided to stay. She could have interrupted the fight but... she just sat there and watched." His voice crackled and broke, lids drooping to half mass as he fought with both his emotions and his state of exhaustion. He just wanted to go home and rest his paws, to lean against his wife. "I don't know what to do, I already failed her. I bet that's why she stayed, she knew that I couldn't protect her." ""

The next thing she knew Bass was struggling to his feet and half falling onto her. She quickly took another step forward, urgently doing what she could for him, taking his wait and washing his face with kisses, even as she inspected him over to see if his injuries where worsening in the rain and with walking. She wasn't a healer through, and honestly couldn't tell exactly what was going on with his body or what had been done, all she could see was there was fresh blood on his fur and she knew at least one of his injured has either reopened or was yet to be stanched and she was anxious to get him home. Her entire body would stiffen in shock at his next words and then she would default, her shoulder dropping in exhaustion wrought from worry and fear and waiting. “How.. hh... how could she, she promised me she would fix this, I thought that meant coming home to us” it was almost a wail. She drew Bass as close as she could without further aggravating his injuries.. and she wept, the strong, proud, defiant creature stood there in the rain, holding her battered brother, and let her tears mingle with the wetness on her face, she didn't know the last time, if ever, Bass had ever seen her cry – it was part of her mission to look strong in front of him. “You.. you didn't, you tried, she did this to us, not you” she whispered. Every part of her being demanded she turn and run back to Imp, scream her sisters name, and demand to know why she was leaving them, but she could not abandon her brother like this. “I have to talk to her, I have to know why, but i'm taking you home first” she told him. ""

She held him close and covered him in kisses, even in his down mood it still made his lips crack into a dry smile. This is what he really needed, was to be held and cuddled like this. It is what he had been craving since the battle ended, just to be held and loved on. And after all those terrible things he had said, he had almost felt like vomiting as he walked away, two sets of eyes watching his slow departure. But she didn't ask questions at first, just held him and gave him a once over. He knew that he had reopened some minor wounds from pushing himself so far, but it was nothing. They didn't even really hurt, it was his whole body that ached. He let out a deep sigh, when he finally answered her question.

He saw her body grow stiff, and his head hung as he waited for her words. She cried out that Rhythm had promised to make it better, but that leaving was not how she saw it. "She blindsided me too, Motif," he said softly, leaning forward to nuzzle against her cheek. Motif pulled him closer as well, starting to cry into his shoulder. Lifting up his left foreleg he draped it around her to hold her close, ignoring the pain that shot electricity thought his body. He murmured hushing words to her, trying to calm his upset sibling. He knew how it felt, the betrayal that she was probably feeling right now. The rain further damped their coats, although it was light enough that they weren't soaking wet just yet. "Shhh Motif." He whispered softly.

When Motif pulled back, he dropped his arm from around her and rested it back on the ground, his shoulder further protesting from the movement. He groaned at the pain, but that was all. She said that she had done this to them, to all of them, and he nodded his head slowly. "The kids are going to be heartbroken..." he said softly, leaning forward to lap at the tears that still clung to her face. Motif that that she needed to go and talk to Rhy, something that he knew was coming. She demanded to seeing him home, and he chuckled softly. "Go to her now, Moty, I can take myself home. I will call for Wren or Allen to help me when I'm closer, okay?"

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Despite his injuries her older brother wrapped a paw about her and held her as she let out her misery in tears. Her sister had been there through so much, this sudden choice did exactly as Bass said, it blindsided her. She thought things between her and her sister where going well, often they slept together, and she almost never saw Shaye – because she was always with Rhythm. She couldn't even begin to fathom how she might tell her daughter that her favorite person in the world had chosen to leave them.

“Its going to break Shaye's heart too” she said miserably, as she clung to her brother. He whispered soft murmurings to her and she was glad that he was here with her. After she had pulled away and he had groaned at the moment – adding further worry to her miserable mind, he then licked the tears from her face. She smiled up at him as she struggled to pull herself together, through there was nothing like knowing they where both in this together.

When he told her to go to her now she hesitated, unwilling to leave but the desperate need to see her sister was building up inside of her, and just about ready to boil over in a fit of something – rage or desperate tears she wasn't sure. “I.. oh.. promise you'll call Bass. I'll see you soon, and I want to see you tucked into bed with your wife when I come to bid you good night” she told him sternly, and gently kissed the top of his head. With one last soft whimper of worry, she turned, and ran off into the rain.

"Speech"

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Motif sternly told him to go home, and that he had better be in the den when she got back. The man chuckled, and leaned forward to place a kiss on her cheek before she left. When she did Bass just sat there, watching her form until it vanished from his sight. After that he grumbled and rose to his paws, standing on all fours just made him ache like an old man. He knew that it was going to be a long trip back home, but it was one he had to make. Otherwise Motif was going to track him down again and beat his already beaten ass. He laughed again at the image, turning and slowly heading off towards home. To make the trip go faster he thought of the nice warm den that awaited him, with his wife and children curled up inside. But he was all soaking wet... Mm, maybe a good surprise wake up would be in order. Plus, Wren might bite his toes off if he bled all over her den. Perhaps he needed to seek out Harmony or Nona before he curled up for the night, as much as it made his mumble over prolonging his sleep, he would be in trouble if he got blood on their pups. Oh boy, it looked like he had a handful of woman that wanted his head if he did something wrong. He guessed that was all part of the job of being a husband, father, and brother. Many titles followed this man...