Even though they had been back in Boreas for some time, the Klein family had mostly kept to themselves in Ashen. Chimera had taken to teaching and guiding the young of the empire and Aliana had lent her healing skills to the pack as she was needed. But the more time passed, the more the clouded fae missed her wayward children. Her boys and her girl, all of whom had taken to their own paths. Some brought them back around, and others... others did not. One of those was her little Strix. The boy had gone off to join Valta when the rest of the family had left in search of medicines for Chimera's illness, and neither of them had seen each other since their return. Ali felt horrendously guilty over that fact, but at the time she hadn't wanted to feel like she was encroaching on her son's life. He had built his own home, forged his own way, and she wanted to respect his space as an adult. But she could not deny her heartache to see him again.

Finally, Aliana could wait no more. One cool late autumn day, she gently coaxed Chi into joining her to go see their son and make the trip from the western coast to the eastern, crossing the entirely of Boreas to arrive at the Valtan lands. The pack still remained, thankfully, and seemed to be thriving from what Ali could see as they approached the borders. Although Ashen and Valta were allies, she still parked herself right at the border, practically bouncing back and forth on her paws while she lifted her muzzle and gave a gentle call for their son. Hopefully Strix would be free and still want to see them after all this time. Aliana couldn't wait to see how big her boy had gotten since she'd last seen him!

"Aliana Klien"

It had been some time since Chimera had seen, well... any of his children. Strix was fairly close and Aliana had suggested that they make the trip to see him. The black and white giant wouldn't deny his wife anything, and so he agreed to accompany her to Valta for a long overdue visit. The journey there was fairly uneventful. They moved along at a leisurely pace, stopped when they needed to and generally just enjoyed one another's company.

Once the pair reached the border, Aliana couldn't contain her excitement and Chimera chuckled softly as she released a delicate call for their son. The brute seated himself beside his tiny woman and nuzzled into her cheek with a speckled nose. Together, they waited for either Strix or some other Valtan wolf to meet them.

"Chimera"

Each day is much of the same for Strix; he gets up, eats, runs patrols, eats some more, helps around the pack, and eventually sleeps. It is a routine and something he clings to when he feels himself beginning to sink into the depths of depression. The man loves his family more than life itself and, when his father had grown ill and been forced to leave with his mother and family in search of a cure, the boy had stayed behind and allowed himself to be swallowed up by that dark place. He had been terrified of losing Chimera and that he might never get the chance to make his father proud. So, when he had heard that his family had returned and that his father was healthy, the youth had naturally been relieved.

Word had reached Strix that they were living in Ashen and while, he kept meaning to traveling out there and reunite with his family, the young man just never seemed to find a good time to leave. Excuses began to abound for him as he warred with wishing to see Aliana and Chimera but also wishing that they would come to see him. Now, being the shortest boy in a large litter of six males has always led to the man feeling less than his brothers and, even if his parents do not believe that, he has convinced himself that he isn’t as good as his brothers. That is why he eventually decided not to seek out his family and depression had pushed in once again so he clung to his routine.

On a cool, late autumn day a call sings through the air, calling for him and Strix immediately abandons his patrol. Oh, how he has dreamed of seeing them again, of hearing their voices and holding them tightly but he hadn’t dared allow himself to think that they would actually seek him out. Small paws thunder through the land as tears sting his eyes, all the emotions he so desperately tried to ignore raising to the surface once more. When his gaze lands on their forms he releases a loud bark of joy but does not slow because he needs to know that they are real.

Strix is upon them in a matter of seconds and he almost plows into his mother in his fervent need to hold her once again. Legs wrap around her form as he buries his head into her neck, softly crying with joy as he murmurs, “Mommy.” He had been one year old when they left and time has seemed to pass slowly for him. Still clinging to his mother, Strix lifts his head from her neck so he can turn his watery, mismatched gaze to Chimera, tears slipping free as he warmly says, “Dad! I am so glad you are okay! How are you? How is everyone? I have missed you guys so much.” Oh gods, how he had missed them.


"Strix Klein"