Veero was getting excited, very very excited, because slowly the terrain was becoming familiar to him. He had never been away from home for so long, heck he'd never been away from home ever. Now he was glad he'd left, but he was equally thrilled to be coming back. Finally they reached a place so familiar to him that he couldn't stop the happy half yowl that escaped his lips. He chuckled and looked over at his mate, and soon to be mother of his pups. Wow...just wow...life was so amazing sometimes.
"This is it..." He inhaled deeply and then edged a bit closer nodding as he found the scent of his grandfather. Crunch was a great alpha, always alert, fair, and firm. He looked back at her and his tail wavered happily.
Talia followed, trusting his nose and his knowledge of the landmarks. She was glad that their journey hadn't taken them so far that it was impossible to return in a reasonable amount of time. She wasn't quite full on set with pregnancy yet but she was feeling heavy around the middle. She couldn't help chuckling at her mate's enthusiasm, glancing around as the various scents came to her. She could scarcely recall them from when she'd met him on the border of their packlands before, but never had the chance to place faces with them.
He turned and moved to walk beside her a bit closer now remembering his overprotective aunt. He didn't want Twix popping out thinking Talia was an intruder. He smiled and gave her a soft nuzzle trying to gauge how receptive she was to being here. He was just bursting with excitement eager to share Talia with his family and show them how special she was to him. He was thrilled to know his own pups would be born in the same land that had held now several of his generation. True that he planned to leave with Talia and the pups when they were weaned, but they would have the memory of Akiiki Chibale in their hearts forever. Besides he liked to think there would be time for visits every few seasons.
"Aunt Twix is probably on patrol...mama will be near the den I'm sure." Who knew where his grandmother would be she had been almost secretive when he left. Little did he know he was returning to his siblings having pups of their own.
"Do you think they'll like me...? I mean, I'm basically the one that stole you away."
She tried to make light of her unease, but she did feel a bit nervous about it. It wasn't like before, where she could just leave if she didn't like it, or if they proved to not like her. This time it was her mate's pack, his family. It had to work out or it would be unpleasant for him.
"They'll love you, because I love you...they won't see it that way." Okay well maybe Twix would but she was the proverbial stick in the mud. The rest would understand why he wanted to leave once they saw how special Talia was to him.
"Trust me...our family...it's all about love, this pack is all about accepting and helping others...and knowing when its time to let them go back into the world on their own...and just being here if they ever need to come back." He smiled at her softly and then licked her cheek.
She moved so that she could brush her head against his, rumbling softly in appreciation. "If you say so, love." She said back softly, hopeful. She wanted to let the pups know at least one of their ancestoral homes, and since hers was out of the question she was glad that his wasn't.
"I promise, you'll see everyones going to love you...except Twix but thats cause she's surly." He chuckled and softly nudged her trying to be reassuring. He wanted her to like his pack, his family, he wanted her to be receptive to them and maybe someday be willing to make the long journey back for visits.
He perked his head up as he heard someone approaching from up ahead. Then he remembered, true the pack was loving and welcoming, but there had been hard times before he left. Had the war made things different, had it begun, or ended?
She nodded quietly, trying to relax. It wasn't that it was exceedingly difficult, but her instincts told her to be on alert constantly since she was carrying pups into territory that wasn't hers.
Soon enough she came to a stop next to Veero, remembering enough to keep her tail down to a respectful level. The wolf they had gotten closer smelled of dominance, his scent was all along the borders as well, maybe not as well as those that patrolled but still. He must be the alpha.
"Crunch is probably what your smelling now, he's our alpha, we probably won't bump into him first though so don't be nervous. Actually...aunt Twix is probably who we'll find first...or should I saw she'll find us. She's the beta of the pack and she runs all patrols, shes the most...protective of the family." The word was probably close minded but he didn't want to make Talia nervous. Besides Twix was the only family member who wasn't welcoming of strangers. It had taken her a long time to even accept his grandmother as his grandfathers mate.
Speaking of which, a female scent slowly reached them if they continued to sniff. Then a flash of sound moving ahead of them and the tip of what appeared to be a foxes tail. Veero rolled his eyes and glanced at Talia. "I think that was Dimitri, he spies on everything on the borders and reports it to aunt Twix...thats how she always seems to know everything and catch anyone trying to sneak in or out."
"Twix is starting to sound more and more like my twin sister..." Talia replied with a faint smirk. True, Trija had never actually run patrols since they had no particular love for their pack outside of the few individuals who were worth trusting, but protective she had down to an art.
She took another sniff and finally noticed who she assumed to be Twix, waiting.
Veero chuckled and led them a bit further into the pack certain his aunt would appear any moment. Sure enough a pair of red eyes appeared and then slowly the carmel colored beta slipped infront of them. She didn't bear a welcoming smile though infact her features all seemed rather severe, she didn't look like she smiled a lot...or ever. She looked Veero over for a quick second then turned and focused on Talia with narrowed eyes.
"Is she with you?" Twix asked, obviously addressing her 'nephew'.
Veero took it all in stride used to Twix's harshness he offered Talia a reassuring smile. "Talia this is aunt Twix, yes aunt Twix Talia is with me, she's my mate." He stated the fact calmly enough trying to put Talia at ease.
Talia felt a surge of her old confidence coming back around at the way that they were greeted. Blame instinct, or her hormones, or both, but Veero kept her from bristling up defensively anyway, she knew he would protect them if it came down to it.
Talia nodded quietly to Twix, her tail giving a partial wag.
Twix gave another sniff and then looked at Talia with open curiosity before her eyes narrowed a bit. She snorted and then looked back at Veero with a soft huff. "Well...come on, your mother missed you horribly. Whine, whine, whine...Alas has made everyone a softy, and we don't have any need for her tenderness during these hard times. At least Tempeste didn't come out completely spoiled by it, that girl has a good strong sense of duty. She'll make a fine alpha once your grandfather decides he's ready to step down...which he isn't just yet! Neither am I...you're all too young to really appreciate how hard it is keeping everything smooth and safe..." She huffed again as she led them deeper into the pack with a graceful leap over a wide stream.Veero tried not to roll his eyes as Twix went on he glanced at Talia with a grin. 'She's always like this' his expression said and he softly bumped against her. He paused at the stream and looked at her uncertainly. He didn't know if she ought to be jumping or racing around while expecting, but he decided to let her decide.
"We can walk the long way around if you want..." He murmured to her.
Talia just stared back.
JUST like her sister, ranting on about the same types of things, no less! Hah!
Talia held back a giggle at his look (Though it was apparent.), certainly not wanting to earn Twix's wrath by being rude to her face or behind her back. Once again she leaned into Veero for a moment, but then drew back to follow, deciding she envied Twix being able to move about so freely still, and that she would be right back in shape as soon as she was able.
"It's alright, Veero, a little water never hurt anyone. We shouldn't keep them waiting." She replied with a confident, soft smile, moving to step into the water so that they could cross. She'd be glad to settle down and rest, even if she was still subjected to his family's curiosity for a bit during it all.
"Alright..." Still he looked a bit nervous as she had to get into the water and walked along beside her. "We'll get you warmed up in the den soon..." He reassured her not wanting the water to chill her.
Twix continued ahead ranting and mumbling under her breath until she reached a clearing. "Venera! Your prodigal son has returned!" She snorted and then looked back at Veero. "I'm glad you didn't get yourself killed..." Then she looked at Talia for a long moment. "It's...nice to meet you..." She didn't sound very sincere though and then she huffed and vanished back into the forest.
"That does sound marvelous." She admitted, the barest shiver going through her. It was the cold season coming upon them after all, and her fur only did so much good if it was actually dry. Water tended to penetrate all types of surfaces, including said fur. "I think she's warming up to me rather well, don't you?" She joked lightly, grinning softly. If Twix was the toughest audience she had to face there then she'd say she was in good shape. She hoped that she would actually get a chance to speak with her again, though. If she got along with Trija then maybe she'd get along with Twix, they likely could agree on some things after all.
"She didn't try and run you off so I'd say she likes you." Then he whipped his head around as a white female slipped out of the den. Her snowy fur was touched with heart shaped pale pink markings. With Veero's dark looks it might have been hard to realize she was his mother, but the look in his eyes spoke volumes."Veero!" Venera quickly rushed to her son and licked his face happily nuzzling him as if he were still a pup. "Oh I was so worried about you! You've been gone for what feels like forever!"
Veero clung to his mother at first inhaling her familiar scent and returning her nuzzles. Then he finally pulled away and cleared his throat. "Mama this is Talia...my mate." He looked at Talia and then back at his mother, he needn't have worried though.
Venera smiled brightly at Talia and quickly moved to give her the same loving treatment she had just bestowed on her son. "No wonder he was gone so quickly, your lovely!" She laughed and then sat back glancing over her shoulder. "I'm sure Alas will be back soon, she'll be so glad to see you both."
There was no time to reply to Veero, barely any to react. If he had reacted nervously at all she might have been on the defensive, but a wall of white fur was suddenly just there licking and greeting, and she had to take a step back in surprise. When she was treated to the same greeting all that Talia could do was blink, wide eyed, and then laugh happily, maybe a touch embarrassed but not minding it.
"Ah, I hope you all can excuse me for that, but it's a pleasure to meet you."
She said when she had a moment, curious though to meet the leaders of the pack, now.
"Of course, of course, it would have been unforgivable of Veero to leave you all alone! He's so thoughtful my boy..." She turned and smiled brightly at her son. "I'm so glad your back home though...it's so hard to see my babies away from me. Your sister is having pups, you'll be an uncle!"
Veero didn't want to spoil his mothers happiness by telling her they wouldn't be staying permanently. Instead he nodded and then looked a bit surprised. His baby sisters were having babies of their own? Now it was his turn to be shocked by the passage of time. Well of course things had moved on without his presence but it was still...different to him. He who had always been involved and up to date on everything, so involved with his family. Now he felt like some stranger visiting and getting news. "Thats great mom!" He finally managed and then looked at Talia. He wanted to give her the chance to share the news that they would be parents soon too.
Then an older female appeared, her tail wagged and her blue eyes sparkled with warmth and open understanding. It wasn't overly obvious at first, but slowly the little things, posture, and confidence, and the way Venera and Veero looked at her gave away who she was. Alas didn't need to strut like an alpha, she was far more subtle, the title was so obviously unimportant to her compared to another...the title of mother. "Veero..." She smiled and moved to sit near Talia her nose giving a bare twitch before she looked at her knowingly.
Veero grinned and leapt over to nuzzle his grandmother with enthusiasm.
Talia wanted to assure her that that had been the least of her worries, with how persistant he was. She likely wouldn't have even gotten pregnant if not for that, in fact.
The dark female's senses told her that another one was arriving just as Veero received his shocking news. She grinned softly back at him, about to speak up at his cue when the alpha female (Because she very clearly was. Something in the way that she carried herself gave it away, though not by any conventional means. She had an entirely different type of confidence about her.) arrived, greeted Veero softly with one word, and Talia with that one look, and Talia realized she was feeling a little bit humbled.
She'd never been around a real alpha female before. Her mother had been treated more like an omega, Suzaku always acted more like a lone, Loki had still been rather quiet when they met, but this was what it really felt like.
Luckily somehow she knew, instinctively, to adjust her posture a bit more, not wanting to be rude.
Alas smiled and gave Veero a soft tender nuzzle, she was far more reserved then Venera had been. Despite the calm she showed her love for her family was an almost tangible thing. Her warmth washed out over the clearing almost like a physical thing, as if sunlight was softly brushing those present. She turned her head and smiled at Talia."You're Veero's mate...and..." She looked at her again in that knowing way. Alas had not only birthed pups of her own, but she helped many females give birth as well. She knew the signs and scents, but she wouldn't steal Talia's news, rather she would wait for her to say it herself.
Veero quickly moved back beside Talia when his grandmother focused on her. Alas had always been warm and loving so to her pack the slow changes were harder for them to see. To one who was just meeting Alas the strange feeling that some magical force rested behind those vivid blue eyes was all too obvious.
Talia saw the cue for what it was, shaking out of her daze long enough to reply. "Oh, yes... please excuse me. I'm Talia... and, yes... we're expecting." She added with a soft smile that was almost a grin but more reserved, and she looked to Veero after saying so. The good mood was just contagious, she couldn't help it.
Venera looked stunned, absolutely as shocked as Veero had been when he'd heard his sisters were expecting. Then she smiled and leapt up and down a bit her tail flying wildly. "Thats wonderful! Isn't that wonderful mama!?" She grinned at Alas and then darted over to nuzzle and lick veero again. When she was done with him she moved back over and nuzzled Talia lovingly. "I'm so happy for you both! Oh! Come in, come inside before you get cold!" She nosed Talia tenderly.
Alas smiled and waited patiently for Venera to settle down before standing and walking over to Talia. "Thats wonderful news, don't worry you'll be well cared for here. You're family to us now." Her words were so sincere and honest, there was no manipulation or false promises behind it just simple truth. They loved her because Veero loved her, it was as simple as that.
Veero nodded when his mother started to get worried about Talia getting cold and he quickly pressed against his mate. "Yes we'll get you inside and I'll find Musketeer and have him hunt you something for dinner."
Talia was almost overwhelmed by how genuine everyone was, honestly. She felt like who and what she was seeing was exactly who they were, and that was something she'd never felt around a pack before. Not on the level she currently felt it.
Very quickly she was getting swept up in it all, or swept away may have been the better term. The next moment they were being licked, then nuzzled, and urged to stand. Talia got up without a word or thought of complaint. If she'd doubted the scincerity or truth to Veero's words before she surely had no room to now.
"Thank you, you're both too kind." She smiled a bit sheepishly, clearly, clearly unaccustomed to being fussed over so much so a small bit overwhelmed, but for once not feeling annoyance or anxiety with it. She didn't want them to worry or feel guilty over it. Talia looked to Veero as his warmth seeped in past her fur, nodding and moving with him towards the den. It would be nice to warm up after all the walking they'd done that day. "Thank you, love."
Venera quickly moved into the den, getting in made it seem like it would be a tiny hole in the ground, but once inside there was a small slope and then the den opened up. It was surprisingly large obviously it was part of a natural underground cavern of some sort, but the work done to create large chambers was obvious as well. Unique scents hovered where different family members had somewhat staked their claims. Further back in a nestled place with a deer pelt spread out was where Veero had obviously once slept. His scent was there, but very faint a testament to how long he had been absent.
Venera smiled and nosed Talia lightly motioning for her to make herself comfortable. "I think we have some rabbit fur...I'll get you some, it'll warm you right up!" She slipped away into another tunnel like branch of the den. It was cozy obviously a shelter from harsh elements and cold. In the summer they undoubtedly slept outside where cool night breezes could pass them by. Veero smiled as she watched Talia, he felt himself smile as he saw her in his spot. It felt good to be hme, to know his mate had been welcomed here, to know his pups would get to know this place too before they left. He still wasn't sure how he would tell his mother, perhaps he would start by telling Alas. He slipped over to his mate and curled around her nipping her ear softly. "Would you like meat or fish? Butter and his family are amazing at catching fish year round, even when the water freezes they manage. Musketeer organizes our hunts, he can catch almost anything he puts his mind to, his speed certainly helps." Veero chuckled and then looked away sheepishly. "I'm sorry I don't mean to ramble on when your hungry...it's just good to be back...so...what will it be my lady?"
She eased into the den, thinking that she should enjoy being able to move so easily while she could. Inside she was able to take it in properly, quite surprised by the system of dens they had worked out and expanded upon. Indeed Veero's scent was obvious, too, though faint. She couldn't help but wonder how they would feel if they knew that they'd planned to go leave again after the pups were old enough, and tried to imagine the already faint scent growing even weaker until it was gone all together one day.
Venera was the one that snapped her out of those thoughts, looking back at her and then ahead again, moving in to settle down on the pelt gratefully, and before she could assure Venera that she was alright the fair coated female had darted off again. She was certainly a quick one, but it was endearing...
Gray eyes wandered back to Veero's as he watched her, curious as to what he was thinking about, but an active imagination making it easy enough to guess at least. Her body shifted to fit against his once he had joined her, listening to him go on...
"I think that we should stay." She said, very softly, while they had a moment alone. She looked up at him from where her head was resting and he had been nibbling at her ear, even though he was looking away currently.
Veero nuzzled Talia happily lulled into relaxation but he turned and looked at her startled. Stay? He wanted to agree right away, but then he remembered how happy and free she had been. She disliked packs, she had never settled down. He felt as if he had barely managed to earn her love, if he tried to get her to stay with his family would she resent it?
"I...I told you we didn't have to love, if your worried about my mother don't be. You heard her my sisters will be having pups of their own...she'll barely have time to miss me." Okay that obviously wasn't true, the pack was clearly tight knit. "Well...every mother misses their children...but...but lots of adults leave their packs...and I promised you..." He fell silent as he heard his mother approaching again. He nuzzled her lightly and licked her cheek. "Just...think about it." He whispered softly before Venera came back with white fluff trailing her.
She bent down and quickly started to push the rabbit fur up against Talia finally stopping and licking her lips a few times. "There! Rabbit fur should warm you right up, just kick it off if it gets too cozy. Veero what are you still doing here, aren't you going to get your Talia some food? She's probably starving, you don't know what it's like eating for more then yourself!"
The surprise didn't surprise her, nor did his hesitance. He probably worried she'd rush into it just for his sake, and that would be no way to decide. His words also made her wonder about the eventual day when their own pups would grow and possibly leave.
"Mmm," She agreed, no time to answer otherwise, then looked to Venera. She shifted her back legs as the fur was tucked up to her, already feeling warmer just getting out of the cold air. She couldn't help giggling a bit at Venera's harmless fussing, looking back to her poor mate. Yes, she clearly saw where he got it all from now. "I don't want to trouble anyone, anything is fine."
Veero smiled as he watched his mother go and then licked Talia's muzzle again softly. "We've come a long way, momma's right you should rest I'll wake up up with some dinner." He slowly unwrapped himself from around her and headed out. He stopped for a moment to gaze back at her admiringly and enjoying the peaceful moment before pushing up out of the den.
Talia smiled, licking back at his muzzle before he pulled away, at which point she went ahead and settled into the furs more than ready to catch some shut eye. Her body curled in so that her tail drifted over to rest over her nose, and she gave Veero a parting, soft, half lidded smile before shutting her eyes completely to rest.
