Stone Circle mutually assured destruction

@Vinnira @Valette @Nikai @Steady (?)

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finally, she was home. she had travelled with Vinnira for much of the journey, healing still, and both longing beyond measure to be home, and terrified, for some reason she could not bring to words. her paws danced on the surface of the earth with nervous lightness as she approached, blue gaze staring right into the heart of the territory, still a distance away. she looked to her companion, nervousness in that glance, but also joy. at was the latter that moved her to take up a trot, then a lope, until she threw back her muzzle and let slip a howl from her maw. 

the sound was not quite as beautiful as it ought to have been, lacking the ability to send a message, to have meaning. it was merely ululating sound, yet that was enough, for she wanted her family. and what better way to summon them, even should her howl sound a little more like screaming than melody. never the less, it would do. 

her pace slowed as she reached the borders, and passed them, feeling suddenly a thousand times lighter, knowing that she was home. her gaze turned to Vinnira, and back again, optics shuttling between the woman and the territory that held her family. she found herself hoping madly that she would not spot the fear on the faces of her family that she had seen on the face of Rannoch, and Rose, and others beside. she dipped her head low, without really thinking of the act, feeling her face was something that ought to be hid.

It'd been a long and tiring journey, and so, Vi looked on the borders with a very real feeling of relief, of homecoming. Even though she still couldn't smell Phiipa at all. At least she'd found one lost little lamb, though she'd been a little too late to keep her entirely intact.

"Buck up, Ke," Vi whispers (she'd long ago decided that "Kenai" was not the girl's proper name, but she could not remember her real on, and Keoni and no way to tell her), seeing the girl's discomfort. But she doesn't have any more buoying words than that; she's tired, and worry and disappointment are welling up in her heart. Where was her family?

In her absence she had been missed, and when he heard the howl Nikai didn't take long to get into motion. His limber legs carried him towards the source of the howl, heart thrumming in his chest. Without a moment's doubt he ran towards his sister's side, but when he looked up as he moved in to nuzzle her face his eyed widened with fear and he startled, coming to an abrupt halt.

Tail fell then and he looked in absolute horror for a moment, until he realised that it was still Keoni and he didn't want to make her feel bad. "Keenie..." he murmured, a sorrowful look on his face; "What happened?" He glanced at the adult with her, hoping to get some sort of answer. His voice was soft, not vengeful, although the thought he wished he'd been there to protect her flashed through his mind.

the woman tells her to buck up, and though the comfort ought to still her heart as it tries to escape her chest, she can not bring herself to smile. her gaze flashes toward a dark form approaching rapidly. At first, she can not tell who approaches, but the slight and youthful frame cross out Steady and Valette as possibilities. She does not see them, not yet. Just Nikai. Her form trembles with eagerness and she steps forward to greet him chin lifting in the slightest. 

and is frozen in her tracks at the horror and fear she sees there. her own gaze widens in fear, and her tail curls around her rump. no, she was too soon. should have waited, until she healed more extensively, until her fur could cover some of the worst scars that littered her face. his expression changed, but in the fleeting moment she knew that he saw her as something fearful. shuddering, she takes a half step back, until she realises that this is her brother before her, and she is scared. she moves forward, seeking to bury her muzzle in his fur, to breath in his scent and to remember that she is home.

Vi steps back slightly as the other child - Nikko - ran to greet his sister. The reunion is swift and bitter-sweet, and more than Vi cares to see. Kenai is safe - that is all she needs to know. Even when she hears whimpers that are not of happiness or relief, she turns and goes her own way, determined to take a long nap before determining her next course of action.

Phi could wait until tomorrow.

Vi is out ~

The wolf with Keoni left quickly and Nikai could see the look of horror and fear mirrored in his sister's face. He realised only then the look he must have been giving and without a moment's wait he moved forward for her. He murmured a soft-spoken, "sorry" as they reached each other and nuzzled her ever so gently. He should not have looked so taken aback but to see his sister like that was more than Nikai could bear.

But after seeing Keoni's face he knew he had to be strong, for her, for him, for them both — and he was strong, suddenly, putting on his mask and being the anchor she needed right now, ready for her and to support her in whatever way she needed; physically and mentally.

So so sorry for the late reply!! <3

Valette basically rushed to the border when she heard the familiar howl. The female had been so worried about her daughter. She better be alright. Valette had a feeling in her guts though. Perhaps it was a motherly instinct. The young female soon spotted Vinnira returning to the territory, soon after she spotted both her young. Valette let out a whine in relief.

Yet, as she came closer the female realized that her daughter was not okay. The mother rushed over and instantly nosed over her body, and wanted to lick her wounds. "Oh Keoni," she whispered. "What happened? You're safe now," she assured and glanced worriedly at Nikai.

his soft sorry set her fluttering heart into a steadier beat as her brother adorned himself in a stronger mask. she moved to embrace him with a heaving chest that spoke of constrained whines, finding her horrible homesickness alleviated in the scent of his fur and the scent of home.

next came Valette, and hardly noticing the disappearance of the woman who had brought her here, her throat broke into a whine as she moved toward her mother,  embracing her fully and finding solace in the scent of her fur. her question had her retreat in the slightest, and with a quaking muzzle she pointed south, to the mountains, a breath escaping her maw in distress, as she shook her head, attempting to get across the fact that the bad girl that lived beyond the stone monoliths. she moved back to embrace her brother, and mother, in turn, relief at finally being home evident.

It was soothing that she seemed to relax as he did, to know he could make her feel better just by reacting less startled. He felt more at ease now too, despite the gruesome look of his sister's face. Somehow he could not feel too sad or angry at whoever did this when he had his sister right here with him, when she was safe and home now, despite what had happened. The question that their mother was quick to pose when she arrived was one that had not even occurred to Nikai, so thankful was he to have Keoni safely home now.

He did not understand why she didn't just say what had happened but pointed instead, at this point thinking that it might just be that she was tired or that what'd happened was too traumatic for her. He thought little of it, remaining by her side as a reminder that she was safe now and that she would not get hurt again so long as he was around.

Valette noticed that Keoni couldn't tell her what happened. She was okay with that, perhaps she shouldn't have pushed. All she wanted was for Keoni to be okay. She seemed glad to be with her mother. Valette was even more relieved that she had Keoni back. "Hush now, don't worry. You are safe," she assured the young female.

Valette licked over the top of her head. She also nosed over Nikai's cheek. She hoped to find out eventually what happened to the vibrant girl. "Come, lets get to the den. Your father will be there too," she spoke to them both. She felt like they could all use a big family cuddle.