She had done as she'd said she would - one night of peace away from the dark male and she had returned the next morning to find his scent absent from the area and only the trail towards Silver Creek. Her pace had been much slower than Constantine's had been, but, she didn't care. She could smell him, but had no interest in calling to him. It was easier moving on her own without a male who held contempt for her. He claimed not to hate her, and yet he expected she would be welcoming of his presence when he had never given her a reason to be. To be honest, she didn't trust him. He was an agent of Aria's and the pale woman had backtracked on her word. How could she trust the male?
Still, Rowan had followed a clear path like
@Casmir had shown her until at last she found the borders, tired but determined and lifted her head. She called out for Casmir, for any of the leaders nearby, to hopefully explain her situation and give the news of what had happened. Her heart was stammering in her chest, she stumbled over her thoughts but she had to regain control over herself. A breeze kicked up and she felt the soft assurance of Lasher near her, and then from inside her the squirming kicks of her young.
Her emotions rose in her and the witch trembled herself, silver eyes blinking back tears. She wouldn't break now. She couldn't.
Casmir had arrived home, not happy after what had happened, but more content following his talk with Deirdre. after assuring himself that Laika and the kids were all right, the boy had patrolled the borders for traces of Rowan. Connie had come by ... he tried not to think about that. what mattered was that Rowan was alive and hopefully headed here.
it was with a breath of relief that he spotted her pale fur and dashed toward her, plume waving behind his hips. the salt of her impending tears came to him, and impulsively the boy nudged her cheek. "hey. it's okay." she had him now, and the Creek, and Laika. and his kids. and Spring. they belonged here. this wasn't a place of Mayfairs, but it was a damn sight better than whatever the fuck Aria was trying to do in Donnelaith.
This wasn't what she had wanted out of her life. She'd never anticipated the way things had turned and the last week put her whole world upside down. She didn't care that Constantine had made it there first, she couldn't imagine what the dark male had said or what he'd thought. Ultimately his conviction meant nothing. His concern meant nothing. There was a trembling, almost fluttering feeling deep within her and the emotion of it overhwelmed her.
As if he knew her vulnerability Casmir appeared before her and the pale woman let out a shaky breath as she pressed against him. "Cas," She was barely speaking over a whisper. "They're moving.." And maybe it was a sign, too.
Rowan turned toward him, and her words dispelled any lingering anger Cas might have felt toward Connie, or toward Aria. his eyes widened and he turned to peer at the swell of her sides, his heartbeat quickening.
"r-really? that's awesome!" he exclaimed, eyes dancing with delight. baby siblings. brothers and sisters, to be born in Silver Creek, not Donnelaith.
the thought hurt him a little, but in the next moment he'd tipped back his head to call for
@Spring and
@Laika, to alert them that a new member had come to join their pack.
"the leader, and the beta, my mate," he explained. his face was glowing with a smile.
"was the trip okay? are you hungry?"
Casmir's howl reached her ears and she immediately made her way over. Her tail wagged as she approached, stilling only when she noticed another wolf with him. A female. He wouldn't. He couldn't! She didn't believe it, and told herself to trust her mate. She blinked and pushed her way through the undergrowth, forcing a smile upon her pretty features. She moved to Casmir, nodding her head to the female to be polite. She nuzzled Cas's dark neck fur nefore speaking. "Hi, I'm Laika, the beta," she spoke, tail swishing behind her. She gazed at the female with a pale coat similar to her's. Then, she realized the size of the she-wolf's belly.
Her eyes grew bright and she glanced at Casmir before turning back to the stranger. "Are you looking to join us?" she questioned with excitement. Then, she realized she had forgotten something. "Oh, and may I ask what they call you?" She was estatic to know that Laurel and Indra might finally have others to play with.
She could have seen Lasher's face in his son, could have felt his joy and excitement, and she longed for those moments. She couldn't say she was in love with the male, no, but she certainly carried an affection for him. In Casmir she was given the sort of glowing happiness she had longed for. She smiled gently at him, giving a little nod as he explained who he was calling for. Before too long a woman approached and Rowan was respectful, ducking her head down politely. "Ma'am," She greeted. "My name is Rowan Mayfair. Casmir is a cousin of mine." she could offer that at least - even if she was unsure of their actual titles to one another.
"I was recently.... Dismissed from Donnelaith. I am carrying Casmir's siblings." There was no shame in her, she was blunt and laid out the circumstances of her exile. "I am a healer, and I am happy to help however I can, especially once the children are born to earn our keep." She didn't expect to get by just with her name alone. She would push and do whatever it took to be worthy of their home.
Spring found herself reflecting back to the scene with Reek, finding herself more and more thinking of all the things she could've done and some of last words that Laurel had said to her at that time, and so Spring arrived late, but was there as she heard the sound of Casmir's howl. It was at the borders and as soon as she came upon the scene she noticed Casmir, Laika and an unidentifed white female... a pregnant female. Could Indra and Laurel have friends know? Yet there was something else that she noticed. There was no mate there, just like she had been during her pregnancy... and Saena.
"Hello." The Alpha greeted, eyeing the female with curiousity. "Are you here to join?" She asked, although she easily would've known already had she hurried up earlier.
There wasn't time for any other exchanges, another wolf coming into the fray. Rowan dropped her head even further, trying to be as respectful as she possibly could. "Yes, ma'am. I was.... Expelled from Donnelaith. I carry the former Alpha's children - Casmir's siblings." She explained quickly. She didn't want to waste any time because if she did, it would distract from the time she could spend resting before she went somewhere else. "My names Rowan." She added quickly, realizing she'd been so direct she had forgotten to even offer her name.
feel free to skip Cas; he's just gonna be hanging back
it wasn't long before Laika arrived, and he sighed in relief, reaching to kiss her cheek before smiling at Rowan. it was going to be fine. his lips parted to introduce his ... stepmom? what? maybe? Rowan handled the introduction, and it was as good as any. he was going to add something but Spring herself came to the borders, and the dark boy kept silent.
the Gamma was quiet, glancing between the three wolves as they began the process of hopefully inducting Rowan into Silver Creek.
Permission to skip Laika.
Spring was sad to hear the poor single woman's story. She wished that the story could have been happier, yet it could not be. She was happily surprised though to hear that Rowan's pups would be Casmir's Mother or perhaps a Step-Mother? Still she was curious about why the woman had been kicked from Donnelaith.
Despite everything though, Spring felt the sudden urge to let the almost Mother into Silver Creek. They needed more members and after all this wolf was Casmir's Mother or Step-Mother or whatever. She would do this for the single Mother and her pups. She wouldn't have to be alone anymore.
"On that note, welcome to the Creek. It would be great to have more family here, especially family of Casmir's." She remarked shooting warm glances to both Casmir and Rowan.
"I would be happy to have you here. Make yourself at home, you don't have to be alone any longer."
Rowan was so relieved for a moment she was spellbound; just frozen and processing as best as she could. For the pale woman she was not frequently left silent - instead she would choose her words carefully. For now she was so overwhelmed with emotion - the hormones, the damned hormones! - that she just looked from Spring to Casmir to Laika and back to Casmir and then to Spring. She gave a soft whine before she approached the Alpha, pressing the briefest lick to her chin before moving to the Beta to do the same. To Casmir, she pressed her face against his shoulder, shivering lightly with emotion. She eventually drew back to calm herself, looking to the trio. "I cannot thank you enough." She said honestly. "I promise, we won't waste your kindness."
Kinder than her own pack had been.
last for me!
Spring spoke, and Cas breathed a sigh of relief. Rowan was safe -- she was going to give birth here, and her kids would be loved. he really wished she had been able to stay at Donnelaith, but maybe that wasn't in the cards for her. the boy didn't really believe in all that magick stuff Dee and Em were into ... but he wasn't above believing that wolves were guided in some way.
"i'll help her settle in," he murmured, glancing to Rowan and Laika before waiting for Spring's dismissal.
At Casmir's words, Laika tensed up again. She let out a deep breath and smiled at Spring, Rowan and Casmir, offering up her own words.
"I can help, to." She blurted, tail wagging to mask her anxiety.
My short, last post! <3
Rowan was very grateful and Spring felt her heart warm a little at that. Then her attention switched to Casmir as he offered to show Rowan around then Laika to. She found herself so happy at this moment to have such a good, kind pack. Now they just needed her dismissal and she would give it no doubt.
"Sounds good. I'll see you three around then." Then she turned and made her leave, padding away from the three wolves. At the back of her mind though Spring found herself begging, praying to anyone who would listen that these pups would be safe and protected unlike her own who had passed away.
The witch was endlessly grateful and she hoped that all of them knew so - and that she could prove it to them. In due time she would come to rely on them and while she could only promise that they would not regret their choice there was still the fear in her. When they were dismissed Rowan nodded to Spring, allowing Casmir and Laika to show her around the packlands.