@Steady when you get the chance!
krypton counted herself as a lucky woman. she was welcomed back with open arms and was already able to reconnect with her former pack members, though she needed to make her biggest effort to reconnect with steady. the younger male had let her go and let her come back; she was forever grateful and thankful for him. while everything seemed peachy keen, krypton had a bigger fish to fry for the time being.
with that in mind, krypton set off a hike to find the dark male, hoping to connect with him as she did before and be seen as a family member once again. it was a mistake to leave, the timing and such. after all of the death happening around her and the famine almost killing the entire pack, it was almost too much for her to handle. but the dark age was over, for now, the famine and the locusts were long gone. night's shadows were away and hidden as the sun brought light into the world.
for now, krypton's world was only filled with light. all of her past was behind her, though demons still lurked around every corner. until night came, krypton was at peace.
Steady had been wondering about Krypton on and off since her arrival. He desperately wanted to know what happened on her journey, but he also knew it must have been a hard one, judging by her lethargy at the borders when she arrived. He knew she needed time to rest up and settled back into the pack.
He swerved through the trees as he walked through the forest, gathering information on the scents that laid upon the leaves and the snowy ground. Big game had pretty much left them with the start of winter, though he saw some signs of smaller prey. Food was food, and he was glad to see some of it still seemed to be around.
Movement caught his eye and he looked up to see Krypton. His tail wagged and he chuffed to get her attention. Picking up his pace, he trotted towards her in hoped of catching up. Hey, Krypton, he greeted with a smile. How are you doing? Feeling any better? he questioned with a little bit of worry in his voice. She seemed much better than she had at the borders, but it was obvious she hadn't been eating very well in a while.
Before she went far, the alpha seemed to appear from thin air. She smiled genuinely at him, her tail wagging as he approached.
"I'm doing good. I've got my den done so I don't have to bother Chaska anymore" she joked.
"But enough about me, how have you been? Are there other members in here that I haven't met?" She asked curiously, wondering what his response would be.
krypton felt like getting this conversation out of the way quickly. She wondered if she should even tell Steady about what happened to her. She had the idea that he wouldn't sneer at her because, for one, he wasn't that kind of wolf. But she felt like she didn't need him to worry about her. His focus was needed on his pack.
He shook his head quickly in opposition of her statement. You are never a bother, he said. He was so happy to see her back that he would have gladly given up his own den to her, if it wasn't also occupied by Valette and the pups. Thankfully, Chaska had gracefully accepted Krypton into his den until she could make her own.
It wasn't lost on the Alpha that she quickly changed the subject, but then, maybe she was just eager to get back into the swing of things. There's Grayday, the Gamma, and his pups Dawn and Sunny. Amber, his mate, went missing not too long ago, he added. I don't remember if you knew Mara Susi, but she's recently returned, as well. And, there's Mirabelle. His voice was slightly clipped on Mirabelle's name, though he did his best to remain neutral. You met Valette at the borders, and Nikai and Keoni, our pups, are always running around here somewhere, he added with a grin.
"steady, I came here in the middle of the night and invaded in someone's private space, I think I can count as a bother" she joked lightly with a warm, yet small, smile. she listened to steady attentively, feeling a bit of sorrow flow through her body. Grayday lost his mate and his children would grow without a mother. For a moment, Krypton almost thought about becoming a mother figure for them, at least, if Gray wanted them to have someone since valette had her paws full with her other two kids with steady. perhaps, she would talk to him about it later. "That's sad to hear, I hope everything is okay with those three" she commented, feeling empathy for them, especially the children.
"you have children of your own with Valette? That's great to hear, I bet they have outstanding parents!" she complimented them, wondering what they looked like. More like dad, more like mom? Had krypton known the entire situation, she would not have said anything, but of course, she was clueless as ever. Steady's next couple of words took her by surprise.
"Mara is back, after leaving again?" she asked him, a confused look plastered on her visage. Why would she come back after leaving twice? Would she finally stay with the original STM--now Eastholllow pack, again? "Steady, are you sure she won't leave again like she did during the famine and the time before...?" Krypton asked, worried about his answer. Sure, krypton left and everything, but she left once the famine was over and Zaria's children were born and well kept (though they were dispersed by now into the world). She feared Mara would leave again, and this time, never return. "Well, i guess that makes me no better since I left on that wild goose chase for nothing," she said, lightly touching on what happened during her lost months.
He gave a quick breath of air, shaking his head. Nope, not even a bother then, he said, firmly believing that. We do things for family, we put ourselves out for others. That's how we show we care, he said, giving her a smile. He really was happy that she was back, and he couldn't care less at what time of the day she had arrived back.
His smile faltered a little when he realized she didn't know the backstory. Well, they aren't ours biologically. Althaia, their mother, came here with them when they were young, along with a third pup. Not long after, she was found murdered on our borders, and Witchhazel had gone missing from that same spot, he said softly. So, Valette and I decided to raise them as our own. He feared the worst, that Witch had been taken elsewhere and killed. But, a part of him still held the hope that she was out there, somewhere, living.
He understood Krypton's apprehension about Mara Susi's return, and the question of her loyalty. No, I'm not certain she won't leave again, he admitted. But... I guess I thought I'd give her one last chance. And the last it would be. If she left again, she could give all the excuses she could muster, but he would not allow her into the family again.
He shook his head quickly side to side. You had already earned your place in the family, and I understood why you were leaving, even if I felt a little betrayed that you were going to leave without saying anything, he said honestly, but there was no accusation in his voice. She left without saying a word, and then when I put my neck out to Zaria to get her back in, it was not a few weeks before she was gone again. They're completely different situations, and I hope you don't compare them, because I don't. Krypton was not on trial here. She had left, yes, but with the promise to return, and she had. For Steady, that was enough to let himself let it go and move forward.
He was serious in her answer, words of kindness, warmth, and family were weaved in as if his sentences were beautiful pieces of woven cloth, bright and colorful. She smiled at him, small, but still smiled. He really was a leader, true and pure while sticking to the known way of life--family first. She continued to listen diligently to Steady, feeling her heart drop at his next few sentences. The pups he had were adopted, their mother had been killed on the borders while another pup had gone missing, most likely killed off too. She frowned a bit, before giving him a reassuring expression. What happened happened and all they could do was do what was needed. "You're a good wolf, Steady. You and Valette both are," she praised them, knowing parenthood was quite a difficult journey, especially knowing the dark past about the children.
As for Mara, she especially paid attention to him. He was not sure, but he had given her one last chance to stay. She applauded him silently. How could he be so patient and forgiving of an unloyal member, who disappeared when the entire pack's strength was needed? She did not know but admired him for his ability to do so. He really did have a good heart, like his brother. "You have a long line of forgiveness, I admire you for that Steady." She spoke true words, Steady was a true role model for anyone in the pack, especially his adoptive children. As for Krypton's own trial, he waved it off. He understood why she left and witnessed her coming back. Mara left and caused Steady to risk his title for her before venturing off again. Two different cases indeed.
"It makes me so happy to know that you understand," she mused to him. "It been such a blur for the journey. It is such a relief to have family support me again."
He smiled at her compliment. Thank you, he said softly. Some days, he did feel like such a good wolf. There were things he had done that many didn't agree with, but he had done them with the right motives. At least, in his eyes he had. And, at the end of the day, he had to live with himself and the choices that he made.
It was interesting to hear someone talk about his style of forgiveness. There seemed to be a line, somewhere, between what he could forgive and what he couldn't. Some departures hurt more than others; some were simply unforgivable, no matter how much he wanted to. He was glad he could put aside his hurt feelings, however, and accept Krypton back into the family—not that she was ever not part of the family. He seemed strengthened from her support, and he had missed that.
Speaking of your journey, he began. What happened on yours? The question was asked gently, his voice soft and curious. He wondered if she met up with her family and, if so, what happened.
he asked about her journey, making the agouti take a breath and give him a sheepish expression, signifying that it didn't end well like she hoped. she shifted her position uncomfortably, feeling it was best to just be honest, though the topic was still very emotional for the woman. the older woman looked towards Steady before beginning to speak. "It was not successful," she started out with. "I had found them, my biological family, and thought I would be greeted with open arms." Krypton thought that if she perhaps returned, she would be forgiven for losing the battle and perhaps be given a second chance to rejoin the family once again. However, that chance was never given to her. "But instead, I was greeted by several pairs of teeth and only resentment. I was chased out, then wandered until I could find my way back home." She licked her lips and swallowed dryly. She felt uncomfortable talking about these kinds of things but knew well that Steady was entitled to know what exactly happened to her.
"With every day and night that passed, I realized that leaving on the wild chase was for nothing and that my true place, my true home, was here, with all the pack members who were my brothers and sisters. Steady, I'm sorry that I left, and I promise that it won't happen again." She intended on keeping such a promise. Every word she said, she meant it with her entire heart. It was a mistake to leave and krypton took the hard fall to realize that. her place was here, this was where she was meant to be, not with her other family.
He frowned as she admitted she was chased out by her family. How could they treat her in such a way? He knew her to be loyal and kind, and he knew without a doubt that she did not deserve such harsh treatment. He didn't ask why they did, as he could only assume whatever it was remained in the past and he would not bring it up now. I'm sorry they did that to you. You didn't deserve it, he replied.
He shook his head side to side to her apology. It isn't needed. I know you may regret leaving, but if it made you more loyal, and made you realize more that this is your home, then it was not for nothing. He gave her a soft smile, hoping she could see the silver lining of it all, for he did.
She just smiled at him sadly, shaking her head in the slightest. "Whatever the reason was, I know nothing of. But I can only move forward, not back." It would forever sting her heart like venom, but there was nothing to do about it. What has happened happened and there was nothing to do but move on. Krypton was a strong woman, she would handle it just fine for the rest of her life. But it would always haunt her in the slightest when she lays awake at night, sleepless and teary-eyed.
"I hope you're right, that was a nightmare." She joked lightly to him, thinking about how long she was out there for. Months at least, and nearing the middle of winter, it was miserable. Ah, but everyone must suffer a bit to succeed, right? (perhaps it went a different way...)