Aviana made her way North, the river to her right. She had just entered the forest and her gaze darted this way and that, looking for any signs of wolves. The wind that came from her left let her know there was a pack nearby, and she made sure to steer clear of it, choosing to hug the bank of the river. 

Her posture was hunched as she traveled, always in a submissive pose, and ready to run if she had do. She was a flighty creature, prone to jumpiness. It had been some time since she had left home, and she had no intention of ever going back. Her mother passed, her father left, and her Uncle... Shutters went through her body as she tried to push the memories back. She had no idea of his death, or that the pack had disbanded. 

She lived her life on the run, and it showed. Her body was thin, and her ribs showed. She had come into the barren lands a few days ago, and it sure didn't help her cause. She had no idea what happened here, or why it looked like everything was just growing back. It didn't look like a fire had spread through the lands, or any other natural disaster at that. The trees still stood, and the soil didn't look upturned. She wondered as she wandered, taking in the scenery.

Aviana was still trying to figure out what had happened to the land here. It just didn't look like anything she had ever seen before. Her gaze moved side to side, looking for signs of life, as her ears swiveled. So far, so good. Even if the silence meant no food, it also meant no other wolves. Aviana hadn't made one friend since she left home so long ago, and while she was accustomed to it, it did get lonely sometimes.

Her loneliness was about to come to an end. A chuff behind her had her tail tucking under her as she turned swiftly to face the object of the noise. She took a fraction of a second to verify that it was a wolf, a male at that, before turning to run. She didn't bother to take in any of his features. Ever since that day, she hadn't let any male near her. She didn't think today was going to be any different. If she could outrun him, she'd be fine.

She ran, feared for her life even though he had shown no aggression. Since that fateful day, she had not trusted a male, and as the weeks wore on, she learned to simply run when she seen one, not giving them the chance to do anything, good or bad. Not hearing his words, it was the voice that reached her ears and stopped her for the first time since she left home. 

Abruptly, she halted, her ears perked as she turned her head, though her body remained facing away, in case she had heard the voice out of desperation and not reality. Her gaze found him as he slowed down. It couldn't be. It felt like she hadn't seen him in forever, their time spent together worlds away from what she know knew as real. Seb? she said cautiously. She still didn't really believe it was him, but hope had her glued to the spot she was at.

The male made a move towards her, and she increased the distance between them by twice as many steps. He hadn't responded to her yet, and she still didn't trust what she heard. She was about to turn and leave when he spoke again, confirming his name. She turned her gaze on him once more, taking him in. Her eyes filled with tears, hope and fear creating turmoil within her. She wanted so badly for it to be him, but it had been so long that she simply didn't believe he was here.

And then he spoke her name. Her heart swelled in her chest as she gave a brief nod confirming that it was her. Hope was winning out and she took a step towards him. Her body remained hunched down with her tail tucked deeply under her. She hadn't approached a wolf since she left home, but this was Sebastian: her brother, her protector. She could still trust him... Right? Fear came in the forefront, and though it stopped her from going further, she didn't run either.

Out of the corner of her gaze, for she refused to lift it very high, she seen his tail wag. Had hers not been firmly tucked under her, he would have seen it shift from side to side. It had been so long since she felt any type of happiness, and it felt foreign to her. 

He assured her in his familiar voice that she had nothing to fear. Logically, she knew that. He had never done her wrong, and had always been there for her. But, she couldn't answer his question, not yet. She had never voiced what happened to her, and wasn't sure she ever could. In her heart, however, she knew that if she had stayed, if she had told Sebastian what happened to her, he would have protected her. 

He sat down instead of coming towards her, telling her again that he wouldn't hurt her, and she understood he was allowing her to make the decision. After a few moments, she began to close the distance, a little hesitant, but then a little of her sureness of him seeped in. She sat down next to him and allowed herself to lean into his familiar form, tucking her head under his. She hadn't felt safe since the day before she left home; not until now.

Sebastian snuggled back into her, and Aviana began to let her taunt muscles relax. She inhaled his scent, trying to memorize it since he didn't smell the same as he did in their family pack. She didn't quite smile at him, but there was a hint there that said one day she might. I can't believe we found each other after all this time, she wondered aloud. She hadn't even been looking for him, thinking he was still back home. 

She was just about to question that very fact when a voice sounded behind them. Aviana jerked away from her brother, and without even a glance, her fear was back full force and she ran from them both, her tail tucked and her body hunched, just as before. Whatever peace she had felt was now gone as she increased the distance between herself and whoever it was that had showed up.

Aviana did not stick around for the conversation that followed her departure, nor she even glance in their direction as she heard her name called through through the forest she was running through. She simply ran, dodging half bare trees. The further she went, the darker it seemed to get, and the more lost she felt. She slowed to a stop after a glance behind her deemed her alone. Stopping next to a tree, she looked around, her heart pounding in her chest, fear gripping her. She didn't know which way to go, only that she couldn't go back the way she came. 

Suddenly, a dead branch fell from the tree above her, landing squarely on her hind end. She let out a yelp and ran further into the woods. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a hollowed out base of a tree and darted in, shoving her body inside of it and curling up. It really wasn't quite big enough for her, but at least nothing could come up behind her. She let out a sob, her chest heaving with both emotion and exertion. She had found her brother, and felt she had lost him in the same moment.

Aviana hadn't even known what hit her. She just knew it was sudden and it hurt, so she ran and stuffed herself into the first hiding spot she could find, not realizing she wasn't really hidden at all. Memories flashed through her mind, as if that day was happening all over again. Her name was called. Her Uncle was coming for her. They were supposed to go hunting together. She didn't know she was the prey, but in a completely different way. She whined, trying to shove herself further into the tree, the wood digging into her back. She had no where to go, no where to run, and she could her him getting closer. No, no, no, go away, she whispered, her eyes closing tightly. Suddenly, the area wreaked of urine. Aviana wasn't able to control her bladder with her fear taking over her mind so thoroughly. 

Her flashback gradually ended, just before her Uncle got to her.  She heard Seb's voice, his comforting, soothing voice, and then a females. Her eyes opened, her gaze searching for her brother as she fully came to realize she wasn't at home anymore. She was safe. Her gaze cut across to the female that was there. She doesn't look angry, Aviana thought. She shifted her eyes downward as her own stench reached her nose, her head lowering in shame, knowing they would smell it, too. I-I'm sorry, she said, her voice barely above a whisper. 

His voice was soft and she welcome more of it. It had been so long since she'd been under his protection, and she needed it now more than ever. He offered her a home- his home- and she glanced to the female, watching her nod before turning her attention back to Seb. 

Her heart continued to pound in her chest. She wanted so badly to go back with her brother, but fear made her pause. What if he had bad wolves in his pack? What if they came for her like her Uncle had? Logically, she knew not all wolves were like him, but the fear made her reality distort until it was the only thing she could feel. 

Now, looking at Sebastian, hope began to creep in. He was leader now, he would know his wolves better than anyone, right? He would not allow someone like that into his pack, she was sure. She had to be. Because where else could she go? She had been running too long, and her body was tired. Slowly, her head moved up and down, silently accepting his offer.

Opening her mouth, her voice squeaked. Can we- can we go back to the r-river before we go? she questioned. She wanted to let it wash her before she went into his pack lands.

She walked silently to the river, on the opposite side of Sebastian, her gaze shifting to see that Pearl was on the other side. She seemed nice, and Sebastian liked her enough to make her his mate, so she couldn't be bad. Although, the anger Pearl had voiced earlier was still fresh in Aviana's mind, and she made sure to keep her distance from the female and not anger her more. They reached the water, and Aviana waded in slowly, letting the running water cleanse her body.

[inden]When she was finished, she shook off the excess water and followed the Alpha pair to their home land. She was unsure how she would feel when she got there, but with Seb there, she honestly felt she had a chance. Her body was worn out from running for so long, and it desperately needed a rest. Her mind was in need of repair, as well, but only time would tell if it ever really healed.