The first to intercept him was Rannoch, who came tearing through the trees like a bat out of hell. Screech had tensed at the sound of movement out of habit but, when both Rannoch and Liffey came in to view, he couldn't help but melt in to their attention. The boy was enveloped in a wolf-hug that he freely returned, greedy for physical contact that didn't involve pain or bloodshed. His pleased whines were audible enough, but the rest of him swayed between the two adults recklessly as he reconnected with them.

You're here! I thought I heard you -- but, his uneven voice kept breaking, and soon enough Screech was too overwhelmed by the situation to put his thoughts straight let alone speak. It took some time before everything calmed - and then he looked between them both, I heard you guys. Before, I mean. It sounded like you were in the mountains! What the hell were you doing over by those Moonspear lunatics? He was glad they were free now, whatever the reason. Maybe they had been prisoners or maybe they had willingly traded themselves away for some reason that Screech could not fathom - but they were both here, right now, and he wouldn't let them go so easily.

They fawned over him and covered him with kisses, or probably the wolf equivalent (and mostly those were from Liffey); they also lauded him with apologies and Screech resisted those, shaking his head more and more until there was only silence. He leaned in to both of them regardless, and finally came up with an answer.

It's pretty obvious isn't it? He withdrew as he spoke so that he could look at them owlishly, blinking his eyes - one sad looking eyelid wiggling only a bit. But he sighed too, deflating a little bit. They thought I killed someone. A sister, or something. And then they caught me and... This, it's... It's not so bad. That was a lie but he couldn't go back in time or anything, so why dwell on it? So far Screech had survived well enough with one eye. It would only get better from here.

He shrugs, his good eye misting over. I can't believe you lived with them. What was that like?

He wanted it over and done with - every last bit of his trauma, expelled. There was no way to do that though. Everyone would ask him about his face, want the real story, and he was tired of it. But he couldn't lie to these two. Rannoch mentioned that he defended Screech against the wolves of Moonspear and he managed a thin smile in return, and with a sigh began his tale.

It started with Blackfeather. He hastily outlined the basics of that: thinking he'd found Raven but it was really someone else; his broken leg and subsequent imprisonment; escaping with Cassiopeia; watching Elwood chase her off, breaking Screech's promise. I healed with Raven's help, and wanted to stretch my legs a bit. So I got some runs in - then patrols, further from the Caldera every day. His throat constricted as he thought of the next stage, of Moonspear and he flash of white that was the pale sister - Galaxy, that had been her name, from what Liffey had said.

I got pretty close to Moonspear and I was... I was just gonna say hello, I guess. Try to make a good impression. This girl comes running at me outta nowhere, then dropped. I just... I don't know, He realized this was the full truth pouring out of him. I panicked, I.. I ran. He pressed himself in to Liffey as he felt his voice shake but that didn't silence him entirely.

I tried to go home but they were preparing for the war -- I wanted to keep them all safe, so I ran from there too, and ran right in to.. to Hydra, He couldn't even say her name without choking on that name, spitting it out like it was some kind of poison he shouldn't touch. The next thing I know she's... Well, all of them, they were all there and grabbing me and... I blacked out.

He sighed and fell silent, leaving the rest to their imagination.

Liffey was in the middle of saying something when a dark shape materialized beside him. Unfortunately for everyone involved, the grondendael had launched herself at Screech from his blind side - he didn't see the shape until Liffey had reacted, knocking the slender girl aside, and as Screech pivoted defensively he heard what Rannoch was saying, and finally clued in that there was someone there. He whipped his head about and spotted Coelacanthe during the chaos but didn't immediately recognize her as his friend. He saw her bared teeth standing out against the blackness of her thin face and recoiled, stumbling in to one of the others without thinking.

Then, as Rannoch's words registered, it dawned on him that this was the girl from the beach. Stop! He called out, throwing himself abruptly between Liffey and the girl. She's — this is my friend, but even as he said this Screech was looking wildly between Liffey and Coelacanthe. He was flustered by the turn of events and just as confused as the others, but he didn't want anything to happen to the Corten.

The boy's heart was racing and his belly flip-flopped every time he matched his gaze with her, so he returned his attention to Liffey instead, hoping things would calm down on their own.

Despite the rocky introduction Screech found he was glad to see the Corten; the stress of the girl's sudden appearance waned and Screech slipped closer to her, giving her a careful nudge with his nose as if to say, it's alright. He didn't let himself become absorbed by Coelacanthe yet, especially since he couldn't exactly introduce her without knowing her name. Thankfully he was a quick study when it came to nicknames, and explained to Liffey hastily, I met her on the beach a few days ago, she's part of this big family called the Cortens. They're really nice - made me miss everyone.

He hadn't told them the worst part about his encounter with Hydra yet, and remembering the rules that Hydra had enforced in regards to his family made Screech's throat constrict. His attention wavered a little as he stared off in to space, but then he refocused. I can't go home Liffey, the boy murmured mournfully, Hydra said she'd kill me if I ever tried. And then I ran in to her mom — she threatened the same. I go deep in to the valley or anywhere close to the Caldera, and they'll... He was suddenly unable to put a voice behind the concept.

It took Screech a moment to compose himself again and regain some semblance of normalcy. I've been living in this place on the coast with some nice strangers - they call themselves Ravensblood. He looked between his two greatest allies as he mentioned this, searching their faces to see if they knew what he was talking about as he quieted.

Coelacanthe offered him comfort in her quiet and unassuming ways, and with that Screech felt more relaxed then he cared to admit. His face still felt somewhat flush but he could hide that, and soon enough Rannoch was speaking and he had something to focus on (besides the kind shadow at his side). He nodded at the offer — and then wondered if Constantine would value having allies so far from the coast. Maybe that was all Screech needed, though. An offer, an exchange, so that he wouldn't feel so bad if he abandoned the forest. But his thoughts were a muddled mess, and he hadn't made any plans yet.

I'm sure he'd appreciate it. He answered, and then after a pause began to shift his weight, glance around as if realizing he'd spent a while here with them. I should.. I should get back. I didn't tell them I was going anywhere, his ears flipped about with unease, and he cracked a thin smile upon realizing he had a habit of getting lost. It's good to have found you. You're better off as far from Moonspear as you can get.