Lost Creek Hollow sometimes when i'm in heaven, i'm forgetful of the earth

forward-dated to 9/17, i'm assuming @Rannoch & @Liffey escorted him most of the way per our discord discussion, but let me know if that needs to be changed!

His family's departure from their new home had not been much of a surprise to Tiarnach; after all, their departure from Lost Creek Hollow had not been all that long ago. In his mind, it is a rather straightforward thing — a pattern of behavior, a way of life. Overall he feels little about the situation, though he knows already that it is not his own way. Part of him had been tempted to remain in the Glade, to claim it as his own — but he knows he isn't quite strong enough for that, yet, and he doubts his parents would allow him to remain behind alone. So he'd chosen to return to Lost Creek Hollow, his first and (in his opinion) only home.
He'd thought, at first, that he would have rather made the journey alone — but now as he approaches the borders, he realizes just how much he'd appreciated his parents' presence. He feels smaller without them, and vulnerable, as if the world itself could swallow him at any moment. Suddenly eager to break his solitude, he takes a deep breath and calls for @Arbiter and @Terance.

the call doesn't strike terance as all that familiar. just as his children have grown, so had the liffnoch children -- grown and changed. though the falling out had only occurred a short time ago, it feels like eons ago... of course, that's not to say that the wounds aren't still fresh. 

the stone moves towards the borders with purpose, and comes to a halt before the summoner... surprise clear upon his face. the children have grown, changed, but terance does not forget the face of what surely was one of his godsons... how could he? for a moment, terance fought between the urge to be hostile and territorial -- the frostfur's would never be welcomed here again -- and the urge to be friendly... this was, after all, just a child, wasn't it? what kind of wolf would he be if he held the mistakes of parents against their child? ah... but still...

his nose twitches as he gazes just past the boy, tail raised -- though it was not in a display of hostility. he was looking for rannoch -- for liffey. though, it seemed he was alone. tiarnach, he comments, emerald gaze falling upon the grayscale wolf again, his mouth curving gently into a smile, i'm surprised to see you here.

He had been thinking a lot about his conversation with Arbiter not that long ago. Since then, he had tried really hard to learn a different section of the borders every day and then return to them periodically to inspect the scents there. It helped him learn his packmates scents, as well as learn what the borders should smell like when everything was normal. His attention span was, admittedly, not very long, but he had really been trying.

So today, when he had found the unknown scent near the edge of their territory, his heart had picked up speed partly from being nervous and partly from being excited to have noticed something was off. He followed the trail to where a silver and white pup stood talking to Terance. He seemed about the same age as Pheiros, which excited him even more, but he tried really hard to keep his face serious as he came up to the pair. He stood next to the scarred leader, careful to stand back a little since he was unfamiliar with the situation and didn't want to do something wrong. He peered at the other boy with a curious gaze and waited to see where things would go.

The man he seeks arrives promptly, and for that Tiarnach is grateful. He dips his head, posture lowering instinctively as he greets the leader, though the necessity behind the display sends an uncomfortable prickle over his skin. But he wants to be home more than he wants to meet Terance's gaze as an equal, so he swallows the feeling. Mom and dad left again. I wanted to come home, He explains without preamble, glancing up to survey the area past the leader with longing in his gaze. It is then that the other boy appears, and his arrival startles Tiarnach at first. He doesn't remember this boy. His attention returns to Terance quickly, however, focused on his purpose here. I wouldn't leave again.

terance considered the boys comments with a flick of his tail, trying to decide exactly how he should be answering this. the softer part of him wanted to let the boy in, but the fragile, angry, grieving part of him still held his grudge. rannoch and his family would never be allowed within this borders again. his ears cupped forward, the man clearly deliberating something in his head, green gaze steady but neutral upon the boy. 

the addition of pheiros broke terance from his thought.. only slightly. terance nodded to the golden-furred boy. your father betrayed my trust, he said, turning back to tiarnach, the pack hurt after your family's leave. i hope you understand why i hesitate before you. he stared a little longer before giving a gentle sigh. i can't hold your parents mistakes against you, i can't blame you for going with them and i will not bar you from returning to the hollow, he said, his steady expression breaking into a small smile. 

but i hope you honor your word, he added, a brow quirking, we'll have to talk to @Arbiter before you settle in, too, she'll need to know you're here. 

and then, finally, he said, this is pheiros -- and pheiros, this is tiarnach.

He was briefly acknowledged by both the young stranger and Terance, Pheiros offering a wag of his tail in response to both. His ears fell a little upon hearing the subject of the conversation, though. He felt kind of like he was imposing on something that was clearly none of his business. But he was here now, so he listened carefully to his leader and watched him curiously to see how he handled the situation; it might come in handy in the future. After Terance finished speaking and called for Arbiter, Pheiros watched the other boy closely, attempting to read his reaction and interested in his response. He was interested in what Arbiter would say, too. Hopefully they let Tiarnach stay. He seemed nice. When Terance introduced them, he dipped his golden head towards the other juvenile, and offered him a friendly smile.

An unfamiliar feeling unfolds itself within his chest as he waits for Terance's response, an icy tendril that wraps tight around his lungs and leaves him feeling almost breathless, though he fights to hide it. He doesn't know what he'll do if he's turned away — perhaps his parents will be waiting for him nearby, but he doesn't want to turn back. He wants to be home, more than anything, and if —
His thoughts are cut off as the leader speaks, breath catching as he hangs onto each word. He nods as Terance explains his misgivings, only able to breathe again when he hears "I can't hold your parents mistakes against you." Heart suddenly pounding, loud yet steady as the man finishes and relief overwhelms him, he tries to return the smile. I understand, He says, voice betraying the emotions running through him. Thank you. I'll — I'll make sure you don't regret it. He swallows, blinking away the beginnings of tears and carefully controlling his breathing as he glances to the boy introduced as Pheiros with a smile that comes a bit more easily than the last. Hi, Pheiros.

i trust you, said terance, though they were words that even he didn't believe. how could he -- after his parents had committed such treason to his family, his home... himself? but terance would always take pity on youth. he hoped if his children ever crossed paths with rannoch, that they would be treated with the same fairness.

rannoch and liffey, however, were another story. terance would not accept apology so easily. and it stroked a certain strain of ego in him to hear that whatever the liffnochs had gone off and done... failed. he was eager to tell his mate about that one too. he would ask the boy more about it later. 


and then, the titan motioned with his muzzle for tiarnach to follow him. come, he said with a gentle smile, we'll get you settled in. i'll find arbiter and tell her you're here, but you should find her on your own to talk to her. it would look good on him to seek her out himself, but terance would settle the blow.

The other boy greeted him by name, and Pheiros' tail wagged even harder, his ears perking up as much as the heavy, folded tips would allow. He was excited at the prospect of a potential new friend, and he wanted to trot over to him and ask him a million questions like where he was from and what he liked to do for fun, but he sensed now was not the time for that. With that thought, he quickly realized he was supposed to be helping guard the borders, and he straightened up and tried to make his expression a little more serious, looking to Terance and copying his stance as best he could. He should let Tiarnach get settled first before bombarding him with his friendship, as hard as that was for the golden boy.

Pheiros thought about offering to show him around, but it was clear from the way he talked to Terance that he wasn't a stranger to the hollow, so it was with a good amount of disappointment that he pushed that thought away. Instead, he would wait next to the leader until dismissed; that seemed more like what he was supposed to do.