Firefly Glen Two Kids, You and Me

tags for reference on things agreed upon ooc! let me know if you guys want anything changed :)

West had made his arrangements before leaving, it wasn't his original plan but...it would do for now. Leta had left about two months ago now and honestly, he was surprised he hadn't followed in her footsteps. Originally his plan was to leave after the countless encounters with Ursus. There wasn't a day that went by that the woodland boy did not blame himself for the chaos that seemed to plague him, though Merrit's return and the news of their brother...changed things.

It would be silly to blame himself for Clay's death, yet that's exactly what he did. A stage of grief that he had yet to figure out how to overcome. Originally he had asked Polaris to watch over Easthollow with the intentions of leaving, but...well there were still a few things he had to do first. Someone had to tell @Leta they were the last two left. So reluctantly, he took on the task alone. Of course, @Polaris insisted she should come too, but he didn't really want her to see him like this. He needed to sort out his thoughts and maybe the true freedom would do him some good. His mother, @Valette, seemed to have no complaints about his desire to tell Leta, but she also didn't know that he too wanted to leave soon after...that would be a hurdle for later though.

The woodland boy's travel took over a week as he wandered aimlessly to the west. He had never really traveled out of Easthollow's territory minus the time he and Polaris visited Kaistleoki, nor did he know where Moonspear was other than the landmark aids his mother had provided. Not knowing or growing lost wasn't something he feared though. Perhaps if he truly did veer off the path he would welcome his decent with open arms, but lucky for him he wouldn't have to find out.

He came upon a glen, heavily marked by fresh scents. A pack lived here, one he intended to avoid until he picked up notes of a familiar scent. Hadn't Moonspear lived in the mountains? Those were the instructions he was given at least, but there was no denying Osiris' presence here. Green eyes glanced at the distance between the mountain peaks and the valley before him. If Moonspear did lay here then he would only be wasting his time climbing to just come back down...so he settled for the glen. Coming along the edges of marked lands, West tipped his head back, a call for whoever laid within, but hopefully Osiris or his sister.

Once his howl had finished all there was left to do was wait, so wait he did, his large figure relaxed as he stood a few paces away in hopes of a familiar face.

She knew that voice! 

Leta howled back in turn, and ran towards the direction his voice had come: brother!!!!!. She had heard him.

West!

(West Tyree, she heard him say in her head). 

Leta was thrilled to know he had come to visit, and thought to herself she ought to pay a visit to her family as well soon. But West could share the good news, first; her tail waved as she thought of all that had occurred while she had been here. Good things, except for Mira having gone missing... but, well, now she was found! And the Glen was theirs, and all seemed well except for the Saints, but Leta had not seen hide nor hair of them in recent days (or heard stories of them either). 

Soon she saw him, and Leta hollered with glee: West!!!!!! West!!!! Oh, hi!!!! while she ran, not stopping to accomodate for his proximity as she flung herself at him with outstretched arms and a tail that could beat the dust off of any rug with the way that it swept left and right in cutting arcs that could not be stopped in the moment. Nipping and yipping and whining excitedly for their reunion (not at all unlike a dog whom had not seen their favorite companion when they returned home), Leta had yet to withdraw from her merciless onslaught of love and affection.

It seemed that West wouldn't have to wait long after all, as a brown bullet streaked in his direction. For a moment, the woodland boy flinched as he leaned back to brace himself, too used to such a sight leading to the tearing of fangs. It wasn't until he heard his name on the wind, familiar and light that he allowed the hairs along his nape to relax. It's just Leta. A short sigh escaped him, just before his sister flung her body against his causing him to stumble back as she relentlessly bombarded him with greetings.

In some ways, it felt like nothing had changed. Leta was the same girl she was when they were kids, even after she had been attacked, even after Ursus, she hadn't changed. It was that familiarity that slowly chipped away at his dour mood as a grin worked its way along his maw. Unlike some of his past ones, this hadn't been faked for appearances, It's good to see you too Leta— Good for now. Good until he ruined the warm air his sister had brought. For a moment he reveled in it selfishly, taking in the moment to just feel normal and ignore the problems that trailed behind him like the rocks that spiraled out from Easthollow's mighty stones.

The trail of lost souls, is that what he had become? Unlike the stone that earned that name though, West only wanted to run from it. Forget the path that was left in his wake and never turn back, but he couldn't do that. He couldn't abandon his family, not like Newt, not like—

Clay.

His broad smile was wiped from his face faster than a blink, or perhaps it was never there at all. He wanted to see Leta, needed to, but he had no good news to spare. The boy's brows furrowed as he looked down to his sister and pressed a paw to her shoulder, hoping to ease her off and catch her attention, Leta, we need to talk... Compared to his greeting, his voice had dropped, a somber tone hinted at the back of his throat, and what he didn't outwardly say, his eyes would.

He was happy to see her too, and the relief for that was palpable. Long ago her other brother had not been quite so excited as this—but she thought much too soon, because seconds after it seemed something had shifted in him. Taking a step back too, Leta looked him over. The somber expression was quite telling; a sense of dread filled her. 

Not again, she found herself thinking. 

No, she answered quietly, seeing the look in his eyes. She took a ginger step toward him, as much to support him as to support herself. Who...? she asked, knowing that the fear of the question and knowing would not change a thing. Someone else had been taken from them both, and Leta had not been there to see this but still, it had come to pass.

He could see the change, the moment's realization as she stepped back and saw it on his face before taking that careful step forward. He would break her with his news, but it was only so long until she found out.

"Who...?"

Something tugged at the corners of his lips, a weight that threatened to pull him to the ground, though he'd remain solid. He needed to say it, though now his tongue felt heavy. An all too familiar lump formed in his throat, something he forced himself to swallow as his lips parted.

Clay.