Wheeling Gull Isle Before the morning sun, when life was lonely

Looking specifically for @Coelacanth or @Stockholm. Set to around noonish earlier today.

He had been so wrapped up in making sure that everyone else and himself settled into Elysium properly that he had forgotten to make sure a message was sent out to the allies of Morningside that they would be merging into a new pack. He had also decided it was time he take a look around for Desdemona. She had vanished and he had thought it odd since she was so...over the top with her devotion to Morningside. She hadn't been around during the announcement and hadn't shown up to move with them, so she had been left behind.

He was looking forward to hopefully seeing his Aunt Seelie and maybe even a glimpse of the pups but he also knew that this was business and while maybe he would ask to daddle a bit around the island pack, he would set off not too long after delivering the news to head for the Maplewoods. As his paws hit sand and he crossed the land bridge, his heart thumped wildly as he recalled the last time he had been here. He had gotten the news of what Aditya had done and went home to deliver the news to the pack which ultimately lead to their downfall. Anger toward Aditya burned and then fizzled out in his belly just as suddenly as it had begun as the scents of Undersea were breathed in and he sat down, howling for the two leaders.

Powerplaying Stockholm!

It was a heartsick, weary pair that greeted Sunny that Christmas afternoon. Stockholm’s scarred muzzle was drawn into a taut line, and Seelie simply appeared diminished in some indefinable way — her proud carriage was bent and bowed, and the light had all but gone out of her Neptune eyes. “Sunny,” Stockholm rumbled, his voice warm with recognition, golden eyes flickering interestedly. “How are you? What brings you here today?” By no means was the boy unwelcome — evinced by the soft sweeps of the Gampr’s tail and the visible (if sluggish) improvement of Seelie’s mood — but the Overseer could not help but assume the visit was related to pack business.

Coelacanth, who had not seen Grayday and Catori’s boy for a prolonged period of time, rushed to his side immediately and sniffed him over thoroughly, recognizing a collection of scents that didn’t seem to add up or make sense. When she drew back, her expression was patently confused — and a little fearful. “Catori,” she breathed without preamble, her eyes begging him for news. “Eventide, River, Kitten.”

Sunny sucked in a breath as the pair walked on scene and while his concern was for both, his gaze fastened onto Seelie. She looked....broken. Where was the happy, dancing walk she always seemed to have? The joyous light in her blue eyes? Was this all from the aftermath of the incident or had something else gone horribly wrong? The concern was etched into his face as he tore his gaze away from his Aunt and to Stockholm who greeted him. "Stockholm. Things are...well things are rough but we're going to make it. I've come to bring news of Morningside. We are no longer our own pack, we have joined Elysium. So many left us and...well we couldn't make it alone" he surprised himself by remaining strong of voice as he gave the news before Seelie came to him. He wagged his tail and leaned in, sniffing her over and examining her with concern giving her cheek a way nuzzle before his expression fell and he pulled away.

He swallowed a thick lump in his throat, his sad eyes and crestfallen face telling it all "Catori vanished...Kitten didn't believe when I said Aditya harmed you and went to find him. Eventide is gone and River is too. I have no idea if the boys are alive or not."  he said this in a less strong voice, truly missing his siblings and especially mourning the loss of Catori. "We have Aliac, Pema, Aviana, Faye, and Radcliffe. I am on my way to see if I can find Desdemona." it sunk in then just how many members he had lost and he wished for the first time that he could turn back time. Swallowing again he studied her "And you? How are you both? How are the children?" he asked the concern evident in his voice. He wasn't an Ally anymore, not a leader of Morningside but he considered them family and that was more important than anything.

The news from Morningside — what was left of it, anyway — was deeply upsetting for Coelacanth, who had planned to send her children there for tutelage once they were old enough (and she was brave enough). It was the Corten way: cleave to the ocean, but respect the land and learn its lessons. It was on the tip of her tongue — “Tell of Elysium,” — but all the words stilled in her throat and all her plans whirred to a stop the moment the words, “Catori vanished,” struck the air. She stepped back as if she’d been physically struck, wavering on her feet before finally she dropped heavily to her haunches and bowed her head. “Sunny, no,” she begged him in a hoarse whisper, her finely sculpted head angled low and her Neptune eyes gazing up at him beseechingly. It was also the Corten way to wander, but not like this. Not like this.

It only got worse, and by the time Sunny finished the Lamentation of the Lost, Seelie was crushed. To have lost not only Catori and Grayday but the three Morningside Cortens was a true tragedy and it ricocheted from her heart to Stockholm’s. The alliance was broken, and so too was the young mother’s heart.

The Gampr wore a solemn expression, but mustered up enough strength to utter the words his wife could not: “We’re so sorry, Sunny,” he murmured in a guttural rumble, stepping forward to nudge gently at the silver male’s shoulder in a gesture meant to be supportive and comforting. “We’ll pass on the word to the other seawolves, see if anybody’s seen or heard anything.” He remembered the names, cataloguing them with great care, and when Seelie remained silent, he answered Sunny’s question: “We’ve experienced a great loss of our own. Thresher, our firstborn daughter — you remember her, don’t you? She’s built like Seelie, but she looks like me, only with a black spot under her left eye. She has her mother’s ears. All of them do.”

It hurt him something fierce to watch his Aunt crumble beneath his words and he choked back a sob, his eyes filling with tears. He didn't want to be the bearer of bad news anymore, had he known that taking on the weight of Morningside would have turned into this he probably wouldn't have taken it being honest. He couldn't look at her, couldn't watch her beautiful blue eyes fill with that much pain so instead he dropped his eyes to the sandy borders of Undersea his whole body sagging as if he was soaked to the flesh with water. He felt Stockholm nudge him and gave a small nod in return, feeling like he was cracking piece by piece. He felt even worse when Stockholm said that they had also lost someone and to his dismay it was their daughter. The pale furred little girl that did look so much like her mother. He took Stockholm's phrasing to mean the girl had died and he closed his eyes, grieving for their baby "Seelie, Stockholm....I'm so so sorry...." he whispered his voice cracking. "I want you both to know that I may not be a Corten but you are family. Aunt Seelie I love you. If you need anything please ask. Alliance or not, I'll be here." he had learned after all that family didn't always mean blood. Most of his blood family had vanished for one reason or another and the rest had died. All he had now was his non blood family...until he had his own children.

Coelacanth tried to pull herself together, but it was difficult. Only the reflection of her heartbreak on Sunny’s face coaxed her to get up and move toward him. He was too tall and broad-shouldered now for her to hide him under her body like a small puppy, but she pressed her body parallel to his, shoulder to shoulder and hip to hip. Stockholm took up the other side, and together, the Gampr and the Groenendael sandwiched Grayday’s son in a clasp of love and support. When at last Seelie could speak, she chose her words with utmost care: “Sunny Corten ever, family ever,” she breathed. She did not seek to steal away his heritage or birthright, but instead to extend her family network to him that he might not feel so alone. “Ally ever, welcome ever.” She bathed his face in kisses, butting his chin with the bridge of her muzzle. “Joy, hope,” she wished him. “Keep. Hold. For lost ones.” Her words were far from eloquent, but Stockholm was silent in their wake — she had said all they needed to say, he thought, and simply murmured affirmation of these things to Sunny.

He was grateful when she picked herself up and came to him, he leaned into her side embracing her as well instead of letting her coddle him like a child. He was learning to be strong and that while he would still need the support of friends and family, he could also do right by them too. As Stockholm embraced him as well he turned his head toward the male and showed the same amount of affection held for Seelie by touching his nose to the larger male's shoulder. The love these two always showed him built his strength up again, especially as Seelie covered him in kisses and spoke the most he had ever heard from her before. His eyes sparkled as she announced him a Corten, family, which he knew to her was an even stronger and important bond than it was to him. He stood taller as if their love had filled him to the brim with resolve and began to return the kisses before he lay his chin across the back of her neck "You too Seelie. Don't give up. Things will get better...they have to" he murmured softly, believing what he said for the first time in a while. 

He stayed sandwiched between them, a huddle of large, medium and small. He wished he could stop time and just enjoy this moment without worrying about having to be elsewhere but he knew it was a silly thing to mope over. With a final kiss right on Seelie's nose he announced that he had to set off to check for Desdemona and squeezed himself from between them.

Seelie and Stockholm freed the boy from their aggressive cuddling and fondly watched him go, the Groenendael’s finely sculpted head turning inward to lay across the Gampr’s broad chest. She held on to Sunny’s words — “things will get better…they have to,” — but it was some time before she felt her legs could bear her own weight. In time, the pair returned to the heart of the territory to join their remaining children.