Emberwood You left behind more than memories

please let Himori post first :)

It had been a few days since their sparing session, and their decision to head inland. It had also been a few days since his encounter with that rouge. He could still feel the bruises. And it took everything he had not to limp, his back-left hip still bothering him. Yuudai had so far hid his discomfort from @Himori, but he could only guess how much longer he could get away with it.

The sun was barely clearing the horizon when the scent drifted toward him. Yuudai halted suddenly, his nose tipped toward the sky, a familiar scent on the wind. @Reiko? He thought to himself. “Do you smell that? Yuu whispered over his shoulder. “Come on.” He headed off in search of the scent’s origin.

Reaching the top of a small embankment, Yuudai’s nose hovered over the ground. His tail wagging behind him, and his ears pulled forward searching for the sound of someone walking nearby. The scent was getting better as he followed it, more distinct. Until he was running through the trees, confident that he was right on top of her.

And suddenly.

She was there. A pale creature of ivory, her regal gaunt carrying her through the towering trees. “Reiko…” The name slipped off his tongue, a sigh morphed into a whisper.

PP Approves by Noko

There was a strange hitch in her companion's step, something that was not there a few days ago. He had not spoke of any form of injury but she had smelled something different on him, another wolf, something bitter. She wanted to ask, maybe when they stop the rest. She would be happy to help him heal, to take care of him. Why did he avoid it?

Do you smell that? The healer lifted her nose to the air, lavender and something else. No way. Had they found her? Her companion urged them forward and she followed him with a hurry in her delicate steps, oh please be her!

She let the white dragon do the tracking, he was better at it, and she kept her pink champagne gaze shifting for a familiar white form. Then, she was there.

Yuudai spoke her name but Hiromi spoke it in elation "Reiko!" She brushed her from against him before taking off toward her, without thinking she pounced. Tackling her snow queen to the ground, yips and whines of excitement escaping her lips all the way down.

I felt leftout without having an icon thing LOL

Today was the day that they would meet with Ibis and the others before heading out to Kaistleoki. All her little gang had to do was wait until Ibis and her part would come - then the next step would come. Reiko had left Vespera, Tobias and Sativa to wait for her in a specific spot to come find them should she find Ibis wandering around looking for them.

In a blur she was overtaken. A white flash caused her to tumble over, in surprise the snowy dame yelped in horror, certain that this would be a repeat of the events in the field of flowers before her unscheduled departure of Kaistleoki. It all happened so quick, and in a flash, she realized who it was. That scent, she could not forget that scent!

Mimi!! Her tone was perhaps a little louder than the surprise yelp that happened moments ago. As she called out, her forearms wrapped themselves around her beloved friend, thirty, starved for that familiar warmth and rubbing her face in the plush fur of the Izuka pack-mate.

For now, she was unaware of Yuudai's presence, completely taken over by the sudden presence of Hiromi after over a year of absence.

Hiromi was off in a shot, heading straight for Reiko. “Hiromi wait!” The man tried to call, surely if Reiko would be wary of strangers. Sure enough she let out a startled cry, which was quickly followed by an even higher pitched squeal of delight. But the ramification of what he had seen paused Yuudai mid step. What if it hadn’t been Himori, but a rogue wolf with the intention to harm Rei. Brow furrowed, Yuudai slowly made his way to the pair.

Pushing his darker thoughts a side, Yuudai masked his prior mood with a classic smile. He was truly happy they had found Reiko, the last few months of searching had paid off. He waited silently, patiently, respectfully in the background as his two best friends reacquainted themselves.

Hiromi wait! He had said the same thing quite a few days ago, the day he hurt himself for her safety but she did not care right now. When she collided with her best friend the ivory girl let out a yelp, surpise maybe?

Her nickname rang out next and all the healer could do was let out a boisterous string of laughter. All this time and she was with her again, she reveled in the feeling of the slightly larger woman wrapping herself around her. Her face rubbing in her fur. they laid there, facing each other, giving out sounds of happiness and relief.

Her faced heated at their touch, a blush forming but she did not want this to end. "Rei, we found you! I can't believe it! Finally.. found you!!" she panted lightly, god, this was real right?

Every inch of her felt like it came alive, a flame burning her from the inside out as every part of her tingled with delight. The pink of her skin glowed brighter than usual as the blush rushed to every corner of her being. It felt too good to be true to be reunited with one of her best friends - and at Hiromi's declaration of "we found you" caught her curiosity. We? Peaking around Hiromi's fluff, it was only now that she laid her eyes upon the approaching Yuudai.

Yuu too! She squealed in delight, squeezing Hiromi a little more like a teddy. But how? When? Did Hime throw you too out as well? She had so many questions, and yet, all she wanted to do was puppy pile onto each other like they did back in the day.

He could only nod his head as his Queen exclaimed in glee, the smile still plastered on his face. His questions brought and sadness into his eyes, violet flickering to champagne. He opened his mouth to speak, before closing it and drawing his brows together and dropping his head.

“In a manner of speaking.” His voice caught in his throat, the trauma still deeply ingrained. He let Himori speak if she wished, Rei would need to know sooner of later, but he wasn’t sure he could be the one to tell her.

She watch as the we registered in her friend's mind, the gleeful sound that escaped her allowed Hiromi's impulse to take over. She gave Reiko's an affectionate lick before the mood changed, the questions she asked were a painful memory. She could still see the blood, still feel the pain of loss.

Champagne to gentle lavender, he was feeling it too but he could not speak of what they went through yet. It still hurt her too, her shining eyes were replaced with a dull look as she listened to the vague statement her protector gave. Should she ruin this moment, could she turn this around? Or should she let Reiko know more about what her sister could do? "mama and papa.. they.. they.. she.. Hime.. she.." she couldn't continue, tears came to my eyes as she buried her face into her best friend's fur.

Remaining quiet, the air was thick as the trio seemed to ponder over the questions. Even as her curiosity grew, Hiromi began and the pieces were slowly clicking in place. Something happened, that far she could tell. Hiromi was right about Hime since they were puppies, and Reiko was too blind with love at the time until it was too late. Shh.. With a paw she tried to pat Hiromi's back as good as a paw could.

We don't need to talk bout it. Although it would be nice to know, but there was no way that Reiko would pry that out, not now, not ever until they were ready to speak of it. It's been a long year for all of us. She said finally with a tired tone, almost bubbling as she bit back her own emotions.

How could she ask them to tell such a difficult tale if she was already choking back her own?

Yuudai couldn’t bare to raise his head, afraid of the guilt overcoming him. He nodded toward the ground as Rei spoke, glad that she didn’t demand to know. “To long.” He spoke softly, a tear pooling in his eye as he finally rose his head.

He closed the distance between them, pushing his head along Reiko’s and leaning into Himori. Comforted by their close proximity.

Sometimes a gentle heart was a curse, guilt and sadness were strong and usually hit her like a freight train. This was a time where talking about what happened to her parents, what happened to her brothers, was insanely hard. She felt the pat that a paw could do, it was comforting. She was glad to not talk about it, it was still too raw but someday.

"Way too long." She agreed, she looked up at Yuudai and touched her nose to his forehead before touching her nose to her queen's. After this she pressed her face into her fur once more.

Leaning into the both of them, Reiko lost herself in the moment with both of them surrounding her. Afraid that soon enough she would wake up alone, again, in a cold empty den she took shelter in for the night. Stay with me. She begged with a hitch in her tone as the words lodged themselves in her throat. I'll take care of you both. Find us a home, I'll even make us one if I have to. The idea of the empire floated in her head again, a place where they can stop roaming, with Vespera and anyone else who wanted to stay. 

I don't want to be alone ever again. So please, stay.

we’re wrapping this up right?

She was his queen, they were both his light. He would do anything for either of them. Of course he was staying, for their was nothing that could separate him from her. He had no words to describe the glee he found in the two of them, she he simply smiled down at them both. Giving a nod of agreement, and another head nudge for each.