Heron Lake Plateau they escaped the weight of the darkness

PPing Quixote with permission until Jennifer has time to jump in!

The howl went up into the air on the wings of a tired song, and relief bloomed warmly in the alpha female's heart. They had arrived! Hoping everyone had made it safely and in one piece, she nudged the sleeping @Quixote awake and dragged him grumbling and mumbling along with her as she loped jubilantly to meet her friends and the rest of their family.

It was a beautiful night, cool and bright under the light of the summer moon. Raven was tired, as she'd laid awake waiting to hear the call instead of slipping into the sleep that tugged muzzily at the edges of her consciousness. Now, though, she was alert and wide awake, exhilarated at the prospect of welcoming the Frostfur bunch into her pack. It felt like a homecoming of sorts, chiefly because Liffey was coming back to the pack where she'd been born. Raven had known the girl since birth and while she was used to youngsters getting wanderlust and leaving home, that never stopped her from missing them all.

She and her mate rounded a stand of brush and there they were, road-weary and clearly worn out from days on the road but, otherwise, by all appearances safe and sound. Her tail waved madly as she slowed to approach them, her bright eyes glancing from one face to the next. How their family had grown! Had Rannoch even had any kids the last time she'd seen him? She couldn't remember. Quixote nodded his greetings to them as Raven stepped forward to touch noses with Rannoch and Liffey both. Looking from one to the other, she grinned and said, "Welcome home!"