Each day since I had taken back my throne I had paced the borders once in the morning and once in the evening. It had only been a couple of days, but I worried each one that some ill might befall my brother in his task to retrieve our sisters. Taliesin was a competent wolf, I held little doubt of that, but it worried me nevertheless. Even more so when I heard that sickening howl echo out across the lands. It was distant, but there was no mistaking the voice of the usurper that had killed my mother and in turn taken my father from me as well. Purge. The mere thought of her caused me to bare my teeth as I turned away from the borders, loping back into the heartland of my home.
That same evening I returned to the borders, and this time I was greeting with the fresh scent of my siblings. It had been perhaps half an hour since they had safely crossed into Spirane, and I sprinted off in pursuit of them. It had been close to a year since I had seen the girls, and my heart ached for them. Only a year old, and already life had taken so much from them. It pained me to know that I knew very little about the girls, but all of that would change now. They were home. We were all home. We were safe, and we could be a family.
I came upon them just as they reached Taliesin’s den. Not wanting to frighten them, I checked my speed to a hasty walk, closing the distance between us as I barked out a greeting. My paws led me straight to Taliesin, and I embraced him, wrapping my neck around his. I was still sore from the battle, but no wound could keep me from this moment. I withdrew, seeking his eyes. “Thank you, brother,” I said softly, before disengaging from him and taking a step back so that I might look upon my sisters. Haven and Idunn. My eyes roamed over each girl in turn, taking in their unique beauty. Though their coats were exquisitely one of its kind, they each held notes of their parentage. While she was still growing, Haven was shaped much like our mother. And as I looked over the broader build of Idunn, my eyes came to rest upon hers, and I was reminded so greatly of our father that I sighed softly.
“Haven, Idunn, welcome home sisters.” I said, my happiness evident in my voice. I did not want to overwhelm them with questions of the past few months, but I also did not want to leave this at a simple greeting. I remained quiet for the moment, however, looking back and forth between the girls, hardly believing how much they had grown. Occasionally my gaze would rest upon Taliesin, my gratitude to him immeasurable. Sleekwing, Orca, Ceal, Taliesin, Idunn, Haven; all of Moonglow and Alcide’s known to be living children stood upon the mountain today, and I could not imagine a better start to my reign as Spirane’s Queen.
(So I kept it as still being just after she took over; yay fluid time! :P)