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"There is no one who loves pain itself, who seeks after it and wants to have it, simply because it is pain..."

She considered her options. She would have to try the packs first, sniff around the borders and see if she could pick up on a familiar scent. She had already heard of the death of Aithne and it grated on her heart more than she'd like to admit. Aithne was her best friend in Iromar and she was a good alpha. She wanted only the best for Iromar and the wolves in it. She did her best to protect it and she got killed for her title. A snarl ripped from Avery's throat at the thought of the slimy male who did it. And to think she couldn't even avenge her friend cause someone already beat her to it. The male, Aranck, was dead. Good riddance. But now she'd have to maneuver this new Moladian without her best friend and her mentor, Andras. He was more a father to her than her own ever was. Beowulf was more like a sperm donor. She may have met him once in her lifetime. She was with her mother as a puppy but then even she left her. She followed that damn angel back to Diveen and never looked back for her children. Avery swore she'd never forgive Chernobyl for that.

Her mother came to visit her once years later but Avery brushed her off. She wanted nothing to do with someone who could abandon her and her siblings like that. Of course, they ended up leaving her too. But then she turned around and did the same thing to her own children. She wondered if Undyne and Azariah would ever forgive her. She wondered if they even thought about her. Arkane came to her thoughts, too, though she'd be loathe to admit it. He was a strong male, but he had the stink of angels on him, even surrounded by the murky swamps of Iromar. She trained him and through that time, she began to respect him. When winter came, her body sought out companionship and Arkane happened to be in the vicinity. She knew she wouldn't have done that with just anyone but it's not like they were in love or anything. He was a good candidate with good genes, even if he originated from Diveen. And her children were the proof of that. All three of them had been good strong pups. She didn't regret having them. She just regretted the hell out of leaving them.

She was about to straighten up and head toward Diveen itself, figuring she'd better start with the place she hated the most before she worked her way back to her dear Iromar. But then a familiar scent hit her nose and she paused, her body tensing in disbelief as her tail curled up. Why would he be here? Was it coincidence? Her ears flicked back but as she turned to face him, they strained forward, listening to his every word. Her lips couldn't help but curl back a little in a small smirk, eyes twinkling despite herself as she tilted her head. "Ditto. You've aged, Arkane. Can't say it looks bad on you." She lifted a brow daringly, raising herself to her paws as she squared herself up and flicked her tail. He was still a good strong male, but more matured. He still had that fluffy coat, though. When he asked about the girls, her ears flicked back again, eyes losing some of their twinkle as her face sobered. She shook her head. "No, I haven't seen them yet, but I'm going to scout out the packs and find them. Did you leave too?"

Panic struck her a little, followed by hot anger. Did he abandon their children too? What would they think of them? Of course, getting mad at him wouldn't change anything and it would make her one hell of a hypocrite cause she left first. But still, what was he thinking?! She thought about nipping at him, just out of spite. She huffed, ears flicking back as she tried to compose herself. "I've been better, I guess. Being out there wasn't what I thought it would be. Then I come back to find out my best friend is dead and my home has been taken over by immature child nappers. How about you?" Her voice was bitter but she couldn't help it. He brought back good memories, memories of Aithne and peace in Iromar and her life as a warrior, training the future. But he also brought back heartbreaking reality, like how Aithne wouldn't be there to greet her when she went to Iromar's borders. Her children were scattered and who knew if they were okay? They would make this right. They had to.