into the dark -- open!

[lovelysnails]

- Tammer's gaze softened as she took in the appearance of this wolf. It was Onism... So, not all of her uncles were dead. That was good, but it looked like his appearance was much more than just a casual one.
- She still figured Duke would want more family, but he didn't exactly look overwhelmed with happiness at discovering his son. Either Onism's presence was there for a while and not surprising, or something had happened that caused Duke and Onism tension together... I wonder what happened, she thought curiously. And then she caught the glance of Duke's and watched him walk off. Apparently it was a matter that needed privacy. Very interesting indeed.
- Why did she have to have been gone so long she didn't know a clue of what happened in this place?
- Rose's gentle words sucked her out of her thoughts, but calmly and without surprise. "Thank you, Mom," her face lit with a smile at the word, "but I want to come home. If that's alright, I mean." Some worry bubbled inside Tammer. Maybe she wouldn't be able to stay in the Falling Moons, maybe most wouldn't want a once crippled wolf in their pack.
- That would be okay though, she thought as she gazed at the pretty snow paw on her's, if she could see her mom, dad, and granddad again. Even Onism, if this little talk between the Alpha and her uncle didn't form into a squabble. Luckily it didn't seem like her uncle wanted a fight.

[Paint]

Rose smiled, finally able to stop crying even tears of happiness. She simply felt overjoyed that her daughter had returned. She moved forwards and embraced her again.

"Of course you can come home, sweetie," she smiled through her words. "I don't think your grandfather would expect anything less."

She stood back and looked at her again, taking her in, wantitng to know everything about her. Rose couldn't imagine how much Tammer may have changed. She thought about how much had changed here, and her heart sighed uncomfortably. Partly she wondered if Tammer would accept the fact that she had new, younger siblings now.

Meanwhile, Duke was watching his only son break down in front of him. Mildly alarmed, he listened without much to say. Better to let him get it all out of his system, then they could move on from this whole sorry affair. Duke simply didn't do emotion very well. It was always cold, gruff, as if feelings were largely unnecessary. But he knew that deep down he still had a heart, and clearly Onisim did too. He cleared his throat.

"It's okay son," he began, almost awkward in his inability to express enough emotion. He probably could've if he really tried, but you can't teach an old dog new tricks. "Just don't make the same mistake again. When I'm dead you can make your bid for Alpha. Until then you'd do better to watch and learn."

He didn't say anything else for a moment, and then decided to change the subject.

"Come on now, boy, look strong for your sister and niece," he said gruffy, as he glanced backwards at the two females and then back to Onisim. "Tammer has just returned. After the earthquake... we thought she was dead. She's back."

[sully]

A much needed sigh of relief escaped his muzzle, for that was just what he wanted to hear. It was a miracle that he wasn't dismissed right away and he had never seen his father with as much emotion as he was showing now.

Moments of silence went by, as Onism regained composure and stood tall like he approached as he gave his father a gentle nod before responding to him,
"I assure you father, next time it will happen the right way." he said as his gaze shifted to the others, and his niece. His tail wagged, for this was turning out to be a family reunion. An emotional one, at that. He hadn't seen his family in months... but someone was clearly missing.

"Father, where is Myu? She usually doesn't strain far from you and she is no where to be found." he said, clearly confused. His dark stare swept from one side of the territory, to the other. Moving from wolf to wolf, he stared at them for an extra second each to take in their features making sure he wasn't crazy.

His heart began beating in his chest hard, because the closer he looked at everyone's faces... their features showed happiness... but it seemed empty. In the time Onism was absent, it was clear that a lot had happened and he was disappointed in himself for not being present for any of it.

[lovelysnails]

- Tammer smiled, one real smile, but in a way it wasn't. She was so happy to be accepted, to hear those words, it was wonderful. But, her heart was still a bit numb with grief and shock over the losses of wolves, as it probably should be. At least she knew that she could feel.
- And she felt more of the feeling happiness, the grief becoming smaller by an inch as Rose embraced her yet again. It was an indescribable feeling, one she had desired for for such a long time. Finally, officially she was home. The idea sank in, warm into her fur like just stepping into a gentle hot spring, slowly being covered head to toe in a foreign thing. Tammer thought it was called love.
- When her mother stepped away, Tammer felt herself still smiling, and she couldn't hide it. It felt wrong to be happy when she'd just heard of death... Even though she was crying, it felt wrong, because it was out of happiness and not of sadness. Her happiness was even more wrong for the fact that she liked being so happy.
- Oh well, she'd live. Apparently she was having a prolonged version of what her mother went through, and hopefully her tears of joy would be as well treated as when Rose cried.

[Paint]

"Myu's dead, Onisim."

The words left Duke's black mouth and he didn't even blink. He was weary of having to tell everyone. He'd rather that the news simply spread by osmosis, conversations seeping into one another amongst his pack members until everyone knew. So that he wouldn't have to say the words again. His black eyes stared straight through Onisim for a minute, unmoving, his whole body still in the summer heat.

"Let's return to your sister and niece," he pressured, the gruffness in his tone so casual it was as if his previous statement hadn't even been said. Duke nodded his great head at his son, as if indicating that he wanted no more said on the the matter. Then he began to move back towards the other two wolves, simply expecting Onisim to follow behind him.

"Hello," Rose dipped her head at Onisim, almost curious. But she would not pry. Rose preferred to read body language and facial expressions. She rarely needed to ask questions to find out what was going on. Her eyes found Tammer again and with a smile she relayed the news to Duke that Tammer was rejoining the pack. Duke nodded, but said nothing, as if he hadn't expected anything less than this loyalty.

[sully]

"Dad, she's dead?" he asked in shock, feeling lost now. First his mother, now Myu... but his father dismissed it just as quickly as it came up so he dropped it as well. His gaze dropped to the ground as he sighed deeply, shaking his large skull from side to side in dismay.

Lifting his gaze to his fathers, he caught the nod he gave him and it was then he understood that things changed a lot, and he would have to adapt. Now.

Obediently, Onism followed his father to Rose and Tammer as he gave them each a gentle nod.
"Rose," he said softly as he looked at Tammer. He knew that he couldn't explain what had happened at this moment, and that everyone was curious why he was back or where he'd been... but now it was time to gather as a family and rejoice, for several members of the pack had returned home.

"It's good to see you." he added, hoping she felt the same as his gaze softened a bit as he searched her for her emotions.

[lovelysnails]

- Quickly her head cleared of the overwhelming emotions as Duke and Onism returned to them. It helped clear her head even more as Onism spoke, being actually kind and polite. She remembered her uncle being not exactly that, but she didn't really mind. Better kind than cruel, and either way, he was family.
- Tammer's wide, happy smile slowly became a small happy one as she became aware of her expression. She tried to fit her happiness back under the stone mask, but it simply wouldn't work, so she kept the small smile. "It's good to see you, too," she said quietly.
- Without showing it, curiosity bloomed inside her. Where had Onism been before? What had happened? Her amber eyes flitted to Duke, trying to understand the history of it all. But all she got was that Rose was sending Duke a tacit message, probably that she was staying here, at home.
- "Are you rejoining, too? I just got back." Tammer continued, with a tone mixed of curiosity, happiness, and pride, but also a touch of reserve.

So sorry about the poor performance, I will get better!

[sully]

Onism cleared his throat and stood tall next to his father. The same determined look on both males features before Onism replied to Tammer, but looking at Rose. His face twisted with hurt, but soon wiped clean and painted with a happy smile for the youngest.

"I do apologize for my absence..." he began looking to his father for reassurance on this matter, "I am returning home, Tammer." he said with a light wag to his tail before just looking at Tammer knowing that the family needed him due to the disasters that continue to happen in his father's pack.

Although happy to be home, there was a lot of tension between him and the family... and in the family in general. Onism felt a little uncomfortable, but swallowed his feelings and hoped that some optimism would shine upon them soon.

[lovelysnails]

- Tammer nodded, still smiling her small little smile, trying to fit every feeling back under a stony mask. It really wasn't working. In her mind she wish she could sigh; that would probably make her calmer and things easier to contain. But, of course, she couldn't sigh just yet. It would be rude to in front of her uncle, not to mention mother or alpha-ranked grandfather.
- Breathing in, and breathing out normally, her lungs feeling quite restrained, she said, "Great. I was wondering if you were still alive, so it really is great to see you back." Her small smiled remained, though her eyes showed a little chaos of emotions...
- Truthfully she wasn't wondering if Onism had a chance of still being alive, but all of her aunts and uncles. Duke said that they all had passed on, but with Onism suddenly reappearing and her own reappearance, there was some hope. At least she thought there was, always, unless she saw the bodies.
- Trying to snap out of the thoughts again, she shifted her paws underneath her and was suddenly aware of the wind howling against her fur. It hurt her eyes a little, but otherwise she was fine. What was really uncomfortable was the hot dirt beneath her, and she came back to her thoughts that she had at the beginning, Stupid heat. Now she had another urge, not to only sigh, but to stretch, yawn, and poof out her fur. Maybe if she could just get away... They'd probably believe her want to go explore the rest of the territory, as that was actually true, but mostly she wanted to be able to get out all of her stiffness.

[Paint]

Duke remained silent for most of these proceedings. He growled in agreement a little, more of a grumble rolling naturally in his throat than something aggressive. Glancing back at Onisim, Duke took his son in and the transformation he seemed to have made. Unless this was some sort of game plan, Duke was glad that Onisim had changed for the better. Even if it had taken a few teeth and claws to get him there.

Rose was more tuned in. She was not at all ashamed that Tammer could not keep her happiness to herself, couldn't contain her smile. Rose was an absolute master of concealing emotions, but she actually preferred Tammer not to take after her too much in that respect. It could bring about a rather cold existence. She wasn't known as the 'Ice Princess' for no reason. She allowed herself a small smile towards Tammer, then turned her dark eyes upon Onisim to take her brother in. He did seem different, more humble. Less pigheaded than when he was last here.

"Welcome back, brother," she replied. "Don't worry, we all need a little time off sometimes. May I ask where you've been?"

He seemed a little unsure, as if he was looking to their father for guidance. Rose knew well enough that Duke would not mollycoddle any of his pups. Perhaps Tallulah, but where had that gotten him? His youngest daughter was a spoilt brat now. No, she could see in Duke's body language that he was reserving judgement on Onisim's change for now. Rose's ears flicked forwards a little to take in the sounds of the wind on this hot summers day. Her heart cracked a little as she remembered their recent losses.

[sully]

Onism watched his sister as she adjusted herself and asked the uncomfortable question that was burning in everyone's mind at this moment. He wished that his family would just be happy that he's home but it's not unreasonable to ask such things in the end.

With a sigh and a slightly irritated grumble, he replied in his smooth masculine tone that showed nothing was wrong.
"I felt dirty after what happened here, so I decided that you'd all be better without me. After I left I traveled South for many moons and found a den for myself in the side of the Mountains. Honestly, it felt like home." he said looking up at each member of his family who stood in front of him, "I don't mean here... I mean what's in my heart." he stopped, realizing he was saying too much.

"I returned because it's what is right. It's clear that I've missed far too much and I need to be here for you all if I can be." he finished, knowing that he had just shared a lot of information, at least for him.

His gaze met Tammer's as his tail wagged lightly. It was the pups and younger generations that made him come back... he knew this would all perhaps he his one day. He had to grow up eventually, and growing up is what he did when he was away.

"I am happy to be back." he added, looking back to his father.

[lovelysnails]

- When Rose smiled at her, Tammer couldn't help but smile a bit wider back, but at the same time her physical discomfort was rising by the second. With the urge to sigh, yawn, roll, stretch, run away from the heat and now with her ear starting to itch and her nose twitching to sneeze, she had to get out of here before she burst! It all made her feel so foolish. She was supposed to be having a loving family reunion with her mother and her grandfather. Well more so a loving reunion with her mother, but now it was being interrupted by urges. And she did feel embarrassed to not be able to conceal things. Though her smile did become a bit smaller, she couldn't keep her ear from twitching and she had to sniff to keep in the sneeze.
- Then she felt Onism's eyes on her, and she looked up, gladly receiving an idea to part by looking at him. Her slight guilt inside was noticed by her as she looked at him, though, as he was apart of the reunion and she was supposed to be learning about him. Her need to escape was greater, however, when her nose was just about to blow.
- Allowing another sniff, prolonging the explosion and hoping to pass it off as something sentimental, she nodded to Onism's words, then looked to her granddad as well. "Um," she started with a small voice, but then continued slightly louder, "would it be okay for me to...explore?"
- She paused, her amber eyes flickering to her mother and filled with apology, "I figure Uncle Onism and you all would like some time to catch up... And I'm rather distracted by being home and wanting to see it all, to really pay attention..." Her stone-mask turned to apologetic, and it helped that she really was, as it shone in her eyes. She didn't want to be rude, and feared she was being exactly that as she was trying to escape to not be rude...
- Ironic.

[Paint]

Rose watched Tammer as she appeared more and more uncomfortable. Her intelligence helped, of course, as years of naturally studying body language often did, but it was more her maternal instinct. The heat of the deadlands was singeing her fur and she realised it must be even worse for Tammer, being much darker in colour.

"Of course, you are excused. I suppose we should all get out of this heat," Rose spoke up, but looked to her father. She knew she must pander to his dominance to keep him happy. "What do you think, father?"

Duke was watching Onisim. He seemed so much more emotional, and truth be told Duke wasn't sure how to handle it. It was just bad timing. As of Myu's death, Duke was done with feeling. He would have no more pups to raise now, he refused. His most recent litter could learn from their older half-siblings. Duke had reached the end of his tether with love.

"Yes, we should leave. Allow Tammer and Onisim to re-adjust. If you need any help, you know just to ask," he replied, short and gruff. With a quick shake of his fur, sending dust out that had gathered since he had been here, Duke glanced over the younger wolves again before departing. Rose waited a moment longer, looking back. Onisim would remember everything, but this was all new to Tammer.

"You can explore all you want. Just howl if you need me," she bumped her nose into Tammer's fur, stood back and looked around at her brother. She wondered what he would do now.

[lovelysnails]

- She sniffed again, to hold back the sneeze, and hoped for a "yes you can explore".
- But at Rose's words, Tammer's heart felt relief but embarrassment. Of course her mother would know that she was uncomfortable, as she remembered from her pup hood how clever Rose was - and still is, apparently.
- Oh well, as long as Rose wasn't offended, and neither was Duke. Plus, her mother was okay with her going off. She held her thanks, however, as she remembered enough manners to know she should wait for the alpha's dismissal.
- She watched and listened as Rose spoke, and then looked to Duke, too, to hear his answer. She held back a sigh of relief, adding on to her held-back urges, but she managed to bow her head. When it raised again, she said in a loud-enough voice, "Thank you."
- Then she stood quietly, and watched as Duke shook his pelt carelessly with a bit of envy. She turned to her mother and welcomed the comforting nudge gladly, returning the gesture by pressing her forehead against Rose's shoulder. She smiled up at Rose, then at Onsim, before turning and walking as calmly as she could over the hot terrain, headed towards the view of trees. She sneezed as she went and was unable to hold in her sighs, hoping her mother and uncle didn't hear that...