Welcome Home [Cy, Nali]

[Arkham]

The Tundra. Harsh, unforgiving, and above all, fucking cold. And as of now, the wind was whipping harshly, blowing snow from its settled position. As snow was spread below, it fell from above. This wind blew the globs of icy art in all directions, spattering the landscapes with irregular lumps and crevices. It was death for those who attempted to cross its way. The winds howled above, almost angry, or sorrowful.

Below, a creature was struggling against the storm. His eyes closed rapidly as he was pelted with ice. His fur was a deep green, dappled with silver. His eyes were dry for now, and his heart shuddered. His nostrils flared. He had always hated the cold. What had brought him here? The love that he had had for Cypress, and his family.

He had descended into a dark place before he had met her, and he didn’t know how to get out. She was his answer. Ruby orbs flashed against the chaotic weather, making sure she was still close to him. Clawing through the snow with her somehow made it all worthwhile. He had never been a pack wolf, but now one might have been nice.

The brute growled, ice crystals forming on his fur. They were nearly there. He would see his babies at last. Probably had only been a day seen he'd seen them, but that didn't matter. He had missed them the minute he had left. He could only imagine what Cypress was feeling.

[Cypress]

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[atrb=background,http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac298/Wonderwhy_wolves/cypress-1.png] One step at a time. Cupressus followed the paw prints of her mate, using his larger body as a type of wind shield. She was used to the summer snow storms by now, after living here for so long, however she never liked the wind in her face. They had left early in the morning, and she was able to get a good grooming in before she left, she was not bitterly cold, just uncomfortably cold. Her thick coat protected her from most of it, the browns and greens were muted by the thin blanket of snow on her. Her body was on auto pilot, following the scent of the packlands and her mate to get to her destination. Her mind was a whirl of emotions, she got to see her children again, she only hoped that they missed her as much as she them. Her stomach was rolling in on itself, she was worried if Bathsheba would accept them back into the pack....or if she would go in another blind rage and lash out at her pup. The thought of that made the ire rise in her. Her loyalties were shifting...Bathsheba was becoming a hazard to those around her. She bit her lip, no...she could not betray the yagi that had been more of a mother to her than her own dam. So many emotions. One step at a time. That was all she could do. She had to take things as they came, for the betterment of the pack and her family. She could not get all worked up over things that had not come to pass. That was illogical....or was it? So many emotions. She paused for a moment to look up at the white sky. There were patched of blue beginning to form....the snow was starting to lessen. She could see Arkham more clearly now, and it brought a warm smile to her maw.

[Cedrus]

The storm that had plagued the older wolves had not affected the sleeping balls of fur, tucked away safely inside their den. Even so, the raging weather had ceased its violent display in the minute following, with only a gentle dropping of snowflakes here and there.

The male pup rolled over uncomfortably, his nose pushing closer to his sisters fluffy side. Her scent comforted him, and he growled subconsciously with content. The tiny nostrils flared a little as they caught another scent, carried inside on the fitful wind. The pup shuffled again, as if trying to ignore his senses. Alas, the scent was far too intriguing to his little mind and he forced his eyes open to peer around his gloomy surrounds.

"Papa?"

He yawned softly, arching his neck to peer behind him. Yes, it was Dad he could smell, wasn't it? Cedrus whined, did he bring Momma back with him? Shaking with slight excitement, the pup scrambled to his paws. Should he investigate? Louder whines echoed about the small den as he feverishly nudged his sister.

"Maggie! Maggie! Up!"

He cried, nipping at her ear. His bobbed tail wagged furiously, his excitement now uncontainable.

[maggie]

Maggie was sleeping soundly, dead to the world. She knew nothing about the calming storm or the excited whimpers of her brother. In fact, the only sign that she was indeed alive and breathing were the soft snores that accompanied the steady rise and fall of her chest. Being a heavy sleeper came in handy when the weather was too poor to play. Chances are she wouldn't be waking up for a while.

Well, she wouldn't have woken up for a while had her brother not nipped her. Ear twitching in annoyance, the young pup growled in protest. "Russss!" she whined. "Whatcha do that for?" Had she not been so groggy she would returned the slightly painful gesture. As it was, she hadn't been quite ready to wake up. She didn't catch the scent of her father drifting in from outside, nor could she currently lift her eyelids. Her body wanted more sleep. Too bad her dear brother seemed to disagree.

[Arkham]

Closer and closer the pair drifted, the relentless storm now retreating, which was welcomed by the heavy brute. He shook out his form, ridding it from the dead weight. The clotted snow fell off him, almost graciously, his movements anything but. He snorted loudly, able to breath in the crisp air now without that damn white mass intruding his nostrils.

His own excitement grew much like his son's, a firm smile planted on his maw. He hoped that the kids would readily accept their mother. A spark of fear ignited within his chest. If they didn't, what had he done? His own cowardice had tricked him to run, run away from the very thing they had needed so much a few moths ago. He had never spoken a bad word about their mother, but he had never reassured them about her either.

Slowing his thunderous pace as he spotted the den, his own bob tail wagged and he gave a loving nibble at Cypress as he pointed his nose at the entrance. His ears rose and fell, hearing some slight movement inside. He could smell them both, with no traces of blood or illness on their scents. He panted happily, he knew that they would have looked after each other.

At this, the brute paused, his chest heaving from both exhaustion and caution. This was it. Flattening his ears, Arkham lifted his maw to the sky, a curious howl bellowing forth on its own accord. If the pups hadn't known their parents were here, they did now. With another glance at Cypress, he nudged her forward. And he did so too, eager to see his greeting party.

[Cypress]

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[atrb=background,http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac298/Wonderwhy_wolves/cypress-1.png] Her ears perked forward as they slowed to a stop. Her chest felt like it was going to burst. When he had taken them from her....she had been devastated, she had been unable to leave her den for almost a week because of it. She bit her black lip once more, she still did not understand why Arkham had taken them from her, she did not have the courage to ask either. However...now they were back...they were there in that den. She caught a faint scent of her loving Cedrus and her independent Magnolia. Would they remember her? There was so much uncertainty in her mind, battling for footing against the welling of emotions and happiness. Her poorly docked tail began to swish against her legs. Arkham gave her a reassuring nibble, and urged her forward. She took a few steps before shaking off the snow of her own pelt, just now realizing it was there. Once she was free she gave a soft whine to echo Arkham's howl. Ears folding back in anticipation of the sight of her young. Please remember me......please still love me....my babies

[Cedrus]

A few more whines escaped the puppies maw as Maggie refused to move. Could she not sense what he could? His tiny claws dug into the dirt below, his backside wagging so fast he feared it would soon fall off. At her annoyed responses, Cedrus growled in frustration. But his round chest stopped vibrating as a scent other than his father's drifted inside.

Momma. He had bought her back! The pup whined ever more, his legs now moving round and round in an excited twirl. Would she remember him? His fathers howl reached his perked audits, making him howl -albeit terribly- in response. Abandoning his quest to wake his slumbering log of a sister, Cedrus bounded toward the entrance.

He skidded to a hasty halt, emerald optics much like his mothers staring out curiously. He spotted two forms drawing near. His tiny body shook with anticipation. Should he go meet them? Should he go meet her?. Sharp whines now left his maw, his face moistening at just the mere sight of his mother. He could take no more. Many nights he longed for his mothers warmth, her caressing licks, her comforting words.

Without a second reminiscent thought, Cedrus bounded forward once again, leaving the safety of the den, to yet another safety of sorts. He kicked up fresh snow as he went, a firm smile smile planted firmly on his opened maw. He charged toward her, whining his much wanted hello.

[maggie]

The incessant whining of Cedrus made it very hard to go back to sleep. Magnolia tucked her nose beneath her paws, squinting her eyes shut tightly. Twin ears lay flat against her head as she tried to block out the unwelcome noise. "Cedrusss~! Shut. Up!"

[/b]

She would have complained more had a distant howl not invaded their little sanctuary. So that's what had her brother so worked up. Papa was back. Papa... Maggie's eyes popped open at the realization. Instantly she clambered to her feet, paws scampering faster than her body wanted to move. Her papa had returned for her!

Letting loose her own pupish howl, the little female nearly ran into her brother in her excitement to see her father again. He bounded out of the cave before she reached him, though, for the scent and sight of someone else had caused young Magnoliaceae to stop dead in her tracks. Standing in the mouth of the den, the pup couldn't believe what she was seeing. Her beloved Papa wasn't alone. He had a female with him. It didn't matter that it was her mother. All that mattered was the new competition she had for her father's affection.

"What is she doing here?" The words were spoken through a snobbish growl. Maggie did not budge from her place in the den's entrance. Instead she stood there, pout turning down her lips as she glared out into the snow. Unlike her brother, she neither wanted nor needed her mother. All that mattered to her was Papa. As she watched Cedrus greet Cupressus, she couldn't help but feel betrayed.[/blockquote]

[Arkham]

Arkham had continued on toward the den whilst Cypress paused slightly. He didn't blame her, the position she was in was rather... intimidating. And it was all his fault, yet again. He couldn't change the past, but he could change here and now. He would devote the rest of his life to her and their family.

A loud chuckle bellowed from his maw as Cedrus bounded past him, his high pitched- happy whining attacking his audits. Cedrus had always been close to his mother. But with that said, didn't all pups when they were very young? One down, one to go.

His bob tail wagged at the sight of his daughter scrambling inside the den. No doubt they had both been asleep. She had always been a much heavier sleep than Cedrus, and probably had only just realized all the commotion outside. He idled up beside her as she stopped in her tracks at the sight of Cypress. He gave her some reassuring licks and nudges to urge her out. To no avail. He was greeted with a snobbish growl, she was not as happy as her brother was. With a soft growl that would only be heard by Maggie, he nipped at her maw in warning. Now he knew it wasn't going to be all fine and dandy, but that was no way to greet your mother.

Maggie was much like himself. But she got the sheer stubbornness from both him and Cypress. It was a lethal double dose, and he could tell she was going to be a handful when she was just a tiny pup. And it also wasn't hard to see that she had a curious, if not obsessed liking to him. It made him feel somewhat proud. Not only had Cupressus fallen in love with him, his kids did too. He didn't deserve it, none of it, but they were given to him and he would die before he ever let them go.

"Calm down honey."

Arkham whispered to his unsure daughter, giving her some more reassuring licks.

"That is your mother, Cupressus, and I would like you to say hello. If not for yourself, do it for me."

He winked, offering her a loving smile. She was his little girl, and always would be. No matter how old she got. Besides, there must be some part of her that longed for a mothers touch, right?

[Cypress]

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[atrb=background,http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac298/Wonderwhy_wolves/cypress-1.png] Her heart leapt to her throat when she saw her son barreling out of the den. She could not help but gasp a little at how much he had grown. She crouched down in an exited play bow to have her self more at his level. Her ears where back and she whined happily, tears beginning to fall from her face. Her little boy....was here she could feel him, smell him. She licked his face and gave him a few playful nips. Her tail was moving as fast as it could go. " Oh I've missed you so much. Look how you have grown!" Her voice cracked a little but she didn't care. She nuzzled him fondly and looked past him to her daughter. Now her heart had a lump of worry...why wasn't Magnolia coming too? She tried to hid her grief from her son. She watched Arkham saw a few words to their stubborn daughter. Cypress could not help but feel there was a bond there she would never have a chance to have. She couldn't help the feeling the Maggie wanted nothing to do with her. She looked back at her son with happy eyes, distance had made their hearts grow fonder. She nuzzled him once again and finally lowered herself to her belly to play and cuddle with him. The separation has created a chasm between the females though.....she secretly hoped it would be able to be bridged soon.

[Cedrus]

The affectionate welcome back by his mother caused the pup to whine only louder. How long it had been. She looked the same, smelled the same and even sounded the same. He knew she wouldn't have changed that much, but he thanked his memory for not giving out on him. It was those memories that somehow pulled him through all this mess.

His mind shouted at him to calm down, but the excitement that was contained too strong to overpower. His backside, still ignited with side to side movements, his legs constantly gave way only to have him scramble up again. His tiny maw clasped on her neck fur, seeming to try and drag Cupressus closer, when she was as close as she could be. He had not heard his sisters protest, he had not heard his fathers growl of warning. All he heard, was her.

"Momma, I miss you very much!"

He squeaked, planting more kissed wherever his tongue landed. She was finally here with him, and he silently vowed to never let anyone -or himself- ever leave her again. He loved Arkham, of course, but his love for his mother was different, it always had been. Arkham had changed when he had left Cupressus. He remember in the early days how affectionate Dad had been, how playful and care free. These past few months were none of the above. Perhaps only small tidbits did occur, but it hadn't been enough. Emerald optics stared into a pair much like his own, both seeming to dance with a new light. What was to come after this? Cedrus didn't know, but he was more than ready to find out.

Cedrus panted slightly, the display most certainly had taken it out of him. Crawling underneath his mother -albeit awkwardly- Cedrus rubbed his head on her chest, his tongue still flicking in and out. She was right, he had grown, but that did not deter the pup any longer to hide such affectionate moments. His mother enjoyed them just as much as he did, and that was the only thing that mattered.

[maggie]

The licks of her father caused the young female to wrinkle her nose in displeasure. The gesture did nothing to reassure her, even if she turned slightly to nuzzle against him. Physical affection was not one of her strong-suites and never really had been. With a rather ambivalent personality, the fact that she missed her father dearly was not enough to turn her into the puddle of mush Cedrus had currently become. The sight of her mother also did nothing to stir the friendlier feelings of her heart.

When Arkham gave him a warning nip, she only growled again. Cold, grey eyes fixated upon him, tunnel vision blocking everything else from her line of sight. Silently she stared up at her father, a sour puss on her face. She was questioning him with only a look, waiting for him to answer her previous question.

His continued kisses did finally soften her up a little bit. Both ears folded back against her head as she gave a small whimper of defeat. The fire was still in her eyes, however, and she could not completely bite back her reaction. "I know who that is!" she practically whined, affronted by the fact that her father thought she didn't recognize her own mother. Mother was Mother; she would always know that. Maggie just didn't always want to admit it.

But Arkham had to go and include that one, tiny request. "Do it for him," he'd asked her. The young Yagi continued to glare up at him for several long minutes more. She didn't want to greet Cypress. The female hadn't been a part of her life long enough that Magnolia had decided Papa was the only parent that mattered. But now he'd gone and made it so that not saying "hello" would turn her into a disappointment. Another annoyed whimper left her muzzle.

Finally, "Fine." The stubborn little girl deflated, eyes dropping to her paws. Were her tail long enough it would have been tucked between her hind legs. She had yet to unfold her ears as well as timidly she took a few steps outside the den. Every few steps she would pause to glance back over her shoulder, seeking her father's encouragement. Only grudgingly would she meet her mother.

When a meager five feet remained between her and Cupressus, Maggie stopped completely. She couldn't bring herself to do it. Arkham would have to physically shove her forward if Mother didn't close the distance. Silently she stood there, glaring down at the snow as she faced her mother and happy brother. Her voice was stuck in her throat, no greeting able to form on her lips. No matter how much Papa wanted her to do this, the pup was too stuck in her ways. She was going to need more prodding.