Howl Your Appellations

Conflict

Lissana Mons

I hugged every single one of my pack members one by one when we finished embracing as a group. I hugged the kids first, Kaya and Koto. Kaya was crying really loudly and Koto was gripping me extremely tightly, these two young Weres, they show their concern in different ways, but it's easy to comprehend how they were both feeling. They were worried, they were anxious, and we missed each other so much. They may not have shown this to the other pack members but, this pack understands boundaries more than any pack in Abalone, that's how we survived and that's how we'll keep surviving.

I hugged Anda and S.B. next, at this point my face was already swollen with how much crying I did when we were all collectively huddled together in our soft little embrace. S.B.'s still a cry-baby and Anda's still his stone, but water can reshape a stone if given time, I learned that from my mother. Even with just little droplets of tears, I can see how much she's been affected by my absence. It hasn't been a long time since we've we've lost our original alpha. I hugged they both so tightly and swing them in the air, the Boar twins wouldn't have liked it if I did that to them, but these two like being carried around for some reason. I put them down and proceeded to the next kids, Reese, Miller, and Cain.

The three think they're one of the older ones of the group, but I don't see them that way. They're still kids to me, more or less. I gave Reese a tight hug, I pat her head, I tell her she did a good job and she can rest now. She deserves to relax and have a week of unbothered sleep. She cries and laughs about this, but I can see that she's the most relieved member of them all. She knew how dangerous that night was, she had to carry the weight of knowing and had to live with the constant fear that I might have died. She's a bit like me in a way, but the one thing she doesn't know about me is that I really like Boen, and she's the reason why I tried so hard to come back. This is such a selfish way to word it, but I knew that wherever my pack was, Boen would be there too, and I know that she would be safe with my pack when I return. I gave Reese a moment to let my words sink in and proceeded to hug my boy Miller. He's a tad shy when he's with me, but we missed each other, that, I'm pretty sure of. It didn't seem like he cried but he was incredibly happy to see me and that's enough. I pat his big head and proceeded to lift Cain in the air. She loves it when her dresses flowed in the wind but my action seemed to have embarrassed her for some reason. Her crush isn't in the area at that moment so I wondered why. She hugged me tight when I let her down and I waited when she was consolable to move on to the next member.

I tried not to think about how much I had hurt these people and how I should atone for my misgivings but the little part of me that had lived in the caves in what felt like months, told me that, what my pack needed was my presence and my devotion to surviving and providing. I will never go back to those caves again, if I ever did, it's because I've lost myself already.

I gave Nikki a giant hug. She's bigger than the kids but she's still a bit smaller than me. Our hug was really soft, like we were pushing two pillows against each other. Nikki's always been the careful one, I'm pretty sure she didn't approve of Boen at the start but she also has an adorable motherly side. When she sees someone younger than her, she'll instinctively try and help them. I loved this part of her when she first joined the pack.

Beige and Mei were next in line and this time, the both of them hugged me at the same time. Mei is the only person bigger than me in the pack so it felt very comfortable, like being hugged by a father. Beige was doing a good job too, like a little brother. The two are strong-willed especially Mei, I don't think I've ever seen them cry except for the time Nike died. Anyone who wouldn't cry about Nike would be a heartless i***t with air up their ass.

The two Weres pat my back, and Beige let me go. Mei took a bit longer to let go, he must've been scared for me, he's our latest member minus the Boar sisters but he seems to think of us as his children. It's a confusing situation considering that Imus and I have lived much longer than he has, but he's definitely more mature than us. Becoming a Were tends to slow down the aging process, but it also hinders us from maturing as time passes. When there's so much time to live and so little change, it's like we're stuck in the age when we became Weres. So technically, I'm still a stupid 23 year old that's been 23 for more than a while now.

Mei finally let go and I prepare myself to see Imus. I think he was the one who replied to my howls, he's my brother after all, we've been through so much together, it's only natural that I'm nervous and that I just want him to run to me instead and hug me. That would really make me cry. I prepare myself for a beating but, Imus, isn't even here. I didn't notice, how could I not notice?! Does this mean that he's still patrolling right now, waiting for news about me, I thought he'd heard the news by now, what's going on.

"Where's Imus and Boen? They'e both okay, right? After that night with Prince, both of them made it back right? Reese?!"

Ah, I shouldn't have asked Reese. i***t!

"Sana, Boen and Imus are fine but they had something important to do. They'll be back soon don't worry."

"What?! Where did they have to go that Boen has to go too?!"

What's happening, they shouldn't have any reason leaving The Train with just the two of them!? I think I'm gonna be sick...

"They went to retrieve the fae parts, Sana. They went back to Boen's Cabin."

Ah, Mei's voice..so that means that Boen finally figured it out!

"We have to help them! Come on guys! We can't let prince know about this just yet! Make sure the trails are safe for Boen and Imus to come back. I'm going to go check on them!"