Penny knew this was a good idea, he just wished it’d been a good one when he’d hoped for it, when he’d wanted to stay at Elysium for the birth. He wondered if they would’ve lost as much, or if everything would’ve played out exactly the same. But Penny knew he couldn’t linger on those sort of thoughts; what happened, happened, and it was all in the eyes of the Five. Only They understood what was and what needed to be, and no matter how badly it hurt, he accepted that. He accepted that it was time to go home, even if it felt like exile. Even if he had to live with ghosts. Because his children -what were left of the litter- deserved a good life. A safe life. Octavian and Cerberus deserved people that weren't their parents or Aunt to talk to, hang out with, learn from - or they might end up like him. But also because he, Mintaka, and Coyote deserved to stop worrying so intensely at every moment. Because none of them belonged in that strange wooden den that sometimes Pennyroyal still imagined smelled like death and sickness and herbs, and Minty belonged on the road. Part of him longed to speak against this plan, but without any actual reason it only made him selfish. Mintaka promised to visit, and once the kids were older, theyd have the choice of going with her; once they had some skills under their belt to survive with, and were big enough to use them. When they could keep up with traveling from place to place and not be as slow as they were vulnerable. A few months, maybe a year, right?

Penny wasn't yet sure where his own future lay. He wanted so badly to be a part of something, to be understood, but he always felt as if he was on the fringes of a group; as far back as his own litter, he'd always been the Different one. Even in Elysium, he was the strange, antisocial, nervous Nightshade. A shadow not just of his parents, but of who he should have been at this point in life. Here, now, with Minty and Coyote and Verbena and the kids, felt no different.

So it didn't matter if Fates Respite was a reminder of what he once had and now felt out of reach, or this felt like being left behind, or he wasn't sure if he could do this parenting thing alone….
He would face it all with a stiff upper lip, make the best of it, and be a man.

Valeska, he thought, would be pleased. He'd never gotten to know her as well as he knew his Father would've liked, having considered the High Priestess family, but he thought fresh little faces in Elysium would be not just welcome but celebrated. Who didn't like boisterous little kids? Tavi, especially, didn't seem to know the concept of a quiet moment.
This would be fun. He hoped.

Pennyroyal padded forward towards the heavy reek of Elysium borders, a picture of neutrality he focused on keeping affixed as he felt his pulse quicken. A homecoming he wasn't excited for, a goodbye he loathed, both looming before him like an angry grizzly.
Then, there they were; scent lines that hadn't smelled right since the death of his parents, that felt safe and suffocating and expectant all at the same time. Penny warbled a soft call for Valeska to let her know he was back, that he had …. News, and turned to look at the others. Part of him expected Verbena to wander off into the respite now that they were back again, but he figured this might've been where Mintaka and Coyote were comfortable with stopping.

Unsure what to say, he simply chuffed for Octavian and Cerberus, a shine to his gaze the only indication he was worked up in anyway. [Blur=]Hold it together, if only for them.[/blur]

Tavi wasn't bothered in the least! He was TIRED of the cabin, and the prospect of getting to go explore was too fantastic to be scared about. A short journey, Papa said, and then they would be at Elysium: home. The term was foreign to the boy, but he was eager to learn if it was his home, too. Penny had grown up there, and he was excited to learn more about being a Nightshade was like - if he was one, or if he was just Octavian. Either, he thought, was okay. Papa didn't seem to mind one way or another either, like it wasn't too big of a deal.

Tavi only just did as he was told and stayed mostly in sight as their oath forged onwards, and often had to be called the correct direction as he tried to lead a party to a destination he'd never been to before.

Mum! He weaved around Mintaka's pale feet at one point, remembering something Papa had told him, Papa said th’whole river falls from a waterfall in th’mountains! Where's it get all the water from? Where's it GO?
He hovered for a moment, and then was off again tossing Cerberus a surprise shoulder check, not to rough as to send her rolling or anything, but wild with excitement; then it was Coyotes turn to have his legs pranced between with no more than an excited squeal.

It may have been a blessing to finally come across the borders. Penny never even knew of the danger bounding for his tail, jaws agape! A tuft of missing fur along the ginger appendage suggested it wouldn't have been the first attack.

Tavi squealed with excitement and charged forward as Penny called to get a gooooooood long sniff at the borders, inspecting the myriad of scents that went into its creation.
We here?!
Back to Mintaka he went haring, sliding to a sudden stop and rearing to stand beside her with paws on one of her shoulders, nibbling for an ear.

It was great to be home. The wedding in Dawnbreak had been beautiful of course, but there was still nothing quite so beautiful as the sight of your own bed, and Valeska had it fully in her mind to enjoy it upon their return.

Normally she rose with the sun, but today she had chosen to sleep in.

If Pennyroyal had been any further away or approached the packlands from any other direction, she would have completely missed his call, and in wake of the silence he probably would have left dejected to live out the rest of his life in permanent exile.

As it stood, she was enjoying a dream about caribou and boar-meat, and as her short legs kicked in her sleep she could swear someone was calling her name. Valeska frowned. Since when did dinner talk back? Yet the voice was persistent, and as the taste of caribou grew ever more distant with each chew, the little wolf was finally pulled out from her dream as she lifted her head to blink in the warm sunlight filtering through the den.

Now who on earth? She hadn't heard that voice in a while - her memory sifted through a sea of faces.

Wait a minute.

Valeska nearly slammed her head into the ceiling as she shot up, stumbling to her paws and emerging from the den a disheveled wreck. She didn't even think about the passage of time; how much greyer she was, how... tailless... she had become, how her joints weren't quite as limber as they once were. It had happened so quickly.

Penny? she called out, spotting his bright fur nearby. Valeska trotted faster. Penny!

And - there was a small Penny! And more!

It is so good to see you again! Valeska crowed, wagging her nub as ferociously as she could. She still missed her magnificent silver banner. How have you been? Who are your friends? Are they guests?