Thomas gave Seravi a displeased/serious sideways look at her comments about what to do with the new ones. As much as it might have made some sense, acting on it would have like a betrayal of Sherman and the whole nature of the pack as Thomas knew it. To do that would make him no better than Aderol and the Clawsâ€¦ Thomas was not going to become that.<br/><br/>The white one getting to his feet and finding the strength to walk impressed Thomas a bit. To have just changed and barely be able to walk but still pushing through it, the white pup was either very stubborn, or very strong of willâ€¦ or both.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">"I think that means he has enough energy to walk." David let out a small chuckle as he followed the procession not really sticking to one spot in the strange caravan.</span><br/><br/>Thomas gave the man a nod back but still Thomas stayed near the pup just in case he lost his balance or collapsed, they did not need any injuries so soon. Whether by some miracle or design, Thomas was surprised when they made it back to the den without incidentâ€¦ it was almost enough to make him paranoid that something was brewing as the Claws leaving would be too much to hope for.<br/><br/>Apparently Thomas bad feeling was not without merit though as Aidan had to do a minor save on the meat due to Kakashaâ€™s cooking. â€œOn an upside Kakasha, you did a great job of not burning down the den or letting the others destroy the place,â€ Thomas teased her though there was actual praise. Even though they had not been gone for too long, he still worried given the state of things and to have someone reliable helped ease such fears.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">â€œAnyone know what day it is? Eryan was supposed to be back this week...â€ Aidan said her voice full of concern as she stared into the flames.</span><br/><br/>Thomas stiffened a little where he stood near the entrance of the den as he kept a lookout for trouble. Eryanâ€¦ That was a name he half hoped not to hear again. Not that he hated her, quite the opposite as they had been almost good friends when she left. She had teased, flirted, and tempted him since the moment he joined the packâ€¦ it was kind of her thing with new males he found out. He though countered back with his own teases an occasional flirts but never got physically involve with herâ€¦ though she sorely tempted him at times. He was new to the pack so he wanted to get settled in and develop a place before he tried anything like that.<br/><br/>The last Heat though she almost got him. Sherman had given Thomas his patrol but almost every day leading up to it Eryan up the ante to get him to stay. She was (at times) practically rubbing up against him to play hooky from the patrol and have some fun with herâ€¦ To be perfectly honest: he almost did. How he found the strength to do nothing more than some nibbling on her neck and promising teases for next season, he has no clue.<br/><br/>Of course then she got the news about her father and left for his funeralâ€¦ Part of Thomas almost prayed that she would find some reason to stay away; some happy reason to leave the pack behind and not to come back to find out the horror that happened in her absence. She would be essentially leaving one funeral and walking directly into another.<br/><br/>Thomas snapped back to reality when Aidan handed him his plate of food, he mustered up a small smile to go with his â€œThanksâ€ as he took the plate. Instead of digging in to the meal like one would think, Thomas instead brought his portion over the fresh struggling white were. â€œHere,â€ He said with small smile and sincere tone, â€œYou need this more than me right now. I can go without having the choice pieces for one day.â€ He did not give the kid an option, handing him the plate and walking away.<br/><br/>Instead of grabbing a new plate, he went towards the entrance of the den. â€œIâ€™ll go see if Eryan came back so keep some food warm for us,â€ He said as he paused by the fire and Aidan before continuing his way out. Someone had to make sure Eryan was safeâ€¦ and tell her what happened. As Alpha he felt it was his duty to do so.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"> So why does this seem like a war zone if you don't mind me asking. All of you seem ready to snap." David asked wondering how well that question would sit with the ptsd that seemed to be going around here.</span><br/><br/>Thomas froze again as he heard thatâ€¦ then, without turning around, he said back in a dark and serious tone, â€œBecause this is a war zone...â€ and with that he left and disappeared into the woods.<br/><br/>*************<br/><br/>Some time later, Thomas was approaching the area where Eryan would be approaching from and caught sight of her. He had to smile a bit as she looked almost exactly as he remembered though it was a small comfort at he what needed to do. As he got closer though he finally caught sight of her companion with her and simply palmed his face. â€œReally Eryan?!â€ He called out to her, his tone carrying the inclination that he thought she was up to her old tricks.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">As they walked along together, the snow crunched under their boots and Eryan could not stop the near giddy steps of her feet. Despite the somewhat, unsettling meeting with Aderol , Eryan was still excited to see the rest of her packâ€¦.to see her family. <br/>The wind shifted and a familiar scent caused her head to snap up, her eyes landing on him a big smile comes to Eryanâ€™s face as she drops her bag to run full tilt at Thomas and jumping onto him. <br/>â€œThomas!â€ she cried as she tackled him into the snow, hugging him close before sitting up  straddling him as she smiled down at him. â€œOh come nowâ€¦.you know, I have a soft spot for the young onesâ€¦â€ she trailed her finger up along his jaw. <br/>â€œWhere are the others? Are they making me a big feast? I am sooo hungry for some real food. All I had recently was a poor excuse for a burger. I would kill for some fresh deerâ€¦.or something!â€ she said without even attempting to move from his lap. </span><br/><br/>â€œOOF!!!â€ Was all that came out of Thomas at first as Eryan knocked him to the ground. For a moment in time, Thomas forgot about all that had happened and smiled back at Eryan. It was good to have her backâ€¦ at least until she asked about the others and reality came flooding back.<br/><br/>Thomas demeanor changed, is face drastically sinking in mood and he found himself unable to look at Eryan as tears welled up in his eyes. â€œIâ€™m sorry,Eryanâ€¦â€ He said quietly as he looked away from her. â€œSherman and the othersâ€¦ theyâ€™re goneâ€¦ We were attackedâ€¦ Aderol betrayed usâ€¦ only Aidan, Kakasha, Alan, Seravi, Damian, Michelle, and myself are leftâ€¦ Iâ€™m so sorry.â€ As he finished tears started to leak out of his eyes onto the snowy ground beneath him.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">As his face fell so did her heart, sliding from him to the ground her heart feeling like it was going to give out on her. â€œAn attackâ€¦Sherman isâ€¦â€ she could not even finish as her words are cut off with a sob. Little more came out from her as she dissolved into a heap crying, had she been in her wolf-form a howl of such pain, anguish and lost would have spilled from her lips.</span><br/><br/>Thomas slowly got to his knees and hugged Eryan close as she cried. He did not know what else to do or if there was even something else to do but he could not just sit there and do nothing. He let her cry until her tears started to slow a bit before he said anything. â€œCome on,â€ He said quietly and sincere understanding of the pain she was in. â€œWe should get back to the denâ€¦â€ He slowly guides her to her feet and keeps his arms close around her. He felt like he just had destroyed the Eryan he knew, but there was nothing he could do about it. He looks sadly over his shoulder at the werewolf that had been travelling with her. â€œCould you please carry her bag?... Weâ€™ll do introductions once we are somewhere safe,â€ He said simply and sadly as he turned and started to guide Eryan back to their homeâ€¦ or what was left of it.