(*Forgotten Wolf*)<br/>*Thank you, Sera* Thomas sent to Seravi as they ran through the forest, *It's good to know my first draft pick has my back.* It was actually true as he was going to choose Sera to accompany him before he thought it best to ask for volunteers. In the worst case scenario, she was one of if not the strongest fighter in the pack and in the best case scenario... well it would just be a tense awkward (if not heart wrenching once they told Eryan about the attack) walk back to the cave.<br/><br/>If we make it in time that is, He thought grimly before pushing himself harder to get there faster. He did not want to give the news to Eryan but he could not stand losing another packmate now, especially after not seeing her for so long... and if Aderol was there and dare try to hurt her... Thomas' body grew a bit tenser in its run and bared his fangs in simmering rage, he would make sure that traitor's blood would be the next to water the coming spring plants.<br/><br/>As it so happened, the traitor had decided to rear his ugly head as Thomas caught the hint of his scent as they got very close to Eryan's location. Rage and worry flooded him at the thought of being too late, that Aderol had beat them to Eryan and had harmed or kidnapped her. He shot a look out of the corner of his eye at Seravi, double checking her presence and readiness, before nodding for her to flank to the side.<br/><br/>With him so focused on Aderol's scent, Thomas almost ran by Eryan before realizing she was just sitting there on her bags looking confused. He hesitated for a moment in trying to decide whether or not to continue his pursuit of Aderol's trail but decided Eryan's safety was more important. He practically skidded to a stop before turning around to jog back to the confused returning woman. *Eryan,* Thomas said/sent trying to sound more upbeat than worried and relieve, *How was your trip?... Have you seen Aderol at all?*<br/><br/>He knew despite his attempt to sound friendly and normal, it was obvious the situation was anything but that. He looked around cautiously, trying to stay alert while he spoke with Eryan... dreading her calling him on his false calm he tried to give.<br/><br/><br/>(*Eferhilda*)<br/>Eryan had made herself comfortable on the overstuffed military duffle bag that contained her life. The pack of smokes she had brought with her was withdrawn from the inner pocket of her jacket, the lighter from the back pocket of her jeans. With practiced ease the zippo was lit with a simple strike across her thigh, the bright orange flame a welcomed bit of warmth in the otherwise cold environment. Perhaps it was the fact that she was not affected the same way a normal human would be from smoking that drew her to the habit? How, her body now changed and enhanced could take what would normally be a deadly habit and just negate it.<br/><br/>Whatever the reason, she still enjoyed that moment of the first inhale. The mixture of smoke and heat as it rolled across her tongue. It was menthol heaven to her and she saw no reason to quit.<br/><br/>Then Thomas skidded past and she was reminded of the fact that he disliked the habit. So, it was with a sigh that she only took a second drag before she snuffed the end out on the bottom of her boot.<br/><br/>"The trip was as well as could be," she said giving him a long look. "Yeah Aderol was here...though he seemed...off..." she said carefully, something about this whole encounter just did not sit well with her. Did not sit well with her at all. "Now that I think about it, he smelled funny too. Like...not like us?" she added after a moment of thought. "Could not feel him either," she said now as the various things that had been wrong began to standout even further. "Can't feel you either..." a bit of fear and worry in her voice.<br/><br/>"Where's Sherman?"<br/><br/><br/><br/>(*Sound of Silence*)<br/>When they reached Eryan. Sera shifted back to human and stood a few feet away from Thomas and Eryan, keeping a close eye on their surroundings. The fact that Aderol's scent lingered made her stiff with tension, alert, wondering if he was just watching them nearby.<br/><br/>Eryan's words did nothing to ease her tension either. It stung Sera, hearing Sherman's name uttered, admittedly, and she shifted uncomfortably, feeling a growl swell up in her throat. Poor Eryan had been away, and had no idea what had happened, so it wasn't surprising that she would be ignorant. It was for that reason that she didn't hide the hurt she still felt over losing their dear Alpha. Hell, it was still a subject nobody wanted to discuss and would be for awhile.<br/><br/>"Sherman is dead," Sera said bluntly, deciding it was best to get it over with. "Aderol killed him. He betrayed us..." She stopped herself there. As much as it needed to be said, even she could not bring herself to reveal such horrors. "We'll talk about it more when we get back to the den."<br/><br/>A nod was given to Thomas, saying that she would rather not spend any more time out here than they needed.<br/><br/><br/>*Eferhilda*<br/>"Wait...he's...what?"<br/><br/>For all of her superior senses and all that they gave her, right now she felt like the weakest person in the world. Where once the ground had seemed solid and firm beneath her feet, it now felt like it gave out from under her. The world spun and she had no choice but to kneel in the snow least she fall over. There was an aching in her heart that there were no words for, none at all that could even begin to describe and explain how she felt at this moment in time.<br/><br/>Unable to contain it, unable to hold it all in she broke down. Anger, lost, sadness and pain...so much pain. First her birth father and now Sherman, the man who her father had entrusted her to...was dead as well. This was just a bad dream, a very bad dream. If she closed her eyes and then opened them again she could wake up and see that it was just a dream....it was just a dream.<br/><br/>Yet, each time she opened her eyes and closed them again she was still there. Still in the snow and Sherman was still dead.<br/><br/>"No...no...no...." she started to say over and over again. Thomas tried to hug her but she shrugged him off and continued to say "No" over and over, while she rocked in the snow until she just could take no more and threw back her head and howled out her pain.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>(*Forgotten Wolf*)<br/>Of course Eryan would ask, why did he even consider the possibility of making it back to the den without her asking? Thomas tried to think of a gentle way to tell her or deflect her question until they got back... but Seravi was quicker and blunter than he. To her credit it was the right thing to do but at that moment it did not feel or seem like the right thing to Thomas.<br/><br/>Before he could think of anything else, Eryan fell to her knees and he shifted to his human form while moving to her to comfort her. “Eryan. Eryan I need you to listen,” He said to her as calmly and soothingly as he could but she would not have it. She was not listen or even really present in the real world and pushed away his attempts to reach her. He saw her take a deep breath and knew what she was going to do, they all howled their pain that night but to Eryan it was fresh... and if she started everyone else would not be able to resist joining in. He hated to do it, but they were too vulnerable to let the Claws know where everyone was, so he lunged at her.<br/><br/>Thomas grabbed Eryan with one arm and used his other hand to cover her mouth, preventing her from howling. She'd hate him for this he had no doubt, he hated himself for doing it, but he was trying to keep everyone safe... or at least that is what he told himself. She struggled but he held tight and endured her blows, all the while her muffled howl reverberated through his bones. He bit the side of his mouth till it bleed and he struggled to hold in his own howl, his lungs burning and inner wolf clawing at his chest to get out.<br/><br/>When her attempted howl had ended, Thomas eased his gripped a little as he began to speak again. “I know it hurts,” he started, his breath forced to be even, smelling of his own blood, and words filled restrained pain, “but the people who did this are still close and it is not safe... Please... please just try to hold it a little longer... until we're home among friends and family.” He loosened fully and leaned back to look at her face, hoping she still trusted him enough to want to go with them. His own face was streaked with tears and a small collection of blood at the corner of his mouth where some had escaped... They were a mess... they all were.