((Bold = Eferhilda))<br/><br/><br/>Thomas slowly opened his eyes at the new dawn, spending a few seconds to contemplate whether sleep actually occurred before deciding it was meaningless either way. He pulled himself to his feet and set about his newly acquired ritual of stretching out his scarred shoulder and calf from the stiffness that had set in. It was somewhat painful but if he had not been a werewolf he was certain that his arm and leg would be useless instead of just stiff.<br/><br/>The other members of the pack were slowly shuffling their way out to breakfast and he needed to do the same, reflexively reaching for his soulbound clothes before stopping. He took a moment to really look at them and realized he had all ready worn them more than a few times in a row. In his need to try and always be ready, he let his soulbound clothes get a bit over used and now they needed cleaning... he probably needed to fix himself up a bit as well. A fresh pair of jeans and a dark blue long sleeve shirt replaced his normal wear for the as he went out to the stream with toiletries in hand.<br/><br/>The man that held the position of pack Alpha took a hard look at his reflection before sighing and setting about fixing himself up. The quick and sloppy shaves that left odd stubble behind was replaced with focused, proper technique to leave nothing but a smooth face once again. His hair and face were washed back to something respectable before finally finishing up with a combing his hair and brushing his teeth. He was not perfect but he was presentable at least and he would get to the full scrub down later.<br/><br/>As he returned, some light was back in his eyes with them hovering closer to blue, gray, gold mixed brown than the darker colors that overtook them when he was really down. It was rough but Thomas clung to the small hope and joy of the pack for the sake of himself and everyone else. Aidan's idea also helped as it brought small smile to his face for multiple reasons... However there was something he had to do first.<br/><br/>“I believe there was a reason that costume kept getting replaced from what I've heard,” Thomas said with a smirk to Eilidh and Sera as he poured himself two separate mugs of the recently found coffee. “But I'll leave the planning to you ladies for now. I need to deal with something first.” Though his tone was light, the subtle shifting of his eyes back to darker greens and browns told of something else; and grabbing both mugs, he headed back into the cave.<br/><br/>As he approached Sherman's old furs, he could not completely repress the reflexive crinkle of his nose at the smell of cigars that clung slightly to Eryan. She had been away for a long time and it would take him a bit to get as used to it as he could again. Ignoring the smell of smoke, he went over and placed one of the cups on a rock near the furs. Eryan herself was barely visible under the furs and it became obvious she had not stayed in human form as he saw just the tip of her snout poking out. He took a seat quietly next to the hidden figure and pulled back the furs until her head was exposed.<br/><br/>“I figured you would need a cup of coffee after last night,” He said sympathetically as he looked at her, knowing full well whether she actually slept or not it was unlikely it brought her any rest. He sat there in silence for a moment next to her, just looking out of the cave as he twiddled his fingers around his mug. “... You can not hide in those furs forever, Eryan. The longer you stay the quicker his scent will fade... Come on now and have some of your coffee before it gets cold. It may be the crap stuff but it is still better hot than cold,” he said softly but firmly as he tried to get her moving at least... Hopefully she would forgive him for it being black crap coffee but he figured she was one who preferred closer to black anyway.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">A low growl had left her lips as he approached but she barely did anything else. All she wanted to do was be left alone. Alone to wallow in her own pity and her own pain. Alone to deal with her own feelings. As it was, she could not even feel the pack anymore and that was more than enough reason to push them away and keep them away. <br/><br/>However, Thomas, being himself, ignored her growl and exposed her head to the world. The smell of coffee and food did make her stomach grumble but she was not ready to abandon her post yet. It was not until he remarked how her scent would drive his away that she whimpered and pulled her form from beneath the furs. Plopped down on the ground beside them, her ears were pressed against her head as she whimpered softly. </span><br/><br/>Thomas took a long slow breathe in and let it out just as slowly before he started talking again. “We all miss him, Eryan. We all grieve for his death.” He looks to her with a sad and sympathetic expression as  his eyes shift deeper into dark browns and greens. “But we are still a pack... a family and we are here for one another.” He thought for a second before continuing in all seriousness with the following question, “Does a mystical bond define what is family?” He let the question hang in the air as he turned his gaze back to the front of the cave. “They worry about you. Your sisters and brothers of the pack... though that is bit awkward to think about with the upcoming season, that is besides the point.” He sighs as he brings his thoughts back in order, “The Bond may have been broken... but the bonds of friends and family are stronger than some magical mumbo jumbo... I think the former needs the latter more than the other way around.”<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Another growl, this time accompanied by a hackles raise. For him to brush off the bond hurt and pissed her off. Their bond was more than just...magical mumbo jumbo. It was the first thing that Sherman showed her and it was the first thing that made her feel like she was not just some kind of a freak. A huff and shift in her position later, had Eryan giving Thomas the cold shoulder. </span><br/><br/>Thomas held back a sigh as it became obvious something became lost in translation to Eryan as she growled and turned away. He thought about going directly over to her but did not want to force her until she was willing to let them in again. “Was it the Bond that made Sherman important to you... to all of us, or something else?” Thomas said as calmly as he could as he tried to reweave his words into a better picture. “... The Bond is an essential part of being in a pack... It is the final pieces to making a home for the wolf... cement for a building more or less, but it can not be poured over or into anything and expected to work.” Thomas knew he was rambling a bit but in doing so he hoped to better explain and understand (even for himself) the nature of the Bond.<br/><br/>“Harmony Shadows came together long before the first cement... first Bond was formed. It is the people and the connections we make with one another that enables the Bond to be made in the first place... I think the Bond is just a strengthening of friendships, family, and love considering it gets stronger between mates.” A sigh now escapes Thomas as he realizes he is probably going overboard and looks over Eryan's furry form. “The point I'm trying to make Eryan is: we missed you, we worry about you, and we still consider you one of the pack. Reforging the Bond is not something I am familiar with yet but... until you let us back in I'm not sure I can forge it.” He took another deep breathe to calm his emotions as they turned and welled in him. “We don't want to lose you, Eryan...”<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Though the wolf was still, annoyed, the woman knew he was right. She might never admit that to him, to she knew he was right. Another huff was given but she turned back to face him. Now she sat up on her haunches and just stared at him for a moment, head cocked to the side as if to study him. Then, she leaned forward and nuzzled him under his chin and licked along his jaw. A simple thank you to a woman who had thought she lost everything. Oh how wrong she had been. </span><br/><br/>“Glad to see there is still some life in you.” Thomas said with a smile and petted Eryan in response to her licking. “I was worried for a moment I would have to drag you out of here by you beautiful tail.” He teased before taking a sip from his coffee and grimacing. “I was going to complain about that being all I get for bringing you coffee and missing fresh off the fire food but... You might want to skip the coffee.” Despite how bad it was and his words of warning, Thomas took another sip and commented, “I unfortunately need it with how I've been sleeping... plus looks like the 'bunny' might be let loose today.”<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">At the remark of the bunny her tail wagged and she shifted back the process painful but quick enough from her years of practice. “Oh? Whose the bunny this time?” she asked with a grin. “Please tell me it's you?” </span><br/><br/>“Alas no as Eidhin has all ready volunteer for the prestigious position,” Thomas jokingly lamented as he old self started to show itself once more and eyes shift to their lighter brown form. “Sera is convinced he is going to be howling a few octaves higher I believe. Though we both know that I would be far sexier bunny than he.”  He added with a teasing wink before adding in a somewhat more serious tone, “He seems convinced no one will be able to catch him either.”<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">“The title of sexiest he beast always goes to you,” she winked back. “And if he thinks he will out run any of us, his big ass is in for a surprise!” After a moment she embraced Thomas, the hug lasted a bit longer than just a standard hug and was accompanied with the whispered words of. “Thank you” along with a kiss on the cheek. When they parted ways she headed out of the cave to get something to eat, “Could you bring me my coffee, Thomas?” she asked with a look over her shoulder and a playful look in her eyes that was reminiscent of the woman she had known before everything had gone to hell.</span><br/><br/>“You're welcome,” Thomas whispered back as they hugged and couldn't help but smile just a little wider as she kissed his cheek. With Eryan back to herself, and Thomas feeling closer to himself, he took a moment to enjoy the view of her fine feminine form as she headed for the cave entrance. When she asked for her coffee though he gave her back a non-serious deadpan stare back before doing anything.<br/><br/>When Eryan finally took a spot, Thomas was right there to grant her her coffee though adding with a smile “Only because I'm a gentleman,” before finding his own spot. “Please tell me there is some good stuff left for us cause I'm starving,” Thomas asked Aidan before looking over at the others and casually asking, “So... have you figured out a solution to the balls problem?”