Chapter 130: The Guardian's Will
Pan awoke slowly, her mind a swirling haze of emotions and sensations that seemed determined to coax her back to sleep. She wasn’t sure why—the moon hadn't been as exhausting as many before it—yet she revelled in the embrace of her den, sinking further into comfort without truly questioning its origin.
Sahari and Nalah were quick to offer her their bed to rest in once Joseph had departed, though she suspected that the lingering scent on her fur eased Sahari’s own worries. Pan didn’t mind, finding her other options would simply involve being alone without her mate, her other, her kit…or Mama...
The thought of spending her rest without them fed a pit of gnawing despair, so she accepted the offer as soon as the words left the black-furred female’s muzzle, failing to hide her desperation. They likely knew anyway, but she could pretend that it wasn’t quite so obvious.
Spending the moon with Harrow was something that came about as a bit of a surprise, though when they awoke with the Head of Technology against Nalah’s bosom, none were bothered. Harrow had worked through the suns with little regard for things such as exhaustion, so the respite was encouraged by the bed’s occupants, going so far as to delay the start of their activities until the female stirred on her own. Even if someone did protest the addition, Pan would be quick to shut it down. As the one who was harbouring new young within her womb, it was the Paw’s duty to do all that she could to support her.
And as one who spent much of her life wishing for young of her own—and more importantly, as a seamstress—she was obligated to make as many outfits for the doubtlessly adorable kit as she could. Even with the late start, she had already prepared for any combination Harrow might bear. Be it one male, many females, or anything in between, Pan had a barrel that was holding what would hopefully match whichever fur they were born with. All she needed to do was adjust the measurements when there was a kit to wear them.
Hiding such preparations was rather difficult, but Idee was more interested in the designs than what size they were, so distracting her with the novelty of the clothing seemed to be the best strategy. A simple fib about them being prototypes for a larger garment sufficed.
All these thoughts and more ebbed and flowed within her begrudgingly conscious mind, a level of relaxation imparted upon her making her more than happy to nuzzle into Sahari’s...fur...
The smooth surface on her muzzle, the familiar heartbeat, and the slightly scratchy sound as her ear flicked in recognition all belatedly corroborated the scent she had been indulging in heavily without notice.
She kept her eyes shut, praying that it wasn’t a cruel dream, and that she wouldn’t be welcomed by an empty bed and isolation. Yet the rhythm persisted, the comforting beating of a heart she gave herself wholly to continuing like the ticking of a mechanical clock, each strike of the organ building her expectations and fear in equal measure.
Then he moved.
“G’morning, beautiful,” came the groggy voice of her everything. Her tears swiftly followed.
Pan latched onto her bond, sobs of relief pouring from her shunted eyes as the nightmare failed to come to fruition. She expected him to hold her, but even that divergence failed to ruin her elation.
“Pan. Breathing.”
She relented, only managing to part slightly until she bumped into another occupant of the bed. Undeterred, she finally allowed the early sunlight to fill her vision, giving her view of her mate.
...And amusingly, the reason he was unable to hold her.
Sahari had an arm wrapped around his stomach, pinning his head against her bust. Anything beyond that level of detail was difficult—since it seemed that everyone had shifted to restrict some part of him—but Tel’s protective curling kept Pan from moving enough to make sense of it. The grey-furred paws captured her, and if she listened closely, she could hear Tel’s breathing against the back of her neck, but that only heightened her joy.
The den was whole again, and her loved ones had returned to her.
A stroking across her cheek stopped a second wave of emotions, Tel tiredly mumbling as the touch fell lower across Pan’s breast, then settling on her stomach. She fought the slight blush, but it was discarded entirely when Joseph managed to free himself enough to return the hug, his lips lightly kissing her between the ears, just like he always did.
Sleep came unbidden, yet it surfaced from somewhere besides endless exhaustion and prayers for the next sun to be the one she could feel the bond again. It came from the bond filling her, and the relief took everything else with it.
The last thing she recalled was Joseph’s rumbling chuckles, and his own deep inhalations as he took in her scent. Perhaps it was lesser than her own ability, but the primal part of herself cared not for the distinction; in her mind, he was replenishing what had been missing.
She didn’t need a bond to feel loved beyond words at that moment.
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Scarlet passed Joseph the can he requested, the crack and hiss of the curious drink filling the air with its alien smell. His satisfaction with the beverage was deep, anchored in an innocent part of his soul, and Pan squirmed against his side as she felt it soak through her as well. It was a relaxing sensation to be born of something she was hesitant to consume—given that they had yet to confirm the compatibility between Lilhuns and caffeine—but that didn’t mean she wasn’t curious.
It was still early in the sun, though later than the den had been used to starting. News of the Grand Hunter returning had propagated alongside a request to unwind, so the pack was thankfully giving the male his space before barraging him with questions. It let them have some time as a den together, and even Harrow decided to delay her duties to spend time with the returning males.
Pan and Tel took either side of their mate on the couch, Jax and Harrow chose to sit at his feet on the floor, and Sahari and Nalah took the free furniture, stroking Violet as she laid across their laps. Volta even included herself in the peaceful atmosphere in the hub, surprisingly. The blue-furred female typically avoided Joseph when possible, yet sat herself at a table shortly after everyone else had awoken, Scarlet taking the chair next to her as she waited for the next request anyone would have. It was interesting to see the two opposing characters share proximity, but Pan supposed much had happened during her mate’s absence.
It was blissful to have things back to how they should be, and worth the expense of the light ribbing she had gotten for refusing to leave the bed. Thanks to the arrangement of everyone—and in part to her unwillingness to separate from her bond—it had taken some effort for the den to start the sun. No one quite commented on how Joseph was the centre of their entrapment, though there were guilty looks from those most at fault for burying him.
The usual jests from Jax and Harrow were involved as well, but such was common enough that no one paid much mind to it, even when Joseph fondly patted the orange-furred female’s stomach. Harrow’s reaction was of note, but her bashful covering of his paw with her own struck Pan as simply adorable, and further cemented her stance on the eventual young being a delightful addition.
“So, what did we miss?” Joseph asked, taking another drink as he dissuaded a tail from claiming the limb holding it. Tel chuckled, settling for the appendage joining Pan’s tail around his waist. It was a deliberate action, in a way, but the sense of ease at having her two loved ones near superseded the almost hopeful question in the back of her mind.
Sahari grinned as she competed with Nalah for which of them could get the loudest purr from the den-kit, Violet’s passive involvement in judging their efforts apparently awarding the black-furred female the victory. “Harrow has been occupied with translating and organizing files, Nalah has been overseeing repairs, and I have had my paws full keeping the pack’s workforce in rotation as they heal.”
The Grand Hunter raised a brow as he glanced down at Harrow nuzzling into Jax. “How’s that going?”
The orange-furred female sighed in satisfaction. “I missed him.”
A grin spread on his face. “Not what I meant.”
Harrow stuck her tongue out at him in imitation of what he was known to do when others denied him his harmless fun. Having made her point, she relaxed against his leg, letting the back of her head rest on his knee as she peered up at him. “I’m basically done everything I can do. The rest is just waiting for Ryan to figure out the metal composition and electronics.”
Joseph blinked, furrowing his brow curiously. “Ryan?”
“One of Rob’s engineers.”
“Hm. Alright. Do we have any idea how long it’ll take?”
“Nope. Too many variables, apparently.”
“Fair. Hopefully, we get that sorted sooner rather than later, but I don’t suppose we can rush it either.” He took another sip of his drink, meeting her tired gaze beyond the edge of the can. “What about you?”
Harrow’s eyes widened before flicking away from him. “I’m fine.”
“...Still haven’t told them?”
“Told us what?” Nalah asked, playfully glaring at her mate over their little game.
“Harrow’s—“
“—Joe!”
He frowned at Harrow’s protest. “What?”
The orange-furred female deflated from embarrassment. “I wanted to wait until everyone was around.”
Joseph used the beverage to sweep a paw across the gathered pack pointedly.
“Well, yeah, but... I mean, you just got back and...” His deadpan stare wore her down with every word, Harrow fidgeting with her claws as her ears drooped. “I... Fine, I’m pregnant! Happy?”
Surprise coloured a few faces, but Tel simply hummed. “So that was her condition...”
Sahari raised a paw. “It would be safe to assume Jax is the sire, yes?”
“Well—“
Jax slung his arm around his mate, forcing a yelp as he pulled her in. “We have decided to treat our young as if they were Joseph’s as well. Though not in technicality, they will have two blood-fathers.”
“Jax!”
“Is that not the case?” he asked in a concerned tone. Harrow pouted in return, her indignation fading.
“Well, yeah...but you didn’t need to announce it...” Her eyes turned to Pan, uncertainty driving the pensive expression. “I wanted to make sure it was okay first.”
The Paw tilted her head. “Why would it not be?”
“He’d be kind of, sort of...” Jax squeezed his mate, amused by her verbal stumbling. “His kits wouldn’t be yours or Tel’s, and I didn’t want to... Yeah.”
Pan smiled, noticing Joseph’s wide-eyed expression. She could feel his guilt over something he likely didn’t consider, but shook her head to dissuade his building fear of having done something wrong. She nuzzled a little more into his shoulder. “I have accepted that I am unable. I will never resent your decision.”
The Grand Hunter reached up to rub at his neck, finding his wrist claimed by an orange-furred tail. His paw fell to his lap as he gave a conflicted smile. “Sorry... She asked and I got—”
Pan took the opportunity to steal a kiss, savouring the feeling as well as the muddled mixture of emotions through the bond. Her mate was a strange one in many ways, but even that was something to love. “If it brings you happiness, then I would be a poor mate to deny you it. I am rather excited to hold them as well.”
His cheeks flushed as he absently ran a claw over Harrow’s tail and hid behind his drink, mumbling something about her reaction not being ‘fair.’
“Can we stop picking on me now?” Harrow protested meekly, switching her claim to his leg as she got comfortable. “What about you guys? You don’t get to just come back and not tell us what happened! What about the UM? Trill? Rob? What happened!?”
Tel giggled, the sweet tone pleasant to the ear, though tinted with a smugness that promised mischief. “You wish to hear of my love’s exploits?”
The new moniker caught Pan’s attention, but her curiosity was quickly taken by Joseph’s rolled eyes that didn’t match the warmth he felt. It was cute, and it seemed as if something good came about while they were gone, so she filed it away with the other things she would ask about.
The Wraith leaned into her mate to rub her cheek against his, wrapping an arm around his neck to teasingly trace a claw up his throat. “You are witness to the singular most powerful male on the planet.”
Harrow’s eyes widened, her muzzle falling open. “He’s WHAT?”
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“So they’re doing alright?”
Faye nodded, patting her lap to recall the two moss-wolves that were quite excited to see the pack leader again. The smallest remained behind, sitting on its haunches with two of its six legs splayed outwards to facilitate the posture. Though subdued, the Wraith sighed through a shadow of a smile as the larger animals picked the young up by the scruff to return it to her side.
“They are well, and have caused no issues with those of the pack.”
Joseph nodded, looking around at the curious members outside of the barn. Pan accompanied him as he did his rounds to make sure everything was recovering well, but even with their relative subtlety after the news, Harrow’s yell of surprise had carried far enough for passing members to hear. With that, Joseph’s new position became common knowledge, and the pack was exceptionally curious.
“But they caught that one male right before the attack, right?”
The gold-furred female reiterated her agreement. “I believe they are wary of those whose scents are new.”
The Grand Hunter tipped his head in concession. “Useful. So, you think this would work on a larger scale?”
“Assuming Scarlet is any indication, yes.”
He snorted a laugh. As soon as the female in question attempted to resume her ritual of feeding the avians, many more answered her call than were expected. If Violet hadn’t been so excited about there being so many new ‘friends,’ then it may have been burdensome, but as it was, there were talks of the birds perhaps being trained for more than pestering a select few. A rudimentary messenger service amongst the Wraiths was proposed first, so that was to begin testing as soon as they were able.
“Go for it,” Joseph allowed with a wave of his paw. “Just take help when you go out to get more and be careful.”
“Of course, sir. Thank you.”
He reached out to scratch between the female’s ears when she bowed, smiling to himself as Faye leaned slightly into the touch. “No problem. Need anything else?”
“No, sir. That is all.”
“Cool. I need to check on a few other things, but you know how to find me.”
The Wraith wished them well as Joseph led the way through the observing pack, deflecting or answering various questions. He rolled his eyes at the occasional lighthearted offer to share a bed, the pack having long since come to terms with his disinterest, yet finding too much amusement in his reactions. It was strange to return to normalcy with the knowledge that her mate had gained so much, but at the same time, it was comforting. Both he and Tel now commanded Avalon, their territory had grown beyond all expectations, but still there existed something he was apprehensive about. She couldn’t help but feel somewhat anxious in response.
Of course, as soon as he looked at her, he took her tail and soothingly reminded her that she was cared for. It was a simple action, yet it was filled with meaning nonetheless.
“Joseph?”
“Hmm?”
“I love you.”
He smiled over his shoulder, slowing enough to pull her into his chest. A few jeers came from the more vocal of the pack, but his attention was hers alone.
“I love you too.”
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They pushed aside the fabric barrier to the observation room, Harrow turning in her chair to wave her welcome. Joseph raised a brow at the half-eaten tray of assorted snacks, but shrugged off the curiosity as quickly as it formed.
“This is where you’ve been holed up?”
The orange-furred female grabbed another portion of meat, tossing it into her muzzle as she flicked through menus until she found the one she wanted. She gestured to it with a paw and talked through her chewing.
“That’s pretty much all that’s left to translate, and it’s just a vocal modulator like she had in her mask.”
He nodded, placing a paw on the chair and resting his chin between her ears to take a closer look. If his weight on her head bothered her, she didn’t show it. “Can we do something less...obvious?”
“I’ll ask if we can embed it, but the notation cites it as a pretty in-depth surgery.”
“We took everything out. Not like we won’t have to cut her open again.”
“Yeah, but we’d be working in a place that even the UM wouldn’t touch.”
“...I’ll run it by Rob before he leaves,” he conceded, sighing as he stood up and walked over to the plastic barrier between Tech and the room. His expression soured as he gazed upon the sheer number of machines keeping the female technically alive. “If we’re lucky, a few of his crew might be open to sticking around.”
“Rob’s leaving?” Harrow asked, her next portion of food frozen mid-transit. Joseph glanced at her from the corner of his eye, shrugging.
“Without us. I couldn’t go back now, even if I wanted to.”
Her paw fell to her lap, a hesitant expression leading the equally unsure question. “Do you?”
The male sighed, but a wry smile belied his opinion. “No. Not when I have all of you.”
She looked over at Pan, silently inquiring as to the validity of his statement. The Paw simply nodded; Joseph meant every word, and though he was somewhat saddened by the fact, he was truly happier with his pack. Harrow seemed relieved by the assurance, turning her attention back to the Grand Hunter.
“So, what now? You have Blades, power... Are we just going to focus on the settlements?”
Joseph chewed his cheek in thought, exhaling slowly as his gaze lowered to his feet. “That’s the complicated part, Harrow. I’ll explain later this moon, but with what I’m planning, we’ll be doing a lot more than that.”
She gave a worried furrow of her brow, her paws resting on her stomach, but it only took a short nod for her to set her own mind at ease. “Whatever you decide, Joe. We’ll be with you.”
His guilt rose rapidly, but he hid it well. “Thanks, Harrow. I’m counting on it.”
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Tel browsed the outfits that Pan had made for her during the suns of waiting, the Paw peacefully watching the grey-furred female evaluate each with a small smile. Joseph was called away to speak with Toril and Tersa, then would extend some invitations for the meal later. It left Pan without much to do—considering that he had resumed everything that she typically managed during his absences—and sewing didn’t quite feel like something she wished to spend her time on when those she cared for had returned.
Her kit was happily speaking with the other Atmo in the settlement, so that left her wondering how to best pass the time until she was needed again. Luckily, Tel was quick to solve the problem and make herself available, dragging Pan along as she prepared a snack alongside her normal preparations for their meal. Since that was completed more quickly than anticipated, the seamstress proposed another activity, and now the Wraith was curiously inspecting each piece of clothing while humming a tune.
“I rather like this one,” Tel opined, holding a purposely worn-looking top. It fit her usual style—only covering that which was required in polite company—and had the appearance of an article having seen rough use, while still being as durable as its traditional counterparts. She held it up, leaning to the side to look at Pan. “May I?”
The Paw nodded, rather pleased to have a work she thought would be well received pass Tel’s preference. What she wasn’t expecting was for the female to disrobe where she was. They had shared baths and whatnot plenty of times, so being bare in front of one another was hardly new, but there was a...difference in the way she did so. It wasn’t the swift motions needed to simply replace her attire, but a teasingly slow affair that used her claws to trace over the contours of her form. Only when Pan noticed the teasing gaze did she truly find it odd. The sultry expression reserved for their mate was turned to...her?
The intensity was gone with a blink, Tel’s shirt removed and the new top donned in its place, as if the smouldering glance was little more than an illusion. Tel spun and posed, testing the fitment as she offered her positive opinions, yet each word passed mostly unheard, Pan’s mind attempting to suppress a carnal pull imparted by her bond with Joseph. It wasn’t helped by how the new garment further accentuated Tel’s already attractive figure, each subtle curve of her athletic body detailed and defined by an active lifestyle and ruthless training.
It was something that she usually ignored, since her mate’s attraction to Tel was simply the way of things, but it was certainly distracting at times. Enough so that she didn’t notice the female leaning in to close the distance.
“Is there a problem?”
Pan jumped, not expecting to have Tel all but purring into her ear. Amusement danced across the Wraith’s face, but a pair of shorts were held up in lieu of any acknowledgement of her tone.
“I was curious if these were for myself as well,” Tel explained, again looking innocent. Pan frowned, quickly dismissing it as her own thoughts playing tricks on her.
“They are,” she sighed, disappointed in herself as she gestured for Tel to try them on. They were much the same vein as her top—designed to not get in the way of anything while sporting a tattered look. It would sit just above where she typically attached the holder for her daggers, so even that wouldn’t be hindered by the material. The Wraith smirked, a hint of the teasing expression returning as she hooked her claws into the waist of her pants.
Pan wasn’t sure why, but she turned away to give some semblance of privacy, trying to ignore the sounds of fabric on fur, the heart in her chest, and the burning in her cheeks. Silence prevailed after a moment, yet she couldn’t bring herself to look. She felt like back when she was struggling with her feelings for Joseph all over again, yet she didn’t have him there to guide her own emotions, so it was more confusing than it needed to be.
“I like it,” Tel declared from behind her, Pan’s smile winning out over the nervousness that seemed determined to stay.
That smile disappeared as a claw lifted her muzzle into a sudden and passionate kiss. The intensity made her heart both stop, yet hammer relentlessly, her mind clouding as the moment stretched on and she melted in Tel’s paws. Her legs weakened as she gave into the attention, the paw she extended in protest instead wishing for more, yet too shy to demand it.
They separated, Pan’s eyes finding her other’s gazing back, a barely suppressed heat burning within them. Tel’s voice was husky and threatening, yet warm and flirtatious. It was disorienting, yet perfectly clear in its intent.
“If I wanted you to look away, I would tell you to. Understand?”
Pan nodded, her voice lost in the haze. Tel placed a teasingly soft peck on her snout before moving her muzzle next to Pan’s ear. Each syllable sent shivers down her spine.
“Good. Our love needs food. Thank you for the...” She inspected her outfit, her grin growing more predatory. “...Fetching clothing. I’m sure he’ll appreciate your work.” Tel leaned in closer, tracing her claw down Pan’s chest, over her stomach, and stopping just above her centre as she nipped at the soft cartilage. “I certainly do.”
The chaotic female turned to exit the room with a bounce in her step and a spinning tail, leaving Pan to slowly sink to the floor as she regained her breath, her eyes fixed on the doorway.
…What just happened?
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Tersa was quick to confirm that she was on orders to kill him if he proved not to be good enough for Tel, which was an interesting thing for Joseph to learn on his first day back. Toril had more to say than his Blade, but it wandered between Tech’s treatment, his time working with Avalon, and his nosiness in the medical records that were collected by Rob’s doctors. Only one thing really stuck out to him, and it came in the middle of unrelated stories.
“Say that again?”
Toril smiled as usual, though his eyes were enough to tell that he wasn’t quite sure which part required repeating. “My time before Tersa?”
“After that,” Joseph clarified, hoping that he didn’t need to dig through the wealth of tangents.
“Ah, Nalah’s condition?”
He snapped his fingers and pointed in his excitement, drawing more attention that he meant to from the pack outside of the chemist’s lab. He gave a sheepish apology and sent them on their way. “Yeah, that. Her bonding weirdness. What about a cure? Why do you know about it?”
The white-furred male took off his chemically burned coat and passed it to Tersa, the Blade laying it aside as she fetched a replacement. Joseph’s eyes were drawn to the stub of a tail that Toril still had, but he shook off the mild curiosity as the male spoke.
“I was one of many who worked on the preliminary trials for the drugs used in Avalon.” He paused when he noticed that Joseph’s jaw had gone slack. “I have had a partnership with Trill for quite some time. I am surprised such has not come up.”
When would it have? “Do you know how to fix it?”
The male’s head tilted, the detached smile remaining. “Perhaps, but I required chemicals that we do not have access—“
Joseph’s fist slammed into the table, his other hand bracing his weight as his voice turned into a vicious growl. “Whatever you need, write it down, and give it to Harrow. If we get everything, can you fix it?”
Toril’s expression steeled, abandoning the aloofness he usually wore. “I could attempt. It has been many years since I have dealt with the substances, and that is assuming—”
“—Do it.”
The chemist maintained his cold stare. “There may be dangers.”
“Then ask her,” the Grand Hunter answered plainly, pushing off the table to stand back up. “If she agrees, do it.”
The male stared for a moment before nodding, recovering his usual smile. “As you wish, Grand Hunter.”
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They gathered in the den, the hub quickly filling with those invited for the last meal of the day. Some suggested a grand feast for the good news, but he really just wanted something simple for the night. Thankfully, Tel was happy to provide, smugly informing him that she had already started preparations and there wouldn’t be too much of a wait, even when she had to adjust the portions for the extra people they expected over.
Bratik and Sorren were excited to be involved, already filling the ambience with the more interesting portion of scripture for whoever had asked at the table. The girls were acting as waitresses—despite his insistence to join them normally—so they were running beverages back and forth. Volta had actually sat down once she confirmed that everything was satisfactory, so she busied herself with... Ah, guess that’s who got Sorren going.
Sahari, Nalah, Jax, Pan, and Harrow all took places at their own table nearby, occasionally laughing at jokes as Idee chastised Toril for ruining yet another coat with his experiments. Tersa was dragged into the conversation from time to time, but she proved to be as stalwart as any other Blade, mostly just adding details that her Sheath ‘forgot’ to add—like the time he blew his old lab up and stunk the place out for days. It was interesting seeing her lovingly smirk at his mistakes, but not as interesting as Pan’s expression.
His white-furred fiancee was in a bit of a daze, that much was obvious. What wasn’t quite clear was why. She blushed a bit whenever Tel brought out something, pointedly avoiding looking in her direction. It raised some questions, but those could wait, he supposed. She seemed happy enough, and spent most of her time fussing over Violet, so it couldn’t be anything too important.
By the time he took his own seat next to her, the girls were already bringing out the food, Tel finishing off the line with a separate portion of rock-worm specifically for him. He accepted the kiss as a bonus.
“Thank you.”
“Anything for you, my love,” she replied, winking as she took a seat. It only took a few seconds before the number of legs he had free reign of reached zero; Pan’s tail claimed his right, and Tel wrapped around his left. With Harrow’s inclusion in the habit—and Jax’s randomly mirroring her—he was lucky they were both too far away to join in. It was a cute quirk of the species, but he liked being able to actually do things.
And…Tel started teasing his leg under the table... Alright then. He frowned at her to get the message across, but a knock on the entrance to the hub saved him from the situation, blissfully letting him flee the harassment to see who it was. A strange pair awaited him when he opened the door.
Mi’low scowled up at him, but it lacked the intensity he was used to. Kelth spoke first, apparently less bothered by the situation than his...mate?
“We were invited to join, apparently,” he explained, subtly gesturing with his tail to the High Huntress. “Would now be acceptable?”
Joseph looked back at the crimson-furred female. She seemed as bitchy as always, but there was a touch of apprehension there too—like she was worried he would slam the door in their faces. He huffed a laugh, stepping aside to let them in. “You’re just in time.”
The pair were quick to pick a table, and he could have sworn that thankfulness almost left Mi’low’s mouth, but he didn’t want to tempt fate by assuming. He was satisfied with the soft edge in her grumblings instead, shaking his head as he reclaimed his spot and watched her sit as far away from Toril as seating would allow.
New participants settled, stories were traded as usual, most of the focus being on him and the events at the congressional. Rob denied the invitation—apparently things on his end required more attention than expected—so Joseph was left speculating for some chunks of the tale, but no one seemed to mind. They were happy to laugh along with certain events, laugh at him for others, and generally weigh in on the retelling. Even Volta managed a jab at him for meandering out back and bothering her during her break, though he could tell she was uncomfortably testing the waters. He just laughed along with everyone else, smiling when the tension eased from her shoulders.
They were most of the way done when he cleared his throat, unsure of how to bring up the last few items of note to his family—extended company included. Noticing his change in demeanour, the tables fell quiet, doing little to bolster his confidence. He drew a breath regardless, preparing himself for however they reacted.
“Alright. So, I’m guessing you guys are wondering what’s next for us?”
Nods came from around the tables.
“Well...I want to help more people, and to do that, we need to start working on something…more.”
“Who are we assisting?” Sahari asked, pausing her playful flirting with Nalah. “Until the military returns, all are yours.”
“Thanks to Rob—and to a greater extent, Horizon—we know that the Union has eyes on other species.” He checked with everyone listening, receiving rapt attention in return. “We’re going to help them.”
Harrow raised a curious paw. “How?”
“We can not afford to be discovered, so the Blades are what we need. Specifically, we’ll build a facility to train them for the new requirements. It’s critical that no one outside of the pack learns about what we’re doing, nor what we will be doing.”
“What about Rob?”
Joseph shook his head. “Especially Rob. He can never know, period.”
“How do you suppose we hide such a facility?” Jax pressed, voicing his concern.
The Grand Hunter smiled at his daughter, Violet catching the silent request instantly. “I want the Atmo’s help in building it underground, along with a tunnel network we could use for long-range transport. They’re faster at digging than anything else we have access to, and having seen the nest at Sunny’s? They’ll be perfect.”
[I’ll ask Daisy, too!]
“Thank you, sweetheart. If she could help, we’d be able to do things a lot faster.” He turned back to the rest of the table. “With the UM providing Avalon with supplies and technology for expanding, that also means we can have the infrastructure set up with them paying for it. Between that and Rob helping out...we can really make some moves.”
Though there were expressions of others having more to add, nobody seemed against the idea. It looked like they’d be having a lot of talks about the subject later—if only to nail down the details.
Violet clicked for attention, holding up her sign after a moment’s hesitation. [If we ask for help, can we help her back? Daisy would like Tel to be her advisor.]
The female in question blinked while Joseph and Pan shared a look. He kept his voice gentle, just in case.
“I’m not an expert, obviously, but doesn’t she need...”
[Is that a no?]
The rest of his words died in his throat. A comforting squeeze came from Pan’s paw in his hand, both of them leaving it to the Wraith to decide, unable to deny their daughter when she seemed so crushed. With Daisy’s Hatcher out of the picture, and Mama having passed, the two Queens probably decided that their only option was to ask themselves.
“She must understand that my position requires much of me,” Tel answered firmly. “I am one who deals in death and the ephemeral—the covert and the lethal. Now more than ever. I fail to see how I might provide.”
“Tel, she just wants—“
Violet’s tablet shot back up. [She wants to be like you. She’ll be a Wraith if you teach her. Ever since you saved her.]
The grey-furred female narrowed her eyes. “I am partial to the kit, but do not think that is enough to be...come...” Her voice fell as the purple Queen shrunk. After several tense moments of silence, Tel sighed, begrudgingly looking away when Pan mirrored the downcast expression. “...It will not be easy. She will need to overcome the hurdles of learning that which was never designed for her kind.”
The blur took everyone by surprise—Tel most of all. Violet was heartbroken one moment, then she had flung herself hard enough to knock them both over the next. Delighted and excited chitters filled the air as Tel complained, but it was clear she was just keeping up appearances.
Joseph let the smile grow before he needed to tamp it down, his eyes moving to Jax and Harrow, steeling himself for what needed to be brought up. If not now, then he’d keep stalling until it was too late.
“Jax?”
The black-furred male chuckled at the pile of fur and carapace on the ground before looking up, his mirth subsiding. “Yes, Joseph?”
“Rey’zel is leaving the system in a few suns and she’ll be visiting your parents. Your father is sick?”
He flinched, forcing some levity into his expression as he placed his arm around his mate. “...Yes.”
“He’s sick?” Harrow asked, glancing between the two. “She’s your sister? You’re not…”
He smiled gently, stroking her fur to dissuade her confusion. “There are many sacrifices that must be made. This is merely one of them.”
“Jax,” the Grand Hunter interjected, standing at the head of the table. He braced himself on the surface, glaring to make sure every word got through his friend’s thick skill. “My father died on another planet. I mourned over an empty grave, wishing every sun that I had just one more with him. Your father is ill, and your sister gave you a way to see him. You refused.”
“It was necessary—“
He jabbed a finger at the male. “—You. Refused. I didn’t. You and Harrow are going with her when she leaves, and you’re going to see if they can fix your nose and eye while you’re gone. I’m done humouring whatever is driving that stupid humility.”
Harrow started shaking her head, her ears folding back as fear took hold of her. “Joe, you can’t... But...”
“You’re coming back,” he assured softly. His eyes fell to the table to avoid everyone’s stares, wetting his lips and finally drawing a breath as he straightened up. “I’m not letting Jax make this mistake, and I’m not letting him miss this chance. As Grand Hunter, as your friend, and...as someone who you’ve decided to share your kit with...I’m telling you to go. Visit your family, seek medical aid, then come back to me.”
Jax closed his eyes, reluctance clear to see as his face contorted bitterly. In the end, he nodded, refusing to meet Joseph’s gaze. Harrow hugged tighter into her mate. “What if they won’t let us? What if we can’t find a way, Joe? I... We can’t come back if...”
He exhaled, noticing Tel’s paw raised for assistance getting free of Violet. With a tug, she was back on her feet, fixing her clothing and adjusting her daggers. The human laid a hand to his hip, the black metal that symbolized his control of Avalon feeling cool to the touch. He pulled it out, firmly driving it into the table deep enough for it to stay upright. All eyes flicked to the ornate blade.
“No one is going to stop me, Harrow. If I want something done, I’ll bend and break whatever tries to.” He placed his palm on the pommel, sweeping his regard across everyone in the room. “One word. One word and the UM gets brought to its knees. They know that. It’s already happened. They won’t make that mistake again.”
Sorren broke the silence lingering after his statement, soft, yet resolute. “The meek shelter in the light of the moon, hidden and safe within the walls lovingly provided by the Hunt Mother’s blessing. Their prayers brought joy, but their blood brought sorrow.”
“And sorrow brought the end of all,” Mi’low finished, taking the moment to speak. She glared at the Grand Hunter with a sigh, placing down what she was about to eat. “You choose now to embrace our ways?”
Joseph shook his head. “No. I’m doing things my way.”
“As always,” she stated flatly, the corners of her muzzle pulled into a smirk. “You intend to bring bloodshed for your ideals?”
“If I need to.”
Mi’low nodded, inspecting the rest of the Lilhuns in the den. Satisfied, she bowed her head, the others following her example.
“The Smoke will obscure your intentions, the Torch will light the path, and the pack will show their loyalty. By the will of the Guardian, the faithful obey. Lead us, high one, and none shall stand in your way.”
Joseph smiled. “Then it’s time to do what humans do best; let’s make some friends.”