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Some part of Saga wondered if she'd see Killian again, still lurking in these woods. They'd met further north, above the river, but it'd been... gods, two years now. He probably wasn't still hanging around for no reason, though he'd always had some big plans in mind. Didn't share them with her much, of course, but he had ideas of grandeur. If he'd found nothing in the woodlands, he'd probably moved on. In fact, the possibility that he'd ditched her seemed as likely as when she thought she'd simply lost him. Wandering untethered had led her to the mountains...

And to Jaxx.

Saga smiled, and lifted her chin a little higher as she walked. Let him come try and spirit her away with her mate lurking in these woods with her, no more than a shout or howl away, she was sure. With him would come the fury of the damned, and hell couldn't help the bastard that laid paw on her now. And besides, she wasn't an incapable damsel anymore! Her training was grueling, and slow, and she wasn't the best of learners. But Nyra was a perfect mix of guidance and 'keep your guard up or I'll ring your head like a bell', as opposed to her Mother's do it or die methods. Pressure and fear worked plenty well for... others... but Saga was too soft a bean to live like that.

She was stronger, now. Did she think she could test herself against Jakten's warriors? No way!
But one day.

The sun was setting, and the forest was already growing dark. Saga padded along quietly, testing the air for scents, hoping for something to eat. Those skills still needed some work, but she was proud of herself for being able to strike away from her mates tawny side and at least try for herself. How much had changed, over the last two years. The last time she'd been in these woods, she'd been no more a scared little lamb, scavenging, scared, looking for someone to take care of her.
She'd found that, and so much more.

Tonight, she found a scent.

It wasn't the one that signified prey.

It was one that made her feel like prey.

Tongue swiping around her jaws, Saga froze in place, tail sticking straight out behind her in a terrible attempt of budding confidence. A lifetime of fear wasn't forgotten with a few months of lessons. She wondered if she should call out or just... hope she wasn't noticed. The scent wasn't her Mothers, of that she was sure. One of her littermates.
One she didn't... particularly think she needed to run from.
But time changed things. Circumstances changed things -- would her sister think she'd gone off and abandoned Snow Peak? Abandoned her?

When several seconds passed and nothing happened, Saga dared to pull herself forward again; steps light, muscles taut, still expecting the worst. Retaliation, if nothing else. Harsh words, cutting like a whip. Something. Anything.

Saga found a pale shape, taking a drink. She struggled with herself, watching through the dim and dying rays of light.

Her sister. One of her littermates.
Two years had passed. They weren't gangly two year olds learning the ways of life anymore, unsure and keen on impressing Mother to avoid a beating even if it meant giving a beating in return -- Saga never had got the hang of that part. She just got beat up a lot. A training toy for her littermates, an example to younger whelps, the great big disappointment.

And now there was her slightly darker counterpart, looking so....

Healthy.

Whole.

Almost... happy.

Synnove?

Like a deer ready to run, Saga stood atop rigid legs ready to take flight if she thought this was going downhill. Even now, she wasn't sure she could bring herself to hurt her sister.

Er det deg, søster? ( Is that you, sister? )

The figure seemed to freeze, and Saga had no doubt left that it was Synnove when she turned to look her way like she'd spotted a ghost. For a long few moments, they just... stood there. Stared.
Tears began to well up in her amber gaze, and Saga offered a smile. She was frozen, too -- afraid, unsure how she might be received when the surprise wore off.

Her name spilled out in return, and, staggering, the grey brute moved forward.

Crying. Her littermate was crying.

Saga was crying, too. She didn't know when tears had sprung to her own crimson gaze, but her cheeks were wet all of a sudden. Then she was being wrapped in a hug, and she was hugging back, and they were both just... messes.

Syn and Saga, together again, she said by way of assurance, nuzzling close into her much larger sister's pelt as gentle sobs wracked them, I never meant to leave you.

She sniffled.

I... think I died, but a lot of people came here by magic, crazy as it sounds. No explanation, just... walking, and they're suddenly here. Some actually remember dying. Saga sucked in a breath. Last I remember, an elk was charging me. I thought I was a goner. Then... I was here. She'd never leave on purpose. Not without Syn.
Not after the first time she'd tried to prove herself and came running back with a fire on her heels.
I missed you... so much.

Saga would've said the elk charge was kinder than anything Mother had ever pit her against. Poor Syn was crying, and Saga was crying, and they were both a mess already -- she was just happy to hold her littermate, to feel some piece of home that didn't entirely remind her of bad days.

Not entirely.

The grey woman looked down at her, sniffling, and said she'd... left. Saga blinked, gaped. She was no longer of Snow Peak? She'd forsaken their clan and not only left, but turned fang against Mother? You... did it! Not even Saga had meant to leave. Tried, once, and failed. She'd never once dared to run away, let alone make sure Mother couldn't follow her in an escape -- fight her way out, as she must've done. Or had the Martyr's respected the show of strength? It was hard to expect, sometimes.

It didn't even end there. She'd dropped her name!

Snuh -- well, it was a choice. Saga grinned, tail wagging. Would it be in bad taste to ask why Snow had to be pronounced like a toddler? A name was a name, and it was a beautiful one, because it was her sisters. I'm so proud of you, finding independence. Something she still hadn't and might never achieve. That was okay, though.

She snuggled close, unable to stop smiling. And she'd been worried Snuh would be upset with her!

I have a whole new life now; a mate, kids, a pack. I've even learned to hunt, to fight, to heal. Guess Mother just never found me any good teachers.

They both had good news to share, she supposed. She thought Snuh had done something much greater, having split off so purposefully on her own as opposed to Saga having wormed her way into a position where she could be... well, not powerful, but heard. More than she'd ever been at home, at least. She may still only be a cog in the machine, but at least she had the ear of the leader(s) now. Jaxx's, at least, not that she truly thought she could convince him to do much if he didn't want to do it; but if one knew how to talk and what to say, another could be convinced easily enough.
She'd gotten out of being a Pet, hadn't she? Was being trained by the Einvald she wasn't the mate of? That... had to mean something. Had to mean she'd done good for herself. Hearing that her sister was happy for her made it feel more.... real, though. As if long nights nursing whelps and keeping them from running off hadn't been real.

Without a second thought, Snuh told her she'd be coming along. That she'd never let Saga go again.

The silver woman clung to her larger littermate with another gush of tears.

I was worried you would think I left you on purpose, she sniffled, resisting the urge to apologize. It wasn't like she'd meant to get charged by an elk, let alone be magically snatched elsewhere. My mate, Jaxxon, and I are headed home now. I'm... hoping the kids are there for you to meet. Frankly, this place is weird, Snuh. It's... magic. I know that sounds crazy, Saga was quick to defend herself, But I'm telling you, a few nights ago, I was at home in my den sleeping beside my son, and Jaxxon was somewhere else entirely with our other kids. Jaxx and I woke up a forest away from home, together, and we... don't know where the kids might be. What if they'd woken elsewhere? Saga swallowed past a lump in her throat. If they aren't at home, I'll have to go track down the little troublemakers.

Right Fox's, they were. Even the ones that weren't. She supposed it was more accurate to believe it was a Kinsey-chaos that ran in their collective blood, but, well, none of them ever seemed quite as bad as that! Maybe her influence in their lives was a positive one in Jakten! :)