Pure Moonlight (closed)

[heartofcourage]

"We just need to have a little faith, Val." Selena said softly, thinking about everything that had happened in such a short amount of time. "Everything will turn out alright."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We're Ghis, Selena. Of course it will." Even if Valentina had no actual Ghis blood, she had always been considered a Ghis for her likeness to Kitty. It was less about being a Ghis, and more about being a proud son or daughter of Katherine.

 

[heartofcourage]

That night, Selena rocked in front of the fire with tiny Kayla in her arms. She was watching the new born so her parents could rest. She looked over her tiny features, smiled as she opened her eyes and looked up at her adoring aunt. The little girl yawned wide, her curled fist pressing against her lips as she looked at the world around her.

"You're a little beauty." Selena murmured, rocking her niece gently. "And you'll play in the same loch and highlands that your Da did. We just have to wait for word that Inverness is ours again."

Rocking Kayla, Selena was reminded of when Ruben was a little baby and how she would talk to him all night long. She had always imagined herself with a gaggle of children, just like her mother, but with Kreston...it was just too dangerous. Now with Ruben about to change, she was missing the tiny little baby that he'd once been.

 

[KieranSoares]

It was some time longer before the family got any news. The news they received was wonderful and heartening, but also surprising. The first person Julia had gone to was Queen Marianne of Scotland, and under the Queen's direction, Julia went to Kreston and was able to gather his tribe and their Mav Ro brothers to the cause. Then she gathered soldiers from King Henry of England by contacting the Princess and Ashien's secret wife whom none of them had known about, Dylandra. She'd finished her journey to gather allies in Caernarvon where Marri's old friends the centaurs had joined in.

Now, Julia was headed north with an army fit for an Emperor. Another week, and they received a visitor.

"Ghis!" A call came from the streets. The family was sitting outside on the manse lawn where they were staying. It was a mountain of a werewolf, searching for them.

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena was the first one up to greet the stranger. She cautiously approached the wolf, knowing that it might be bad that this man was looking for them.

"I'm Selena Ghis. How can I help you?" She asked softly, looking at her family over her shoulder before turning her attentions back to him.

 

[KieranSoares]

The wolf looked to Selena and smiled kindly, "You are Selena?" He knew her name from Kreston and knew she was his mate. "Julia send me, Inverness is in her hands."

"What about my children?" Kitty asked as she arrived at Selena's side.

"Only one we don't have is Brogan, but Julia think Wick has him. All still alive, but hurt."

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena let out a breath and wrapped her arm around her mother's shoulders, hugging her as she received the news that everyone had survived, albeit hurt.

"Thank you for the news. Please tell whoever is in Inverness that we will be travelling there tomorrow." Selena said as she looked at her mother. "All of us will be coming home."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Not all," Kitty said softly. "Little Kayla can't make it yet. Emma and Boar will have to stay with her."

"I will take news back. Julia and Kreston move on to Wick to capture Sarah. Julia lead, Kreston act as General."

Selena had never known her mate possessed the knowledge nor skills to become a military officer. Certainly, all werecreatures could fight and take orders, but from what she knew, their leaders were literally born to be so. Kreston had been raised as a hunter. But from the look on Casso's face, she could see that the huge wolf trusted his brother in arms implicitly.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Ma, I think it's safer if we all go. We can go slow for Kayla's sake, but we need to be together. What if someone comes here looking for the family? Boar can't defend them in his current state." Selena said, trying to convince her mother that they all needed to be together.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I will stay," Casso offered, "Many Lunars near, they defend, escort when baby is ready."

"You're too sweet, dear," Kitty came to kiss the huge wolf's cheek, knowing it was best to accept his offer. Even if Kayla was perfectly healthy, it wasn't right to expect the fragile thing to go on a jarring journey on a horse or wagon, or to be outside in the winter cold so long. "Selena, you ride ahead of us and scout you've got the best eyes. We'll keep the children in the middle between the rest of us."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Alright, Ma." Selena agreed, stunned when her mother leaned forward and kissed Casso's cheek. "We will leave them here under Casso's protection."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Go quickly," Casso advised softly. "You arrive when Julia does, if she has easy time in Wick. Durban need help leading."

They were on their way, and oar came with them upon Emma's insistence, and Casso was right when they arrived and were only just seeing their hurt siblings and meeting Dylandra when Julia arrived with Kreston and their many varied warriors of all races. Kreston was driving a small covered wagon, and Julia was inside with a nearly-dead Brogan. Valentina brought out four men with a sturdy stretcher to carry the king inside. When they passed Selena, she saw Brogan's neck had been ripped open. Surely Sarah would not have done such a thing to a man she'd wanted to love her...

But then Kreston approached, pausing before her. His fur was bloodied and dirty, and he had bandages wrapped around his upper arm, midriff, and neck, and a half moon had been taken out of his ear, probably the work of a bolt or arrow. He faced his mate, knowing that he could either receive praise for helping her family or be punished with harsh words and a slap or two for being so reckless and stupid.

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena ached to see Kreston so hurt, but she didn't hesitate in throwing herself into his arms. She had missed him horribly in the time that they had been parted. She closed her eyes, pressing her cheek against his chest as she simply held him.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kreston didn't let out the grunt of pain as she came in contact with the spear wound in his belly, and he hugged her closer in spite of it. "It's okay now, love... everything's the way it should be again..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It'll never be the same again, Kreston." Selena murmured softly, knowing that all of her siblings were effected in some way or another by what had happened during that war. "But at least we can start to heal."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know... what matters is that you're all together again and Inverness is safe. That was the hope when Julia came to find me..." He kissed her forehead lightly. "And Ruben and Gabriel will be here soon too... They've been safe further south with a few centaurs." He lifted her head to look at him and gave her a gentle smile. "And now... I finally get to meet this lovely family of yours, like I should have years ago."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I told you there was nothing to worry about with them." Selena said softly, looking up at him with a grin. "They'll love you no matter what. That's what family is about."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I think I made a good first impression, helping take back the town and whatnot. That's got to count for something." But introductions would wait until after news about Brogan's condition came from Valentina. It was quickly learned that the wound was the work of his own hand, that he'd tried to commit suicide after whatever awful trial Sarah had put him through and told him Julia was dead, his sister married to Olaf, and his home taken. But he would make it, and he seemed to be taking comfort in Julia's presence. They all learned Julia was pregnant too, and had been for some time but she hadn't shared the news for fear of diverting attention from the war.

It was when everything settled and Brogan was stable than the family met in Kitty's parlor. Kayla was missing, unwilling to come and be out among so many people yet, and Ciaran, Annie, Emma, and little Kayla would remain in Aberdeen a while longer. Despite all that had happened, the family found it in themselves to smile. They'd won, everyone was alive, and they'd destroyed the long-standing threat of Wick and Sarah at the same time, as well as the fact that Norway was now their ally as Kayla was their Queen. Despite all that was wrong, it was clear that things would only go up from there.

Kreston entered with Selena, Ruben now at their side and Gabriel back with his mother after they'd told the story of their defending their aunt from Vikings and having gathered the tribes and centaurs. Durban couldn't have been prouder of his son for knowing to contact Marri's dearest old friends and warriors, and Kreston felt the same for his intelligent and strong son. But to their surprise, the boy had not transformed yet despite the passing of the full moon.

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena was excited to sit with her mate freely, holding his hand as they mingled with the rest of her family. She was happy that her brothers and sisters seemed to accept her relationship without a word. She was also excited that Kreston could finally feel safe and free. It was a day that she never knew would happen.

 

[KieranSoares]

Not a single one of her siblings questioned the long delay of meeting Kreston. Most of them knew that Kreston and his kind were very wary of going to human settlements and towns for fear of hunters and those who hated them. And what with Kreston's brave and selfless service to the family by taking the lead under Julia's command, he'd earned a permanent place in their hearts and respect. They also all knew that Ruben would be changing into a wolf eventually, but not a one of them was bothered by the idea. None of them feared nor disliked the non-human peoples that roamed the world.

That evening, Kreston and Selena were the last to leave Kitty's parlor, and Kreston looked to be at peace, a permanent silly smile on his face. He had a new family, and to a man who believed family was everything, it was one of the greatest gifts of his life.

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena held Kreston's hand, smiling up at her mate as he carried a slumbering Ruben easily in one arm. She felt like she had everything that she had ever wanted in life. Her son was healthy and almost grown. She had someone that loved her without question. Her family was together and happy. It was everything that she could have ever asked for.

"You have a handsome smile, Kres. I wish you would do it more." She murmured softly as they entered their rooms and she helped him to get Ruben tucked in for the night.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll smile as often as you like, love," he leaned over to kiss her after laying Ruben in bed and covering him up. "Your family... they remind me of my own. They'll accept anyone regardless of looks, as long as they have good intentions."

His eyes looked down over their son, and he took Selena's hand. "Selena... I think I figured out a solution to our problem," he met her eyes. He spoke of the issue of Ruben leaving her to be with the tribe. "The Golin tribe is looking to move from our lands near Edinburgh, it's too dangerous to stay... They want to move further north, near Aberdeen, and they have the protection of the King and Queen of Scotland to do so. Maybe... maybe now you might consider coming to be with us. You won't be far from home, and with the safe haven of the area between Inverness and Aberdeen, you'll be able to move more freely. Your family may even come meet mine, and my tribe."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I raised Ruben in that little cabin." She said softly, thinking about what he wanted her to do. "But I suppose it would be nice to be closer to Inverness. Especially since my brothers are expanding their families."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know you raised him there... so I don't ask this lightly. If you don't want to come, I won't follow the tribe." It was the first time he'd been able to make a choice between his two families. Before, he'd never been able to choose between his lifelong kinsmen and Selena.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Kreston, I won't ask you to make even more sacrifices for me." Selena insisted, touching her mate's cheek tenderly. "I'll come with your tribe."