Hehe Prip is in optime ^^ SSWM : 430

His life had been turbulent lately, or more so than he had ever known it to be. Jefferson and Geneva were still the pillars that held him up, the members of Phoenix Valley his foundation, but recently he had found cracks and imperfections that made him doubt the stability of those that supported him. Pripyat had discovered a life outside of Phoenix Valley, and while it seemed all understood the youth’s wanderlust, at times he still would feel guilty if he longed to leave for more than a day. He never did. Although Jefferson and Geneva were still his parents, he knew now that they were not exclusively his. It had seemed a torrent of siblings, alive and dead, had invaded and there was little else to do but come to terms with it, and Pripyat did the best he could.

Every night he still returned to the ranch, although he thought often of the night he had slept in the lighthouse and the night he had wander out along the coast and the pretty woman he had met there. Often he would return really late, nearly morning, and his father and mother already asleep, or his mother sleeping and his father still up aside the fire place and barely any words were exchanged as Pripyat scurried to his room to sleep away the next day. It was after one such night he woke, much later than usual, and found the ranch house to be empty of any and all souls. The day was already well into its course and Pripyat rubbed the sleep from his eyes and he hoisted himself up, unworried about the fact that he had slept much of winter’s short supply of daylight away.

Emerging from the ranch house he had no real plans for the day. He would scout borders or help to clean up after the cattle or something to make sure Jefferson and Mother didn’t grew upset at his new nocturnal schedule. It was as he was slowly meandering towards the barn when he spotted Xeris, the first face he had seen all day. The snow colored woman had always been kind and though they had been closer when he had been more of a child he was always glad to see her. There was no hesitance in his actions as he strolled up, raising his hand and grinning widely. “Xeris! Good morning… or afternoon even.” His boyish laugh was the same as it always had been, and one he shared often with the woman who had watched over him as a puppy.

SSWM : 364

He watched the woman as she shifted, her body knowing exactly what to do. Pripyat could hear the sounds as her bones realigned, watched as her skin stretched and then found its shape once more. Perhaps it was rude to stare so blatantly but he knew Xeris wouldn’t interpret his curiosity as anything other than what it was. For a long while he had struggled with the ability to shift himself, perhaps he really had just been too young and had tried to rush it, but now he could shift. He could shift as easily as she and as he watched her he wondered what had ever been so intimidating about it in the first place. Why had it been so hard for him? Yet now here he was, on two legs and Xeris too stood as the humans had and was now clasping him on the shoulder.

He smiled again, nodding at her words. It had been a while since just the two of them spoke. They had of course seen each other’s faces here and there, pack meetings or just coming and going, but their lives had not slowed down enough for the two to just chat. Although he couldn’t think of anything specific to tell Xeris, he hadn’t really slowed down in the past few months. He had been going here and there, within Phoenix Valley and outside of it. And within his own head. Yet all that had come to rest now and he didn’t want to drag up past grievances, so his voice was steady and friendly when he answered her.

“I have been well, real well.” He cleared his throat, his ocean eyes settling on their gaze on Xeris’s golden ones. “What about you? How have you been?” It did not seem strange to be asking her this, he had always been polite and courteous. Yet it wasn’t really the same question he might have asked months ago. Now it came from the lips of an adult, to the ears of another, and Pripyat had a mature interest in the woman who had once just been a caretaker but now was a fellow pack mate and a friend.

SSWM : 320

Still in good spirits Pripyat regarded Xeris, noting the subtle hesitation his question had invoked in her. She had been gone for a while, but the boy hadn't doubted her return, somehow. Just as his home was here, he had been sure that it was true for Xeris too. She had a life here, a mate, and so much more. He hadn't worried himself when she had left and had barely noticed when she returned, it was the natural coming and going that one's life went through. Yet now, that they spoke just the two, and he had a chance to more closely look her over, he wondered. Why had she even left in the first place? Geneva had said nothing to him, though surely his mother, or father would know. And if not, perhaps it was private? Yet Pripyat couldn't shake the feeling something was wrong. Something was off. Something about Xeris just wasn't the same.

Quickly she turned the subject back to himself and he smiled, not letting on to the wonderings that went on within him just then. "Oh, exciting? Um, not really. I had a run in with a woman in Inferni, but Addison was there and we're both alright." He shrugged nonchalantly, as if it had been nothing. And now it truly seemed nothing, but he would admit to how terrified he had been then, how guilty he felt for days afterwards whenever he caught sight of his sister, and how childishly he had begged her not to tell a soul of his mistake, although he had to the whole pack admitted it recently. As if it were natural, his words were smooth, he spun the conversation back around, his bright eyes merry but mind calculating as he analyzed every little nuance of Xeris just then. "What kind of trouble has your family run into?" Casual, as if it were nothing. And hopefully it was.

no worries luff! SSWM : 412

Pripyat almost felt embarrassed once more when Xeris spoke of Inferni, showing her concern for the boy at the mere mention of the clan. Addison had told him to stay clear, had warned him, but he hadn’t quite believed her. Or had simply wanted to see for himself, he wasn't sure which. Either way he had gone and learned the harsh realities of the clan's hostilities on his own. How was it that they persisted? If so many seemed to realize their ruthlessness why didn't someone, or many someones, try to stop them? Averting his gaze momentarily, for he couldn’t quite meet the woman's gaze knowing that he was omitting details on just how bad the encounter had been, his voice was low and almost regretful. "It could have gone worse." The awful woman had pulled a weapon on them, and either Addison or him might be dead now but good fortune had been with them and they had both made it back to Phoenix Valley on one piece.

Looking back up at Xeris Pripyat gave the woman his full attention, staying silent as she spoke. There were very many words that came from the woman's mouth, but there were enough. And it was the way she talked, her tone, the inflections, that really spoke. That really conveyed the meaning. He remembered more clearly Xeris speaking of this same incident at the pack meeting and he knew that there were details she too kept to herself. Well that was both of their rights, to keep certain unpleasant facts to themselves. Perhaps such fact were before left unsaid at times, why be remind each other of all the awful things that happened in this world?

"I'm sorry Xeris. I'm glad you have come home now." And the boy was. Xeris was alive now in Phoenix Valley, their safe haven, and the boy couldn't imagine harm befalling them while they were in the safe confinements of their home. Xeris of course would have to struggle with the scars, both physical and mental, of what had befallen her, but hopefully the security that Phoenix Vallet provided would help those heal. With time they would surely heal. Yet Pripyat knew that although they were safe inside the pack land they couldn't ignore what happened outside of their home. Just as he had with Noah the posed a question he doubted anyone really had the answer for. "Xeris, why is there so much evil in this world?"

so sorry for the wait luff! Post SSWM and sick and school and BAH!

The words spoken of Phoenix Valley, the haven they lived in, were a comfort. To hear Xeris say she was glad he was safe and they were both in Phoenix Valley and nothing could ever touch them as long as they stayed there… well that was a comfort. Yet the words Xeris spoke next were not quite the comfort the woman probably hoped they would be. Survival? That was the under laying cause of the evil that came from others? Instincts? Surely there had to be more than that. Surely there had to be a greater cause, a more meaningful reason that evil erupted and marred the world with its presence.

"If we all have the same common goal, survival, then why do we fight against each other? How was my being close to Inferni making the survival of that awful woman any less likely? Why did she hate me for simply being there?" The questions came out one after another, an unending string that the young boy wouldn’t be comfortable asking a stranger, but with Xeris or Noah or Geneva it was okay. With Jefferson he would have to pick his words more carefully, condense it to one question, which it really was anyway. Just one question. Pripyat couldn’t help asking the question to the scarred white woman, even if he wasn’t sure she would really have any more answers than he did. “Why does it seem like there are some individuals who just want to hurt others, even if it doesn’t help them one bit?” Why indeed?