Fresh flowers heaped on a snow-covered mound denoted a Dahlian’s recent passing through the cemetery. Although it could’ve been anyone’s gesture, the Acer assumed the offerings had come from either Conor or Emwe, for they rested atop their stillborn sister’s resting place. No proper gravestone had been erected, no monument to indicate where she’d been buried. Alexey found peace in knowing that a stone angel towered over the little girl, protecting her from whatever hardships she would need to overcome in the afterlife. There was always the slim possibility that the Rosen himself had paid her a visit, as he’d been the one to bury her tiny body, but she doubted such was the case. The poor man’s soul was beyond salvation, and he’d never been the flower-bearing type. Seeing the garden of remembrance one last time before their big move, knowing it would no longer be at close proximity, stirred up unexplainable sorrow within her. For many, burial grounds were taboo; the complete opposite of what the Acer considered them to be. The cemetery was a place of peace and comfort.

There she lingered, gaze upon various headstones, bidding them all silent farewells. The Caregiver could only hope that Inferni would not stoop as low as to desecrate their sacred soil. Through Mew’s injuries, they had already suffered enough, and Alexey would prevent further heartache by steering her loved ones in a safer direction. A sharp bark reverberated in the atmosphere, a message from the good-hearted Emwe redirecting her attention to the task at hand. The pups had been rallied, and the final preparations were in motion. Soon, they would depart for their new home in Wolfville. The cinnamon female made her way back to them, intent on keeping her head held up high regardless of the sorrow tugging at her heart. Three little forms were gathered on the front porch, obviously curious as to what all the commotion was about. Alexey had offered to take Mew’s children for a day, giving Hanna the opportunity to properly focus on her work. Their healing mother was top priority.

“Ready, guys?” she called out with a slight wag of her tail. Three Papavers were present, but there was still one missing. Night had a habit of wandering about, but she never strayed too far. Her smell was potent, an indication of the short distance separating her from the lot. Emwe and Conor were close by; she could hear them rummaging inside the house. So she waited patiently for them to arrive, bracing herself for the next big move in her life.

####


Emwe moved through the house at random, not sure what Conor was doing. He had called out to Alexey to tell her that he, at least, was ready to go. At least in a sense. While his purple-eyed brother was probably doing useful stuff, and fetching the things he wanted to bring, Emwe was not. Emwe had no things, no items that he needed. In this situation, it was practical. Having nothing better to do, the young male took the time to wander from one room to the other, studying the walls and the furniture and the various items that made up their home. Sure, it probably didn't look as glorious as it had when the humans inhabited it (oh, he should have known), but he found it attractive. Not attractive in a wow-that's-so-pretty kind of way, more like hmm-that's-cozy kind of way. And he knew that this was because of all the hours he had spent in this place, and that knowledge lowered his mood. In all honesty, he did not want to leave this place, but he suspected Alexey would not take no for an answer on this one. And besides, it would not be the same without them. To Emwe, this place was one that he cared about, but only because the individuals he cared about had spent so much time with him there. So, he would go with them, and make some new place become as important to him as this one. Perhaps it would be a good thing. They were moving to Wolfville, and Mew stayed there with her aunt Hanna. He hadn't visited her — didn't know if he was allowed or even if he could handle it. But if they lived close, he knew that he was close enough. The young male had had many thoughts on his mind after finding the bloodied aunt, one that he barely knew, but Conor and Alexey did. He had been the one to deliver the news, not just to the pack itself, but more closely to these wolves who made up his family. It had been harder than he had anticipated, when he knew how close they were to her.



####Sometimes nudging an object, sometimes just staring at them, Emwe worked his way through every room, hoping that Conor would keep doing what he was doing until Emwe was finished. But, this hope was broken as he heard Alexey's voice calling them from the outside. On four legs (always. If he had no belongings and no items he wanted to use, why should he be on two?), he trotted outside to meet her. Mew's pups sat there, too, and remarkable still considering their age. This was not Emwe's thought, of course; Emwe knew nothing about pups. He glanced at them and concluded that they were there, and that was that. Looking around him, he spotted no Night, but he could smell her well, so she was probably close. Without a word, the young male moved again, around the corner of the house he had called home, and shifted there into his two-legged state. If he was to help carry his part of the load, he would need these hands that everyone liked so much. It took him a lot of time; he didn't do it very often. But, he had been quicker to get ready than his brother, so perhaps they wouldn't notice. Perhaps Conor would have just finished when he came out from around the corner. Rising on two legs now, Emwe took a second or two to step around and make sure he was all good before coming out. He was still sceptical to this sort of thing. Standing next to the pups, he waited for any further instructions without a word. There was little left in him to say right now.

He knew he was not the only one emotionally reluctant to let go of the home where he had been allowed to develop like a child into a less damaged youth. Alexey and her house had saved him, and now it was time to leave the only true home he ever had behind to find safer accommodation deep in the heart of Dahlia de Mai. It was necessary, especially since they were responsible for the children, but his heart would be an additional burden today. He let two clawed fingers run over the thick books that would be left behind – simply too many in number and far too heavy for him to bring them along right now. Perhaps he would retrieve them at a later date, but the young male doubted it. All of them had been read through and he could not learn much from them anymore. He had merely gathered blankets and random small things like spices as well as his small collection of herbs in various forms and the bag where he had all his healer equipment. Susquehanna was a wonderful teacher and had helped him on the path of medicine. Some things were freshly taken from nature, but he and his grandaunt had also found him some human medicine. Anti bacteria salves along with needles and whatever else one could think of. Rare and extremely valuable items in the young boy’s mind.

He would miss the cemetery. He would miss a lot. Yet he tried to push his mind to admit that they were not truly going anywhere. They were only leaving a building, not Dahlia de Mai. They would still be together, and that was what truly mattered, the male knew. Alexey’s call was what helped the immovable werewolf to turn around and walk out of the room. Instead of walking down the stairs straight away, Conor stopped in front of Alexey’s bedroom, now cold and empty. He missed the warmth they once had. There was warmth and love in their current relationship as well, but the young male thought there was a forever present tension between the two. Although her actions and behaviour still confused him, he knew that he could never have her as anything else than a mother and friend. Although he sort of wished so, things had not changed since the young male had kissed the woman that he knew was the love of his life. He still loved her, despite it being hopeless. Perhaps this change could help him deal better with his leaking heart. He had wondered if he should move out on his own for good now, but currently that would be an impossible move. Alexey needed all the help she could get with the children and he wished nothing more than to do whatever he could to help her out.

Soon he was jogging down the stairs and out into the light day. They were all here except for Night. Violet gaze travelled in hope to find that black fur and melancholic face, but there was no sight of the young child. She knew that they were moving on and knew that she would only have to follow their trail to their new home. He saw no reason to wait for her, though of course he was worried for her. His gaze finally settled with Alexey and he gave her a thin smile.