Raven goes out to greet her pack after such a long absence unaware of the tears that are still pouring down her face. One of the wargs notices her, and runs up to greet her. Soon after the rest of them see her coming, and all try to get her affection at the same time. It makes Raven smile to be showered with so much love. The most distinguishing feature of these wargs is the indigo crescent moon on their fore heads. The mark is why they have come to be known as moon wargs.
The moon wargs do indeed love Raven for the wonderful lives she has given them. The moon wargs are absorbing so much elven magic that they bare little resemblance to the wargs bred by Sauron. The elves have gotten used to having them around to aide in the protection of their homes. The moon wargs have also become accustomed to the presence of the elves. They even allow them to play with their pups when ever they are in the area, but it is spending time with their alpha that brings them the greatest joy. On a slightly more serious note moon wargs spend a great deal of time training themselves to kill even the strongest of orcs. Moon wargs have grown to hate orcs with a fiercer passion that even the oldest of the elves. They will never forget how they were enslaved by the foul creatures. They show them even less mercy than the elves. Moon wargs have even been known bare elves on their backs when their horses have been struck down. It is a dead orc that passes anywhere near the Hidden Valley.
One by one they notice Ravens sadness, and are wondering what could have happened to make their strong alpha cry. The most curious of them nudges her, and says.
"What is wrong? Why are you crying?" moon warg 1
"I have been remembering the past of late, and it is very painful." Raven
"Are you getting at all better?" moon warg 2
"Yes but it will continue to hurt for a long while yet." Raven
"We understand. Just know that we will always be here for you." moon warg 3
The rest of the moon wargs refrain from further discussion as they do not want upset Raven further. They lead her over to the den site so that she can spend time with the pups. They all figure that it will go a long way towards cheering Raven up. Raven spent the next few hours playing with the pups. Each and every one of them was so adorable. It went a long way toward brightening her depressed mood. As she is playing with a particularly rambunctious pup an elf comes up to her, and says.
"Dinner is almost ready to be served if you will follow me I will help you get ready." maid
"Lead the way." Raven
The maid turns around, and begins to walk in the direction of the city. Raven follows after her at a slightly sedate pace. The maid notices that she is looking slightly distressed, and smiles at her reassuringly. When they get to her room the maid selects a dress for her to wear after her bath. When she finished her bath Raven put on the dress, drapes her pelt over her shoulder, and heads out the bedroom door. As she is walking to the dinning room Ravens mood is steadily improving with every step she takes. When she gets there she is the happiest she has been since she left the halls of healing. Raven was very happy that she has gotten to spend some time with her pack, but now it is time once again to be with her family. While she was there Raven noticed the difference it has had on the wargs she freed to be living under the protection and magic of the elves. It made her chuckle internally at how safe and non-threatened the maid felt when she came to fetch her for dinner. She can tell that her life will be anything but boring. When she reaches the dining hall Raven sits in her usual place between her mother and sister. The entire family engages in pleasant conversation, and a good time is had by all. Like she did once before Raven hopes that the familial bliss will never end, and this time she does not get the sense of impending doom that she got the last time she thought such thoughts. Maybe just maybe everything would be alright in the end. Raven is looking forward to the years to come. One thing that is certain is that Raven is going to take Arwen with her on her next outing. Raven decides that she will tell this to Arwen when they have tea tomorrow. One thing is worrying her though. Her brothers keep giving her jealous, and sorrowful looks when they think she is not looking. She understands that they are jealous of all the time she is spending with the rest of the family when she used to only spend time with them, but she could not understand their sorrow. Raven thinks on this for a good long while, and comes to the conclusion that they must have heard her say that she is planing on ignoring them. Well she hopes that the sorrow they are feeling now will make them reconsider acting so selfishly in the future.
The next morning Raven decides that there is only so much tea drinking, socializing, and prank pulling that she can stand so she decides to head to the training grounds. She will train until breakfast then she will spend from the end of breakfast to lunch with her mother and Arwen. Then from the end of lunch to dinner with her pack. If she found this schedule to be enjoyable that is what everyday for the next ten years would look like. When she got to the training grounds she saw her brothers, and quickly went to the opposite side of the field. They look at her with a frown on their faces, but she uses her telepathy that she gained from the adoption saying.
Serves you right for being so petty and selfish.
What do you mean petty and selfish?
You feel ill used because I am spending time with the rest of our beloved family. How could you think that is in any way except able?
We know. We have come to realize how poorly we have been acting when you said that you plan to ignore us for ten years.
That is good, but it will take a while for me to forgive you. Now if you will excuse me I have training to do.
Of course let us know what we can do to make it to you.
It is not just me that you have to apologize to. You also have to make it up to the rest of our family.
We will.
The conversation ends and Raven returns to her training. The guards are just as fond as they have always been of her skill as a warrior. They are also glad that she is finding some balance in her life. It is not healthy for such a young elleth to spend all her time fighting.
Breakfast came and went. Raven and Arwen are spending time in the garden drinking tea and making small talk. When Raven decided that it was time to inform Arwen that she wanted her company on the next outing she takes. She does this saying.
"Arwen I have been thinking quite seriously about what you mentioned at tea yesterday." Raven
"I would like to know your thoughts on the matter." Arwen
"I think that it would be fun if you accompanied me on my next outing. Tell me are you still an expert with a sword?" Raven
"I am and it makes me very happy to be accompanying you on your outing." Arwen
"Why don't we go to the training field to make sure that neither of our skills become rusty between now and then." Raven
"Good idea." Arwen
Arwen and Raven head to the training field, and spend many hours there honing their already substantial skill. When they are finished Raven takes Arwen out to the pack's den site so that she can play with the pups. When they get there all the pups pounce on them, and begin to shower them with all kinds of affection. By the time they stop Arwen and Ravens faces are covered in the pups drool. The sisters begin laughing at how silly the whole situation is. They continue to play with the pups for the rest of the day. Lord Elrond comes to personally collect them for the evening meal. The scene before him fills his heart with gladness. The pups pick up his scent, and begin rubbing up against him in a fond manner. He must admit to himself that the warg pack has become a standard feature in his valley, and neither he or anyone else would ever change that. After petting everyone of the pups he calls to his daughters saying.
"Arwen, Raven dinner is about to be served. It is time to return to the city." Elrond
"Yes father." Arwen and Raven
Lord Elrond smiles as his daughters scramble to follow him back to the city. He knows that the next ten years are going to be quite enjoyable. When they reach the dinning hall everyone is seated, and the food is served. The sisters lock eyes each of them wondering how they are going to tell their father that Arwen wants to go on the next outing. They know how protective their father is of his children. They still get a chuckle out of the angry scowl that appeared on fathers face when a guard of the Greenwood made Raven cry. Arwen is also quite puzzled by this because their father has never been quite that over protective of her. As she thinks of it she realizes that their father is so over protective of Raven because she has suffered so much already, and he wishes to shield her from any further pain. Arwen can understand this desire for it is hers as well. Arwen has no idea how she can possibly endure such pain as she has. One thing is certain though Raven will never be alone ever again.
Raven often finds herself with to much time to think, and it is at times like these that memories of the past flood her mind. The pain courses through her being, and she has no idea how she will ever handle it. Though she is an elf now many of her Inu characteristics have remained. Chief amount them is the fierce sense of duty and loyalty she feels toward her kin. The fact that she so spectacularly failed them never ceases to cause Raven great pain. Her heart has only recovered from the immense loss the tiniest little bit. Though she no longer seeks to end her life it does not stop the pain from constantly flowing through her. She does all that she can to distract herself, but still the pain returns in the stillness of her solitude. She has made certain that her family never bares witness to her brooding, however she is sure that they are well aware of it none the less. Even though she knows this she never brings it up for she knows that it would bring renewed and vigorous sadness to her heart. So Raven broods on her losses alone in the quiet stillness of her chambers. There are times when she thinks that she can sense Sesshomaru's yoki, but Raven dismisses it as impossible continuing with her day as if nothing had happened. This just so happens to be one such instance. Sesshomaru's yoki gently brushes against her as if to reassure her that everything will be alright. This brief reassurance is enough to end her brooding. She runs to her bed buries her face in Sesshomaru's mokomoko and cries herself to sleep.
Lord Elrond senses the foreign energy in his domain, and goes to investigate. When he gets to the source what he sees makes his heart ache. He sees his beloved youngest daughter weeping into the white fur pelt she arrived wrapped in. He walks up to her, puts his hand on her shoulder, and says.
"Why do you weep daughter?" Elrond
"It just hurt so much." Raven
"I know the death of loved ones is the hardest thing anyone will ever have to face. I am just sorry that you have had to face it at such a young age." Elrond
"Thank you father." Raven
"Tell me who does this pelt belong to?" Elrond
"This pelt belongs to Sesshomaru." Raven
"Sesshomaru? Wasn't that your father before me?" Elrond
"Yes. It's strange though..." Raven
"What's strange?" Elrond
"I could've sworn that I felt his yoki brush up against me just now." Raven
"So that is the strange dark power that I felt moments ago." Elrond
"How is this possible?" Raven
"I do not know. Just take what comfort you can from it, and allow it to soothe away the pain in your heart." Elrond
Raven nods, and hugs the pelt close to her. Lord Elrond hugs her, and walks out of the room wondering what theses strange happenings could mean.
Raven looks around at her family seated in the dinning hall, and wonders yet again what she could have possibly done to deserve all the love that surrounds her. Dinner was a pleasant affair rife with joyous conversation. After dinner Raven went to the training field to flex and train her power in peace and solitude. She let her power ebb and flow around her in complete control at all times. Sesshomaru had often praised her saying that her control was even better than his. It was at times like this that Raven remembered that he had trained her ruthlessly to make it so. These basic exercises never ceased to bring about a nostalgic remembrance in her, however it was only at times like these that remembering such things brought her no pain. She concentrated on her hands with power. One with purity and the other with poison were they filled. This exercise allowed her greater control of her power it did not matter how often she did it she always got a sense of tranquility when ever she performed it. Raven reveled in the different feelings that each and every exercise brought with it. To her this was the most important thing that she could ever do to facilitate the recovery of her badly wounded heart. Raven continued on like this until dawn for she had not utilized even a fraction of her true power so she was far from tired. And so Raven has come to the decision that she will continue in the exercising of her power until she is completely and utterly spent. At which point she will fall into a blissful dreamless sleep. Raven also knows that her father will be greatly displeased with her impending actions, but that can not be helped. She continues through the dawn, and still has yet to exhaust herself. Raven is continuing to revel in the flow of feelings her training is bringing about in her. She can not get enough of these soothing emotions. Perhaps she can use them as an excuse to get her out of trouble with her father when he finds her passed out in the training field. It brings her great pride to exercise her impeccable control in such a way.
Lord Elrond is very much aware of the constantly flowing power that currently pulses through his land. After a significant amount of time the power just stops in it's tracks. When the flow of the soothing power abruptly ceases Lord Elrond begins to worry, and sets off to find out what has happened. After searching high and low he comes to the training field, and finds his youngest passed out on the ground. His worry increases tenfold, and he rushes to examine her to make sure that she is alright. When he has finished he breathes a great sigh of relief, gathers her up in his arms, leaves the training field, and takes her to her room. When he gets there Lord Elrond puts her on the bed, and places Sesshomaru's pelt over her sleeping form. He goes to the garden to contemplate everything that has happened of late, and while entrenched in his musings his wife comes up to him, puts a hand on his shoulder, and says.
"How is Raven dear husband?" Celebrian
"She is well. I put her in her chambers to rest." Elrond
"I worry about her greatly. Her grief is greater than it should be now that she has a family once again." Celebrian
"I know wife. I worry as well, however we can never hope to replace the family that she has lost. All we can hope to do is provide her with all the love and happiness that we can." Elrond
"I just wish that Raven did not have to suffer so." Celebrian
"I know that is my wish to. Have hope there will come a time when the pain is gone, and she will look back at those memories with fondness." Elrond
"You are right husband I will despair no longer." Celebrian
"We will give her the best family life that we can, and make sure that she knows she is loved." Elrond
"I have noticed that happiness in beginning to take root in her life once more." Celebrian
"She is beginning to accept us as her family more and more. At the same time she is beginning to put the past where it belongs in the past. It helps her greatly that we are not seeking replace the family that she has lost." Elrond
"Do you think that it would help if we encouraged her to talk about them. To share all the memories she has of them both good and bad." Celebrian
"Perhaps." Elrond
Lord Elrond stands from the bench, and begins heading into the house with his wife at his side. Each of them wonder what the future will bring for their precious elfling. They love her as if she was born to them instead of the other family who are strangers to them. It is their wish that they will get to learn about the people that gave their elfling birth. To their reasoning they could not have been bad people if they could raise such a wonderful daughter as Raven.