Ailsa arrived at the sanctuary, entering and beginning to look around.
Nara looked up with a smile. "This day just got better."
She chuckled, "How have you been?"
"Happy, thanks to you. Everything going well in the village?"
"Yeah, Ave is back in charge and I'm going to be working on a new forest sanctuary. That's about it."
"A forest sanctuary?" The Were frowned.
"Kinda like this place but in the forest. For anyone who wants to come visit, because the village is kinda tiny in comparison.."
Nara laughed softly. "I accept. You looking for someone or is this just a research visit?"
She shrugged, "Not entirely sure. Figured I'd at least say hi to the new wolves I had found.."
His face darkened slightly. "Tet has taken to caring for them. Follow me."
He led her outside to a building. "Tet!"
The Were's head popped out a window, his confusion giving way to a pleased smile. "Ailsa!" He disappeared, emerging out the door as Nara excused himself.
"Hey. How've the newbies been doing? Are they all alright?"
"Half of them refuse to be human, the other half are sure this is a trick and the council are waiting to kill them if they step foot outside."
She nodded and sighed, "Can I come in? Or will I just cause issues?"
"It's a good day today. I'll introduce you."
She nodded again and followed him.
Tet pointed out the girl sitting with a boy in the corner. "Taryn and Kalen. They're siblings."
Ailsa looked over at them for a moment before continuing to look around.
Another teen sat by a window, staring out. He was introduced as Kona. A black wolf lay at his feet, apparently named Shinji.
A pair of large gray wolves were curled around each other. They lifted their heads as Tet said "Ori and Etsuko. They're mated."
There were two youngish looking men seated at a table. They gave her a look of fear.
"Finally, Marrok and Conri. They won't talk. Don't know if it's physical or mental."
Ailsa nodded and sat down at an empty table. She watched them all for a few minutes, not wanting to bother them.
Marrok kept staring at her, Conri losing interest and returning to the book he was reading.
"I thought me taking care of them would help, but now I wonder." Tet sighed as he sat down beside her.
"Should I try to talk to anyone or let them come to me?"
"He seems to be unafraid." Tet smiled slightly as Marrok slowly approached.
"Hi," she said softly.
He cocked his head, then sniffed her. He smiled and nudged her gently with his head.
She gently pet his head, "Hey. I'm Ailsa."
He made a small happy noise in his throat.
She chuckled, "I know this all probably seems kinda scary, but you're all safe now."
He stared at her for a moment, then a soft voice answered "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Should have known. Maybe I should cross dress?" Tet asked wryly.
She laughed in response.
A very tall male approached her. "The council is truly gone?"
She nodded, "Some things happened so I don't remember all the details, but yes, they have been defeated."
He gave her a dazzling smile before turning to the others. "We're really free!"
She smiled and looked at them all.
Everyone looked at her aside from the one Tet had called Kona. The wolves reverted, revealing a punk looking blond and a lithe young woman.
"I'm glad you're all safe now. If you need anything, I'm Ailsa. Though, I'm sure Tet has been taking great care of you."
"Tch." The blond scowled. "He won't let us leave."
She frowned, "If you really don't want to stay, you aren't prisoners."
"Ailsa!" Tet hissed in her ear. "Shinji and Kona are street kids. If they leave, who knows what will happen!"
"I get that, and I plan to make this place as welcoming as possible. But you can't keep anyone here against their will."
"Even to protect them?"
She sighed, "I'll leave that up to you. I don't feel it's right, but you do own this place." She looked up at them, "I'm building a new place, in the forest. You are welcome to come there if you'd prefer. But Tet does make a point, he is just trying to keep you safe."
"Like he knows anything. He has everything. Why would he care?" Shinji growled.
Tet inhaled sharply, then ran out the door.
"He might have a lot, but that doesn't mean he has everything and his life hasn't been the easiest. He cares because he's a nice person. What point would he have in keeping you here if he has everything? He just wants to help you guys. Plus, you get food and shelter here. I don't know why you'd want to leave. But if you still feel like being an ungrateful lil ass, then leave."
Shinji broke eye contact, moving back beside Kona.
She sighed, "Sorry.."
"Sorry about him." Kona spoke softly. He ignored Shinji's glare, finally looking at her. "We are grateful. This is just hard on us."
"I'm sorry. I'm here to talk if that would help. I can't imagine all you've been through.."
Shinji brushed tears away with his knuckles before turning his eyes to the window.
"Like I said, I'm building a new sanctuary in the forest, if you'd rather come out there with me once it's built.. Until then, though, I'll be around if you need me or if you want to talk, just have Tet call me and I'll come over. I don't want to bother you though, so I'll leave you guys alone for now."
Kona simply nodded, wrapping an arm around Shinji's shoulders. He bent his head and said something inaudible to the other boy, earning a slight smile.
Ailsa stood and headed for the door.
Marrok waved before returning to Conri's side.
She slipped out the door and went to find Tet.
She heard cursing interspersed with sobbing and growling.
She followed the noises.
She found him throwing rocks violently into a small pond.
"Hey. I'm sorry they said what they did. They're just lashing out because they are struggling."
"He's my half brother."
She nodded slowly. "I see why you want to protect him. But there's only so much you can do. I think I've kicked some sense into him though.. not literally of course."
"It's my fault. I got him thrown out..because I was jealous. I was a petty brat who messed up an innocent kid's life."
"You should tell him you realize your mistakes and that even though it doesn't fix what happened, you are sorry about it. At least let him know."
"I tried. He stabbed me five times. If not for Kei, I would be dead."
"I'm sorry. That's rough.. All you can do is keep trying though."
"Is it worth it? Should I just let him leave? Or let him kill me?"
"You just want what's best for him. Even if he doesn't see that, you have to try to do what you feel is best. It won't make up for what happened in the past, but it's a start. Hopefully, he'll see that."
Tet wrapped his arms around himself before kneeling. "I'm such an asshole. Thinking that I can just say sorry.."
"Saying sorry is only a start. You have to prove it. And you can try by showing him you still care."
"I should just die. He'd be happier."
She growled, "Stop that! Everyone makes mistakes. You need to own up to yours and make things as right as you can. Dying is not how you do that."
"He told me he wouldn't rest until I got what was coming to me."
"He can change just like you have. Do I need to drag you to him and mediate a conversation?"
"How do you possibly plan to mediate between two Weres? He could kill me in seconds before you could stop him. Even if you took his knife. We don't have to shift completely, just claws."
"Well, I can always revive you. But don't forget I do have magic."
He gave her a tiny smile.
She chuckled, "Well, I'll let you think on it. But I'm always here to talk or mediate if you need it."
"Maybe you should be giving him a lecture? I want to talk, he wants to put holes in me."
She chuckled again, "Yeah, I guess stabbing isn't the best course of action.."
Tet made a snort of derision. "It's kind of how we Were's solve our problems, honestly. How we decide clan leadership. Not like you fairies. It's not birth order for us, it's who's stronger in a fight."
She nodded slowly, "Well, I can try talking to him. Not sure it'll help, but I'll try."
"Good luck." He sighed, then winced and held himself tighter.
She pushed light into him for a few minutes to help, then headed back to the building. She approached Shinji and quietly asked, "Can we talk?"
He gave her a look of confusion, then he nodded. "Okay?"
"I'm sorry I called you ungrateful. I didn't realize you had such a past with Tet."
He shrugged dismissively. "Doesn't matter."
"Yes, it does. I let my anger get the better of me. Something I struggle with sometimes.." she sighed. "He cares about you, you know. He's just trying to help. You don't have to accept that help, but his desire is genuine."
The teen's face and voice went hard. "He had us disowned and tossed out in a fit of jealousy. He didn't protect the clan and they were destroyed. He's worthless as an Alpha. If not for that Mahoutsukai, I would have been rid of him."
"He knows what he did was wrong and feels terrible about it and understands he can't change what happened in the past. But he's trying to start over and do things right this time." She looked down. "I just thought you should know how he really feels, even if you choose to ignore it." She turned away, "Let me know if you need anything."
"How do you know he's not putting on an act?"
"I'm a pretty good judge of character. I think it has to do with my powers," she looked thoughtful before her face turned sad, "But he truly feels he should just die to make you happy. Not that his friends will let him, but.."
"All I wanted after my mother died was a brother..but he couldn't stand me." Shinji's voice broke. "I don't know what I did wrong…"
She gave him a sad smile, "You didn't do anything wrong. He was in the wrong. But he's trying to make things better now in his own way.. Maybe you should give him a chance?"
Shinji wiped his eyes and shrugged. "If he really has changed..I guess there are worse places to be than here."
"Well, if you still decide you don't want to be near him, you can come with me to the new place once it's done." She gave him a small smile.
He returned it. "I should probably apologize to him, huh?"
"It might be nice, but it's understandable if you need more time."
"Where is he?"
"He was outside by the water when I saw him last."
"Alright." The teen headed outside.
Ailsa headed back to the main building.
Ten minutes later, Shinji slowly approached her. His clothes were soaking wet and his eyes were distant.
"Oh no.. what happened?"
"When I got there..he was in the pond. I dragged him out..I tried to get him breathing but nothing worked.." The words were monotone, the teen looking defeated. "I got what I wanted.."
She gently wrapped her arms around him for a minute. "Come on, let's see what I can do to help him, okay?"
"He's dead..what can you do?"
"I've revived my share of dead people."
He remained silent, leading her to the pond.
Tet lay on his back, his face pale. He'd removed his shirt and Shinji recoiled as he saw multiple scars.
"What are those?" The teen shakily traced the length of the longest scar with a finger.
"Not sure. You'll have to ask him," she said softly before focusing. Light surrounded Tet and she worked on clearing his lungs of any water.
He inhaled sharply, then his eyes opened. "Why won't I die?"
"You did die. But now you're back." Ailsa answered.
"I don't deserve to be..I'm a horrible person. I should have died the night the clan did.." He covered his face.
"You wouldn't have this many friends that care about you if you were a horrible person. Everyone makes mistakes, and you've made your share, but you can become better."
"I shouldn't get the chance to! Everyone is dead aside from Shinji and all he wants is to kill me.."
Ailsa looked up at Shinji, "I think what he really wants is you to be his brother."
Shinji embraced Tet, the crying wolf flinching slightly. "I missed you, idiot. I was so hurt..But today is a fresh start."
Tet didn't answer, merely clinging to the teen.
"Where did you get those scars?" Shinji pulled back slightly.
"The Council's minions..I was on guard while the clan was relaxing. One of them practically gutted me and left me for dead before slaughtering them." Tet dropped his eyes.
Shinji's face became horrified.
Ailsa sighed and stood, going to leave the brothers to catch up.