JOF Times Mentioned in Chapter:

Mornora-morning; the time of early morning to Azimuth

AN: Lookie here! I have been working on this for the past...two or three days to get it ready to post. Severus is free and out of jail but does not have Arastos (Cedar and Seal's half-brother) due to him being in an orphanage. Remus is still being a complete jerk. If you want to see Remus and his pups, go to deviantart dot com / stormwolves and click on Gallery, move over to Miscellaneous and click on 'Remus Pups'. You can also see Siren, Aluxious, Eponine, Cox and Roesia there as well to see the wolves accompanying Remus, Neville and Cedar. Cedar is a sickly pup sadly as too many fanfics where Harry has a twin are perfect or chubby like Dudley. I decided to do something different so made him sickly.

Jostanos: They might be if Remus doesn't straighten up. XD

Question Time (random questions for any questions people about the story or JOF):

Who is Calius?

Calius is the God of Magic on Xaythea. He is one of the children of Lord Vamdes (Father of All) and Lady Nitrix (Mother of All). His symbol is an owl. Calius is also the god of education. He usually appears as a wizended old man and has a temple on Souldes called Calius' temple. He's the oldest of the Mother and Father's godly children. The godly children were born after the Ancient Ones went to sleep. Any of the races that can use magic highly respect Calius as he is the one who grants them magic. Except Dark Magic...that's the Father's forte and Calius will not deal in dark magic under any circumstances though he can grant it.

Will they be going back to earth?

Eventually, everyone will be going back to earth. At least as far as Severus, Cedar, Neville, Remus and the pups are concerned. I have not decided if some of the pups will remain on Xaythea or not. Talon would stay on Xaythea, if he wasn't so attached to his papa.

Will the group be suspected to 5th century disease?

Neville and Cedar certainly well. Despite humans having a longer lifespan than humans on earth (200 years max lifespan on Xaythea for humans), humans are still susceptible to diseases. Severus, as he will be turned into a vampire, will no longer be able to catch diseases as one of a vampire's abilities on Xaythea/in JOF is Disease Immunity. This doesn't mean he cannot get sick but as far as catching diseases, he won't be able to. As for Remus and his litter, they can get diseases and get sick, despite being immortal.

Will their race abilities be explored in the story?

Yes, they will be explored. I've hinted at some things already, such as magic showing from Neville and Cedar as well as the potential for them to get magic of Xaythea. This is mainly why they are setting out for Souldes. Severus will also gain abilities, though they will be limited to what he can do as a fledgling and likewise, the werewolf abilities will be shown. They will keep these abilities when they return to earth. Remus just doesn't have magic, and neither will Severus, due to their pasts (Severus being a death eater/Remus being a complete jerk to the human pups & not accepting his being an animal) and through Calius's actions with their arrival of halting their magic.

Do werewolves go into heat in JOF?

Yes. Werewolf heat season is early Alkharf (autumn) to early Fuyu (winter). Females go into heat around 13-14 years old. This is a problem as heat tends to make pack males crazy and brings in potential rogues and loners plus male mates will fight off their own kin. Depending on the pack, pups may be locked away somewhere for their safety, other times pups may have to fend for themselves. Pretty much all the werecreatures of Xaythea go into heat at certain times of the year as well as some other species. This can be found on my Heat post on my writing blog Quills of the Abyss. It's on wordpress if you want more information.

Will Remus's daughters go into heat on earth?

Yes. That isn't going to change their natural canine physiology by being on a different planet.

Do Remus' pups have magic?

It's possible that some do not have magic and some do have magic. It's hard to say at the moment since Calius is preventing the pups from using their magic, if they have it, due to magic being a weakness of werewolves. Hunters, those that can use magic if they are one of the races that have magic, will use magic against werewolves.

How have the pups been living in a werewolf pack?

Pretty well. In Grimcrown (the pack that Remus and the pups were taken to), pups are treated well. They're expected to show subservience to the higher ranked wolves in the pack and were nursed by Caretakers. The pups have been marked down in the pack's history as being the sons and daughters of Remus and Dorcas and there's a note about Remus being the guardian of Neville and Cedar. There's a note about Cedar being the half-brother of Seal as well as siblings are marked down so they don't breed with each other. Neville and Cedar, with their magic coming in though, have had some issues with some of the pups but are being trained to show subservience and overall treated as wolf pups while keeping their human bodies and fragility in mind. Some adults in the pack worry Neville and Cedar could potentially grow up to be hunters themselves but the two human pups are being raised as wolves. When they turn eleven, they will be allowed to train in a rank and become acolytes, same as any wolf pup who reaches the age of eleven years. Remus has been snappy towards Neville and Cedar so they're frightened of Remus, Cedar especially being nervous around the wolves. He could be sent to a human settlement but Ordovic will only do that if the pup's life is in danger and he'd sooner kill Remus then lose a potential strong ally in the sickly pup. Neville is more scared of Remus when Remus is in his wolf form or were form. The pack does what they can to protect the human pups and help Cedar. Mostly, Remus takes good care of his pups but leaves the Caretakers to raise Cedar and Neville.

How do people get around on Xaythea?

Ship for long ocean voyages, dragon or wyvern riders will use their dragon or wyvern partner, horseback, horsedrawn carriages/carts and walking. They don't quite have the technology yet for airships so unless you have a mount that can fly (like an alicorn, nightmare/hellhorse, pegasus or griffin) or are a dragon or wyvern rider...or you're an angel, older vampire or avian you aren't getting to the two sky continents Agrelos and Elysia. I have a post on my blog called Travel Times which talks about Horses, Walking and Ship travel in terms of distance and such. Travel from Snowdale (southernmost continent) to Vaizuin (northernmost continet) is going to be a year trip one way. Traveling by ship you gotta factor in storms, winds, ship repairs and pirates. There's no trains, modern technology, airplanes, balloons, etc. on Xaythea.

How do I read this story?

Anything that is earth date (April 4, 1989) takes place on earth. Anything with the date written out that goes like (Flyrum, Sugar Moon, Year of the Horse) is taking place on Xaythea. I try to separate earth and Xaythea dates by horizontal lines.

Okay, onto the story. If you've questions about stuff on Xaythea and how it relates to earth (I do have a post on that by the way on my blog called JOF Xyearth Seasons), ask and I will attempt to answer.

Primeval, Grass Moon, Year of the Dragon:

Sine Fine, Western Province, Faumios

Cox and Aluxious carried the two human pups on their back, since they were no longer able to carry them by their shirts with how big they'd gotten. Though they were technically children according to humans, the pack thought of them as pups due to being raised within the pack. Siren moved in front of the pack with Eponine and Remus lagging, the Gamma Male keeping an eye out for any predators roaming about within the mountains. Their paws and claws easily gripped the rock surface. Except for the clicking of claws on the rocky ground and the breathing of the group, there were no other sounds around them. "What's a ship Gamma Siren?"

*'Hmmmm? A ship? It's easier to show you pup then to tell you but 'tis what we be travelin' on. It's made of wood mostly with iron rivets and ropes that hold up sails of cloth that catch the winds and moves across the oceans and seas of Xaythea. 'Tis how we mainly reach the other continents of our planet. 'Cept for the sky continents…we can't reach those unless we have dragons and I don't think any in the pack have a dragon. Perhaps ye or ye friend Cedar there might perhaps bond with a dragon one day and can see the sky continents of Agrelos and Elysia for y'self.'*

Siren looked back at Remus, making sure the omega was following him. *'How far is this journey to Jaumay?'*

Siren huffed at Remus's lack of title towards him and turned, snapping his teeth at the omega who yelped in surprise and stepped backwards. Moony rumbled in Remus's head, snarling at the human to stop causing problems. The human seemed not to care at all so Moony was forced to lower his head and advert his eyes from the gamma. The group continued after this warning, moving further into the mountains, only an hour passing since the pups and wolves had woken.

*'We have a ways to go yet before we reach Magbonear Knoll,'* spoke Siren. *'You, omega, just keep up and don't try anything.'*

*'From there we will descend into the hills until we reach Jaumay located in the northwestern edge of Attleto Valley,'* spoke Cox, speaking so the pups and his stupid apprentice could hear him. They had chosen a day when Xygerk's full moon wouldn't occur, taking the twelfth of Primeval which was Xygerk's first quarter moon during the second week of Grass Moon. The full moon would occur on the sixteenth and last until the morning of the nineteenth. It was easier on the pups that way and hopefully by then, they should be on a ship where they could lock the pups in a cabin for their own safety.

April 5, 1986

Azkaban, North Sea:

He no longer had any track of time or where his son was. All he knew was that Arastos hadn't seen him and he hadn't seen Arastos since before he had gone to warn Lily about the Dark Lord's attack, nor was he visited by the Dark Lord or Dumbledore which was preferable. Either would likely kill him or at least the Dark Lord. Footsteps came towards his cell as he sat there within it, not knowing his son had been given to an orphanage as Lily refused to take care of the child, never mind that James didn't want the 'son of a death eater' in his home. "You're being released," said a voice and he looked up to see an Auror standing at his cell. "A last-minute pardon from Dumbledore."

Severus couldn't believe it. He had been so sure he might spend the rest of his life within these walls or meet the Dementor that would take his soul away for he knew there was no coming back from that and there were other Death Eaters who had been sentenced to the Dementor's Kiss as well. "W…why?" His voice came out harsh and in a croak for he hadn't anything to drink in days.

"Can't say as I don't know myself but you should be happy that you won't suffer the same fate as your fellow Death Eater comrades. The Dementor's Kiss which is more than you deserve as well as that brat that you seduced Mrs. Potter into years ago," said the auror before pulling out his wand and sending a stunning spell at the prisoner which was followed up by the knockback jinx Filpendo which knocked Severus out. He was then cuffed and had a tracking spell placed on him before being taken through the prison and towards a waiting boat, another Auror using a patronus to keep the Dementors away as the prisoner was thrown into the boat and they sailed away.

Diagon Alley, London, United Kingdom

Severus found himself deposited before the entrance of Diagon Alley, watching the archway appear as Tom opened the entrance for him. He then stepped inside for the first time in five years, having gleaned the information from Tom and headed to the apothecary. Entering the shop, a bell tinkled overhead, and the shop keeper looked up from sweeping the floors of his store. "Welcome. What may I do for you?"

"I'm looking for a place to stay and work," said Severus. "I…I was just released from Azkaban…on a pardon and am afraid…"

"Hmmm. If you be needing work, I could use a shop assistant. You'd be sweeping the floors, managing the cash register and transactions when I'm away, stocking shelves and running errands for me. In return I can give two meals a day but you'll have to pay for your own board and find accommodations somewhere else. I can pay you six galleons and two knuts a day for your work."

Severus was surprised he was being given a job, despite this being his goal. It was smaller than what it had been when he'd been an adolescent, but he supposed he had to start somewhere, and he wasn't sure if he still had access to his vault. Severus bowed his head in thanks, the shopkeeper nodding. "You can start tomorrow but tell me something young man. Have you ever heard of other worlds?"

Other worlds? "No," said Severus. "I wasn't much into history."

"There's rumors of other worlds existing outside of our own," said the shop owner. "As I understand it, they are reached through portals. Disturbances that bend space and time itself, appearing as rifts in our world and connect various worlds. I'm a Muggleborn you see," he said to Severus' questioning look. "I don't know much about it but I've a customer who's looking into these other worlds and wishes to find some herbs from other worlds as well as things for alchemy. If you're up for the challenge, we can see about opening one of these portals for you when you've recovered a bit."

"How would I get back?"

"Through the veil," said the owner. "I imagine you come back the same way you leave, by a portal but there seems to be no way to know what time period you'll end up in or even if you'll come back to earth."

"Why me?"

"I have tried with a couple other apprentices, and they refused the offer of journeying to another land though a third did so but never came back," said the shop keeper. "I cannot fault them I suppose for it is an unexpected request, but I would think that someone accused of stealing the child of a light family would want to disappear from the public eye and what better way than to be on another world?"

Severus had to concede that point and for him, it made perfect sense. He could get away from the wizarding world for a while because surely neither Dumbledore nor the Minister for Magic nor the Dark Lord knew anything about other worlds, right? He doubted the Minster knew anything about the other worlds. "Is Bagnold still the Minister?"

"Aye," said the shop keeper. "Well, what do you say young Snape? Are you up for the task of traveling to other worlds and finding ingredients asked for, despite the danger?"

It seemed the best option, to escape the two people in Britain that posed the most threat to him. But what about his son? How could he possibly track Arastos down in the Muggle world? He doubted he could get those records and Lily would never say where she'd dropped off his son. Maybe Arastos was better off without him, wherever he was in the Muggle world. Maybe Severus should just…leave his son behind.

"I…can't leave my son behind. I don't know where he is but…I swore to myself I wouldn't be like my father," said Severus. Though Severus had grown up within the muggle world, being a half-blood and his father a drunken muggle who abused his mother and himself, Severus rarely went back to the muggle world except for the summers when he'd been in Hogwarts after his mother's death and upon graduation had moved into Prince Manor, his inheritance despite being a half-blood thanks to his mother formerly being a Prince before her marriage to Tobias Snape.

"I can give ya a couple days but that's it," said the shop keeper. "Where be your son?"

"I don't know. Some orphanage I guess in the Muggle world," said Severus. "He was put there sometime after I found myself in Azkaban. His mother…Mrs. Potter…didn't want him…but then she didn't want him in the first place."

"Ah…so Mrs. Potter isn't as kind as she seems, eh? I wonder if that explains the distrust of Mr. Potter towards his wife or it be the fact that he hasn't gotten a heir in these past five years?"

Severus couldn't bring himself to care about Lily. She'd shown her true colors when she had denied not only his son after giving birth but also denied Remus's son after it was revealed the child had been the son of a werewolf and not James….putting a glamor on the boy to make him look like James was something he hadn't expected. Indeed, he hadn't thought of them, nor of Remus and where he might be since that nigh in Godric's Hollow. "Well….seems she deserves it then," said Severus. "But how…"

"People tend to gossip Mr. Snape," said the shopkeeper. "I can look for your son if you wish within the Muggle world, but I am not sure if you would have custody rights to him for being a felon."

"Then…I guess I'll go. What…do I need?"

Primeval, Grass Moon, Year of the Dragon

Magbonear Knoll, Western Province, Faumios

The group had swung northwards, traveling into the deepness of Sine Fine and then hugged the western mountain ridge until Eponine had swung them westward once more. Green hills rose around them, the earth changing from rocky to soft beneath their paws as they descended. Cox had set Neville down on the ground and the child was now toddling after him, holding onto the wolf's tail as they made their way away from the mountains of Sine Fine. Cedar was still being carried by Aluxious, the child being a sickly creature despite the pack doing their best for the pup. Even under their own aging system, the pups were considered 'children' now but still held the rank of pup which would be held until they turned eleven years and became acolytes. It was hard for any member of the pack to say what the pups ranking would be when they became acolytes for, since they weren't wolves, they didn't have the sex smell of dominant, submissive or switch like werewolf pups had.

"Changed," said Cedar.

There was a low rumbling of assent from the wolves at the pup's comment. *'Yes, we are now in Magbonear Knoll,'* spoke Siren. *'You cannot see it pups, but we are passing Shellrood, the moor that lies betwixt Magbonear Knoll and Attleto Valley. Boulders and small hills dot the moor in places but is altogether windy and open. Not much cover for one traversing there.'*

"Wish…gamma…were…guardian," stammered Cedar, causing the group of wolves to stop moving in surprise. It was difficult to make out facial expressions on a wolf, but Siren was taken aback by the pup's stammer, ears going back as his eyes widened.

*'Set the pup down Aluxious. Eponine, stay here with the omega and the pups. Cox and Aluxious, with me. We're going to see if we can't find something to hunt.'*

As Aluxious lowered his body to the ground so the pup could climb off, Eponine shook out her rust and tuff colored fur while her azure eyes met Siren's own brown-blue eyes, silently communicating with the gamma male and her superior. Huffing in acknowledgement, the female sat down and turned her head towards Neville to make sure the pup didn't stray too far. Something the pack had learned was this pup seemed to like playing with the plants, leading some to suspect the pup might choose to train in medicine. *'Do not wander pups,'* spoke Eponine as Aluxious stood and took a moment to stretch, Cox seemingly unphased by the travel they had done. Neville nodded as Cedar moved to sit beside Eponine, the others heading off.

Bausbile, West Province, Faumios:

*'Alpha?'* A young wolf hurried towards the alpha as he passed the nursery, the guardians outside shifting on their paws as the child hurried to catch up with the alpha.

"What is it, Roesia?"

The dinar-colored she-wolf padded her way up to the alpha, bowing as she approached. Ordovic turned his gaze upon the young caretaker as she approached him. *'The human…the human pups are gone alpha! They…they aren't in the nursery!'*

"I sent them with Siren, Aluxious, Cox and Eponine along with the omega," said Ordovic. "They are under orders to terminate the omega if he tries to harm the human pups. Remus's litter will remain within the pack in safety while the human children will hopefully bond with the omega, or they will return to the pack to be raised by the pack…without an omega."

*'What….about the pup Cedar? He's…he's sickly a…'*

"I'm aware the little pup is sick Roe," said Ordovic. "However, I trust the wolves entrusted to watch the pups and keep them from harm from the omega and carry out the termination as needed. The omega, in his current state, poses a danger to not only the human pups but his litter as well." The alpha breathed out a sigh and ran a hand through his hair. "Should the omega be terminated, wolf and human pup will remain within the pack and be a part of it with the ability to take ranks when they get older."

Ordovic knew it had been a risky move, allowing human pups into his pack, let alone humans that were potentially from another planet if the omega were to be believed. The alpha was not aware of other planets other than a few within their solar system nor did he understand aura magic which allowed one to create portals spanning space and time. The alpha was also aware, despite Siren's suggestion that the human pups could be used to benefit the pack when it came to fighting, that some of the pack were still nervous about them being within the pack and the dangers they might potentially pose. Food was not usually kept alive within a wolf pack, not when it was so easily weak and posed such a danger to a pack with their potential for magic, despite only fifty percent of the human population of Xaythea able to use magic. There was the risk of vampires sniffing out the human pups and killing them as there was a risk of other humans coming and destroying the pack to get at the human pups to 'rescue them' from the horrors of the immortal wolves. So far, the pack had been lucky on those two fronts, despite losing Christopher to human hunters. There was no telling where the acolyte was, nor what he was being subjected to.

Their magic was indeed getting somewhat out of control though the elders contributed that to the human pups being young and having different magic than what was seen on Xaythea. None were truly sure what magic the pups might get from Calius. It was bad enough the pups seemed to have access to their magic they might have inherited from earth. The only benefit was the omega's litter was showing no signs of magic from their planet…nor was the omega. But the omega and its human brethren on his own planet, seem to be useless without their…wands. The alpha had taken a chance on allowing the human pups into his pack and so far, it seemed to be going well, however he was aware the human pups would need training from a sorcerer which was mainly why he had sent the omega away.

Roesia shifted nervously on her paws, watching the alpha as he appeared to fall into thought. *'A…Alpha?'*

"Hmmm? What is it Roesia?" Ordovic attempted to focus on the young caretaker as she tried to get his attention again, bringing himself from his thoughts on his decision five years ago. Yes, there were some werewolf packs that allowed their human mates to join the pack but that was rare. Usually such cross-species matings resulted in the werewolf being a rogue to live with their respective non-wolf mate.

*'I…I want to…to go. To…to watch…the…p…pups,'* stammered Roesia. *'We…might heal quick…but…the human pups…they…they'll need a…a healer.'*

"Is that so?" The alpha turned to face Roesia and studied the child before him. "What are thou asking Roesia? Ye be a Caretaker yes, but thou seem to be doubting mine judgment."

The dinar and white inverted panda she-wolf whined at the alpha's warning in his tone, lowering herself to the ground in front of Ordovic, averting her eyes as she did so. She knew she was a lower rank than the alpha, despite being a Caretaker and being respected within the pack. *'The…the pups need a caretaker alpha. I'm…I'm not dou…'*

"Ye wish to take care of the human pups do ye?" At the whine from the Caretaker, Ordovic looked back at the nursery. "Hmmmm. Ye be under the same orders as the others. Should the omega try to harm the pups, he is to be killed. Even if ye must take the pups to a safe place beforehand, thou will secure their safety and then come back to help the others take down the worthless omega."

*'Do thou doubt the omega?'*

"I'm not sure," admitted Ordovic. "I believe they headed west so hurry up if thou want to catch them, but thou may take thy pup with thee," he said, watching the child scamper off to the nursery to gather some things for the journey. Sighing, the alpha looked up at the sky. "Zeldur, protect the human pups from the omega and my loyal pack mates from the omega's foolishness on their journey," said Ordovic as he prayed to the Wolf God who was the Spirit of Protection. He then turned to continue his path home.

Magbonear Knoll, West Province, Faumios:

As Siren led the two males on a hunt, Eponine settled down to watch the pups and keep an eye on the omega. The female swished her tail behind her as she felt Cedar settle down beside her while Neville looked at the green hills around them. As for the omega, he sat off by himself, causing the she-wolf to growl lowly to herself at his stubbornness. Eponine didn't have pups nor a mate so she couldn't understand the loss of one's beloved, nor could she understand his actions towards the human pups with being aggressive towards them. One would think this wolf would want to be there for the human pups when they were within a different world but no…he acted like only his litter mattered. Stupid omega.

*'Thou be a fool,'* growled Eponine to Remus who turned his head to her as he heard the delta speaking to him. *'These pups need ye despite ye not being their sire. If thou hated thy pups, why doth thou bring them here?'*

*'I never asked for Cedar to come with us. A Death Eater…a dark sorcerer…came and thrust the toddler into mine arms,'* growled Remus. *'Even then, I was more concerned with saving my litter over the two human pups, but my human took the Longbottom boy. Mine human side, on the other hand, debated saving the human pups and was concerned about how to get them all out of the Potter cottage before they were attacked.'*

Eponine drew her lips back into a snarl as she listened to first Remus and then his wolf chime in about what had happened. *'And why were the human pups being targeted by another…human I assume?'*

*'I only know that the alpha and his mate had to go into hiding,'* spoke Remus this time. *'Something about the Dark Lord…the dark sorcerer…being after them.'* Had Remus not been trusted even then by the rest of his fake pack? Since he had been on Xaythea…since he had been within Grimcrown…Remus realized how much better being in a real wolf pack was for his health. It made turning easier when he was surrounded by others who understood him and his pups seemed to enjoy it as well, being around others their age and around other wolves.

*'A wolf cannot function without other wolves. It be true among wolves and it be true among werewolves,'* spoke Eponine. *'A wolf among humans…they will always seek to harm us. Even human mates cannot be trusted in the event they be hunters in disguise. Humans do not understand our kind, nor the other werecreatures that exist within Xaythea. I am…amazed…that thou managed to survive despite living within a false pack and denying what ye are omega.'*

Remus huffed in response but didn't mentally respond to the delta's comments. Though the wolf could discern the delta was impressed. Remus couldn't see what the big deal was about being friends with humans and them being part of his pack. Those years at Hogwarts with his friends had been the best of his life. Cedar and Neville stayed close to Eponine as the omega made no threatening move towards them but also no move to get up and interact with the human pups, something that annoyed the delta. The whole point of this trip with the pups was to get the omega to bond with them though Eponine knew the real reason was to get training for the human pups on the magic they might wield.

Meanwhile, Siren led Aluxious and Cox further into the hills to search for any prey that might make the hills their home. Though they would have to cook what prey they caught for the human pups, the wolves could eat both raw and cooked food so there wasn't the issue of getting sick. *'What be we hunting?'* Cox questioned as he looked around as Siren led the trio of males into the hills. Though the Custodian knew that the Delta could handle the omega despite the omega being male and bigger than her, the Custodian would hate for his former apprentice to do anything stupid which would result in his death.

*'Whatever comes across our path and is easy to catch,'* spoke Siren. *'Eponine can deal with your disobedient former apprentice Cox.'*

*'I know Gamma but 'tis the pups I worry for. Both the omega's litter and the two human pups. Would Remus's litter even understand why their sire was put down?'*

Siren shook his head at Cox's words of concern. *'I am not sure Cox but they would have to deal with it as they have nowhere else to go. I doubt that Fazzoth would wish to care for a litter of six plus the human pups and his own apprentice that foolishly brought them to our planet. But,'* he said with a sigh, *'ye bring a point up about the wolf pups and the human pups. Killing Remus does beg the question of whether the litter would blame the human pups for their sire's death when it would be nobody's fault but their sire's own. Whether we kill him or not depends on his actions. 'Tis best not to think about it until and if we have to do so. Personally, I am not sure ye former apprentice be of sound mind.'* Cox whined in response, ears flattening against his head but spoke no more and instead, tried to focus on the hunt, three sets of paws moving over the ground as Siren and Cox walked side by side with Aluxious at point.

"Gamma, I smell something," came Aluxious's voice, the Xi having turned into his were form, the rime-colored wolf with auburn carnage markings turning his head to look at the gamma and custodian who were in their wolf bodies. He then turned his head back and peered along the ground, nose twitching as he scented the air and scanned the ground, searching for any tracks of the animal he had smelt on the wind. "Smells like deer but there seem to be rabbit tracks going off further ahead with the deer tracks going south."

*'Deer will feed us more than a few rabbits,'* said Siren. *'Though rabbits cook faster,'* he spoke, scuffing a paw on the ground as the trio of wolves stopped moving. *'Rabbits are fast prey and will not be easy to catch compared to the potential deer. Don't feel like digging…deer it is,'* he spoke and led the trio south.

They wandered through the hills, following the scent of deer along with the animals' tracks that left indents in the earth, Aluxious's ears swiveling to listen for any signs of being flanked by any werewolves within the area whose territory they might be crossing though none were aware of there being any werewolf packs in the area. Continuing to track their prey, they eventually came upon the herd in question, bodies hunkering down as they waited for the right time to pounce or chase. The trio watched as the herd grazed on the grass, a warm breeze ruffling the wolves' fur as it blew past, but they were lucky to be downwind of the herd. So long as the wind didn't shift, they shouldn't have an issue bringing down a prey and Siren searched the herd for a deer that was appropriate, not wanting to kill a doe or fawn as they were needed to continue populating Xaythea. When Siren spotted a yearling buck a bit off from the herd, he spoke to the other two and Cox moved in to flank the deer and drive it towards Aluxious.

Stones skittered underneath the she-wolf's paws as she up the rises and descents of Sine Fine. Her rough paw pads clutched the stone surface, ears pinned back and lungs drawing in great breaths as she panted due to the run through the mountains to catch up with the others before they reached Jaumay and the ship that would take them to Souldes. Around her neck, resting against her chest was a bag of clothes that hit her chest as she moved through the mountains, heading west and tracking the scent of the group of wolves and human pups though at times the human scent was replaced by just wolf scent. From this, the caretaker surmised that they had potentially been carried at points throughout their travels. She only stopped briefly to catch her breath, never staying still for long, as she continued her mad dash through the mountains, hoping she didn't fall off the side and yet coming close as few times as she barely slowed when descending. A sole pup hung from her mouth as she moved, the caretaker being allowed to take her pup with her.

Gradually though the hills of Magbonear Knoll began to appear on the horizon as she made her way westward, the ground changing from stone to soft earth and grass as she ran. Here the traveling was easier, the hills not as steep as the mountains. Her claws stopped clicking over stone as she descended further, replaced by the thumps of her paws on the ground as she ran along the edge, nose to the wind and hoping she could find them easily. It took a while, but she managed to find the scent of the pup Neville, the pup smelling of herbs and earth, and quickened her pace until she was met face to face with a snarling Eponine. The Caretaker whined when faced with the delta and quickly lowered her body after setting her pup down at her paws, averting her gaze from the more dominant female. Only when Eponine moved back did Roesia speak up about asking the alpha to allow her to come for the sake of the human pups. Cedar watched as Eponine rushed to meet Roesia and confronted the wolf, the child unable to hear the mental telepathy between the two wolves but when Eponine moved back, the child got up from the ground where he'd been resting and walked over to Roesia, the delta making her way back to her spot and looking towards his and Neville's mean guardian.

It had been five years since they had come to this planet, the human children now six years of age and neither could really remember their time on earth or even their parents. They had arrived here in the year 787 and it was now 792. Remus never talked about life on earth or their parents, only saying that he didn't know anything about Neville's parents aside from they were magical police and that the Potters were rich, and that Cedar's father didn't bother working, instead living off his inheritance The wolf didn't talk much to the human pups nor do anything with them, preferring his pups to the two humans of the pack. Roesia looked down Cedar as he reached her, then nudged him with her nose before moving past the pup and towards Neville, huffing at the boy. *'Are you alright pups?'*

"Hungry Roesia," said Neville.

*'The males are hunting pup,'* spoke Eponine. *'They have to careful as we don't know if this is territory to some other pack or pride,'* she explained.

"Tired," said Cedar. "Not feel good Roe," he said. The Caretaker turned ice-blue eyes towards Cedar and lowered her head towards the pup, sniffing at him before gesturing with her head for the pup to lay down against her, the young she-wolf settling down on the ground and wrapping her body around the pup. After a moment, Neville came over to the Caretaker as well and settled down on Cedar's other side, stepping over the Caretaker so he wouldn't hurt her. Roesia sighed. The pups were so nice and well behaved. Why didn't the stupid omega see that and snap at them all the time? They hadn't asked to be thrust into this world, nor be hunted by some deranged human if the omega could be believed and the she-wolf had a difficult time believing it, as did some of the pack even to this day, convinced the omega was sick in the head.

The sickly pup was soon sleeping against the Caretaker as she looked over at Remus, her upper lip curling up in a snarl and showing her teeth, but the omega ignored everyone else around him. The female huffed in annoyance, wishing the alpha would just let the omega die but it seemed the alpha didn't have high hopes in Remus changing his ways at all. It was sad though, for the omega's litter and for the omega's wards though she doubted the human pups would care about their guardian dying. He wasn't much of a guardian towards the human pups anyway.

It was a while before the trio of males came back, to see Roesia and her pup there and Siren stared at the Caretaker before padding over and checking on the pups. Seeing Cedar asleep and Neville staring up at the sky, the Gamma Male huffed to himself before looking over at Eponine who met the gamma's gaze and explained the situation to him as well as how the time had been in their absence. *'The sickly pup said it wished that I were it's guardian,'* spoke Siren to Roesia as the human pups slept within her curled body. He then looked towards Remus. *'Omega, get off your tail and prepare the deer!'*

When Remus made no move to get up, he growled lowly as he stalked over to the acanthite wolf, snapping his teeth over the omega's muzzle, and biting down, causing Remus to whine and struggle to get free of the gamma's mouth. A warning growl issued forth from Siren, Eponine getting up and moving to assist if needed while Cox and Aluxious settled down on the ground. As much as Cox wanted to interfere with his apprentice being punished, he knew that it wasn't his place. The omega was old enough to know that obedience and subservience existed for a reason in a pack, and this was his punishment for not being nice to his human charges and being snappy with them.

Whimpering, Remus shifted into his were form and made his way to the deer before, catching the knife Aluxious tossed to him and began skinning the deer. The remaining five wolves didn't bother helping the omega since cooking and chores were the jobs of omegas. Peeling the deer's skin back, he then proceeded to gut the animal and then bit through the bone, separating it since the knife wouldn't do good to separate legs and shoulders from the deer's skeleton. They had powerful bites due to their wolf physiology though they weren't as powerful as a werecrocodile. Let that reptilian werecreature bite you and…well you would be lucky to walk away alive with some blood loss.

His next task was to gather kindling for the meat to be cooked, once the deer had been skinned and the meat separated from the skeleton along with the organs which would be offered to Zeldur, the spirit of protection for werewolves and some meat would be offered to Lord Vamdes and his daughter Gorgsus who had created werewolves. A discussion between Cox and Roesia had the two agreeing to donate portions of the pups' food to Sivdall for creating humans. The human pups weren't wolves, but they were raised among wolves…still they tried to teach the human pups who had created their race, the wolf gods since they were being raised as pack members, and the Xaythean pantheon. Roesia didn't wake Cedar or her son, allowing the pups to sleep. The delta and gamma kept watch over their resting spot as Moony, as the wolf was still in charge of their body, worked at preparing the food and setting up a fire for the meat. The group had packed small bags for the pups so they'd have fresh clothing, and each got a tin cup from which they could drink water.

Their meal was spent in comfortable silence, Roesia nudging Cedar and Diamond awake when the food was done cooking and the pups getting food before the rest of the group ate, not bothering with pack eating order. When the meal was done, Siren said they could continue so they could reach Jaumay by Azimuth. Cox let the pups walk beside him as they continued their journey, the pups carrying their own rucksacks. Moving north, they moved through the hills until they got to the northern coastline of the western province before making turning west. Passing through the village of Halai, they hugged the northwestern coastline until they finally arrived in Jaumay. *'Stick close pups,'* said Cox. As they did, the Custodian shifted into his were form and moved between the pups after shrugging off his rucksack and slipping it around his neck before taking a hand of each pup so they wouldn't wander. Behind him, he could hear Siren shifting forms as well, the gamma picking up his bag while Roesia, Eponine and Aluxious remained in their wolf forms. The port had a humble appearance with homes and buildings having redwood rooftops and walls. Around the port were huge oak trees which gave the port a delightful atmosphere. As the group entered the port, the pups looked around them at the town and the creatures living there. "What are they?" Neville questioned.

"Orcs pup," said Cox. "Do not stare."

"Sick?"

"No pup," said Cox to Cedar's question at seeing one pass by with green skin. "They're considered a violent race. Do not get on their bad side. They look that way because that is how the Ancient One who made them wished them to be."

"Who made them Cox?"

"That would be Muxaris little human," came a voice as an elderly orc came towards them. "Wolf with human children." The orc glanced towards the other wolves that appeared. "Why are wolves and human children wandering from pack lands?"

"We're seeking out a ship to Souldes on a mission from our alpha," said Siren as the gamma came up to stand behind Cedar. "For the pups."

"Souldes?"

"Yes...the pups are exhibiting signs of magic and it's creating some…problems within our pack. So, we're seeking to contact Calius in Souldes to see about the pups' magical training." The gamma did not speak about the pups being from a different world. That would bring up questions that the gamma didn't want to nor could answer. Besides, the pups might as well be native Xayians as far as the pack was concerned.

"Then you'll want the docks which are west of our location," said the orc. "There you may find a ship that is leaving for Souldes."

"Thank you," said Siren before leading the way through the port. Hurrying through the streets, the group finally arrived at the docks which weren't very busy due to still being in Mornora. Siren sent Eponine to go look for someone they could speak to as they stood on the docks, observing the ships anchored at the port and the cargo being loaded onto one of the ships via the sailors and cranes. The group settled down to wait and Roesia let the pups go to explore near the dock's edge, following them so they wouldn't fall and drown.

"It's going to be a long journey," said Aluxious.

"It's the only way," said Siren. "We'll have to make the best of it, assuming Eponine can find a ship willing to take us on, let alone one that is heading towards Souldes."

"How long will this take?"

"It depends on wind factors and if we go top speed. But then we also need to contend with pirates and if we get into a storm on the water," said Siren. "It can take months. Get used to it omega."