Mama, I'm comin home

[Synistergrrl]

~The closer they small group drew to New Orleans, the more Rhys felt a vice tighten around his chest. He hadn't been home in almost 5 years and he'd left home to save his family. He'd volunteered actually, but he also knew he'd be the one sent. His brother was the eldest, the born to be alpha of his family's pack. His elder sister was already alpha of her own back. He wasn't even third, he was the fourth son, fourth Garou and third son. He was in his brother's pack and knew his place. When trouble came, he was the one sent to be the payment. But as an Ahroun, Rhys had volunteered before he had to be asked. It looked good, gave him glory and renown. But he knew they probably thought they'd never see him again. So when he called them from London, they'd been shocked, that had been the best way to describe the reaction. It didn't help that Rhys was on edge because he was going to be off blood completely. He was NOT looking forward to the feeling. He'd had his last dose right before they left and Lennox had given him something to help the craving, but he knew, deep down it wasn't going to be easy. Judge had looked at him with this sort of pitying look, knowing what he was in store for. And now, here they were, him and Leeto with Lock and Moon, two hyenas and a fucking Black Spiral Dancer, coming to his home. He wasn't sure he was going to be able to handle this. It was sending him into all sorts of fits of anxiety. They left Lock and Moon in New Orleans and headed off towards Acadia a bit southwest and in the swamps of Louisiana. They went through the umbra easily and entered outside of the small town. They appeared out in the swamp and Rhys shifted back to his human form and pulled Leeto closer when he did the same. He stared down at the Hyena and brushed back the boys hair. He stared at him for a long moment~

When we get there, let me do the talking, alright? I don't know how they are really going to react to seeing me.

~It had occurred to Rhys that they might not be happy to see him. After all, he'd been taken by a vampire and then sold to Viktor. He had been a pay off for a debt. So since Viktor was dead, did that negate the debt? The vampire might not think so. Not to mention Rhys was with the pack in London causing all the talk and ripples through the underworld. He just wasn't really sure how this was going to go down. So he waited for Leeto to nod and then he claimed his lips in a rough kiss before pulling back and starting into the swamp. He shifted again and made his way into the dark green of the bogs and marsh. Leeto would feel them before he saw them. Just that prevailing feeling of being watched as they made their way forward. When he went to ask Rhys about it, the wolf just gave one quick head shake as if to say no, don't. They just kept going. And then as they rounded a bend, there stood in their path was two large glabro wolves and one woman in human form, wild, curly, blonde hair hanging around her shoulders and down her back. She had a hand on her hip and her head tilted, brow arched. She didn't say anything, but Rhys had come to a complete stop. He shifted and tilted his head to the side to bare his throat. She stared at him for a moment before she walked in closer. She reached out and pulled him closer, hugging him.~

Brother....

~She sounded, relieved maybe, but there was something in her voice that held a tension there. She stared him up and down and then looked to Leeto before back to her brother.~

It's good you've come back to us.... come on... let's go home....

[LittleDeadGrrl]

-Leeto could feel the wolf's anxiety. It came off him in waves and he didn't know what to do to calm him. He'd tried his best by reassuring him that everything would be fine and they'd stay as long as the wolf. They were in the swamp lands and the hyena smiled up at him-

They'll love seeing you ... how can they do anything else? You wanna fool around in the swamp ... kinda sexy here ..

-Leeto smiled teasingly up at the pretty wolf but he he could see the wolf wasn't in the mood so he just nodded. They walked and he looked around curiously but kept his guard up a bit watching Rhys to see how he should react to their surroundings. Leeto waited in the back watching carefully as the woman hugged Rhys and called him brother ... -

My name is Leeto ...

-The bright hyena stepped forward introducing himself to the wolves without much fear. Maybe he should stay in the background but he refused to act as if they were slinking with their trail between their legs ...escaping the vampire was fucking trumphium not something to be ashamed of. Leeto slipped in a bit closer to Rhys before he'd walk along easily with them. He glanced around Rhys home and it was crazy, how different it was from his home-

[Synistergrrl]

~Rhys put a hand out to hold Leeto back from getting to terribly close to the group. But the woman, she just smiled this smile full of too many sharp teeth as she stepped in closer to them both. She held out her hand to Leeto, offering to shake his.~

I'm Honey.... Rhys, you didn't tell me you were bringing home such a cute thing?

~There was a little low growl from Rhys and Honey laughed as she shook the Hyena's hand. But then she motioned for them to follow. Rhys' head was dipped down a little before he gave a sigh and started to follow his sister into the swamp. They walked down a long dirt road that was canopied by huge cypress trees with moss hanging from them. It was warm, sticky heat, the sound of birds and other animals called around them as they walked. Appearing infront of them was a huge, old, gray plantation home that had definitely seen better days. The porch looked like it was being held up by jacks and bricks and the whole structure seemed to lean slightly. There were other houses and buildings around and Leeto could feel the moment they entered the Sept, the magic surrounded them. Some how everything seemed more vivid here, the greens were deeper, brighter, more intense, the sounds and smells were intoxicating. It was unreal and magical. As they made their way to the house, the front screen door clattered opened as a big man with a long beard came out. He was big, barreled chested and could maybe give Howl a run for his money in stature. He stared at the two of them and then stepped down the steps slowly, wiping his hands off on a dirty looking rag.~

Rhys... Welcome home....

~There was no smile, no hug, infact, Leeto got the impression that this man wasn't at all happy to have Rhys back home. He looked Rhys up and down.~

You've grown.

~Rhys sighed upon the man's presence, but bared his neck to him. His brow arched though at the comment.~

That happens over 5 years of fighting.

~Honey who had been standing back had a frown on her face, but before anything else could be said, an older woman appeared on the porch.~

Rhys? That you?

~She stepped off the porch and right into Rhys hugging him tightly. She looked strong, with grey streaked strawberry blond hair. There was a weathered appearance about her and she held onto Rhys tightly. When she pulled back there were tears in her eyes and a relieved smile on her face.~

I knew you'd make it home. I knew you would.... I prayed for it...

~Her eyes danced to Leeto and she turned the warm smile onto him.~

You much be Leeto... Hi Honey, thank you... for bringing him home... come inside... come on, come...

~She held out a hand and when Leeto took it, she pulled him into a hug. She then turned and started to lead them inside. The bigger man moved to step infront of her and she physically pushed him out of the way.~

You may be an Alpha, but you still my son, Thomas and this is still MY HOUSE.

~She then lead Rhys and Leeto into a house which was way more homey inside then it looked from the outside. She passed the front living room and the dinning room and right back into the kitchen.~

Come on, let me put some food in your bellies. And you can tell me all about your adventure.

~Rhys gave a smile, but Leeto could see and feel the sadness off the big wolf as he pulled up a chair at a big old table that was in the kitchen. He nodded for Leeto to sit down with him as this woman, his mother, began to load up a couple of plates of food for them, chatting along as if Rhys had been gone just for a few months, talking about people and their children and the packs and what was going on with in the sept.

[LittleDeadGrrl]

-Leeto felt the wolf reach for him but he ignored it. He refused to act as if they were tresspassing and he'd make Rhys's family love him and love having him back. If they didn't cooperate he'd just drag Rhys to South Africa with him. Leeto smirked-

Hi honey ... well he doesn't like to brag even if he should do ... I mean look at me ...

-The hyena smirked looking up and holding the wolf's gaze without fear almost daring her to contradict him that he was a catch. Leeto slipped back against Rhys and hip checked him a little with a smile that seemed light up the swamp a little. He glanced back around and it was amazing. It seemed like a dream in alot of ways. The magic was intoxicating and he could feel himself getting drunk little by little. It was amazing place but he could tell Rhys was nervous and he wasn't sure how well all of this was going to go ... -

It's great to meet you .. I've looked forward to meeting Rhy's family ...

-The hyena hugged her back easily and openly and tightly. He walked into the kitchen and sat down nudging Rhys a bit to smile-

Well now I see where Rhys got the good looks ...

-He grinned a bit and Leeto and his mother seemed to chat easily back and forth with Leeto asking questions along the way. They spent a lovely afternoon eating and talking and now they were drinking coffee and eating some desert-

My pack is all in South Africa waiting for me to come home and see them ..

-Leeto leaned back in the chair-

But I want to see where Rhys grew up ...

[Synistergrrl]

~Rhys watched Leeto woo his mother, the woman just was charmed by the hyena. It felt right for a moment and he was able to sort of forget what else was going on in his life. He closed his eyes for a moment and just listened as his mother talked about Rhys as a child, about how he grew up, about how he was a handful, getting into fights and always trying to keep up with his older brother, Tommy and his sister Honey. As the two talked over tea, a shadow would fall over them. Rhys would look up and see his brother standing there. He pushed up from the table and when Leeto went to follow, he held up his hand and gave a smile.~

Stay.... let my mother entertain you for a bit. I'll be back in just a minute. My brother and I just need to talk.

~Rhys walked passed Leeto, laying a hand on the back of his neck and squeezing as he left the room with his brother. Cordelia, Rhys' mother patted Leeto's hand and kept talking. And then she showed him up to a room. It smelled faintly like Rhys and as Leeto looked around, he'd realize it was Rhys' room. She left him there, telling she needed to go clean up but Rhys would be up soon. The room had a queen bed up against the wall, old and wooden. There was a desk, a bookshelf with rows of books. A dresser up against the wall with different little trinkets on it. There were posters on the wall, mostly grunge bands and the like, but also pictures of Rhys, younger, happier, with his arm around the shoulders of group of boys and girls that all looked to be about the same age as Rhys. He looked happy, young and happy and like his life was easy. These pictures were stuck up around the room. As he was looking around, the door opened and Rhys walked in. He shut the door behind him, leaning back against it. He lifted his eyes to stare at Leeto. He gave a tired smile then.~

It's been a long time since I've seen her that happy and smiling. It was nice.... thanks for that.

~He pushed off the door and moved in closer to the hyena.~

So... he doesn't... he's not happy I'm back. He doesn't trust me. He thinks it could be trouble, that the family debt isn't paid if I ran away.

~He shrugged as he said that, dropping onto the bed with a sigh and running his hands through his hair.~

[LittleDeadGrrl]

-The Hyena enjoyed the afternoon. It felt right or it felt as if there was a glimpse of what could be if Rhys's brother didn't have his head up his ass but the hyena was charming. He wasn't a fighter but he had other talents. It was nice to hear all about Rhys childhood. Leeto arched a brow when Tommy came in and tugged Rhys away. When Rhys moved Leeto moved to stand but the touch made him sit and stay despite everything in him screaming to go after but he forced himself to stay and chat and eat. Each minuted ticked by and it felt like hours before the wolf came back Leeto pushed in closer to Rhys winding his arms around his neck-

She's nice ...

-He shrugged at the thanks as if to say for what?-

So ... he wants us gone?

-Leeto said it simply and then growled-

Fuck the family debt ... the vampire is fucking dead ... seems to me the debt is gone too and slavery isn't legal ...

-He moved towards the bed and crawled on the wolf straddling him-

Look we can stay a bit right? So you have more time with your mom? and you show me around ...and then we go to my house ...

-Leeto smiled brightly and he had a way of making the room and world brighter. He leaned in and began to kiss the wolf deeply trying to make him forget about all the shit he'd likely had to deal with this afternoon and the pain from having his family turn their back on him-

Wanna go out tonight? to a club or something? we can dance ...

[Synistergrrl]

She's loosing her mind...

~Rhys sighed as he said that. But then Leeto was talking and moving in, crawling in his lap. He shook his head, but his hands went to rest on the Hyena's hips.~

The debt wasn't owed to Viktor, Lee.

~He scoffed a bit at those words, knowing words were an easy thing to say, but so very hard to actually follow up with. His head cocked as he looked at Leeto. The world seemed a bit brighter with him in it. Leeto dusted back some of that dark hair.~

I'm not running away from my family just because my brother thinks I should be used as payment for a debt I had nothing to do with. I paid my time and made Viktor and Antoinette alot of money. But... I do have to do something, Lee.... I have to go talk to her. She's who we owed the debt too. I have to tell her I'm here, I can't have her just finding out. It would look bad not just for my family, but for me as well.

~As Leeto nodded, Rhys smiled.~

She living in New Orleans proper. We can go tomorrow night... we should take Lot and Moon with us. But... She'll want to talk to me alone. And I'll have to go, so I need you to just follow my lead and not draw attention to yourself. I know you won't let me go alone, but you'll have to accept I'm going to be talking to her without you there, okay?

~The wolf's head dipped some as he waited for Leeto to agree. He knew the hyena wouldn't like it. But it was the way things had to go down. He had to show this vampire he wasn't weak, but that he wasn't going to back down either. He needed to do that without Leeto being in the room, he didn't need to worry about the hyena.~

[Littledeadgrrl]

-Leeto smiled ever so faintly as he sat in the wolfs lap and ran his fingers through his hair soothingly and it felt easy for Rhys to be hopeful or believe it would all work out when the hyena was next to him-

Whatever you want just don't want to aee you fight ... I've seen enough wolves lose their shit to know I don't want to be between you and your brother ...

-The next part agitated him alot more-

That's not a good idea ... look why can't I come ... I'll be quiet and behave. Didn't I behave today?

-He didn't trust vampires but it eorried him to leave Rhys alone with one especially one that felt she owned him-

We can talk about it with Moon and Lock...

-Leeto shrugged before leaning I'm and kissing the wolf deeply-

We better join the others ....