"Careful," Naseer repeats in a hiss, following his Alpha up to stand, an arm going protectively over his chest to stop him from rushing headfirst into danger. The sound of his voice when he calls for their lost mate breaks his heart, but he would be cruel to deny Corrigan that swell of hope he can feel reverberating through the link.
He'd be lying if he said he didn't also hope. It hasn't been so long that Naseer has forgotten the sweet allure of Kurt's scent. It could be them, masked under all those layers of unfamiliar smells, slowly approaching from behind the tree trunks. But it could just as well be Kurt's father, or someone from the human village, or Miles, the little human's scent still clinging to him after months of captivity. He would be a fool not to consider the danger here. The pack is already so vulnerable. Should they lose their Alpha too...
When the dying bushes part and the figure steps forward into the waning daylight, Naseer almost doesn't believe his eyes.
Kurt is nearly unrecognizable. Partially covered by tattered skirts and a sling tied firmly around their chest, covered in dirt and bandages and old dried blood, their hair messily shorn short and hanging limply around their face, they emerge into the river clearing like a ghost of their former self. But they're not a ghost. Underfed and filthy and haunted, yes, covered in unfamiliar scars both outside and in, but alive. They're alive, they're here, rosy-cheeked and near breathless from their trek through the woods from where they'd secured their horse and wagon, along the first stretch of trees they actually recognized after over a week on the road.
And they're not alone. From within the wrap sling there's a shock of dark curly hair hiding the sleeping face of an infant, their tiny hand curled up and resting against Kurt's chest, a gorgeous contrast to the pale skin of their mother. The baby. The baby made it.
Kurt almost can't believe it themself. This whole time, they barely let themself hope that the pack would still be here, would still be together by the time they made it, but they are. Whatever shattered remnants of that old cherished bond remains are lit aflame, soaring to life within them as they finally lay eyes on Corrigan and Naseer, watching them approach on bare bloodied feet with disbelief, and for the first time in too long, Kurt breaks into a brittle, tearful smile. "Alpha."
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Date: 2024-01-01 07:13 pm (UTC)He'd be lying if he said he didn't also hope. It hasn't been so long that Naseer has forgotten the sweet allure of Kurt's scent. It could be them, masked under all those layers of unfamiliar smells, slowly approaching from behind the tree trunks. But it could just as well be Kurt's father, or someone from the human village, or Miles, the little human's scent still clinging to him after months of captivity. He would be a fool not to consider the danger here. The pack is already so vulnerable. Should they lose their Alpha too...
When the dying bushes part and the figure steps forward into the waning daylight, Naseer almost doesn't believe his eyes.
Kurt is nearly unrecognizable. Partially covered by tattered skirts and a sling tied firmly around their chest, covered in dirt and bandages and old dried blood, their hair messily shorn short and hanging limply around their face, they emerge into the river clearing like a ghost of their former self. But they're not a ghost. Underfed and filthy and haunted, yes, covered in unfamiliar scars both outside and in, but alive. They're alive, they're here, rosy-cheeked and near breathless from their trek through the woods from where they'd secured their horse and wagon, along the first stretch of trees they actually recognized after over a week on the road.
And they're not alone. From within the wrap sling there's a shock of dark curly hair hiding the sleeping face of an infant, their tiny hand curled up and resting against Kurt's chest, a gorgeous contrast to the pale skin of their mother. The baby. The baby made it.
Kurt almost can't believe it themself. This whole time, they barely let themself hope that the pack would still be here, would still be together by the time they made it, but they are. Whatever shattered remnants of that old cherished bond remains are lit aflame, soaring to life within them as they finally lay eyes on Corrigan and Naseer, watching them approach on bare bloodied feet with disbelief, and for the first time in too long, Kurt breaks into a brittle, tearful smile. "Alpha."