The wolf hybrid would pad back onto familiar land and lifted her noise into the air sniffing around. The sun shone on her white fur making it glisten as she perked up her floppy ears listening to the sounds. Oh how she longed to return home... she was finnaly back. She hoped everyone was ok. She would dart up onto the porch and bark wildly scratching at the door. "Timber! Everyone im home!" She would call out in a long howl.

Timber was speaking with a good friend of his when he heard Shimmer's howl. He would recognize that voice anywhere! The collie had searched high and low for his treasured friend, and had spent a good deal of time out in the wilderness, even when it seemed Shimmer was lost forever. Now he let blind emotions carry him across the yard, throwing all caution to the wind. "Shimmer!" The collie barked, springing onto the porch in one swift leap. "Shimmer!" Her name was repeated, but in a calmer but more intent tone. His head dipped a bit and his eyes gazed to her, knowing with out a doubt that this was his long-missed buddy. "I... where... where have you been?"

Stallis heard the howl as well, but he had last seen Shimmer when they were all young pups. He remembered her well enough, but there was that strange barrier between him and everyone at the Ranch. He sat quietly on the grass below, surveying the reunion with his good eye. The other orb was wounded at the moment, and covered with a paste that a human friend of his had put on. Timber carried fresh, bloody wounds as well, but neither collie had anything life-threatening.

Overwheld she tackled Timber playfully and licked and nuzzled him. She had missed him the most out of everyone. "I'm so sorry Timber!" She said backing away now whimpering lightly. "I wandered too far away from all the areas I knew lets just say... and it wasn't easy getting back but I am home now. Can you ever forgive me?" she asked looking to him, eyes full of hope.

Timber laughed out loud when he was tackled; something he hadn't done since Shimmer had left. Picking himself up and growling playfully like a pup, he batted her once with his paw. This his eyes softened and he gave her a lick on the muzzle, "As long as you're here now, there is nothing to be sorry about." He could never be mad at Shimmer, and the smile on his scarred muzzle showed it.

Stallis watched the reunion still, very surprised to see his brother being playful. He had grown so serious since Shimmer had gone; it was good to see him as his old self again. But Stallis decided against showing himself at the moment, unless Shimmer had seen him already. Quietly, the collie slipped under the porch and laid down. He had yet to learn that all of his offspring had just been murdered by Legosa.

Brother trotted to the edge of the porch, not thrilled about what he had set himself to do. He had planned to tell Timber and let him tell Stallis, but he did not wish to bring Timber off of his happy cloud so abruptly. So he sighed and called out softly to Stallis. My friend? A word, if you will. He stood there, waiting for Stallis' response.

She laughed as Timber batted at her maw. She almost felt like she was a pup again with this happy little reunion taking place. She was glad to see Timber and that smile upon his maw made her tail wag faster. She had not yet noticed Stallis or the other whom she did not know for she was too focused on Timber. She nipped at him playfully. "Thanks Timber, I appriciate it."

He was smiling ear to ear now, "We've both grown, huh?" Then Timber glanced back, hearing the sounds of human footfall from within the house. A moment later, the door creaked open and John peered out, wondering what all the commotion had been from. He looked with surprise at Shimmer and Timber, his mind at first baffled about who this canine was. He was also surprised to see his bereaved collie so happy. "Hey, Timber. Who've you go there?" But as he said it, a recognition awoke in his mind. "Shimmer? Is that... could it be?" John was now wearing a huge, toothy smile and he knelt down on the deck, "Shimmer! Hey, remember me?" He said, almost sure that this was Shimmer. But he'd let her come to him first, just in case he was wrong.

Stallis listened to the words above still, then heard Brother. His tail beat the ground once in a friendly way before he got up and padded towards the wolf. "Sure, what is it?" His eyes was still blinking and watering a bit, but it was a good deal better since Tahmores had put the paste on.

"Yeah we have. We were so much smaller last time we were together." She laughed lightly. She then turned her attention to the door as it creaked and spotted John as he exitedthe house. Once John called out to her she darted towards him in recognition and gave him a few licks on his hand and face as a greeting followed by an excited bark letting hi know she had not forgotten him either. She glanced back at Timber happily.

Brother felt his conscience squirm a little inside himself, for he did not want to tell Stallis, not wanting to cause his new friend grief. But he knew that the father must be told, and so began to speak quietly. Aidan has just returned from a battle with his brother and some others. He brings much news with him... a peice of which you must hear. And he paused, trying to think of a gentle way to say it. Casting about, he found that there WAS no gentle way, and so his soft eyes looked up to the male, and he just said it. Stallis... your children... are massacred. And he lowered his head and backed away slightly, not sure what Stallis would do, and sorry to be the one to bear bad news.

Timber kept his bright smile as he watched John and Shimmer greet each other, "Looks like he remembers you as well, huh?" The collie's smile grew a bit more solemn, "So much has changed since you were last here."

John laughed and scratched Shimmer behind the ears. He spoke excitedly and kept shaking his head in disbelief.

Stallis's ears slowly came back against his skull as his eyes grew wider. His breath caught up in his throat and he stared hard at Elder Brother, as if waiting to hear 'I was just kidding' or, something along those lines. When those words didn't follow, which he knew they never would, Stallis broke down. Robbed of words himself, the wretched collie threw his muzzle back and gave wind to a mournful, quavering howl the rent the fridged winter air with all his sorrow.

Above the heart-broken collie on the proch, Timber and John near jumped out of their skins at the unexpected noise. Timber looked bewilderedly from Shimmer to John before springing off the porch and looking quizically to his brother. "Wha..."

But words came to Stallis's mourning howl, as he relayed the names of his siblings with great pain. At once, Timber knew what must have happened. His eyes flashed to Elder Brother, needed some confirmation on the matter, "They are dead? What happened?"

John knew that something very bad had happened, for he had heard this sad sort of howling before. The wild ones had murdered again. Racing back inside, the teen took up his rifle and headed outside. He made for the back of the house where Nass was roaming about in a large pen. Working quickly, John saddled Nass and headed out to patrol around the Ranch.

The fellow spoke quietly, head bowed. I do not know the answer to that, my friend. For that you must ask Aidan. He was there. And his voice got softer. I am... sorry, Stallis. And the words were empty, as they always are when they have to be said.

She perked up her ears wagging her tail excitedly but then she noticed Timber's smile grow more solem. She turned from John padding over to him about to ask what when Stallis had howled mournfully. She had flinched a bit startled and quickly followed Timber but stood behind him keeping silent. She wasn't exactly sure of what was going on for she had just gotten back, though she drooped her ears knowing it wasnt good.

Timber dropped his head, his eyes glaring hotly at the snow below him. "I can only imagine what could have happened. But... we'd better seek out Aidan to set things straight." The collie nodded to Shimmer, a shell of a smile on his forlorn face before he headed around to the side of the house where he could scent Aidan.

Stallis continued to howl out, and as he did so, a horrible anger awoke in his heart. Once his song was done, his blazing orbs passed hauntedly over Elder Brother and Shimmer, almost as if he didn't recognize them. But of course he did; it was just that his mind was too preocupied at the moment. Without a further word or explanation, the collie shot off across the yard and raced out of sight.

She would drop her ears to the sad howls and was tempted to join in with a sorrowful howl buit held her tounge, She saw the shell of a smile Timber gave her before watching him walk off. She followed and sighed. She'd have to learn about everything that had happened during her absence. She was worried about the others as well she had yet to see.