Kira, Bryan, and Aiden walked through the pack lands, accessing the pack to ensure that everyone was safe and everything was still intact or not too bad.
It had been years since she had set foot around the pack, and as they moved, they could hear the whispers from the pack members. Elders, warriors, and even children stared at her in surprise before approaching.
“Luna Kira, child, how have you been?” An elderly woman with gray hair that was braided neatly asked, placing a gentle hand on Kira’s arm. “It is so good to see you again.”
“I’m very well, thank you,” Kira answered while smiling, her tone soft and warm. “And how about you? How have you been holding up? Are you okay?”
“Yes. Yes,” the woman answered, smiling back at Kira as she patted Kira’s arm. “And we thank Goddess for you coming today. Everyone has heard of how you helped. We are truly grateful, Luna.”
“Oh, please, you don’t have to thank me. It is my duty as Luna,” Kira said sincerely and rubbed the old woman’s hand. “Take care, okay? I will take my leave now.”
“Of course,” the woman nodded gently. “Take care too.”
“Thank you,” Kira muttered gratefully, and as she began walking again, Bryan and Aiden resumed their walk with her.
A warrior approached next, saying how it was good to have her back and how they had all missed her.
Kira was delighted hearing all these, and it warmed her heart greatly.
“I’ve missed you all too,” she expressed genuinely to the warrior. “I’m glad to be back.”
Then after that, they had warriors who were still strong and not injured, help bury those who had fallen.
The pack had a sacred burial ground-a place where they laid their dead to rest.
The whole thing was sad as families had lost their sons and daughters, but everyone worked together, including Kira, Bryan, and Aiden.
They dug graves, placed the bodies gently into the earth, and thereafter, every single person in the pack, paid their final respects.
Some buildings were partially destroyed due to the war, and Bryan and Aiden had already made plans to begin repairing the damage first thing the next day. So, after the last bit of cleaning was completed and everyone had paid their respects to the fallen, people slowly headed back to their homes to get some rest.
The loss was painful and would most definitely be painful for the families of the dead, but they had to move forward, no matter how long it would take.
Heading inside, Elara smiled at Kira and informed her that dinner was ready.
“Go freshen up and come down,” she said. “You will love it.”
“I know I will,” Kira smiled back, nodding before she, Bryan, and Aiden walked up the stairs together.
Taking it all in as she walked up the stairs, she grazed the railing gently with her fingers, everything feeling so familiar. The glow of the chandelier, the aroma of home-cooked meals-every little thing filled her with so much warmth, and she could not help but smile as she reminisced about it all.
It was so good to be home.
Stopping at the door when they finally reached the bedroom, Kira turned to face them, their gazes meeting hers as the three of them just stood, not saying anything until Aiden spoke up.
“So,” he started while giving her a sweet smile that almost made her melt.
It was the kind where you could just… get lost in.
“So,” he continued. “We will go shower too and meet you downstairs.”
“Sure,” she said simply, trying not to smile too much.
Even after that, they still stood silent, staring at each other, and it was not weird, it was more of the fact that she was home, and they were together again in the same space.
“Do you need help taking off your armor?” Bryan asked, his tone gentle and caring. “I could help with that.”
“No, no,” Kira immediately shook her head, waving her hand dismissively. “It’s okay. I got it.”
“Okay then,” Bryan muttered, while Aiden chuckled softly, and took a step back, Bryan doing the same as she turned to open the door.
Stepping inside the room, she gave them one more look before she closed the door and turned around.
The moment she turned, memories rushed in.
The warmth, the scent, everything was the same except for one thing, which were their belongings not being there. But still, it looked like nothing had changed at all.
She knew that they had not been sleeping here from the moment they told her they would shower, and it didn’t make much sense that they would still share a room when she was gone, so that was understandable, and despite all that, the room was very clean.
“But not for long,” she muttered to herself and laughed lightly as she proceeded to take off her armor.
“I’m sorry, and I will clean you up as soon as I am done,” she said, unfastening the arm guards, each piece coming off.
“Uhh, that feels so much better,” she groaned and sighed, rolling her shoulders as she dropped it on the ground.
Then, next, was the chest plate.
She lifted it over her head, revealing the fitted clothing she wore beneath it.
After she was done, she kept her armor in a corner of the room, saying she would clean it when she had the chance, and removed the rest of her clothes before going into the bathroom.
As she entered the bathroom, she filled the tub with water, mixing the cold with the hot and keeping the temperature balanced, before she sank in, a deep sigh leaving her lips.
“Ohh, I need a massage,” she whispered to herself as she tilted her head back against the edge, exhaling softly.
Kira spent close to thirty minutes in the bathroom, and once she was done with washing up, she reached for a towel and realized that there was none.
She stared at her hand frozen midair before palming her forehead.
“Oh, come on,” she muttered as she still looked around the bathroom, hoping to find one, but unfortunately for her, she found nothing.
“How could I forget to ask?” she mumbled to herself, and if that wasn’t enough, another thought hit her.
“I don’t even have any clothes to wear,” she groaned. “How convenient.”
“What’s the plan now?” She thought as she closed her eyes, however, before she could come up with something, she heard a knock at the door.
Stepping out of the bathroom, she tiptoed to the door as if that would stop the water from dripping onto the floor, her wet feet making small sounds.
“Who is it?” she asked as she reached the door, not opening it yet.
“It’s me,” Bryan answered from the other side. “I figured there were no towels or clothes, only soap, not even a sponge, and I apologize. We had no idea you would be coming; otherwise, everything would have been prepared.”
“It’s no one’s fault,” she said to him as she cracked open the door just enough to take the towel and clothes from him, her wet skin still dripping and her cheeks starting to heat up.
“Thank you,” she muttered quietly, his hands brushing hers slightly as she took the stuff from him.
“Anytime,” Bryan replied with a smile, his voice smooth as ever, and before he could say anything else, she quickly shut the door and leaned against it, pressing the towel to her face.
“Get it together,” she muttered to herself, her body still warm. But, it was not just from the bath anymore.