Never Too Late

Family

Amaruq sat in the car and looked out over the town. He told Rose that he would be getting back late, but he had everything they needed. She replied by saying as long as everything was taken care of, it would all work out.

Amaruq got the same sense that his wife had been having for several months on end now. He couldn't exactly place it, but he knew something was about to happen. He felt it deep within his gut that whatever this something was, it was beyond anything they could imagine in these moments.

Amaruq's instinct couldn't have been any more correct.

Mastavian gave Briggan's trembling paw a gentle squeeze as a soft reminder that he wasn't alone. From the information Khrysta had given them, the Harou family would all be at Rose and Amaruq's home for a Christmas get-together. Mastace had flinched when he heard the name of Briggan's father. When inquired about what had made such a reaction occur, Mastace simply said that he found it interesting.

Briggan shook all over. His mind went into a total meltdown. He couldn't think, and hasn't been able to speak at all within the last few hours. His father. His mother. He was finally going to see them again. He didn't know how he felt. There was the elation of being able to reunite with lost family.

Family.

That word sent intense shockwaves all throughout the wolf's small frame. It rang and ricocheted all in his head. It made his body weak, and he could barely contain it.

Family.

"Babe, if you're having second thoughts, we can turn back now and no one will know we were here." Mastace whispered.

"If I back out now, I'll never know what I will have missed out on. I need to do this." Briggan felt a lot of himself leave him. He felt faint, but knew this was different from his seizures. This was something else tormenting his body. Fear. He probably seriously reeked of it. To him, it seemed almost palpable. There was no doubt about it. Briggan Harou was afraid.

Mastavian had never seen such intense emotion from Briggan. None of what had happened in the last six months could ever stands up to this, good and otherwise.

The usually cheerful wolf was now trembling and became very jumpy. They were at the cusp, and Mastace though that Briggan had the notion that he might not have what it took to make the leap.

"Would you like me to knock?" Mastace offered, which Briggan responded to with a barely perceptible nod. Mastace gave his boyfriend one last kiss before rapping his knuckles against the door a few times.

A moment passes and the door opens to reveal another wolf. His fur was a lightly snowy-grey with deep emerald eyes. He was slightly taller than Briggan and had a slightly more muscular build, but there was no mistake in the assumption that they were the same age.

"May I help you two gentlemen?" the wolf asked.

Briggan froze. Was this not the address that Khrysta received from his mother?

"Do Amaruq and Rose still live here?" Mastace asked, making sure to use a polite voice.

"Yeah, I'll go and get my mom. She'll come talk to ya shortly."

Briggan perked up lightly. Wait... Did he just say... "my mom"?