Loss and Victory

Metas, Myranda, Lara, and Ajax were all still very much incapacitated, and had Vincent not been there to protect the throne for his friend - there would have been a power vacuum.

Luckily, the Dragon was quite 'convincing' to the few who did try, and with the help of other dignitaries who agreed with Vincent's stance - no one would be designated as ruler unless it was King Metas and his wife.

Jyriah was so sick and tired of losing everything and everyone, that as soon as the crowds died down, he went with Jess and Joss to collect his niece. With Myranda not being awake -someone- had to explain to Syri what was going on, and to reassure her that everything was going to be okay, despite the fact both of her parents were dead.

How should one break that news to a child? No matter how he did it, it was going to hurt.

Even with Joss at his side, the eldest brother of the 'bakery' family felt weak and in a paid he could not describe. His eldest sister was dead, and his youngest sister hadn't been able to be awoken. To him, they may as well as be dead. His spirit was crushed, that there was no way he could even make light of anything.

Still, the bright smile on the little girl's face when she ran towards him did a great deal of healing to his wounded heart.

"Uncle Jerry!" Syri let out in relief and joy as she ran towards him with open arms.

The grown adult leaned down and widened his arms for the young pup to rush into. She immediately began to cry the moment they clashed.

"Hey, sweetheart" Jyriah spoke with shattered words as his chest stuttered as he took in air.

Syri had grown quite a bit in under a year - and she looked so much more like her mother than she had when Jyriah last saw her. It broke his heart, but also made him so proud to see his sister still alive in some way.

"I want to go home, I'm tired of hiding, and I'm scared. I want my mom and dad," the young girl sobbed.

What was he supposed to say? He tried to rummage through his thoughts as quickly as possible, fumbling over words as they slid past his eyes.

'Sorry, your parents are dead...'

'About that....Guess who gets to be a princess?'

'You're about to have a new mom and dad?'

Joss bailed him out beautifully, and he made a mental note to thank him in whatever way he asked later.

"Before we can do any of that, we need to make sure you're okay, and that your home is safe to go back to. There was a bit of an accident, and there is a huge mess everywhere. Would it be okay if you stayed with us in the palace for now?"

Syri nodded but looked confused. "Are you moving in with us?"

"Yes," Joss lied easily and smile with lips that wavered. Rest assured, he hated every moment of this interaction and wanted more than anything to change reality itself to fit their needs.

"Does Aunt Myri get to come, too? It's not fair if she can't." Syri pouted and looked at Joss's cool hues with ones that matched her father's.

"Absolutely. Everything is different now. You can see her everyday, and live with her up in the caves. How does that sound?" Joss tried to sugar-coat everything the best he could, but also knew that eventually she would have questions about where Syrana and Silas were at.

The older twin was quite jealous of his sister right now, because while he and Jyriah were breaking bad news - she had gone with Veltar to see his parents and bring joy to those who had suffered. He wished so badly he could give this child the happy ending she deserved...that all kids deserved.

In the chaos of all the sadness and loss, though - there were so many with smiles, victorious faces, and a new sense of what it meant to be a dweller of the mountain. There was a reason to live, and a brighter tomorrow.

Families once separated were reunited, and prisoners sent to toil in the mines had either been peacefully put to rest, or put into a treatment facility in hopes they would recover. Everyone came together to ensure all needs were met, and all of those who wished to leave the mountain, could.

In the coming days, those who had been living in the underground colony found that they liked it there, and many of them chose to stay and make a home out of the once hiding place. There were some who went back to their villages to rebuild.

....and a few just wanted to fade away into the woods as though they never existed.

Cassandra had nothing to live for other than the sake of her heart beating, and instead of staying around to be the outcast of society, she took her leave into the dense wood with a few others who felt that they had lost it all and became nomads.

Everyone was having their own definition of victory, but no one was entirely happy as long as their Alpha, Luna, Duke and Duchess were still in dreamland.

That was, until Ajax woke up.