Recent History
While she was slow to admit it, even Reagan got tired. Tired of the constant travel, of always being a stranger in a new place. Of constantly leaving behind lovely little hatchlings. Even if she did receive letters from many of her beloved children (some even would send her notes to tell her about their newly appointed positions working for the deities!), it would grate on her at times. She would be... lonely.
Don't misinterpret; she was an extrovert by nature, and so loved getting to know the various clans that would kindly house her on her travels. She enjoyed learning their stories, histories, and culture. She was always pleased to meet others who had traveled as well, but she always had a small, hollow feeling deep down.
I never return home. I haven't seen my parents in a long, long time. And so, she took a trip to see her relatives. She was shocked when she arrived at the family homestead to find it... empty. She walked through the empty halls, trying to find any member of her birthclan... but they had all vanished.
Tears stained her fur as the hollow feeling grew larger. She curled into a ball, trying to feel any remaining warmth from her parents' old nest. The next morning, nobody came. And the next. And the next. After nearly a week, she knew that she had to move on. She couldn't stay here and waste away.
She slowly stood up, and headed towards the one place she knew would have to bring her some joy - The City of Caesura. A neighboring city that was also in the Wind Territory, it was where she had all the mail from her hatchlings forwarded to. It was a hassle to try to keep changing where her letters were sent, so she instead owned a post office box in one of the biggest wind trade cities. She traveled through it often on her own wanderings, and likewise, most mail passed through it before getting sorted out to other territories.
Her hope was rewarded- several letters from various children and descendents filled the box.
Wanderer had sent a large letter detailing her most recent archaeology adventure with Indiana, and
Charity was proudly relaying how strong her son Puff's magical prowess was becoming while they were studying in the Arcane Territory. Regan settled on a nearby bench, reading through dozens more that had arrived since last she had been in the area.
It was a small, unnassuming letter at the bottom of the pile that intrigued her most. It had a local postmark, from approximately a month prior.
Prosperity, one of her many further-removed descendants, had penned a simple note.
Dearest Grandma Regan,
I know you come through this area quite regularly, and seeing as how my mate Ginny and I have just settled down here in Caesura, I would love to have you come stay with us next time you are in town. We have a surprise for you!
Love,
Prosperity
P.S. Our address is 24 Windwalker Way.
Excited by the prospect of seeing some of her descendants, she gathered up the letters scattered around her, and hurried up the street. The address she was looking for wasn't far- just a few blocks from the main post office branch. It bordered a clean street, with large, fieldstone houses that were set back from the sidewalk by courtyards and gardens. She gawked in awe, her heart soaring- her family was doing so well for themselves if they were living in this part of town!
She stopped just shy of a clean wooden gate. Almost immediately,
a pale, fluffy face looked up from the flowerbeds. "Hello, Grandma Regan! We were hoping you would stop by sooner or later!" He quickly scrambled up, opening the gate for her.
"DoveHaven! Why, I didn't realize you were going to be here as well!" They warmly embraced each other, and DoveHaven let out a chuckle.
"Oh, we have a few surprises in store for you, why don't you come inside? I am sure Prosperity would love to explain everything. He always gets so peeved if I step on his toes." DoveHaven let out a light scowl, that playfully turned into a light laugh as he led his grandmother through the courtyard to the front door.
Inside, the house opened up into a sweeping pair of staircases, flanking a large doorway into a sitting room. In a word, the house was warm: warm woods, warm beams of sunlight coming in through the windows, and the warm smell of fresh baked bread wafting through.
"Hey! Everyone! Regan's home!" DoveHaven had hardly spoken the words, when suddenly the home burst into life. Prosperity and his mate, Ginny, came walking out of the sitting room, and a
purple tundra along with a
darker, black tundra came out from rooms upstairs. They crowded around, embracing and excitedly greeting each other. Regan was surprised and delighted to see so many of her family here.
Prosperity explained. "Grandma, you travel so much, and yet you almost never see your children and grandchildren except when they happen to be traveling to clans that you are also traveling to. This is the one place that you regularly visit. And so, we wanted to surprise you." With a flourish, Prosperity gestured to a shiny copper plaque by the front door. It read
Regan's Family Home. "We all purchased this house together. And we aren't even all home right now. Several of our children live here as well. We anticipate that we won't be the last. I have already drawn up plans to be able to expand as needed, as more of our extended family from all over Sornieth come to either stay or visit. But this- this home is yours."
Hearing these words, Regan began to tear up, but this time, tears of joy. "Oh, I would be honored to stay here."
The youngest among them, the dark tundra named Hallowed, instantly piped up. "I know that you aren't one to settle for long, mom. So please, we don't want to make you have to give up your travels for us. Just please know, we always will have a place here for you. We are just happy to have a home for you to come back to see us." Regan tenderly stroked his mane, more proud and filled with love for her family than she could speak.
"Always, my loves. I will always be sure to come back and stay with you when I can." Regan looked around, the happiest she had been in months. She was home.
She was home.
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