Persi leaned her head against River's incredibly soft fur. She stayed like that for a while before remembering that they were supposed to go hunting. She sat up slowly, a soft blue blooming on her cheeks. Lyra, Joan, and Astrid must have gone out of the tent at some point. Moving to her feet, an instinctual soft growling came from her throat, telling River to follow behind her. She walked out of the tent, blinking as the light sky shone in her eyes.
Lyra stood right outside the tent, running her hand through the fur of a large snow white wolf. She was humming a soft melody. She turned as Persi and River came out of the tent. A smile graced her face as she walk over to Persi. The wolf followed closely behind her. Lyra said, her voice airy, "Persi, Meet Kheîma! She is my shadow."
Kheîma padded forward, and sniffed the air. Her keen eyes locked onto River, who was hiding behind Persi's leg. She nudged Persi slightly, and Persi stumbled to the side. Kheîma softly growled at River, and River slowly moved closer. The small wolf pup leaned against Kheîma's large form.
As Kheîma bobbed her head in approval, the ground around them darkened into a shadowy blackness.
Four separate shadows jumped from the pool of shadows. The four shadows dispersed, revealing four majestic wolves with riders atop their backs.
Astrid, Joan, Sophia, and Egeria climbed down from the wolves, and stepped aside. The four wolves joined Kheîma around River, and nuzzled the small wolf softly. Persi looked at the hunters, confused, and Sophia explained, "They are welcoming her into our pack."
"I thought that all the hunters were in one pack, though," Persi said, even more confused. "And, how did you all just appear like that…"
"The wolves were a gift from Lady Night to Lady Artemis. Apparently, our lady helped Lady Night with 'something important' a few thousand years ago, and She had been given the first shadow wolves as a thank you," Lyra snorted, and said, ",It is true that all of us Hunters are in one pack, but there are smaller pack, usually having five or six hunters, within the large pack."
"Oh," Persi said, "I guess that makes sense...Wait, that means that we are a Pack, right?"
Lyra smiled brightly, "Well, that is what we wanted to ask you, λιωθείς χιών! Will you join our pack?"
Persi blinked silently, for a moment, thinking it over. In the past week, that she had been with the hunters, these four girls had been incredibly nice to her. After a few moments, she nodded, saying, "Of course, I want to join your pack."
Lyra wrapped Persi in a squeezing hug, and the other joined in closely behind her. Persi let out a purr-like noise, surrounded by comforting feeling of Pack. Hearing the noise, Persi froze, her cheeks flushing blue.
Trying to distract from her embarrassment, Persi asked, "Can you introduce me to your wolves?"
They let go of the hug, and went over to their wolves. Persi called out to River, with a low rumble, and the pup came stumbling through the snow. She picked up River, nestling her into her arms, as Lyra said, "Well, you already know Kheîma."
The snow, white wolf bowed in Persi's direction, and Persi curtsied back in recognition.
Sophia pushed a strand of her curly orangish-red hair out of her face, and said brightly, "Persi, meet Starfire!"
Starfire jumped forward, circling around Persi. She growled softly, in greeting, and Persi responded in kind. Starfire's eyes dilated, and tackled Persi to the ground. Shocked by this sudden change, Persi's froze, and her entire body began shaking uncontrollably.
"Starfire!" Sophia called, and Persi didn't hear the rest.
I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I'll—I'll be good. Please…..
Persi felt like she was drowning, only she know knew that that was impossible. A soft hand rested gently against her back as arms wrapped around her. Two other presence, Egeria and Joan, remained close, but weren't touching her. Persi knew Sophia was further away from her, probably chastising Starfire.
Persi opened her eyes, and came face to face with Lyra. Lyra smiled at her, but didn't say anything, so Persi said against her chest, "Sorry…"
"Why are you apologizing, λιωθείς χιώv?" Lyra asked, softly.
Sighing, Persi said, "I can't even seem to be able to keep myself together anymore. I keep breaking down, for not reason. I will cause nothing but trouble for you girls. That is all I will ever be. Trouble."
Lyra looked at Persi with sadness, her pale blue eyes melting into tears. Once the tears were gone, an angry look spread across her face. Persi had never seen Lyra angry before, but she knew this would be the last time she did.
Lyra pushed away from her, and yelled, "Do you think you are the only hunter who has suffered."
Persi did not respond.
"Well…" Lyra demanded, "Do you?"
Persi shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I didn't think so…," Lyra said, her voice slightly softer, "So many of us are 'trouble'. It is why we join the hunt. To find people who are wild and free, and aren't burdened by being 'trouble' to the rest of the world…But I have always hated that word. Trouble. I mean—What does it even mean to be Trouble. And who decides."
Persi didn't know what to say, so she stayed quiet.
Lyra continued for her anyway, "No one gets to decide. Not if, we don't let them."
Lyra knelt down beside Persi, and whispered, "Persi, you don't have to apologize for what happened to you. Many hunters still break down after decades or centuries with the hunt. No one is expecting you to have your feelings about it nailed down. That is something that can only come with time."
Persi sobbed loudly as she practically jumped into Lyra's open arms. Her body crashed into Lyra's chest, and wrapped her arms around Persi's shoulders. Persi sniffled and sobbed, holding on tight so Lyra wouldn't leave.
Lyra patted and rubbed Persi's back in a calming manner. Persi's eyes slowly grew heavy with the warmth of Pack, and her head bobbed up and down. She tried to keep them open, but her eyelids grew heavier. Astrid joined in, wrapping her arms around the two of them, and Joan followed closely behind her.
Sophia settled down after a while, having given Starfire a good lecture about boundaries when meeting new hunters. Egeria guarded the entrance to their tent, not joining in on the cuddle pile, but remaining there in silent support.
Persi's eyes closed to the world, and she fell asleep.