12-08-2019, 12:33 AM
i was born, on the highway, in a train wreck
with a heart, that was beating, out of my chest
Aurum was so utterly stunned by the reappearance of a canine that bore such a striking resemblance to Leroy that he almost didn't even notice the approach of Piers, followed up quickly by Crowley and then Crow. Aurum opened his muzzle to respond to Piers's question, but the words died in the large feline's throat, unable to truly explain who Leroy had been. Thankfully, Crowley stepped in, and Aurum shot him a grateful look, glad that at least somebody could give a very brief explanation to the young newcomer. Aurum was about to turn his head back to face the Leroy lookalike, but he was caught off guard by the appearance of none other than Crow, unable to keep a fair bit of shock from his one blue eye at the tom's approach. It had been quite a while since he had seen the general out and about, and he had honestly begun to worry that he had disappeared off the face of the earth, or died or something. However, this almost seemed.... worse, than either of those options. Crow was still here, and very much alive, but his state was hardly something to be proud of, stumbling about over to the scene and slurring angrily about himbos to the male who could very well be the love of his life. It almost would've been comedic, if it wasn't so sad for the lion to see the normally levelheaded male in such a state. He faintly found himself wondering if Selby was aware of what his father had been doing, or if he had just given up, proclaiming the general a lost cause.
Aurum wasn't left to ponder about Crow's state for much longer, however, as finally the wolfhound in front of them spoke, his simple words seeming to make the entire world slow down around the lion. I'm back. The statement was so simple and to the point that it was almost baffling, but Aurum had already had his suspicions about the other's identity when he had first seen him, and now this? Happiness flooded the lion's bones, although he held himself back from giving into the desire to throw his arms around Leroy and hug the hell out of him. Both for the sake of Leroy's small body, and for the sake of his own dignity. It was definitely an extremely happy occasion, but once again Aurum couldn't help but glance over at Crow, wondering how the feline would react to the reappearance of his previously dead lover. Especially in his current drunk state. Attempting to keep the peace, Aurum rumbled warmly to Leroy, a smile curling on his muzzle as his one remaining blue eye looked down at the canine welcomingly, "...Welcome back, Leroy. It's good to see you alive and well... should've known your stubborn ass wasn't dead permanently." His tone was soft and joking, hoping to cut the obvious tension that had gripped Leroy since Aurum had seen him sitting at the edge of camp. It was no doubt a very stressful situation for him, considering Aurum couldn't even imagine dying and having come back to your loved ones... especially loved ones that had, for the most part, managed to grieve properly and just begun to turn things around. Crow being the exception, obviously. But he had the closest relationship to Leroy out of any of them, so Aurum supposed that was understandable.
Once he was done with his bit of greeting, Aurum stepped back a little, giving Leroy and Crow a bit of room. He doubted there would be any loving embraces in the public eye, but that didn't mean that Crow wouldn't many to give the canine some sort of greeting. Whether it be a hug or a punch... the lion honestly wasn't too sure. Part of him wanted to cover Piers's eyes to protect him from any possible fit that drunken Crow could have, since the poor kid had already been subjected to watching him viciously attack Astiar, but he didn't want to manhandle the small feline, or make him feel uncomfortable. So instead he just settled alongside Crowley and Piers, watching the entire situation curiously. He honestly wasn't sure how to react. The old Aurum would've burst into tears, so glad to see Leroy – or any beloved member of the group, really – alive and well. However, the old Aurum also would've bawled his eyes out and blamed himself over Leroy's death, and that had been something the lion had sworn off, mainly because of the words of the wolfhound himself.
Aurum wasn't left to ponder about Crow's state for much longer, however, as finally the wolfhound in front of them spoke, his simple words seeming to make the entire world slow down around the lion. I'm back. The statement was so simple and to the point that it was almost baffling, but Aurum had already had his suspicions about the other's identity when he had first seen him, and now this? Happiness flooded the lion's bones, although he held himself back from giving into the desire to throw his arms around Leroy and hug the hell out of him. Both for the sake of Leroy's small body, and for the sake of his own dignity. It was definitely an extremely happy occasion, but once again Aurum couldn't help but glance over at Crow, wondering how the feline would react to the reappearance of his previously dead lover. Especially in his current drunk state. Attempting to keep the peace, Aurum rumbled warmly to Leroy, a smile curling on his muzzle as his one remaining blue eye looked down at the canine welcomingly, "...Welcome back, Leroy. It's good to see you alive and well... should've known your stubborn ass wasn't dead permanently." His tone was soft and joking, hoping to cut the obvious tension that had gripped Leroy since Aurum had seen him sitting at the edge of camp. It was no doubt a very stressful situation for him, considering Aurum couldn't even imagine dying and having come back to your loved ones... especially loved ones that had, for the most part, managed to grieve properly and just begun to turn things around. Crow being the exception, obviously. But he had the closest relationship to Leroy out of any of them, so Aurum supposed that was understandable.
Once he was done with his bit of greeting, Aurum stepped back a little, giving Leroy and Crow a bit of room. He doubted there would be any loving embraces in the public eye, but that didn't mean that Crow wouldn't many to give the canine some sort of greeting. Whether it be a hug or a punch... the lion honestly wasn't too sure. Part of him wanted to cover Piers's eyes to protect him from any possible fit that drunken Crow could have, since the poor kid had already been subjected to watching him viciously attack Astiar, but he didn't want to manhandle the small feline, or make him feel uncomfortable. So instead he just settled alongside Crowley and Piers, watching the entire situation curiously. He honestly wasn't sure how to react. The old Aurum would've burst into tears, so glad to see Leroy – or any beloved member of the group, really – alive and well. However, the old Aurum also would've bawled his eyes out and blamed himself over Leroy's death, and that had been something the lion had sworn off, mainly because of the words of the wolfhound himself.
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— Reggan