Reuniting Tornedalians

"And.. What do you think they are feeling?"

"I'll never know what they are feeling or thinking, but it looks like allegiance, trust, friendship."

"I.. You've been watching me for a long time, haven't you?" Harrison whispered. "Your a bit of a stalker." He joked.

"I didn't know it was you."

"Still following me all the same," He hummed playfully, gently nudging her with his elbow.

She sighed. "What did you want to talk about?"

"This.. It was just this." Harrison whispered. "Kind of. Honestly, it isn't important.. This is your time to ask me questions, no more little white lies.. Whatever you want to know; I'm an open book."

"Just tell me, please."

"I just..." He grimaced. "It's not.. I don't know where we are now but I- I just wanted to know if I could grab the sofa here for a couple of nights. I- I've been having these nightmares and I- I really think having someone... Having you in the next room will help."

She shrugged. "Yeah sure, but aren't you supported to have Abi today?"

"Tomorrow," He whispered, "And only during the day. Faun is doing something with her in the evening. Are we... Are we ok? I expected more questions."

"I'm not sure what I want to ask."

"Well um..." He swallowed thickly and moved the photos to the side so the map of the area was easy to see. "The area was split down the middle. The left side here, that was my families; my dads and the right side, that was Faun's family side. My father was tyrant, as I've told you before; his leadership strategy was based more on fear thab respect. Step out of line and there would be punishment. He wanted me to be like that too. Once when I was nine he told me to go up to this boy my age, tell him if he didnt leave he would be hunted down and torn apart. I refused, he battered me... I still didn't do it. So, he grabbed me by my hair and dragged me to this underground cellar.. Just by there that is." he pointed to it on the map. "He didnt let me out for two years. Minimum food, next to no water. He would ask me questions, if I answered them wrong he would cut me with an iron knife... If I cried he would cut deeper . If I weren't a wolf, if I hadn't had fast healing then I wouldn't be looking this good. When he finally let me out, it was different. Noah helped, he never knew what happened but he helped me not be this shivering mound. Kept telling me I'd change things."

She nodded. "And I'm guessing you did?" She asked.

He nodded, "I spoke to Faun's father Koby. He agreed to merge the pack eventually; on the day we accounced it he stepped down so it was me and Faun in charge and.. It was good, for a while it was good. Faun got pregnant, it was a boy we uh.. He got killed, only a few seconds after he was born. Lots of things happened in between. Then my father made an appearance again, and..." he swallowed thickly. "That man Flick, he was- Faun's side of the pack didn't get it, of course they didn't how could they. Mine did for a little while. But then we started to get threats off of him and everything, everyone was suddenly in danger. All he wanted was me, so.. I went back to him, to keep my family safe. When I got back, they all despised me, they accused me of abandoning them and.. And my father still had part of me in his control so I would lash out and.. They were riotting, the pack, my family. Trying to kill me, they wanted me dead and my world was falling apart so I asked Faun to leave with me, because she was the centre of everything and I didnt want to die. She said no, she chose them. I've never gone back to any of them."

She nodded.

"I would of left it all for her, especially if people wanted her dead I mean... I- I did leave it all to keep her safe, to keep them all safe. Wolves are terrifying, the social dynamics change all of the time and its unpredictable. They are family, in every single way they are family and you feel safe with thwm but then in half a second they are trying to tear you apart. Noah wasn't involved in it, but he let them do it and that hurt more than losing Faun. He was my rock, he could tell how I felt without me having to blink and.. It was rough, all of it was devestating and it always will be but I had to chose my safety and I had to find out who I was. Then proper me. I- I'm still working it out but you.. You have helped me so much, by just being nice and having coffees and hot chocolates with me, if this.. All of this infomation changes us then I understand, I see how it would but I just really really hope it doesnt make me lose you Flick. Yoyr teaching me how to be me."

"I don't want it to change us,"

"Okay, ok good."

"But you kept a pretty big secret from me."

"Mm. You have to understand that you are the first human I have ever had a bond with; ever. I mean, I've never really even said hi to one before you and you know hunters are such a risk to us. I mean - you understand that right."

"Of course I do, but you also know that I would never harm any of you, I study you for a living."

"But... But I don't. I dont know that."

"Then you really don't k ow me do you?"

"No, but I've never claimed to know you entirely, like you don't know me entirely."