[TOW] Somewhere to go

Prompt: Somewhere to go

Eliana didn't know how the conversation started. It started with her sitting alone, unsure of why she even came here, especially with wolves gathering from all sides, reeking of pack scent (damn packs messing up everything... though curiously she could scent a few familiar scents that she remembered from the flood). Estir - the caretaker of this place - had approached her, wanting to make sure Eliana was enjoying her time here.

It turned into a conversation. About their adventures, what they did the day before, mundane stuff.

Somewhere along the line, the conversation got deeper. Eliana wanted to know - why the retreat? why was it so special.

*Wistfully shaking her head, Estir explains, "Ah, you see, my family was taken from me by the Covenant of Atolli." Quickly, Estir clarifies, "They were convinced to join, manipulated, and taken advantage of. Now, they are gone, and it pains me to know that in their final days, they weren't even themselves anymore."

She looks out over the Retreat, her soft expression hiding much deeper feelings than Eliana previously knew. "This place is my way of making sure that no one meets a similar fate again. I never want anyone to feel like they have nowhere to go— at the very least, they'll be welcome here."*

Atolli. No amount of masking hid the pained expression on Eliana's face in response to Estir's words. Atolli had ruined so many lives. Did Eliana ever meet Estir's family?

"I hate admitting it," Eliana began, "But i fell victim to the Atolli too. I was fresh out of another, horrible pack... weary and with nowhere to go. Somehow, i saw through those monsters and their lies, and i slipped away, but not without receiving my scars in the process..."

Eliana sighed, "Even if my revelation changes your opinion on me, I'm really glad you set something like this up. I fell victim to a place that promised a lost wolf like me a place to go, and almost died with them. Now, wolves can find a place to go, and i wish i had a place like this to turn to." Suddenly, this weird gathering place had a whole new meaning - but what was hiding beneath the surface?

"Just... thank you." Eliana said, "This place will help many lost wolves."

Maybe, if she was comfortable enough - and if Estir didn't hate her for her past affiliation - she could see herself staying here for a while, or forever. She wasn't getting any younger, after all, and pack life just wasn't for her.

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When i rolled the 'somewhere to go' prompt i knew exactly who i was gonna use.

Note for the lit: the stuff between the asterisks (*) was copied directly from the prompt description written by Sensh-ii (to my knowledge) with minor edits to the wording (basically just POV wording edits), rest is written by me to add on to it!