Leave No Stone Unturned, Leave Your Fears Behind

Basking contentedly in the calmness of the afternoon, the were allows for his thoughts to carry him to a place where it often ventured in such moments. He can see perfectly within his mind the small town rural town that had been one of many places that the Lionels had decided to make temporary settlement in. Hjarta had been only a fraction of the size that Sacrosanct was, perhaps not even able to entirely fill just one of the districts in the metropolis area. The pace there had also been so much slower, quieter, but that much was to be expected from a small world that seemed almost trapped in time. There were dirt roads instead of hot, rank asphalt painted in white and yellow to mark the flow of traffic. Where Sacrosanct was riddled with skyscrapers, some almost seeming to reach as far up as one-hundred floors, it had been barns and sheds that were the tallest structures to be found. It was altogether as welcomed surprise to the family, having stumbled upon that small town where it seemed that everyone knew everyone else and greeted one another as though they had known them for years â€" and they likely had. They hadn't been searching for any place in particular, Roman's father and the alpha of the pride deciding that they would steer away from the two-lane highway they'd been following for miles, veering off to the nearest rest stops every now and again when they grew tired or hungry. It was by sheer chance that the road soon turning from blacktop to dirt, winding through dense forest that seemed to go on for miles and miles. Roman can remember just how loudly his baby sister Trinity had sighed in relief, clearly grateful for the break those tall pines offered the nomadic family from the unrelenting summer sun, her energy that seemed sapped from her bright earthen eyes suddenly surging forth once more as she would beg and plead with the man to indulge her into a game of "I spy" or "Guess that plant". Not that she ever really needed to beg or plead, the man entirely willing to entertain her with such things as the twins would be harassing Tristan and Nicolette would be talking idly with their mother. It had taken them well into the late afternoon until finally they emerged from the winding road leading into nowhere only to find that it had certainly taken them somewhere. That was the day they'd found Hjarta.

Had there ever been a place that Roman had wished they might have been able to stay within, it was that small town. Their arrival hadn't gone unnoticed, which was admittedly unnerving at first considering that the wandering family preferred their arrival and their departure to be silent. In small communities where everyone knew everyone, it could be as much of a danger as it could be a gift. What if the hunters came looking for them here? Would one of the locals betray their location, lead the very beings his family was always diligent and determined to stay several steps ahead where it could be helped right to where they'd taken temporary residence? These had been the concerns, the anxieties that flickered across Roman's thoughts as they arrived, almost immediately greeted by several of the individuals that had been chatting amongst one another beside a cabin just on the outskirts hardly a mile from the post that marked the beginning of Hjarta to the outside world. He can remember the three men whose heads had turned at the large family on foot walks down the path, only finding out later that they were brothers though it had made sense considering each of them had the same raven black hair and olive skin, their dark chocolate eyes curious and yet there was little wariness to be seen or sensed. All the same, Roman had ensured that Trinity was close to him should the men decide to become hostile or far too interested in the eight strangers. However, it had been when each of the unknown males had offered the family a kind wave before walking across the distance towards the pride that Roman had immediately become aware of them, the man's surprise flickering through golden-hazel eyes as he caught the scent of were on the three unknown faces. It seemed that they, too, had noticed this common trait they all shared, and they'd welcomed the Lionels warmly that day."Welcome, brothers and sisters. I am Bastiaan. This is Talon and Samuel", the eldest of the three had spoken, introducing the two standing at each side of him, the men nodding their heads respectfully as Roman's father, Zayne moves from his mate's side and extends that strong and calloused hand to the other weres."Thank you for the welcome. I am Zayne, and this my mate, Callia and our children. We are hoping to stay here for a while... and preferably to keep our residence here silent", the old male replied to the threesome, those strong and deep baritones carrying an unspoken question, as if testing the others to see where it was they would stand.

Bastiaan seemed to understand exactly what it was that Roman's father was meaning, dark earthen eyes sweeping over the pride for a moment before returning to rest leveling upon Zayne's own expectant hazel gaze."You will find that easy here. Hjarta is a were community. We also do what we can to keep our existence unknown. You and your family will have nothing to worry about here", the eldest of the three answered readily, offering to show the Lionels around the small town, to which Zayne had been hesitant yet agreed to. It had been a one-in-a-million chance that the pride would have been fortunate enough to find such a place as that small rural place. Their stay there had been a quiet and restful one, the family soon becoming very familiar with the three males who had in fact been the alpha, beta, and gamma of the long-time residents who'd taken shelter there in a place far from the traveled roads leading elsewhere. Tucked away with the trees and open fields, embraced by nature as they grew crops and thrived without little need to venture beyond the carefully guarded borders, it had been an existence the were would have taken well to the idea of remaining there. And they had stayed there for significantly longer than any other city, town, or village before stumbling into Hjarta... but perhaps that saying "old habits die hard" was more true that the were had truly considered it, for it was just when they'd all truly begun to think that just maybe they could end their nomadic lifestyle that Zayne had called them to leave once more. To this day, Roman did not know what might have been the reason behind his father's decision to leave, and while he would never dare to challenge the old male's orders, it was Zayne's unwillingness to discuss the matter at all which hadn't ever really settled well with Roman. It hardly mattered though, and after a simple and easy two years of living in Hjarta, the pride had moved on. The were knew better than to get attached to any one place, but for the first time, he could remember having felt a desire for a place where he would be able to settle once and for all. It had been a fleeting feeling, but it had been there all the same, and even now as the lion relaxes there on that bench in the park, he wonders if ever he might belong somewhere... if that was the reason behind the restlessness and wandering of his spirit, the animal in him seeking something to make his own.

Roman doesn't notice the other male jogging along the path in his direction right away, content to watch the children playing in the distance upon the play structures made just for them. It was the perfect place for the young and wild spirits to expel those energies which accumulated so quickly within their tiny frames. He was always surprised by just how bright and full of life children were, the were having always been fond of little ones and entertaining them. Their laughter was so pure, so untouched by the rest of the world... Their shrieks and squeals of delight nearly have the lion humming beneath that pure contentment as he lounged there, appearing as human as the rest of the beings that were partaking in summer activities, blankets scattered across the vast expanse of open grassland as families enjoyed picnics together, juveniles flying kites or toddlers chasing after the pigeons brave enough to see about coaxing the two-legs into surrendering pieces of bread or corn kernels for an easy meal. Only when the winds change and the man well-versed in distinguishing human from non-human catches the scent of another were that golden-hazel eyes flicker to the path and settle over the shirtless male with tawny colored hair perhaps only a shade or two darker than Roman's own, his skin gleaming with the efforts of his run. But, it wasn't the toned build of the stranger that the lion notices. No, it was the slight frown and the air about him Roman noticed. Perhaps it was simply from the run or the heat, acknowledging that there were many possibilities for such a solemn expression, but the were himself has worn such a look before and it had hardly been from a run through the city to calm the beast in his own body. The man moves over to where the man lounges, his features shifting to wear a kind grin that Roman is content to return."Not at all", he answers in deep baritones, shifting over to one side of the bench and gesturing for the man to sit as he'd wanted."It's pretty warm today for running", he remarks casually, his words neutral as he keeps the friendly grin upon his own chiseled features to let the man know that he meant no judgment or harm by such a comment.

Roman Royce