(This takes place when Maite/Arie was a cub, Oded just grown into his mane)
"AREN!"
A great rumbling shook the land, her paws left the ground, she was jerked about, blackness.
And then it was over.
Aren opened her eyes and choked on the dust that thickened the air and caked her fur in a heavy layer. She was wrapped up in dark, heavy paws. What happened? She'd been at the canyon entrance, though it would take hours still to reach open roguelands. She hadn't been on Time Lord land anymore, but this was one of the best places to find precious stones. Ettore's gift hung around her neck and reminded her that she had been searching for something to give him. Someone had called her name, no, someone had roared it and then there had been such a loud sound. What had happened?
She twisted and found green eyes starting down from a dark face, stark terror still reflecting in them.
"Oded? What happened?" Oded was rogue-born, one of the very few in Galifrey who bore a Time Lord role. Guardians were protectors and reserves, should the war ever reach home. But, when they weren't needed for something like, they were essentially baby-sitters. Oded had become one of the two guardians of the Lungbarrow house, watching over all of the cubs until they reached the age when they would begin their more intensive training. Aren and her brother were almost old enough that they didn't need him anymore, but not quite there yet. Soon, he would devote more of his time to watching her cousins. He must have come looking for her, as this wasn't one of her usual free-times. But why had he grabbed her? And that sound...
She followed his gaze, twisting again so that she faced away from him. The dust was clearing to show-
No. No, no, no.
A wall of rock and rubble rose up before them, high, high, too high and unstable for a lion to safely climb, more than halfway up the canyon walls. She turned, looking over Oded's shoulder to see the canyon thin, the way to the roguelands. The Valley of Time was closed off.
And they were outside of it.
"Gods no..." The words Oded whispered echoed in her heart and burst forth in a cry of utter anguish. Aren turned and buried her face in his mane as she wept. They were trapped, there was no way to get back home. She'd never see Mama or Papa or Jinie again.
But worst of all, she'd never see Ettore again. And he would never have her. That hurt most of all. Mama, Papa, Jinie, the rest of her family, they were strong and had each other. Ettore had no one, she knew that now. He didn't get comfort or strength from anyone, not even himself really. She wouldn't be there to help him anymore. She cared about him, really cared. She'd wanted to grow up with him, to coax those lopsided smiles and soft laughter from him, to sing to him and help him rest, to soothe him when he was hurt. Her paws rose and cupped the necklace he'd given her as she wailed out her pain. He'd never know what had happened, she hadn't even gotten to say goodbye. What would he think when she didn't come back ever again?
She just wanted this to be a nightmare.
"It's not real!"
Oded hugged Aren tightly, rocked her as he tried to calm her down. As quiet as he was, he could feel the tears cutting through the fur on his cheeks. He was cut off from the only home he'd ever known, thrust back into the world he'd hated. Yes, he was born in the roguelands, but it hadn't been a happy existence. His earliest memory was of someone beating him, taking away his name. He didn't even remember what it had been before. Quartin, a Time Lord, had saved him and brought him home, had given him his name, had raised him like a son. Three moons ago, he'd asked Quartin if he could court his niece. Having lost her father, Quartin had been Lili's closest male relative. Three moons and he loved her even more than his infatuation had hinted at. He'd been intending to ask her to marry him in the spring.
That would never happen now.
He'd wanted to be a husband and father someday. Now... He looked down at Aren. For all that she was growing up so quickly, she was still so young. She'd never survive a minute out here on her own. He'd been suddenly thrust into the role of not only her protector, but teacher and parent.
He hugged Aren tight for a moment before shifting slightly.
"I know it hurts, little one, but we can't stay here," he sighed as he stood, setting her on her paws and gently pushing her chin up to look at him. Though she quieted, the tears continued to wash down her face, making trails in the dust that covered her light fur. "We'll be okay. You'll be safe, I swear it."
The safety wasn't what upset Aren, though. She wanted Ettore. Oh, why hadn't she asked him to come away with her? Her parents would have been shocked, and frankly she never did learn exactly where Ettore had come from, if he was just a rogue or a slave, but... She should have begged him to run away and come home with her. She didn't care if he was a slave, goodness, she wouldn't have even cared if he was a Dal'ek, absurd as it was. He hadn't been, of course. He had far too much heart to be one of them.
Once more, Aren pressed a paw to the charm around her neck, pressing it against her heart.
Please... whatever gods are out there, please keep him safe. Please let me see him again someday... With tears still falling down her cheeks and her steps still unsteady, Aren took a few before Oded started to move. Their backs to the only home they'd ever known, the pair of them began making their way into a terrifying new world.
(WC: 1,023)