Madelief's thunderous entry through the creaky old wooden door seemed to have flung her nearly a decade back in time. A few weeks previous, she had been sitting in a cold, sparsely decorated room in her family's old stone cottage with nothing but aching fingers, a piano and her own gloomy thoughts but now, in this little cabin, it seemed she had been transported right back to the height of the Wolves' career. Her world just seemed brighter as the flames of the gas lamps danced upon the honey coloured wood and the jovial laughter of her comrades filled her ears.

She was warmed by the words of Wolfgang and Lucian as she strode about the room, intent on re-establishing her unforgotten bond with each of them. She felt a sense of comfort as Wolfgang's scruffy beard tickled her cheek and she felt Fredrik's hand on her back. She laughed haughtily as Lucian related to her the topic of conversation within the cabin, remembering the event as if it were mere days since it occurred and flicking a wicked grin over at Fredrik as if to lightheartedly mock him for what she considered to be overprotectiveness.

This whole flurry of merriment as she entered filled Madelief with such joy. It was like the family reunion she had expected upon her arrival home, one that never came to pass.

Just as the excitement whirling about inside her was starting to die down, Madelief heard the door open behind her and spun to face it, wandering just who it could be and, with an excited gasp was met with the sight of Valéria Aparecida Oliveira de Azevido, a name which Madelief had intentionally committed to memory all those years ago in the hope that it would somehow impress the tough Brazilian and show that she had taken an interest in her. She never did know if it worked.

"Ria!" she cried, opening her arms wide for the third time since her arrival and stepping forward before the faint flicker that constituted a smile from Valéria crossed her face and warded her off, reminding her that big hugs were really not Valéria's way. 
Somewhat awkwardly, Madelief managed to restrain her display of affection and attempted to disguise her hug by casually sliding her hands up into her armpits, resulting in stifly folded arms.
"I-it's good to see you" she finished, unable to remove the ear to ear smile on her face.

Were it even possible, Valéria looked even stronger than before. Her body was solid, her eyes hard, intense and unyielding. Madelief had always respected Valéria as a woman, as a pilot and comrade in arms. She had consistently tried to learn from her and, while she always felt as though she was kept at arms length emotionally and struggled to understand Valéria's impersonal attitude, sheer persistence and making an effort to play by Valéria's rules seemed to have led to some level of respect and mutual understanding of how to deal with each other, even if they could not fathom the other's inner workings.

As Madelief stood there in the cabin, the entire scenario seemed like a dream. She'd had them before, dreams where she'd be back in the sky, flying about with her friends and shooting up merchant ships. That was how she saw herself, she wasn't a pirate robbing and stealing and killing, she was just having adventures with her friends, or at least she was until she woke up in her dreary old room. But this, this was real, she knew because nobody could stay asleep with their heart racing with such elation as Madelief felt right now. They were all here, the ones she had known in her heart would answer Wolfgang's call, now the only one they were waiting on was Arturo, where was that guy?

Inspired by the pungent aroma emanating from Lucian's glass as well as his insistence on the matter, Madelief had acquired a glass of red wine and was daintily sipping on it as she merrily basked in the company of her allies when Wolfgang began to speak. She promptly turned to him with a contented smile on her face as memories of all of their former mission briefings flooded back to her. He still had that same authoritative tone and, at first, it filled her with nostalgic excitement as she listened intently for the reason he had called the Wolves back together. Not that the reason overly mattered, she was just happy to be there.

As Madelief listened, however, certain cues led to an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her stomach. She hadn't heard Valéria question Arturo's whereabouts, but was similarly curious as to his absence, she was sure he would be here, why was Wolfgang beginning without him? And then there was Wolfgang's tone and that look in his eyes.

For a moment, Madelief thought that she may have been overreacting when Wolfgang spoke of Italy, Iliana and their son. 
"Aww..." she sighed quietly at the sweet happy ending that Wolfgang seemed to have made for himself, glancing around at the others to gauge their responses, but her attitude was quick to falter.

Iliana 'was' the love of his life? The way in which Wolfgang spoke just didn't add up with the story he was telling, and then it hit her.
Madelief brought her hand to her pale lips to conceal the gasp that escaped from her mouth as Wolfgang mentioned the men that came to his house and tears welled up in her eyes as every word that followed confirmed her fears. Wolfgang had lived through his life, suffering injustice all along, he had survived through their harrowing life of piracy and had finally found peace with a family that he clearly loved and it had been taken from him. All in the space of a few seconds, Madelief had learned of Wolfgang's family and their death. She would never meet them, nor would she ever see the joy they brought to Wolfgang and only adding salt to the wound was that one of their own number had been involved in the foul crime, it was a crushing blow that saw Madelief trying, and failing, to fight back tears.

Madelief was brimming with emotion. She was enraged and saddened, vengeful and distraught, she could scarcely even settle her racing mind on one emotion and just stood there in stunned silence as Wolfgang continued. She did not even move as Wolfgang's story came to a close and felt completely overwhelmed as both Fredrik and Lucian pledged themselves to Wolfgang's cause.

This wasn't how it was supposed to be. The reformation of the Wolves was supposed to be a grand occasion of mirth and rapture before they set off once again on their wild adventures. It wasn't supposed to transformed into a tragedy, people weren't supposed to be betrayed and have their families murdered, their quest wasn't supposed to be about vengeance, people weren't meant to die...

In the wake of Lucian's commitment to Wolfgang's mission, Madelief felt the room become quiet and concluded that it was her turn for a reply, and she struggled for several moments to give it. Things were real now, this was not even comrades getting shot out of the sky and going down in flames, this was a traitorous wrech specifically locating and murdering Wolfgang's family. Why had Arturo done this? She certainly wouldn't find out if she walked back through that door and went home to her mother. Wolfgang had called on her, as well as the others, because he had faith and trust in the fact that they would back him and even though this was not going the be the swashbuckling romp she had hoped for, she would not let that trust be answered with a turned back.

"I--" Madelief cleared her throat as her first attempt at speaking manifested as nothing more than a raspy croak, wiping tears from the corner of her eyes "I'm so, so sorry, Wolfgang" she said, placing the wine glass that she had been holding in a death grip down onto the table beside her as she stepped towards him, gently taking hold of his lapels and staring up at his reddened eyes "I only wish we could have met them...and perhaps we will, yet..." Madelief released him and walked back to her wine glass, taking a measured sip before placing it back down.
"If Arturo has the backing of the Italian Air-force, this is going to be one intense mission. I'll help you, Wolfgang" she replied, as her courage began steadily filling back in and the determined glint returned to her eyes.
"We'll find Arturo and bring him to justice" she pulled her treasured fishing knife from her boot "Sharp justice" she added, running a gloved finger along the back of the blade.