S'ajira gave a brief grunt and a nod, while Jo'rashaad spoke for them. "And there will always be a place for you here. You just take care of yourselves on your way home. We will be safe here, because you have made it safe for us."

"Yeah." Colors added. "No one really knows how long it will be before we can get a new clanhome of our own down south in the Tenmar, but it's not like the people of this clan are in any rush to throw us out. Maybe one day we'll have our home in the trees; get the outposts occupied again. But, it looks like everyone will be happy here until then. Well, as happy as a Saxhleel can be in a desert."

Ahnasha chuckled. "If this fails, you could always turn back to piracy."

Colors grinned and feigned a defensive posture. "Hey, I was never a pirate, I was a [i]smuggler[/i]. There is a distinct and important difference. Still, I can see it now. Pick one of the uninhabited islands out in the southern sea, get ourselves some ships, and become a band of lycan pirates. Honestly, I don't think that's something that's happened before. Too bad those ships we stole are probably long gone by now."

Ri'vashi and Marcaille returned to the group after giving their goodbyes to their respective friends and pride members. Others were still exchanging their final farewells, but it seemed like it would not be to long before they departed for good. The reality of the situation had truly set in for Ma'tanza, but there were at least a few details she could focus on to keep herself from breaking down in tears. Despite the danger they had all been through, Tzirret was safe, unharmed, and she had no reason to believe he would not continue to be safe. 

Bheja gave Tzirret a few pats on the back almost hard enough to knock the breath out of him during their hug, while Qa'habi simply gave a standard "goodbye." M'ibasa seemed a bit downtrodden, but was otherwise enthusiastic in his hug. After Tzirret's final words, Ma'tanza took in a deep breath to try and calm herself. "Even though Ma'tanza knew this was coming, it is still hard. She doesn't have words to say how much she will miss you. She doesn't think she has ever met anyone so...genuine. Yes, that's a word. You are a genuine person. She knows you love her because she can trust you. You are an honest person, and Ma'tanza thanks you for everything."

Following Ma'tanza's response, she broke eye contact and began to cry far more than a few sparse tears. As much as she wanted to look on the bright side, she had reached the point where her sadness had overwhelmed her. Most of the others did not know how to respond, but S'nishi decided to take the opportunity to give her own version of a goodbye. She moved her imposing form directly in front of Tzirret, then reached up one of her front paws and placed it on his shoulder, though her paw was large enough that she could only rest two or three toes on it at once. She was also careful not to put too much weight on him to keep from knocking him off of his feet. She gave him an approving nod, then, after a few seconds of staring, suddenly licked across his entire face at once with her massive tongue. 

S'nishi gave a deep, bellowing sound which was her closest approximation of a laugh, followed shortly by laughter from all of their friends. Even Ma'tanza was broken from her sobbing by laughter. She wiped away the tears from her eyes, then gave Tzirret another hug. "Ma'tanza loves you, and she will miss you. Just, more than anything, once  you get back home, promise Ma'tanza you will be happy."