Falling into Nevarah
Harry was falling.
He didn't understand how he had gotten to this point. Everything had been perfectly fine. They had circled up to leave Earth behind and go to Nevarah to start their new lives. Harry had been watching as things blurred and passed around them. He had felt a small prickle of magic when the portal had first started and the longer they were in the portal the more the magic made his skin itch.
It had gotten to the point that his own magic was rising up to counter the feeling against his skin. He had started to squirm and then apparently just as they were coming up on Nevarah Harry's magic finally lashed out. His wings popped out of his back and tore him from his Alpha's arms. Then Harry was falling.
He fell through the air plummeting toward the ground that was fast approaching. He could see nothing but the sky, feel the wind against his skin, and hear the loud roaring of the air passed his ears. He was panicking, he was going to die before he ever got to start his new life with his circle. He had tried to open his wings to maybe try and fly so that he didn't keep falling but his right wing caught the wind in a weird way and something pulled sending waves of pain through Harry.
Harry was keening in panic loud and long. He didn't know how to help himself. Didn't know what to do to fix this. Then something slammed into him. It was jarring and Harry continued to keen. Then finally something registered through his panic. He wasn't falling anymore. He was still in the air but he wasn't falling. He was wrapped securely in someone's arms. Whoever it was, was talking low and calming in his ear. Softly soothing his panic.
He quickly wrapped arms and legs around the person in a death grip and buried his face in their neck. He was trilling in fear and could hear himself making all kinds of noises between fear and gratefulness to his savior. Still, the person rubbed his back soothingly and spoke low and kind. Harry didn't know how long he stayed that way, wrapped around this person who had saved him. He could tell from their scent and the lack of a bond that it wasn't one of his circle but he didn't care. Right now, this person had saved him and he was safe.
The person landed softly on the ground and Harry heard mumbled voices and the person tried to pry his hands and legs off but Harry clung tighter and his warbles of fear grew louder the more the person tried to get him to let go. Finally, they stopped and just settled their arms back around him. Harry quieted back down and just continued to cling. He heard more low words that he didn't have the energy to try and make out and buried his head farther into the neck he was pressed against. The soothing rumbles and quiet words started up again and Harry calmed slowly to soft sniffles and quiet mewls.
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Xander had been minding the gates of Nevarah on guard duty. He was the Ace in Charge for this shift. He mostly just needed to sit back and make sure that everyone else was doing their job properly. They had been warned that a few portals would be coming through today with quite a few people in each one. There had been a soulscream on Earth that had pulled two royals and so there was a security increase at this gate to make sure that everything went smoothly and without any hiccups.
The first three portals had come through and been processed properly with no issues. The first one had contained a few people that needed temporary citizenship until they could get into Nevarah and make it permanent but other than that it was just returning natives. The last portal was the one that would be a bit more time consuming. It would have the new circle. The Royal in the circle had taken care of a lot of the paperwork for them all ready but the Earth-born would still need to register.
The Evanson Triad had shown up not to long ago as well. They were apparently were family to the Submissive and were going to be housing the new circle until they could find a permanent residence. He had heard them talking to a few of the royal advisors about it.
Then he felt the portal approaching and gave a sharp whistle to alert the others that it was time to get back to work. Just as the portal passed through the ward line Xander felt it crack and watched as someone fell through and began to plummet to the ground. He was off the ground and racing toward the falling Submissive, based on the distress sounds he was hearing, to catch him.
He flinched when he watched the Submissive try to catch himself with his wings and one of them snapped back behind him in a bad way. The keening from the Submissive grew louder. He braced himself for when he got to the Submissive, there was not easy way to catch someone who was falling they were going to slam into each other. The young man in his arms was keening so loudly and radiating panic so strongly that he didn't think he realized he had been rescued yet.
Xander hovered and tried to sooth the Submissive that was near feral with panic in his arms. He kept his voice low, calm, and soothing. He didn't pay attention really to his own words just kept them calm and comforting. Finally, it seemed that the Submissive realized that he was no longer falling and was in fact safe because he made a startled noise and wrapped both arms and legs around Xander in a grip that was almost too tight.
The young man's noises of distress changed to fear and relief at being rescued. Once Xander knew that the Submissive was secure in his arms he headed back down to the ground in front of the gate where the Submissives anxious circle was waiting. When he landed he strode straight to the waiting Alpha.
"Orion," Xander greeted the Gheyic Alpha. He was well known in the pits. The Ace was pretty sure that he would be a Blood title holder if he had not been Nameless. The Alpha inclined his head.
"From what I can tell, your Submissive is mostly unharmed. He definitely pulled something in his right wing, but other than that I believe it is just fear and panic," Xander reported. Orion nodded his thanks and moved to take the small Submissive from him.
"Thank you, Ace for saving him," Orion stated a bit more relaxed. Xander tried to remove the Submissive's arms from around his neck but the more he tried the louder the sounds of distress got and the tighter he clung to him. Finally, the Alpha stopped him with a hand on his arm.
"If you don't mind, please allow him the time to settle. His instincts tell him you are safe right now. He is probably having a hard time pulling back from becoming completely feral," Orion said gently. His instincts wanted him to rip Harry from the other Dragel's arms but he fought the urge so that Harry would could settle.
"I don't mind. I will allow him the time to settle properly. I was due a break anyways. As the Ace in Charge, I am supervising more than anything right now anyways," Xander told him.
"Thank you, Xander. I should have prepared for something like this. He and those who knew him before the scream warned us that he was a trouble magnet. Harry is also magic sensitive this was his first portal ever. But hindsight and all that. One of ours will sit with you in the event that he calms while I help our Earth-born finish registering," Orion informed the Ace. He whistled and Hadrian came to stand near them while Xander settled on the ground to get more comfortable.
The Submissive in his arms, Harry, was obviously something spectacular. He had two full suites, a Gheyic Alpha with Orion's reputation, the Blood Raven, and two Royals it was quite impressive. This circle was going to be something to look out for. Military for sure especially with a Gheyic Alpha and a Gheyic Submissive.
He continued to rub Harry soothingly on the back and talk comforting nonsense to him. Finally, the Submissive seemed to calm completely his arms and legs loosened and he made a small curious noise that Xander answered with a rumble.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry finally felt like he was in control of himself and was calm enough to loosen his hold on his rescuer. He made a curious noise and was answered with a calm rumble. Harry pulled back enough to look at the man who had rescued him. He was very handsome and radiated calm.
"Hello there, Little One. Are we calm now?" The man asked him in a kind voice. Harry nodded and looked around but had made no move to leave the man's arms. Harry gave a curious chirp.
"You broke a portal just as you crossed the wards into Nevarah," the man answered him. There was a mild look of panic and a small warble.
"No one was harmed. You are the only one who fell. Everyone else landed safely at the gate like they were supposed to," The man once again supplied before Harry could panic. Harry grinned at the man.
"How do you feel? Calm enough to let your healer look at your wing?" Harry grimaced and then nodded his head. The man gave a whistle and then made a few signs with his hand. Then Harry felt relief flood through his bonds. Harry watched as Quinn came forward with a young man with green hair, Kyle if Harry was remembering correctly.
"Hi Harry," Kyle said with a wide grin. Harry pulled his hand away from the strange man only long enough to wave back and then put his arm back around his neck. The man just remained sitting calmly allowing Harry to stay in his lap.
"Quinn is going to look at your wing now okay?" Harry nodded. When Quinn reached out to touch his wing his hissed and leaned forward burying his face in the strangers neck. The man went back to talking comforting nonsense in his ears and rubbing his arms instead of his back to stay out of Quinn's way. Finally, he felt Quinn gently fold his wings back into his back. Harry whined a little at the small bit of pain.
Harry? Are you ok?
Quinn asked with his hand still pressed to his back gently. Harry nodded his head yes.
You pulled a few muscles in your right wing. You need to keep your wing put away for now until the muscles can heal a bit. I will help you with your wings, stretching them and such safely until the muscles heal. Understand?
Harry nodded again. Then he felt Quinn press a soft kiss to his head before he backed away. Harry took a few more moments and then pulled back from the Gheyo's neck again.
"Your Alpha tells me that your name is Harry," The man stated and Harry nodded again. "I am Alexander, but everyone calls me Xander. Do you think that you can try and give me some words, Little Submissive? It will help us know that you are not feral." Harry nodded his head and opened his mouth to tell the man that he was fine now but a soft trill was the only thing that left his mouth. Harry huffed and Xander laughed softly.
"It's ok, Harry. Perfectly normal reaction to the panic that you have experienced. Do you think you might settle more fully if you went to your Ace? Your Blood Raven has been waiting very patiently for you to calm enough for him to take you," Xander asked gently. Harry was genuinely unsure how he felt about that. This man still felt very safe to him. But Hadrian was also safe.
"You don't have to move yet if you aren't ready. We can stay right here until you are ready to move away," Harry relaxed and smiled at the man. He was very kind. "Why don't we try letting go for now, Yeah? You can stay in my lap but let's unwrap your arms and legs and turn around. You can watch your bonded while they do their registration." Harry thought about it for a moment. Then nodded.
Harry slowly released his legs and arms and allowed Xander to move him around until he was sitting with his back pressed to the other mans chest still sitting securely in his lap. Harry relaxed and watched as his bonded went through the process of registering. Xander gave orders or answered questions as he was needed and Harry felt kind of bad for keeping the man from his job, but he just couldn't bring himself to move yet and honestly the man didn't seem that upset about it.
"Harry, come on, Love. I am feeling a bit out of sorts from watching that. It was like third year all over again when you fell off your broom because of the Dementors. I need a bit of reassurance myself and I have waited long enough," Harry looked up and trilled softly at the look of anxiety on Draco's face. He genuinely looked like he was ready to rip Harry out of Xander's arms and smoother him to death. Harry remembered falling third year and it was almost exactly like what it had felt like when he fell today. Maybe that is why he had panicked so badly.
Harry wouldn't let Draco stress about this and if holding Harry would settle him then who was Harry to deny him. Harry chirped up at the man he had been so obsessed with for so long. He held up his arms and Draco grinned before pulling Harry straight up into his arms. Harry wrapped arms and legs around the taller blonde.
"Now, Troublemaker, tell me with your words that you are ok and that will make me feel better. You want to make me feel better don't you?" Draco asked him. Harry rolled his eyes, but he did want to make his bonded feel better and he could literally feel them all watching the two of them waiting to see what would happen.
"I am ok, Draco," Harry forced himself to say. He could feel the smug satisfaction coming from the Slytherin and rolled his eyes. He looked Draco straight in the face and then snogged the life out of him. When he pulled back Draco wasn't smug anymore, he was flushed and a bit breathless. Now, it was Harry's turn to be smug.
"Git," Draco said and as he pressed his forehead to Harry's. "You scared the life out of me. You have to stop doing that or I am going to be grey before I am twenty-one." Harry rubbed his nose against Draco's and then pressed a chaste kiss to his lips.
"I am sorry that I scared you, Draco. I didn't mean to. The magic in the portal made my skin itch and it was ok at first but when we passed through the wards into Nevarah it was like my magic couldn't take the feel of it and rose up to fight it. I am sorry that I cause so much trouble," Harry apologized to his anxious Pareya. Draco sighed and held Harry tighter for a moment.
"It wasn't your fault, Harry. Shit just seems to happen to you. I am going to convince Fred, George, and Ethan to help me wrap you in bubble wrap and place you in a padded room where you can't get hurt again," Harry looked Draco in the eyes and thought about how ridiculous that sounded. Then they both dissolved into giggles.
"I am very glad to hear your laughter." Harry turned to see the man, Xander, stand up from the ground and dust himself off. Harry trilled at him and smiled.
"Thank you for saving me and for letting me cling to you like a child while my instincts were a mess," Harry told the man. Xander grinned.
"I was due for a break anyways and you gave me the perfect excuse to sit still for a bit. I enjoyed helping you settle, Harry. I am glad you felt safe enough with me to allow it," Xander told him. Harry blushed slightly and then purred when he felt fingers in his hair. He turned into the hand and smiled gently up at his Alpha who looked and felt like pure relief.
"For rescuing our Heart when we were unable, we thank you. Our circle owes you a debt and for that, we offer you a favor, to cash in when you need it. We have a lot of resources at our disposal and will gladly use them to help you when you need it," Orion offered his rescuer. The man looked startled and then honored.
"You do not have to do that. Anyone would have done the same," Xander told Harry's Alpha.
"I could see what was happening from the rip in the portal. You are the only one who even saw what happened. Harry was already in your arms and we were on the ground before anyone else moved to help. You saved his life" Orion told the man. Harry grinned at Xander.
"Accept the favor, please. For me. I don't have anything that I can offer you at this point to thank you for saving my life. I have a son and he has already lost too many parents, you kept him from losing another," Harry told Xander. "Besides, Draco likes to pretend like he is indifferent, but he would fall apart without me around to obsess about. He has been doing it since we were eleven it's a habit at this point." Harry laughed when Draco made a very undignified sound and promptly passed him off to Hadrian who had just walked closer. Draco stormed off.
"He loves me," Harry said with a grin and then kissed Hadrian on the chin. The Ace nuzzled Harry and then took a deep inhale to scent him. Harry allowed the fussing as short as it was before he was placed on the ground and pushed gently into Orion's arms.
"I can tell that you are very loved by all of your circle. I will accept the favor from your Alpha but only because you asked so nicely and you have such a lovely laugh," Xander told Harry who promptly blushed. "Now, unfortunately, I have to get back to work but I do hope to meet you again. Perhaps when you aren't plummeting to your death." Harry told him goodbye and then gave a surprised chirp with Orion grasped him under his thighs and lifted him into his arms. Harry wrapped arms and legs around his Alpha and gave himself over to the devouring kiss he was given. Harry grinned breathlessly at his Alpha when he finally pulled away.
"Well if you are quite done snogging my grandson senseless, I would like to meet him." Harry turned to see his grandmera Jun and a taller man standing with an exasperated-looking shorter man. Orion pecked his cheek and then placed him on his feet before walking over to the trio.
"Hello Grandmera," Harry said with a smile and allowed the woman to pull him into her arms tightly. He wrapped his arms around her and held on just as tight. It was so nice to hug someone like this. It felt like what he imagined his mother would have hugged like. He nuzzled Jun and held on longer than was necessary.
"I am so glad that you are ok, Loveling. You scared a decade off my life just then. I am going to insist on a proper cuddle later to settle my instincts," Jun told Harry. The Submissive promptly burst into tears. "Oh, Darling, it's alright. I know it was scary for you, too. You are ok now. I've got you. You are so safe, Darling." Harry allowed Jun to comfort him properly and sunk into her mothering arms. This was something that he thought he would never experience. Finally, he got himself under control and allowed Jun to turn him to face her companions.
"This is my Submissive, Briar, he is your Granddera. Lily's sire," Jun told him and Harry allowed the slightly taller man to pull him into his arms.
"Jun was right. You are going to keep life interesting. Not here even a minute before bringing a bit of chaos into our lives. Our Pareya are going to love you," Briar, his granddera said with a laugh. Harry blushed but could feel that he hadn't meant it in a bad way at all.
"And this is my Beta, Rian," Jun said. Harry was once again pulled into a tight hug.
"We are so happy to have you here. Our home is ready and prepped for you and yours to come and live with us until you can find a permanent place to live. We are all so grateful for the opportunity to get to know you, Harry." The Beta told him.
"I am happy to be here and to know you as well. Thank you for opening your home to us. It makes me very happy to be able to get to know my family. It isn't something that I ever thought would happen to me," Harry told them all. Briar pulled him into another hug. Harry clung to the man for a few moments.
"All right, we are all finished registering. We can head out now," Ethan said as he walked up to them with Teddy sleeping soundly in his arms. Harry smiled at the sight. He was glad that Teddy had not been awake for the traumatizing event. Harry was tucked back into Orion as soon as Briar let him go.
"Then let's get out of here so that we can settle in," Orion stated and then whistled. "Circle up," He called and they were off to the Evanson home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry and Teddy were surrounded and introduced to the Evanson Circle. The Pareya fussed over them and a large meal was laid out for them. They had a great night getting to know Harry's family. They were given a tour of the house and shown to the area that they were being given to call their own while living there. Jun made sure they were all keyed into the wards and then they relaxed for the rest of the night. They finally got away from the others and were sitting in their resting room discussing plans for the next few days.
"I am unfortunately, going to have to spend the next week at least catching up with everything that I missed while gone. I will come home each night but I do not know when. It could be very late," Raspen told them. Harry understood. His bonded was a Crown Royal. He had responsibilities to his people that he had been neglecting while he was with Harry on Earth.
"I understand, I know that you have responsibilities that I pulled you away from," Harry told him with a small smile. "I know that most of you will need to spend the next few days or week to check in with your families or jobs. It will be okay."
"Harry for a soulscream, people are given quite a bit of time to settle instincts and other things before they are required to return to work. Raspen and Peryton have to return because they are royals. They have things to take care of that cannot be pushed off on others," Ethan told Harry.
"We do need to check in with our families though. Most if not all of them are going to want to meet you. But I know that can be overwhelming so we can do it one at a time and only when you are ready. No pressure to do anything that you are not ready to do," Lukas said.
"I want to meet your families. I probably wouldn't have understood the importance of it before Teddy because of the way that I grew up. But now that I have Teddy, I know how important a good family is," Harry told them. "But for sure only one family at a time," Harry laughed.
I would like to at least take you to my family home tomorrow. We have a fully functioning medical office. I would like to do a proper check-up on everyone.
Quinn phrased it like a question but Harry knew it wasn't. Harry grinned.
"Me and Teddy will for sure go with you. Draco, Fred, George, Charlie, and Blaise will also go. They don't have family or pressing matters to take care of here that can't be saved for another day. Any one else that doesn't have pressing things to do tomorrow will come as well," Harry stated in a firm voice and looked around at everyone. He saw Draco and a few others look like they were going to protest. Harry hardened his gaze and his voice. "It is non-negotiable."
"Of course, Harry. Anyone who isn't busy tomorrow will go for a proper check-up. Including myself," Orion stated and wrapped an arm around Harry. The Submissive smiled up at him and snuggled closer holding Teddy still. The little toddler was fighting sleep.
"I know what will get you to sleep, Pup," Harry said with a gentle smile and summoned Teddy's favorite book and a stuffed wolf that Hermione had gotten him months ago.
"Mooney!!! Tanks Daddy," Teddy said and snuggled the wolf close. Harry smiled and snuggled Teddy into his arms and made to open the book before Draco took it out of his hands and opened up and started to read. Harry smiled at his blonde Pareya and snuggled his boy closer. Teddy pressed his face into Harry's neck and took a deep breath. Harry just ran his fingers through his hair as they listened to Draco's posh voice as he read the children's book.
They didn't make it halfway through the book before Teddy gave up the fight and fell fast asleep. Harry held him a little longer and Draco read a little bit more before Ethan finally reached and took the small boy and laid him in the bed and snuggled around him. Orion nudged Harry and looked pointedly at Raspen and Rathal. Harry grinned and kissed his Alpha on the cheek before getting up and walking over to the Crown Prince and the Ace.
Harry leaned down and whispered in Raspen's ear and then grinned when the Prince blushed a little and then he turned and whispered in Rathal's ear. The Ace grinned, stood, and pulled both Harry and Raspen with him. The three of them headed out to one of the private rooms that they had been given on this floor. Harry, Rathal, and Raspen took their time with each other. Harry completed his bond with Rathal first and then when his bond with Raspen clicked into place there was an earthquake felt throughout Nevarah. Harry grinned when they were lying together basking in the completed bonds between the three of them.
"I knew that I needed to wait to seal my bond to you when we were on Nevarah," Harry said with a grin. "That was a bit intense."
"Yeah, just a bit," Raspen said with a smile. Rathal just laughed and pulled both Raspen and Harry closer to him where he was lying in the middle. That had been worth the wait. Harry and Raspen were not the only ones who sealed bonds this evening. Rathal and Raspen had also laid claim to each other and sealed a soul bond that had been growing between them for a long time. Harry was quite satisfied with himself. Who knew how long they would have waited to acknowledge what was between them if Harry hadn't waited to have them both together?
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Harry was startled awake when he heard a cry. He was up, out of the bed, and halfway to the resting room before Rathal and Raspen even realized something was wrong. Harry reached to pull the door open just as Orion opened it holding a crying Teddy. Harry reached for the toddler just as Rathal and Raspen came up behind him.
"What happened?" Harry asked quietly as he rocked and soothed his boy.
"I don't know. He just woke up crying and none of us could soothe him. He kept asking for you so I was bringing him to you," Orion said and then he grinned. "Why were you coming to the room?"
"I heard him crying," Harry told his Alpha. Orion just shook his head and moved for the three of them to come into the room.
"He was crying very quietly, I don't know how you managed to hear him," Ethan said from where he was sitting up on the bed. "I don't think I have actually ever heard a child cry so softly."
"We lived on the run remember? Unfortunately, that means Teddy had to learn to do a lot of things quietly and I had to train myself to hear every sound he made. It was the best way for us to survive. My Dragel is so acutely attuned to him that I could probably track his magical signature in a room full of magic," Harry told them as he crawled into the middle of the bed with Teddy still in his arms. He curled up between Fred and George and he and Teddy were back asleep in no time pressed between their warmth.
"Sometimes, I forget that he has lived a life that no Submissive should ever live," Ethan whispered as he cuddled up to Orion. The Alpha grunted in agreement and pulled Ethan closer to him.
"We are going to make his life so much better from now on. Both his and Teddy's lives are going to be the best that we can provide," The Alpha swore. There were noises from around the room that let him know that he and Ethan were not the only ones still awake.
It let him know that he wasn't the only one determined to make their Submissive's life better than it ever was before.