It had been so long since the group had seen them that they almost looked and felt entirely different.
They somehow seemed older, wiser… and definitely stronger.
"Melanie!"
Celeste came running from her place in the kitchen and nearly tackled her daughter out of the air.
"Hey, ma. I'm back." She smiled.
Celeste was already on the verge of tears. "Where have you BEEN?!"
"Well…"
Apophis touched the ground and Serana came barreling at him like a freight car.
She would have knocked him over if he weren't on the same level of rigidity as an iron wall.
When tackling him didn't work, she went to pummeling.
He caught her hands, and she head-butted him.
...She nearly knocked herself out and she had to be held up.
Thea landed softly in front of Aisha and Aubrey- and it was clear that she wanted to run and embrace them both, but didn't for whatever reason.