"I dunno, Bren," Raegan coughs, arms wrapped around herself as she huddles close to the fire, her brother at her side. "Maybe if you pimped yourself out to that guard makin' eyes at ya, we'd get an extra blanket or two," she keeps her tone light as she shuffles her feet back and forth, trying to generate a bit more heat as she glance at her brother. "Or maybe he's pissed we laughed when he tripped," Rae shrugs. "I still think ya'd make a cute couple though. Maybe you could see if he's interested." She snorts before breaking off into another cough. The echo of wolfsbane scrapes at her throat and she spits, pointlessly hoping to do away with the taste. @secrettyrant
Growing up a Murphy meant growing up with a deep appreciation for their way of life – for acceptance and unity amongst a diverse group of people. From the time she was a little girl, Raegan knew that her pack was strong, not because of an overt show of force, but because they were loyal to each other. She learned from so many different sorts of wolves that came and went in their cozy home of Townsend, and when she was a little girl, she’d quote the Jungle Book, repeating the one phrase that stuck out to her her entire life, for the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack. The Murphy family operated this way, supporting each other’s endeavors, celebrating each other’s victories and comforting each other when things didn’t go according to plan. She was always close to her older siblings, Aidan and Lia, trailing after them before learning to forge her own way.
She decided early on that she wanted to document the world as she saw it and an old film camera became her constant companion until she pursued a full career in photography. Rae wanted to show the beauty of the place they lived but also the people who made it home. This ended up taking her on a journey all over, seeking to capture the same truth in other communities. Her lens was the way she told stories, how she showed people the world through her eyes.
She always wished she could document the nature of a werewolf but knew that some things were too dangerous to dabble in. Despite wanting to push the envelope, she never wanted to put the people she loved at risk. Through her twenties, Rae ventured all over the country, and was even lucky enough to see some other countries along the way, several cameras in tow. The call home was easy to follow when her nephew was born, James another spark of joy in all their lives. Even though he’d be too young for it, she bought him a little digital camera. For when you can see more than a foot away.
When things took a turn in the world, Rae returned home for good. She wanted to be close to her family and pack as the darkness outside Townsend began to build. And, in an attempt to stick to their ways of welcoming and helping those who needed refuge, the Murphy pack let some of that darkness in. The coven of vampires they’d given asylum to turned on them, halving their pack and taking away James and his mother. Grief-stricken, Rae followed her siblings' lead, going to Colorado and one of the safe towns there. They lost even more members of their pack along the way until they arrived. They settled in Colorado for a short bit of time when Christmas 2020 came and destruction followed.
Separated from her family and pack in the chaos, Rae did everything in her power to find them. She warily joined up with some wolves, reminding herself of that worn book she used to carry around. For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack. If she wanted to survive, she needed to stick with others, despite how precarious trusting others were those days. Eventually, she encountered a message left by Lia, indicating that she was heading to Toronto and thus began Rae’s relentless journey to Canada. She clung to the message, repeating her sister’s words until she knew them by heart, urging her forward to the city. She arrived just before the supernatural takeover of the city in November 2021.
Hard fought and hard won, Rae remained in the city, determined to find her sister. There were so many people but each day she’d walk the streets, asking anyone she met if they’d seen her or her other siblings. But Lia was the one who was supposed to be there, and so Rae never stopped looking for her. Even when something told her it was time to go, she remained. She knew that if Lia hadn’t yet made it, she would. And she’d be waiting for her.
But any hope was lost on New Year’s Day 2022. Just after midnight, Rae woke to sirens sounding and the ground shaking as the city was bombed. Any attempt to escape was prevented by the perimeter set around the city, ready to capture any supernaturals who tried to flee. But by some stroke of luck, she and her oldest brother got away and stayed on the run until their capture in February of 2023. They were shuffled to a facility for a few months before being moved to one holding camp, and then another. They've been in Thunder River since the end of October 2023 and are holding out hope that a miracle might save them from another facility.
I had the time of my life these last pay few weeks in Europe, and it wouldn't have been the same without the love of my life. Thank you for putting up with my obsessing over my walk or what I wore. I love you with every ounce of my being. P.s. I can't wait to marry you! 👌🏼💍🙈
