Y/N and Zara made their way back to the crater, the familiar sight of the massive indentation in the earth offering a strange sense of comfort. The island was quiet now, the chaos of the battle with Carnage fading into the background as the night settled in around them. Y/N's glowing eyes scanned the area, her senses on high alert. She knew they weren't alone. The spiders had followed her—she could feel their presence lingering at the edges of her awareness. But for now, she pushed the thought aside. Zara was her priority.

The leopard cub trotted beside her, her golden fur glinting faintly in the moonlight. She was quiet, her usual curiosity tempered by the exhaustion of the night's events. Y/N could sense her weariness, and it only strengthened her resolve to protect the cub. She had taken Zara under her wing, and she wasn't about to let anything—or anyone—interfere with that.

As they reached the crater, Y/N lowered herself into the nest, her massive body settling into the familiar grooves she had carved into the earth. Zara followed, curling up at her side with a contented sigh. The cub's warmth was a small but comforting presence, a reminder of the life Y/N had built here on the island.

But even as she focused on Zara, Y/N couldn't ignore the faint rustle of movement in the trees nearby. She didn't need to look to know who it was. The spiders had always been persistent, and Peter—well, he was the most persistent of them all. She sighed, a low rumble that vibrated through the ground, and turned her glowing eyes toward the treeline.

"You can come out," she said, her voice a deep, resonant growl that carried through the night. "I know you're there."

There was a moment of silence, and then Spider-Man stepped into view, his red-and-blue suit a stark contrast to the shadows. He moved cautiously, his lenses narrowing as he approached. Behind him, the rest of the team lingered, their expressions a mix of curiosity and wariness.

"Y/N," Peter said, his voice soft but steady. "We just... wanted to make sure you were okay."

Y/N's gaze flicked to him, her expression unreadable. "I'm fine," she said simply, her tone leaving no room for argument. She glanced down at Zara, who was watching the newcomers with wide, curious eyes. "We're fine."

Peter nodded, his hands raised in a gesture of peace. "I get that," he said. "But... you don't have to do this alone, you know. We're still your team. Your friends."

Y/N's eyes narrowed, a flicker of emotion crossing her face before she quickly masked it. "I'm not alone," she said, her voice firm. She gestured to Zara with a talon. "I have her. And I have this island. That's enough."

Peter hesitated, his lenses flicking to Zara and then back to Y/N. "Yeah, but... you're still part of us, Y/N. Whether you like it or not."

Y/N didn't respond immediately. Instead, she turned her gaze back to the horizon, her glowing eyes reflecting the pale light of the moon. The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words and unresolved tension. Finally, she sighed, a deep, rumbling sound that seemed to echo through the night.

"Thank you," she said quietly, her voice softer now. "For your help tonight. But I need to do this my way. Zara needs me."

Peter nodded, his shoulders sagging slightly. "I get it," he said. "Just... don't shut us out completely, okay? We're here if you need us."

Y/N didn't respond, but the slight dip of her head was enough. Peter took it as a sign to back off, and with a final glance at Zara, he turned and motioned for the team to follow. They disappeared into the trees, leaving Y/N and Zara alone once more.

As the night settled in around them, Y/N leaned down, her massive head resting gently against Zara's small form. The cub nuzzled closer, her warmth a comforting presence against Y/N's scales. For now, this was enough. But deep down, Y/N knew that the ties to her past—to Peter and the team—were still there, pulling at her in ways she couldn't ignore. And maybe, just maybe, that wasn't such a bad thing.

SCEEBREAK

The next morning, Y/N woke with a sense of clarity she hadn't felt in what felt like an eternity. The weight of the previous night's battle and the emotional turmoil that followed had lifted, replaced by a quiet, steady resolve. She stretched her massive body, her scales glinting in the early morning light as she rose from the crater. The island was alive with the sounds of nature—the chirping of birds, the rustle of leaves in the breeze, and the distant crash of waves against the shore. It was peaceful, serene, and for the first time in a long time, Y/N felt... at ease.

She noticed that Zara had already gone out, likely to hunt or explore. The cub's independence brought a small smile to Y/N's face. She had grown so much since they'd found each other, and Y/N couldn't help but feel a swell of pride. But as she stretched and lashed her tail, her senses picked up on something else—something familiar. The scent of the Web Warriors lingered in the air, a reminder that they were still on the island.

Y/N sighed, her glowing eyes narrowing as she considered her next move. She had spent so long running from her past, from the people who had once been her family. But now, standing here in the quiet of the morning, she realized that maybe it was time to stop running. Maybe it was time to go back home. She missed them—missed the camaraderie, the laughter, the sense of belonging. 

With her mind made up, Y/N rose from the crater and began to move, her talons carving into the earth as she made her way toward the camp the heroes had set up. It didn't take long for her to find them. Scarlet was on watch, his crimson suit a stark contrast to the lush greenery around him. He had taken off his mask, his sharp features and piercing eyes exposed to the morning light. Y/N's heart jumped at the sight of him, a flood of memories rushing back. She remembered why she had left in the first place—why she had pushed them all away. She hadn't wanted to hurt them, hadn't wanted her new nature to put them in danger. But now, seeing him like this, she couldn't help but wonder if she had made the right choice.

Scarlet noticed her almost immediately, his brow raising as she approached. He didn't seem surprised to see her—if anything, he looked like he'd been expecting her. Y/N laid down, her massive snout nearly brushing against him as she settled onto the ground. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, the tension palpable.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Then, with a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, Scarlet broke the silence. "Are you just gonna lay there and mope," he said, his voice dripping with his usual sarcasm, "or are you gonna talk, doll?"

Y/N huffed, a small puff of smoke escaping her nostrils. "I'm not moping," she said, her voice a low rumble. "I'm... thinking."

Scarlet raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "Thinking, huh? About what? How much you missed my charming personality?"

Y/N rolled her eyes, but there was no real annoyance in the gesture. If anything, she felt a flicker of warmth at his teasing. "Something like that," she admitted quietly. She paused, her glowing eyes meeting his. "I've been gone a long time. I didn't think... I didn't think I could come back."

Scarlet's expression softened, the smirk fading as he studied her. "You can always come back," he said, his voice uncharacteristically serious. "You're one of us, Y/N. Always have been, always will be."

Y/N's chest tightened at his words, a wave of emotion crashing over her. She had spent so long trying to distance herself, trying to protect them from the monster she had become. But now, sitting here with Scarlet, she realized that maybe she didn't have to do it alone. Maybe they could face it together.

"Thank you," she said finally, her voice soft but sincere. "For not giving up on me."

Scarlet shrugged, the smirk returning to his face. "What can I say? I'm a sucker for a happy ending."

Y/N chuckled, the sound a deep, rumbling vibration that seemed to shake the ground beneath them. For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt a sense of hope. Maybe it was time to stop running. Maybe it was time to go home.

The others emerged from the makeshift camp, their expressions a mix of curiosity and relief as they approached. Miles was the first to speak, his youthful energy shining through as he grinned up at Y/N. "Hey, Y/N! I heard you saved the day back there," he said, his voice filled with admiration.

Y/N couldn't help but smile at the kid. Miles was from another dimension, but he had quickly become a part of their makeshift family. His enthusiasm was infectious, and his unwavering belief in her always managed to lift her spirits. "Yeah," she said, her voice warm but tinged with a hint of nostalgia. "I guess I did."

Peter stepped forward, his lenses wide with surprise and hope. "Wait, did you just say you're coming home?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as if he was afraid he'd misheard her.

Y/N nodded, her massive head dipping slightly as she met his gaze. "Yes," she said, her voice steady but filled with emotion. "I'm coming home."

The words hung in the air for a moment, the weight of them sinking in. Flash and Amadeus exchanged glances, their faces lighting up with excitement. "Really?" Flash asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. "You mean it?"

Y/N lashed her tail, a small, almost playful gesture. "I mean it," she confirmed. "Zara's old enough to go off on her own now. She doesn't need me hovering over her anymore." She glanced toward the trees, where the young leopard cub had disappeared earlier that morning. "She's strong. She'll be fine."

Peter's shoulders sagged with relief, a wide grin spreading across his face. "That's... that's great, Y/N," he said, his voice cracking slightly. "We've missed you. I've missed you."

Y/N's glowing eyes softened, a flicker of warmth passing between them. "I've missed you too," she admitted quietly. "All of you."

Miles bounced on his heels, his excitement palpable. "This is gonna be awesome! We're gonna have so much to catch up on. Oh, and you gotta meet the new guys! And—"

Scarlet cut him off with a chuckle, clapping a hand on Miles' shoulder. "Easy, kid. Let's not overwhelm her on her first day back."

Y/N laughed, the sound a deep, rumbling vibration that seemed to shake the ground beneath them. It felt good to laugh, to feel like she was part of something again. For so long, she had been running, trying to protect herself and those she cared about from the monster she had become. But now, standing here with her team—her family—she realized that she didn't have to do it alone. They were stronger together, and maybe, just maybe, she could find a way to balance both sides of herself.

As the group began to make their way back to the tricarrier, Y/N cast one last glance over her shoulder at the island. It had been her sanctuary, her refuge, but it was time to move on. Zara would be fine—she was strong, just like her. And Y/N? She was ready to face whatever came next, knowing that she didn't have to do it alone.

With a final, deep breath, Y/N turned and followed the others, her heart lighter than it had been in a long time. She was going home. And for the first time in what felt like forever, she felt like she belonged.