Remember Home is something you make, not something you're given.
Verrier did not like to think about their family and childhood at all; there was no sense in dwelling on the pain and suffering from their past. They were far past their prime, a part of the Elder Council now, and had dedicated their life to improve the lives of the many orphans and strays the colony seemed to acquire so easily. In order to make up for their own abysmal childhood if anything.
Even when they were an older youth, barely into their adulthood, they would be helping out the other orphans and strays; the colony provided the essentials, but there was never enough paws or time to give the attention and support each of the young kits needed. So Verrier did, they stepped up, they helped out by carrying and playing with the kits, even when their plan was to look for work and save up money to leave the colony. They always found themselves being used as the bed for many a sleepy kit; would then wake up to a whole pile of them curled around them.
The years passed, and they slowly let go of the dream of leaving, and in turned dedicated themselves fully to caring for the young; especially the strays and orphans, none of them would lack in love while they were around. They saw many of the young kits under their care flourish and grow up to fine and hardworking adults; their children in everything but blood-relation.
The invite to join the Elder council was a surprise, so consumed in their work towards nurturing the next generations that they did not realize the full extent of their influence. In fact, they had not realized until it was pointed out that many of the orphans and strays they had looked after and nurtured had taken up positions within the colony with significant status. That if Verrier would put forth a motion or policy, that they would sway the majority votes when it came to letting the community decide on either accepting it or denying it.
A part of them had been hesitant to accept, but many of their children had come forth to express not only their love and thanks for the care they had given them, but to stress the need of someone in power who would care for the unwanted; the colony would not have been so successful if they had turned away every orphan and stray like they had wanted to before Verrier started to care for them.
The colony may have started as a refuge, but it was with Verrier's help that it became an actual home; with their love and attention, it was filled with warmth, love and connection. Their bond to each other and colony meant they would fight to keep each other safe; no more would outsiders steal them away in the night or leave orphans and widows in their wake.
Love is strongest weapon, there was nothing Verrier would do in order to protect the ones they loved.
