Alric had been gone for too long, losing most of his puppyhood being away from those that were close to him. The wolves of Dawnbreak had always been home to him, even though his mother and father were never far from his mind. Painfully loyal to a fault, it was his duty to look after them. But he also had a duty to those of the pack, to seek out greatness for himself that would match the man he was expected to become. The yearling of gold and onyx had crashed back down to this world from the sky, seemingly out of nowhere earlier in the day.

His memory being the only thing that guided him back to those that he believed still loved him. Before long the sight of the large mountains had welcomed him back. Eyes of a vibrant vermillion hue stared off into the dense growth that was the forests of the Vale, wondering if anyone would be indeed glad to see him. Raising his maw to the sky, Alric called to the wolves of Dawnbreak. Then sat in silence, waiting patiently for someone, anyone, to answer him.

The call echoed across the mountains, rolling through stone and pine until it reached him, bringing Hexx to a stop, he listened.

The voice was familiar, though slightly deeper than memory had preserved it. Time had changed it worn away the remnants of youth that lingered still before he'd gone, but recognition came without effort. There were few voices he committed to memory, and fewer still that remained there. His paws shifted beneath him carrying him toward the source with the same steady cadence that marked every step he took.

The forest thinned, and a boy split by gold and night stood against the mountain's stone like a shard of sunlight fallen from the sky. Hexx came to a stop and for several moments, he simply looked.

The last image he carried of Alric belonged to a younger wolf even though it was a few months ago it was one still caught somewhere between childhood and adulthood. The figure before him had shed much of that softness, his frame had lengthened muscle settling naturally beneath his coat, the awkward proportions of adolescence giving way to something more capable. Dust and weather clung to him in subtle ways only another traveler would notice.

And more importantly, he was alive and he was here.

The thought should have brought relief. If it did it failed to reach the surface. Whatever part of him had once known how to express such things had long since gone silent. He acknowledged the fact much as he acknowledged the weather or the terrain beneath his paws. His son was here, and it was enough. So he crossed the final distance between them.

Without ceremony, he rested his forehead briefly against Alric's before withdrawing again. The gesture was instinctive, older than memory, something preserved despite everything else within him having eroded. And something he had done since the boys were very young.

You made it here, he rumbled, his cold silver eyes searching Alric again, for evidence of injury. He was content to find none.

—

There was a peaceful kind of silence raining down over the Vale. It brought fond memories back to the chimera, now glad on some level that he was finally home. But the picture didn't complete itself until Alric smelled the familiar scent of his father. Hexx was now approaching, his black figure now just a few feet away from him.

That same familiar cold voice reached his ears, though Alric knew better. Father was glad to see him again, glad that his beloved son was now home. Yes, I did. I'm sorry it took so long, Pa. The same stoic face looked back at Hexx, this one carrying vermilion in the eyes instead of steel silver. Are the others here? What have I missed? Alric was unsure of what to expect, so prepared himself for what was to soon come.

Hexx regarded his son in silence after the apology, there was nothing to answer. Alric had arrived and the length of time nonexistent as it was between then and now held little importance. Time had become difficult to measure once every sunrise began looking like the last, he was here and it was sufficient.

His gaze lingered on Alric's features for another moment, he had inherited more than his appearance. There was a familiar stillness about him now, one that had not existed before they were separated. The world had a habit of sanding away youth. Hexx wondered, briefly, what it had demanded in exchange for the man standing before him.

The thought passed.

Facts remained easier to carry than questions, so when Alric asked about the others, Hexx's eyes shifted toward the mountains overlooking Dawnbreak. The pack lay beyond them, quieter than he remembered, though no less alive, Dawnbreak stands, many of them are still here you will get the chance to know them including Tiberii,

Hexx had spent many nights sharing stories about his friend in the early days of their displacement, when his remaining children were still young and she had been the first familiar face to greet him upon returning. It was she who had told him the news that had unsettled the carefully ordered pieces of his mind more than he cared to examine.

Your brother was here, the statement came as evenly as every other. Tiberii saw him, but he left before I arrived. his expression remained unchanged, though his thoughts lingered there for the briefest instant. Alive. That was the only part that mattered. A trail gone cold could become warm again.

The harder truth was regarding their mother, she had not come with them when Mythris faded from view. Hexx had raised three of their children alone, not knowing where his mate or other four were. So when returning, even against Tiberii's words, Hexx searched instinctively for Golde's scent despite already knowing it would not be there.

Nothing.

He had noticed her absence the moment he'd crossed Dawnbreak's borders a week earlier. Every day since, some detached part of him continued checking without instruction, as though repetition alone might change reality.

It didn't.

Your mother isn't here, neither are your other siblings The words felt no different leaving his mouth than any others — inside however, the absence remained. Another empty place to account for whenever he looked toward home.

—

Like father, like son. Alric took in his dad's expression with a cold exterior, though there was still plenty of love left for the man. Talk of his mother and siblings reached his ears first, the rest of the wolves of Dawnbreak not meaning anything else in that moment. I am sure that one day they will return. But for now, we must honor them and let them live their own lives. At least we know that one of my brothers is still out there and alive.

There's nothing more we can do. He spoke in a very matter of fact sort of fashion, just wanting to move on rather then letting himself get berried by intense emotions. As for the others, I look forward to meeting them and getting to know everyone. Better to find my place here sooner rather then later. Then I can keep myself busy with such contributions. Also something to keep his mind from wandering, from thinking about what was lost and still not found.