Finally he had found it, the place where he had tracked down the scent of that grey female. Possibly even his sister amongst their ranks. Tullio stood before the great mountain range, blue eyes weary and tired from the journey. Could she really be here? The scent was faint but there, barely traceable. Yet something else stood out to him, bringing back old memories from when he was just a pup. No, it couldn't be. Were wolves of the Isblod here? Better to try and find out then try to march in and start demanding things.

Sigrun's harsh temperament had rubbed off on him, along with her bullheadedness. He had better pull that back while he still had the chance. The red wolf let loose a friendly but all business howl, letting all within the territory that he was here and meant no harm. Maybe Tullio could even find a home here, if it was suitable enough. The howl died down after a few seconds, once again leaving the world silent and dark. Now it was just a matter of waiting.

Skill: [none]

---

Euphemia, now a pillar of Dawnbreak, felt the almost-soul crushing weight of responsibility. This was what she had wanted. To be the Pillar of Wisdom was a goal she had for over a year now, and it was finally hers – at the expense of voting against her twin, and widening the chasm between them – and she mustn’t fail.

Not after everything that had happened. She must do better. Starting....

now.

Euphemia become accustomed to roaming the borders. Maybe this task was more suited for those of Power or Courage, but it was what Euphemia knew how to do. Wisdom was such a fleeting, ephemeral concept – one that the woman wasn’t sure she had at all, now that she thought about it.

So, she walked the borders and hoped that a guest might appear, so that she could twirl them around in front of Tiberii and Nottin and Aurelia and Adonis and say “see? I can be useful too!”

With the slightest noise being enough to draw her attention, a full-blown summons was quickly heeded. Walking out of the treeline, Euphemia was once again surprised to see the atmosphere as dull and dark as it was during the night, out beyond Dawnbreak just as it was within. She was still getting used to the eternal darkness and glowing blue fissures.

Might be something a certain Pillar of Wisdom should do something about.

– and there she was, on the verge of being consumed by guilt over her supposed inaction, when she laid eyes upon the man from the storm. Tullio.

The brightness and boldness of her smile were enough to brighten the scene. She yipped in welcome, feeling the lightness of the surprise in her body. Hi! Wow! She greeted, waltzing right up close and offering him an embrace. She thought about him from time to time. She often wondered what happened to the man... What happened to him, after they had clung together to save their very lives?

After you survive a snowstorm together, a hug is certainly warranted.

---

The darkened world still seemed to cling on. It brought about ruin and depression in many of the creatures. But not this young wolf. Tullio still held on to hope. Hope that the light of Spring would soon return and welcome the land with open warm arms. The souls of Mythris certainly deserved it.

Speaking of warm souls, a very familiar face soon answered his call, making her presence known at the pack borders. Euphemia came bounding up to him, soon enveloping him in a cheerful embrace. It brought a smile to his face that he hadn't felt in many moons.

Aren't you a sight for sore eyes! I didn't know you lived here. Tullio was beaming now in his own way, tail hitting the ground hard in a playful wag. Then again, he was always more light hearted and playful with the fairer sex. Such was his demeanor.

Skill: [none]

---

What a thrill, to see one again once you thought they had been lost! In truth, so much had come to pass in that short time that it felt like a lifetime ago that she had heard that lone howl, emanating out from the bowels of a storm.

She felt like a different woman now - a pillar. Someone who would have been able to guide him through that storm, or fail spectacularly in it. She no longer existed in the boring middle. There was no ‘normalcy’ for her anymore.

When she was called to something higher, Euphemia would serve her cohorts better than she had been during that storm. Brave she was, maybe, but she had been stupid. Where she should have exhibited wisdom, she had shown bravado.

Maybe it had been embarrassing, she wondered now, with eyebrows knitted in concern over her own presentation. It was so often she was deemed ‘too much,’ or had all the wrong reactions, or spoke loudly when she should have stayed silent. It was a wonder Tullio had even the desire to seek her out at all –

But before she spiraled into her typical melancholic state, she realized… it was an accident! He hadn’t known! And somehow, it felt like pressure off of her shoulders and a release of expectation, and the smile reappeared. Yes, it’s so close to where we… she chimed gratefully, then pondered for a moment how to describe what had transpired that night.

I just couldn’t find the way back, at the time. The storm was… her voice trailed off again. She huffed at her inability to speak fluidly; it had been so strange and unnatural. Winter wasn’t meant to last that long, nor the night that had followed it.

Then wagged her tail and decided none of that mattered now.

Well, at least it's over now. And you survived, and now you’re here! Euphemia didn't have many friends in the world who didn’t already reside here in Frostfang Vale, so to subsume another into her small person bubble was a welcome rarity. I'm so happy!

If only she remembered his last name and could inform him of all the treasured relations that await him inside! Instead, all the silver maiden could do was flash her teeth and bump her shoulder against his, as if a mere hug was not enough.

Do you want to come in? Are you hungry? I'm sure you’re starving.

---

It was a pleasant surprise to be with Euphemia again, his eyes now shining with a happiness he hadn't felt in a long time. To run into a friend, old or new, was always a blessing. Little did he know what else awaited him beyond her borders.

Yet despite how happy she was to see him, Tullio couldn't help but notice how seemingly distracted she was, cutting off her sentences at the end and looking tired. Yes, that storm was a rough one. The worst I had seen in a long time. But now I am here, we both are. I am thrilled that you are okay.

The physical touch of affection caught him off guard, but was very much welcomed. Oh thank you. I would be most honored to come into your home. I'm quite hungry and tired. But please let me help you get some food. I would feel dishonored and terrible if you or your pack took care of everything for me.

Tullio crossed over the border, now standing at her side. Would she accept his offer? Care to show me around your beautiful home? A playful grin flashed on to his face, blue eyes dancing with a happy glimmer. There was no turning back now. It was now or never.

Skill: [none]

---

Euphemia felt immediately bad that she had not sought to follow up with Tullio, and ensure that he had found his way in this blazing new world. It was a strange place, full of hysterical dreams and never-ending darkness and storms that lasted weeks -- and he was a new babe born within it, and Euphemia had been so preoccupied with her own pursuits.

He seemed happy to see her, and unaware that he might possibly desire to hold this against her, so Euphemia had decided to let it go. It had been, after all, an eventful time that had come to span between then and now. Who could have blamed her?

and, it was likely that he had been just as distracted as she. Maybe even more so! There was no telling what adventures had come the crimson knight's way, and she was excited to unearth them like diamonds from a mine. At least now his path had brought him here.

It was no small marvel for the universe to cross two paths twice.

Now he was asking for a tour, and calling Frostfang Vale beautiful. The maiden blushed, allowing her eyes to bounce all over the vista they pranced amongst. Of course, but it depends... she answered, settling on a wiggle of the shoulders and a silly, lackadaisical grin.

Are you getting the 'need a bed for night' tour? the silvered sylph questioned, feeling for a moment as though she needed to immediately seek out one of Dawnbreak's pillars, and introduce their guest to someone of import.

Then she could shuffle the responsibility of a newcomer (who, for all intents and purposes, seemed very nice and had actually once saved her life, but oh had Euphemia been wrong before!) onto the shoulders of someone else, and Euphemia could be free to make any and all mistakes she that could muster.

It took her a moment before it dawned on her that she was someone of import, and she required no other permission than her own. Her smile deepened. or a 'new home familiarization' tour?

Then Euphemia stopped abruptly and looked at the man with a cant of the head, too serious to be joking.

I ask because they are vastly different.

---

Tullio kept on following his friend into her home, admiring the surroundings with utmost care. She had a pretty place, he would admit that. A home possibly even for himself, but he still had someone to find. Maybe she or her packmates would know if she was in this strange world. If not, then maybe he would have a home to go back to. Perhaps just for a night or two. There is someone that I need to find.

Tullio answered her question honestly, his attention to her face to see how she would respond. I'm looking for a family member, and I won't stop until I find her. If she's even in this world. A pang of sadness hit the crimson wolf momentarily, wondering if his search for her was to be in vain. But he still had some slight hope for her, that she was out there somewhere. Maybe this pack could show him the way.