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.