Lykaon had done what he could. He had hunted until his paws ached, and his eyes grew blurry. He had fought the cold hard snow and the deep dark forests. Hares and foxes and small deer, all had fallen at his teeth. Mostly small game, he was only one wolf, but it was more than the wolf Aelia had. It was this thought that had kept him hunting, kept him going. He would not allow an entire pack to fall into oblivion, not if he could help it. He had grown thinner, rangier. But that was to be expected.

On this day he carried rabbits draped over shoulders and in his teeth haunch of fawn. He had taken days to carry what he could from the icy north and the forest. Built caches nearby. Perhaps ten hares, two fawns and many pheasants and other such flighty creatures. Yellow eyes were half lidded in sleepiness and his paws still ached, but he made it to the borders and he lifted his muzzle to call.

Perhaps they were no longer here. He had been gone longer than he had promised, but he had wanted to be sure that she received what he could give. So he called for the she wolf he had met in the grassy plains and he waited, quietly.

skill: ranger

She had been back in the Respite for only a little amount of time. But enough to know that something was very wrong, even when it felt like they'd all had a breath of fresh air — the vision that had touched the wolves' of Mythris' minds again, giving them all a sense of unease, as it always did, yet the plague seemed to recede.

It should have been good news that the river that flowed in and out of their territory was free of the muck that had poisoned over half of Elysium — those who had not left to Avon when things here started to turn. But it didn't matter. No, the toxic plague had done its due diligence. It lingered in them, waiting to be awoken, or so Aelia thought. When she came back to the Respite to find Fiora... She was like a zombie. Something had weasled and wormed its way into her. What if it had gotten in her, too? She'd felt sick these past few days, but only because she'd been thinking so much about it, her mind racing.

In all the time she had been gone, she'd honestly forgotten of Lykaon's promise — remembering briefly as she surpassed the tunnel to the South on the way down, but hoped if he did come, he would leave his cache on the edge of their territory — or at least tell her moms that he knew her, he'd be safe under that passage. But it seemed just as time slipped away from her, it had for the stranger.

Today, the Five deemed it so that they would meet again; that a promise would be kept.

The blonde Seer was investigating the river leading out of the Respite, leading into what would become the Howling River. The man's call stopped her in her tracks, her eyes widening — brightening, Lykaon. She says to herself, breathless, feeling bad, she had forgotten. With haste, the long-legged woman trekked towards where the call had emanated from.

Upon the first sight of the male, she thought he was something else completely. A creature, like Dre Klage, stumbling near their territory, mimicking the call of someone she knew — then she realized, it was him, just, with an entire feast on his back. Sacred Wolf Mother. The Daystar whispered under her breath, a term she'd picked up from her mother Valeska.

Lykaon! She called, bounding over the last few yards towards him, Holy shit. You are a masterful hunter, aren't you? She was a bit in awe. One, because he came back, and two, because he hadn't bull-shitted his skills. She could see the exhaustion that came with it, the dark, tired circles underneath his eyes, and the way his shoulders were weighted with the payload. I don't know how I will ever repay you for this. She spoke, Here, let me help. She took no time in coming to his side and brushing up against him, leaning in to take a few of the hares off of his back, transferring them to hers.

Lykaon did not forget of his promise. And he would not hold it against any who had forgotten it. It made sense even that Aelia may think him a liar. She had only just met him and he had promised greatness. But he felt he had delivered at least in part. It was a lot of small game, but it was still game.

Tiredness clung to him like a second skin. And he knew that he would not be able to do more today. But he had delivered. A gentle chuckle. He shifted to help transfer things. Laying the haunch of fawn at his paws. Thank you.

He shifted so that when she did brush against him, he did not intrude on her boundaries or cause her undue stress. He was polite and gentlemanly as his mother had taught him. I have more caches, I could not bring it all. It is mostly small game. So it won't last as long as some of the bigger game if you have many to take care of. But it is something at least.

A kind gaze. No repayment is needed. I saw a need and any good wolf should

skill: expert soothsayer

She'd take what he'd offer, helping him with the evidence that he was indeed a skilled hunter, and an even better promise-keeper than she thought. In the transfer, they brushed up against one another, a contact that Aelia had not felt outside of her own twin since Cyrus, and she smiled softly to herself. Muscle lined underneath the game that he swung over him, more proof that he was an adequate hunter — not that she needed anymore than what he'd shown her already. Really? More? She'd ask, a sparkle in her eye. He seemed as skilled as Cyrus, maybe even more so.

More than something, thank you, Lykaon. It had been just Amaris, Fiora, and her that remained in the Respite for now... Maybe more would come home in these coming weeks of their lake being cleansed of the purple ooze that had plagued it. She could say 'thank you' a hundred times over to the male, and it wouldn't have come close to the gratitude she felt. She was not as skinny as when they met; her trip to the Wastes provided more food than home had recently, but that was not the case for others.

Aelia started to walk back towards the center of Elysium, her eyes catching on him when he did not move past the borders of her home. Come on, you don't need to worry, you are a friend of mine, aren't you? She asks, a little glint in her eye, to accompany that little smile curved into the edges of her lips. You are very kind, I can see that, Even if he could not see what she did, the warm glow of a brown, soothing aura that ebbed around him (or so what her mind conjured up), And any good wolf would repay a kind man, right? She asked, a hint of mischievousness to her voice.

---

Im so sorry. My dad passed away and then my health just plummeted. But I hope to be back at it and more active now that im getting the help I need

Lykaon was surprised at the benign touch. And he shifted, but offered a shy smile. A nod.

Yes. I wasn't sure how much you would need. So I tried to gwt as much as possible. Hungry bellies are angry ones



A chuckle at her impish tone. But there was still a slight hesitancy to his step until he was across the line.

Her brazen mischi3f made a laugh ring out. I suppose so, but repayment is not necessary.

He looked around as they walked. Items seems the land is healing