Valeriya slid to a stop, legs locking as she ran into a wall of scent. No... She'd left Imperium in high spirits, and with a promise hanging over her. She'd be back, she knew it, only her quest wasn't over yet. And yet here she was, and there was their scent. She drew in a shaking breath and tossed her head back, letting out a hasty and desperate howl. Was it a trick of the wind? Perhaps she had forgotten their scents, it had been so long... She hadn't even been a year old when she'd had that fight with Sigmarr, the last time she'd seen him... And Sindri, Val couldn't even remember what her voice sounded like. Her toes curled into the soil as her call came to and end. It was plaintive, singing with desperation and a lack of trust. She'd had the rug pulled out from underneath her feet too often. She wanted to rush forwards and hunt them down but right there she was surrounded by those scents, and the auburn fae was scared that if she left them, she might never find the track again. Tears pricked her eyes, she couldn't believe it... Were Sigmarr and Sindri truly safe? Were they home? "Talk" "You" Think

A shaky call brought his attention to the border, and Kassander was leaping to his feet to abandon the herbs he'd been spreading out to dry. Val was back! But something was wrong. He raced for the sound of the call, sliding to a stop before his younger sister. "Val! What's wrong? What happened?" Without waiting for an answer the healer-alpha nosed around her, searching for some injury, some scent that might explain the wetness that shimmered at her eyes. Val didn't cry, Val was strong, far stronger than he could ever hope to be. But he was coming up with nothing, so it must be something internal, and he pressed himself comfortingly against her as he waited for her to enlighten him.