try to find my way back home

Gryphon moved over the flat plain in a slow lope, his green eyes taking in the grassy land around him. It felt so strange to be back living in such a wide-open land. Last time had been in Imperium, and even then his family had lived in the orchard rather than one of the more open territories they claimed. He'd needed to adjust his hunting style entirely without the cover of trees and brush to move through, not to mention the strange prey animals to learn. He didn't feel entirely comfortable in his role here, and he was uncharacteristically anxious. It made him wish to just be Esa's apprentice again, and let her make the hunting decisions for him. But no - he was an adult, and a full hunter. It was his responsibility now, especially with her taking care of children. It must be hard for her, to be cooped up in a den and not able to go out hunting for herself. He briefly latched onto the idea of catching one of the smaller prey animals for her, but he reluctantly dismissed the idea. She had a mate, one who was also a hunter, probably a more capable one than he was, and probably also wouldn't appreciate other men bringing his mate gifts.

Gryphon blinked in surprise, and then a weird surge of guilt, when he realized that Esa's mate was right there, right within eyesight. Why in the world would he feel guilty? He had just been considering hunting for Esa, not anything... inappropriate... or anything. His pawsteps faltered a moment in confusion and embarrassment, then brought him to a stiff halt in front of the other, smaller male. He stood a beat in awkward silence before offering a stiffly polite greeting that he hoped wouldn't just betray his confusion. "Uhm - hi, Steel. Are you, uh, hunting for Esa -aaarosa? And the kids?" He winced internally as he stammeringly corrected his former mentor's name from nickname to a more formal and therefore more appropriate - right? - full name. He should have just left it at hi, but he couldn't help the question that had tumbled from his muzzle in the wake of his thoughts earlier. What the hell was wrong with him?