something to believe in

Typhon was panting heavily. The Abraxas man had spent the better part of the morning running, circling around the border of the Eclipse Empire's main territory. If anyone asked what he was doing, he'd tell them he was simple scouting and marking the borders, but even more importantly... he was giving himself a distraction. Too much time to himself led to too much thinking, and too much thinking led to his mind becoming an anxious, muddled mess. Paranoia started to creep in, the fear that he might not be good enough for this family - that he might somehow let them down - was slowly threatening to take hold of him.

But running helped, if temporarily. His mind was clear from more irritating thoughts, instead focused on the way his paws hit the ground in unison. His heart beat hard in his chest, his tongue lolling from the side of his mouth as he panted and finally slowed his pace. He'd gotten accustomed to these warmer lands, though had been grateful for cooler winter weather to settle in. Not that it's ever very cold here, he thought bitterly to himself as he slowed to a trot. At least he'd worn himself out slightly, enough that his thoughts were kept at bay, and briefly he closed his eyes as he found a large rock to lean against and rest for a moment.