This Christmas I'll Burn It To The Ground!

As he sought his nephew's throat, the pain and blood he felt on his face felt like lightning. While he had been injured plenty before, he couldn't ignore how bad it felt this time. Ignis had truly been seeking to hurt him, and he was afraid that his nephew had succeeded. As Ignis' jaws intercepted his, he felt the quick and sharp jab of the crimson male's hind paws and Acere, old and weakening by the second from the blood that would not stop spilling from his wounds, was unable to keep up. He was thrown over Ignis' head and landed with a heavy thud onto the deck, and there he lay for a long moment. The pain in his right eye was enough to take even the strongest of warriors down. And as he slowly opened his eyes he hoped to the Gods above that he was simply blinded by his own blood and that Ignis hadn't actually just tried to blind him.

It was clear that Ignis had won. And with this loss, Acere knew he was no longer in his prime. He was getting too old...or perhaps he had taught Ignis too well. He looked towards where Tsunami was and felt ashamed he hadn't been able to help her more. They had both lost...not only their own battles but Ignis too...His nephew had succumbed to the demons he tried so hard to protect him from. But it seemed that even in death...Elias would still get a hold on them.

The former king rose on shaky legs, blood splattered across his face and the rest of his body painted red from the fight. He turned to Ignis with sadness in his eyes. "I am sorry things turned out this way. I am sorry I couldn't save you. There's still time for you to fight it before it's too late." He said solemnly. He turned to the rest of them then, "I am sorry for failing you all...just know I'll still be here should anyone ever need me." Not in the pack, since losing the fight his exile. But he would come to the aid of any who called. These wolves were and always would be his family...he was unable to fight for his children right now...but if they wanted to leave and were afraid to fight for themselves, he would come back to fight for them as many times as needed without hesitation should they decide they didn't want to stay under this corruption.

Without another word, Acere turned and hobbled his way off of the ship until his paws touched the cold ground that surrounded it. Winter at his side. He needed to find Drifa...needed to warn others...needed to tend his wounds...but for the moment, he needed to rest and catch his breath if only for an hour or two before making his way from the Northlands...his home...his daughter of course, helping him along since he could barely stand on his own.

-exit with Winter-