remind me to find my own [ASHEN MEETING]

Pontifex found work wherever he could lately, keeping himself busy to avoid facing the gut wrenching emptiness of the shrine house he was restoring. The ache in his ears and nose from the fresh piercings that Pollux had recently applied with his deft little fingers still lingered as he worked, but for the most part it was a useful pain. It grounded him, reminded him of reality. He was slathering mud over the foundation of a new wall he was adding to the old building when Venom's summons rang out through the alabaster woods beyond. A frown creased his brow, and the yearling hastily wiped his paws on the lush summer grasses. A wordless yip summoned his companions as he moved at a steady lope through the trees around the shrine and towards the coast.

Standing on the beach, he could see a gathering of wolves had already begun to grow on one of the smaller islands of the archipelago. Hallux took to the wing as he crossed the land bridges with Pollux clinging to the silken tresses of his ruff. It was strange to see his aunt standing at the head of the pack without the imposing shogun at her side, and suddenly he found himself slowing to an ambling pace. He hadn't gone to visit with his aunt since he'd started to settle back in. Did she hold his mother's actions against him? Was he to face punishment at her paw, now that the shogun was gone? Two toned eyes sought the familiar, delicate bodice of his pale cousin. Sidling up beside Ikigai, he offered an affectionate nudge to the side of her slender neck with the end of his snout before skirting the outer edges of the small group to seat himself. It felt... wrong to join the general masses. He was no longer Abraxas by name, he was no more to the pack than any of the common wolves they had accepted into their ranks.

Tucking his tail lightly against his hip and pressing his slim forepaws against one another, he pushed his narrow shoulders back as he reclined upon the sands. Lifted his tapered skull high, cast his attention towards the Empress. If he kept his expression neutral, he wouldn't risk betraying his own anxiety. It would keep him safe from prying eyes and persecution from the others... right?

"Pontifex" || "Hallux" || "Pollux"