Wrong Address, Return to Sender

The slow drift of time wrapped around the creature. It's dark tendrils weaved their way through every fragment of the Wolf's former existence. Only about four seasons had passed since Hannibal slipped into his eternal rest. The nature of his death was natural and peaceful for the old Wolf. But, that did not relieve him from the guilt that festered in his heart. He always imagined the after life to be a peaceful place, and it mostly was. Except for him. A beast trapped in his own mind for eternity. The constant battle going on inside of his head would never truly allow him to rest in peace. But, after some time he considered it a mere punishment for his living crimes. The crimes he inflicted upon his own blood. Leaving so often when things got tough. When his children and loved ones needed him the most.

As the beast floated along within the depths of Somnium he felt something strange. It was the first thing he had truly felt in quite some time. Something was tugging at him. A metaphorical paw reached into his resting place and pulled him into the world of the living. It was a summon he could not resist. There was a deep lever of sorrow and grief behind the call. It was familiar and ever before he knew what was going on his own heart swelled with sorrow. It was a palpable emotion that only ushered him through the realms of the living and the dead.

Pale lashes fluttered as Boreas came into view. It was horribly dark and there was a large tree hanging over him. But, it was all so very familiar. The smells and the sensation of the dirt below his paws. There was something distinctly off about it all. He knew immediately he was not truly in the realm of the living, but some sort of barrier had been broken. He was there... But, he was not alive.

After only a few moments of gathering himself his eyes fell upon what had to be the source of the summons. Recluse. His dear daughter sat some distance away and he knew that was where the thick emotions were coming from. The grief still clung to him like hot tar. - Hannibal stared in silence for a long moment. Had she truly beckoned him? Why would Recluse of all his children be the one to do so? Had something happened? Anxiety swelled up deep within his chest but the old beast moved her way with little hesitation.

"Recluse?" His voice was soft but shaky with nerves. Were the Gods playing some horrible trick on him? Hannibal stood a respectful distance away with his head hung low.