Reforging Destiny

Saracyn had known that Avacyn was planning something unique for their soul mating ceremony. She had always been the one to think through elaborate and significant details, an endearing trait that he loved about her, and he knew she would spare no expense when it came to the biggest moment of their lives. Given how unusual and unorthodox their relationship was, he was sure that this would be no simple spar the way his parents or uncle had gone about their soul mating rituals, but for the life of him he couldn't think of what she might be planning. So he bided his time and waited, going about his usual routines and responsibilities, knowing that soon enough the time would come for him and Ava to be bound together for all eternity by the Ancients.

Soon enough came early one morning following one of his usual dawn hunts. He'd succeeded in bagging a sizable boar and after bringing it back to the pack's larders, he began to head back to the den he shared with Avacyn to get himself cleaned up. On the way back though, the insistent caw of a raven caught his attention, glancing up to the tree branches to spot Domina, one of Ava's companions, gliding down to land at his paws. He regarded the avian with a curious tilt of his head until she declared that it was time for his soul mating ceremony. At first, the bird's words confused Saracyn simply by the suddenness of the news thrust upon him, but as realization dawned on him, an excitement and eagerness lit up his cerulean eyes and his tail began a subconscious wag behind him. He listened closely as Domino explained the challenge before him—Avacyn had hidden herself away and left clues for him to follow to find her. He had to prove his worthiness in a scavenger hunt with her as the prize. Sara gave a deep chuckle and grinned. Yep, that sure sounded like Ava, all right!

"A test of wits, eh?" he remarked with another chuckle. "Very well, I'm up for a little puzzle solving." With his clue given, Saracyn considered bending the rules a little and telling Vindr or Veior to follow the raven and lead the way for him, but he knew Avacyn had put a lot of effort into this, and she'd be heartbroken if he didn't take the soul mating challenge as seriously as she did. This was important to them—to her—and he would play by the rules. Fortunately, the first clue was easy as pie. "Come," Sara called to his raptors with a whistle, turning and sprinting off in the direction of the bridge. He crossed to mainland Boreas and rushed over to the neighboring Firefly Lake, pausing only long enough to throw himself into the water in an impromptu bath to clean himself off since he hadn't gotten the chance to do so before. Emerging from the water with water sluicing from his coat, the crimson prince shook himself dry and looked around the area, eventually spotting Domina and another one of Avacyn's ravens waiting in a nearby tree. With a smirk of triumph, the brute made his way over to the tree, looking up at his navigators. "Well well, looks like I'm not so dumb after all," he teased with a smirk. "So where am I going to next?"

"Saracyn Mendacium"