what're we fighting for?

He hadn't expected his call to Daegmar to bring a response - she was dead. He'd seen her die. But he'd seen Ve die too, and the little asshole still continued to torment him with his constant singsong prattle, and he'd seen Hroovitnir die and the monster still lurked just out of sight, at the corner of his vision, so when the call brought a rustle his pulse quickened with just that faintest touch of stupid, insane hope, and he swung his heavy head in that direction swiftly.

"I suppose I should commend you for stopping at the border this time." As quickly as that his hopes were crushed and stomped all over, ground into dust. He stared at the taller male, confusion flickering through him like a concealing fog. Valentine? The alpha of Imperium? Why was he here? What was he doing?

"You... aren't Daeg..mar..." he croaked, his voice halting and more gravely than usual with long disuse. A whine rasped from his parted jaws, the sound a piteous yowl. "I can't find her Valentine. My dead, they won't leave me alone but her... I can't... can't find..." He trailed off, gnashing his jaws together soundlessly, staring off into Imperium. Daegmar had trusted Valentine. She'd chosen him because he was a fighter and stayed because he was a leader. She'd trusted Valentine. Valentine was... good. But Daegmar was gone. Hati had buried her.

"I buried her." His voice was low, dull, and almost rhythmic as he spoke not to Valen but to himself, reminding himself of the order of what had happened since she'd died. "I went north. Buried my only nephew. Her son. Buried my brother. Couldn't save them. Couldn't save anyone." He raised his eyes to Valen's in bewilderment. "How did I get here?"