It was odd to be here. After everything that had happened on these knolls, she felt a little bit lost, like she didn't belong. Without the scent of Imperium around her, it almost felt like she was walking into unknown lands. Her ears were against her skull as she slunk in, her belly almost brushing against the ground. A sick, twisted feeling pulled at her gut, and she felt like she was going to be sick. Swallowing hard, she slowly made her way up to the top of one of the hills. The herd of buffalo that lived here were still around, picking away at the lush summer grasses. Seeing that nothing else was around her, she relaxed slightly. Raising to her full height, she sat rather uncomfortably at the peak of the knoll. Her hackles were slightly on end, her muscles ridged as she tried to find a comfortable place. It just felt... wrong. Without Valentine, Cascade, and everyone else, it just wasn't right. This had been her home, the place where she had grown strong and learned so much about both herself and others. Was her brother still here? She hadn't seen him around for a very long time, after so many promises of always sticking together. A low whine slipped passed her lips, her head hanging lower. She missed this, missed her pack and her brother. The sense of family, something that she had been longing for. She had left Gethin's side because of that, because even with him, she still felt like a part of her was missing. Ever since Imperium had fallen, a piece of her died with it.

Mercy sat there until the sun started to dip down the sky, and only then did she begin to relax. Sliding down until her stomach was against the still warm earth, she tucked her left paw under her and let out another sigh. Her purple eyes watched as the buffalo started to bed down, the young in the middle of a large group of adults. She blinked slowly, fighting sleep as the stars began to shine above her. It was hard to calm her thoughts, but soon enough her exhaustion got the best of her. Without her consent, her eyes finally closed, and she slipped into a peaceful darkness.

"SPEAK"

Art by WhiteAntlers

As he was wont to do Valentine was wandering his old lands. He liked to think they were still technically his, but that 'technically' sure didn't keep anyone out. Most he didn't mind too terribly much - although their presence was still a wound to his pride - but the impertinent ones he had no tolerance for. He supposed even those could make a case for their right to walk free territory same as he did, but they'd have to make their case while he chewed them to pieces. Much had changed in the last few seasons, but his minuscule tolerance for idiocy had not. Mercy? Valentine blinked and then squinted as he tried to decide whether or not his eyes were deceiving him. That was her, wasn't it? He padded closer and her familiar features soon jumped out at him. Yep, that was her. She looked more tranquil than he ever remembered seeing her, but he credited that to the fact that she was currently sleeping. Her slumber begged a question: to startle or not to startle? He chickened out at the last second and settled for waking with sarcasm. "Ain't you a sight for sore eyes." ""

Her sleep was without dreams, just a black blanket wrapping around her. Her breathing was steady and unfaltering, until a voice she knew oh so well broke into her eternal darkness. Thinking she had imagined it, but wanting to check all the same, the dames eyes opened slowly. She blinked several times, focusing on the real world around her before lifting her head. And sure enough, there he was. Valentine was standing before her, in all of his former glory. She woke up in an instant, leaping to her paws as she let out an excited bark. Unable to retain her excitement, she trotted a quick circle around the larger male before stopping before him once again. "It's really you!" she said, reaching out a paw and trying to prod his right front leg. It felt too good to be true, but he was solid and all. Her elongated tail wagged behind her as she looked up at the mountainous man, her purple eyes alight with joy. It was a rare emotion to see on the warrior, but it was there all the same. After a few heartbeats she sobered up, drooping ever so slightly as she looked him up and down. "What happened to you? You were sick and then all of the sudden... everyone was gone," Her voice dropped slightly, the pain of Imperium breaking up was still so raw after all this time. The world hadn't been the same without it, and was worse off too. Since then she had been trying to find something good enough, but there was a whole lot of crap out there. "It just hasn't been the same, you know?" Mercy asked, her shoulders shrugging as she tried to keep it casual. The last thing she wanted to do was bum out this reunion, but she had a feeling it was too late for that.

"SPEAK"

Art by WhiteAntlers