Amon had grown quite fond of the murky wood which resided not far beyond the borders of the canyon. It was a gnarled fantasy, it's paths twisting and winding and never seeming quite the same no matter how many times he traversed them. Fog hung heavy amongst their roots, the sunlight penetrating only in the rarest of place and on only the brightest of days. Today was certainly not one of them. Far above dark clouds had overtaken the sky. They promised a drenching rain, as the dry season continued to evade them. He hoped that deep within the forests depths he would evade the worst of the deluge. Amon hoped to pick up the trace of any of his kin, having caught whiffs of Pyralis' scent on the wind not long ago. If she was about, perhaps he could contrive a distraction suitable to pull her away from whatever cockeyed mischief she'd found for herself today. "Talk" "You" Think

It was a travesty really that Pyralis had wandered all over Auster and had yet to thouroughly explore the forest right next door to the canyon. Not that it was a terribly delightful place. It was deep, mysterious and dreary. A fine place for hunting spirits but little else unless she wanted to camp with the children and tell some good ghost stories. Children! Ha! They were yearlings now and well on their way to becoming adults and she could not figure out where the time had gone. That was probably her fault. Adventuring as she did. She reached out a paw to tag at a fallen limb, hoping for something to come crawling out but nothing did. The forest was like a maze and Pyralis was finding she had to scratch at the trees to keep an eye on where she was going. Thankfully, the air was still moist and dense and she was able to keep her directions from the moss that was growing on the trees. Well, if the spirits weren't playing any tricks on her. Pyralis was doubling back toward the canyon when she ran into her brother Amon. She grinned then turned her head sharply in mock annoyance. "Why Amon! Are you following me? You dirty stalker." She smirked. It was just like her brother to enjoy a place like this. "Talk" "You" Think

Amon was glad to see that his senses had not entirely failed him. He stumbled upon his sister (or rather, she stumbled into him) before long. He greeted the ashen and auburn woman with a small smile, and then a roll of the eyes. "Stalking might not be the proper verbiage," he grumbled, mostly to himself. Looking back to his sister he shrugged his shoulders in a simple gesture. "I've found myself restless. You've always been a cure for that, to say the least. Care to wander the woods with me?" He'd eaten not long ago, so hunting was hardly on his mind. No, all Amon wanted was to spend time amongst pleasant company and ruminate on his thoughts. He supposed his sister would have to do as far as company was concerned. At the very least, he told himself, the afternoon wouldn't be dull. Amon turned as if to walk farther into the murky woods, casting a last glance over his shoulder to see if Pyr intended to follow. There was a particular grove he'd found in a previous venture he was of a mind to find again. "Talk" "You" Think

Pyralis grinned and shrugged at his reply. Proper verbiage wasn't her strong suit and not something she cared enough to fret over. She'd leave the oratory to her brother. It seemed Amon was finding himself restless and she was the cure. Pyralis laughed. "What can I say, it's in my nature. Yes, as a matter of fact I was exploring these woods but this way is a dead end leading to a ravine and a river." Her brother moved on without a word but he didn't really need to speak as he turned to look at her and she pulled up along next to him as they walked together through the misty woods. She didn't know where they were going but she wasn't worried. Pyralis was experienced enough to find her way back and her brother seemed to know where he was going. "Brother, my children are yearlings now. What are your plans going forward? I feel like we haven't talked in ages and there is so much to discuss." Of course when she really wanted to remember all her questions most of them had faded. "I was also wondering if you might have time to train Ashiel? He is interested in the ways of leadership and these things are not my forté." "Talk" "You" Think

Pleased to see his sister was following him, Amon continued pushing into the unforgiving forest. He was unsurprised to hear the Pyralis herself had simply been wandering about, it was hardly out of character for her. She directed them away from a dead end, and so their journey began. She would waste little time before bringing up her children, and their future. It hung heavy on his mind as well, and he knew it must weigh heavily on her as well. "As are Gaios and Aaliyah," he rumbled, thinking carefully of his response. Amon felt it brought ill luck to speak confidently of the future. The forces which rule them were often cruel and mischievous, and might very well delight in mucking up ones plans. "I would be happy to train Ashiel," he said with a smile. It was good to know at least one of her children had inherited a level head. "Fallen God knows we will need as many strategic minds as we have available to us, young or old. I think it is nigh time we call the family together," he began. "We are strong enough, both in body and number, to begin what we came here to do. We've had ample time to learn the land and it's inhabitants. I'm certain the rest of our kin will have their opinions on the best place to begin. We ought to know how many are left, as well," he ended with a grim twist to his lips. He was keenly aware that they were not as many as they had been in the beginning. Well enough, he knew few Abraxas able to camp on a promise for an entire year without feeling the need to stretch their legs. He could only hope they had sense enough to return when they were needed. Surely the Fallen God would not let them miss the opportunity their family had waited for for so long... "Talk" "You" Think

As they walked Pyralis continued to take in the sights around her as her brother talked. "How are Gaios and Aaliyah? And what of Naamah?" She hadn't seen her new niece and nephew in some time but then she'd been distracted by her own children and taking in the world around her. She supposed in that respect she wasn't a very good aunt but it had never been her goal to be anyone's role model. She was pleased her brother agreed to train her son. Ashiel had his uncle's temperment and clever mind which was all well and good as having to Asharya's wouldn't have driven even Pyralis crazy. However, her approach to strategy was probably not satisfactory to Ashiel. Amon would know what to do with him. A rush of excitement shot down her spine as her brother stated that they were finally ready to move. Her tail wagged lightly from side to side. At last! "That is excellent news brother! I look forward to it. I'm quite attached to the canyon, I must admit. However, it is the place where I raised my children and I feel like it's time to move into the next stage of my life. I do not to intend to remain there though I will likely visit often." "Talk" "You" Think

His sister turned the conversation towards Naamah and his pups. She had given him two quiet, reserved children. He expected no less, given their own personalities. Each had a sharp mind, of that Amon was certain, but he felt it was too soon to say yet what his youngest children would become. "Naamah has returned to her wandering for the most part. Gaios and Aaliyah find joy in focusing on their training, but they are a bit less boisterous about it than yours," he said, sending Pyr a sly look out of the corner of his eye. It was no secret that her children could go scarcely ten heartbeats without getting into mischief of some sort. "In fact, perhaps we ought to trade sons for the day. I worry that Gaios is too reserved. I trust you to be able to draw something out of him in that regard." Gaios for Ashiel seemed a fair trade to him, after all. Pyralis seemed as pleased as he was that the time for them to wait was nearly past. His mind had been churning over the matter in the past moon, and he had some vague ideas about their next move. Still, Amon would not make decisions for the family without hearing their thoughts on the matter. No, Abraxas wolves were far too proud to follow any lead blindly, even his own. "I believe I will call the family together to celebrate our children's birth, once the season turns. Then we will all be able to cast our votes. I'm certain those far-flung among us will have plenty to offer, as far as an ideal starting location." He hoped so anyways. Otherwise, what was the point of their disappearance? Amon nearly stumbled over a root he had not noticed, and so turned his focus back to navigating the woods. It would be foolish of him to not pay attention for so long that he lost his way. Granted, he had little to fear with Pyralis at his side. His sister was as skilled a navigator as he knew, and the two of them were more than capable of surpassing any dangers they might encounter. Still, it didn't mean he wanted to spend the next day or so wandering aimlessly. "Talk" "You" Think

So Naamah was off wandering then? Pyralis wondered if the woman would return at some point or if she was severing her ties with them. Not that it mattered. She was a mortal woman and she'd left them the pups so that was all well and good. A less violent end than many Abraxas' wives met. She chuckled at the mention of her children and their tendency to be much more full of energy, well at least Asharya was. Ashiel tended to be much more reserved though she supposed that was just in comparison to his sister. Compared to Amon's little ones Ashiel probably seemed quite animated. Amon presented her an interesting idea, that they would trade sons for the day and she nodded. "That sounds like a good idea to me. I'll see what I can do. What are his interests?" They continued walking, Pyralis expertly balancing her attention between the conversation and the task at hand. Much of navigating was becoming second nature to her. She noticed things, marked the wind, the sun, the moss, almost subconsciously. "Oh a birthday party? That sounds like fun to me. My children will love it. I do hope our family has an idea of a good place to start. I'm afraid I can't seem to make up my mind. There are far to many good possibilities." "Talk" "You" Think

His sister led them carefully along the forests winding paths. She asked after Gaios' interests, which Amon considered carefully. He was a quiet boy, one who always thought carefully before he spoke. He was certainly reserved, which Amon feared might stem from a timid heart. "He is quite intelligent. He takes quickly to lessons where the knowledge is new or outlandish. The boy is strategic, and would rather observe a battle than take part in one." Amon's voice was dour, tinged with a vague sort of displeasure. These were not poor traits. Amon simply expected more from the boy. When Amon had been young he had lusted for war in a way only the youthful can. His naivety had been curbed by reality, as it so often is, but this was yet another important lesson he expected Gaios to learn. "He is not bold enough. It was something I had hoped he would grow into, but as of yet he has disappointed me. Perhaps you might have some luck with him. And Ashiel? Anything I ought to know of him?" Amon reluctantly admitted he did not know his niece and nephew as well as he ought to. He had been deeply involved in the tutelage of his own children, and for all his hopes of perhaps training them together it had not exactly manifested. It did not help that his daughter had a terrible temper, and his son had fewer than a bird's nest full of words to spare with anyone anyways. He dismissed the thought of his youngest litter entirely and returned to the other matter at hand. "And yes, I think it important to introduce them to the family as grown. Their training is far from complete. Perhaps we can put forth their skills and interests, see who else might wish to take part in training them. Once we've celebrated, we can turn the conversation towards other matters. I agree, this land has much to offer. The opinions of others will be crucial." He picked his way around a small copse of some thorny plant, mind churning through all of the various places he had seen since his arrival. There was no shortage of options, and he was certain once an opportunity presented itself, he would be more than capable of seizing it. "Talk" "You" Think

Pyralis gave her brother a quizzical look as he talked of Gaios' interests. The boy didn't seem like a good match for her but she valued Amon's opinion and would see what she could do with the boy. Despite her often impulsive nature Pyralis was something of a strategist in her own right when the spirit moved her in such away. "I'll try, I have a tendency to think outside the box, I'm sure I can find something that will peek his interest despite our differences. Ashiel is seeking to improve his skills in battle, he has also displayed an interest in leadership and ruling. That is an area I need your help with brother. Rule is not really my calling, I can fine tune his battle abilities but you would be the best to school him in matters of leadership. Discipline will be the key with him though. He's getting better but I expect more of him." She nodded as Amon shared his ideas. "Yes, I think that would be a good idea. A wide variety of training experiences will make them far more rounded." They came to the northern edge of the woods and Pyralis peered out across the horizon. "Do you have duties in need of tending or would you care to join me in a stroll northward?" "Talk" "You" Think

Amon could sense his sister's reservation, but he trusted her judgement. And frankly he was fairly certain that just a change in scenery alone might be good for the boy. Amon was perfectly fine with Gaios returning a bit worse for wear physically if it brought forth some more tenacious tendencies in him. She went into more detail about her own son's desire to lead and progress down that path. A keen light returned to Amon's eyes, and he showed her a thing smile. "Of course. It is as finely tuned an art as any other, after all. I'll track Ashiel down in the coming days, and send Gaios your way as well." Having had his fill of the forest, more pressing issues now occupying his focus, Amon was pleased when Pyr offered a jaunt northward. Amon was more than happy to accept, feeling a need to refamiliarize himself with lands he had not visited in some time. "Of course. Lead the way." "Talk" "You" Think

She nodded, pleased that her brother would take on some of the responsibility of raising her son. It was these exchanges of knowledge, these moments of working together that made the Abraxas so powerful. They were more than just a band of violent, self-centered, blackguards. At their core was their family and their bonds with one another despite what many outsiders might think or assume about them. She grinned and nodded as she strode forward toward the north, intent on exploring more of the Aspen's Dam that she missed on her last travels in that direction. It would be a lot more fun now that her brother was at her side. It almost felt like old times… -exit- "Talk" "You" Think

Amon trailed just off of Pyralis' right flank as she led them from the forest. She had set his mind alight with the small logistical problems and queries he craved. His mind churned through budding plans for Ashiel, and for the family as well. He had seen many arrive in this land, but whether or not they remained was another thing entirely.  He would use their children yearling celebration as a census of sorts. Word had surely spread by this point that their plans were nearing completion, it was on the lips of every Abraxas he encountered. They were hungry for it, and before long, certainly their goals would be realized. They were too tenacious a breed for any other outcome. Amon trailed in Pyralis' shadow, wordless, a small smile curling at the edges of his lips. -EXIT- "Talk" "You" Think