In all the stories their father had told him and his siblings of the near mythical land he had fled from never once had he mentioned a desert. He had mentioned humid forests with leaves so thick they could smother a wolf, and the breathtaking sunsets on the mangrove he had once called home, but never any desert. The young male had in fact never seen a desert before in his life which made him unaware of all the hardships that came with the barren lands. He had run from the beach into the wastelands headlong, confident that as he raced over the dunes lush meadows would be waiting for him on the other side. When that failed to come to pass he hadn’t lost assurance and had only run faster and harder as the sun bore down on him. He sprinted through the night but as the sun rose on his second day and the desert continued to stretch impossibly before him his confidence began to dwindle. He had stopped to rest but the harsh sun gave him no quarter and continued to beat down on his golden fur mercilessly. Only when his lungs began to burn and his tongue stick to the roof of his mouth did he realize there had been no sign of water for hours. Delirious, he had chased the silvery glints of mirages only to have them fade before his eyes and travel several miles ahead of him, unreachable. Dehydrated, hungry, tired, and desperate he had followed the faint scent of water and wolves, unsure if it was real or another trick of the harsh environment he had landed on but was no longer able to turn the faint chance of survival away . Without even realizing it he had collapsed on the hard-cracked earth, air whistling into his lungs with every breath. Why had he even come here? He knew there had been a good reason as his blue eyes squinted against the shadows of circling buzzards, but as darkness closed in around him mere feet from the pack’s border any motives he had for leaving his home behind seemed distant and foolish.  "Help..." He wheezed into the silence. "Talk"  "Thought"   "You"

Torin had yet to return from taking Derecho to Abaven. It was a concern because to much time had past. Was Torin also visiting with Abaven to catch up? He tried not to dwell on it and to just keep his mind focused on his duties. He was doing double the work and had to keep his focus on his duties and the pack. He was on his second patrol for the day and things had been quiet. It gave him time to think of upcoming things for the pack. It would be some suggestions to bring up to Torin to let him decide. Frost wanted to pretty much give the reins to Torin, but to still be here in case he needed back up. It was spring and after a few years the warmer desert temperatures didn't seem to bother him much until it hit summer. Plus they lived in a more milder part of the desert with shade and fresh water helped also. He didn't remember how it took him a while to actually get used to this area and for his coat to thin out to adapt to the area. He was finishing up his round when his eyes fell on a figure laying right by the pack border. Pausing the older male looked the figure over from a distance. He looked collapsed and Frost's sensitive ears heard the whistling even from where he stood. Ears drew back in concern and he made it over to the figure quickly. Most likely he was dehydrated and worn out, but Frost was no experienced healer. His nose did not smell any other wolves or pack scent on the male letting Frost know that he was a loner. "Can you walk further if you lean on me? Water and shade isn't far." he asked. "Talk" | 'Think'

His ear flicked at the male’s voice, briefly pulling him back to consciousness. “I don’t-“ he managed and then trailed off to mutter incoherently. His body rattled with thirst but the stranger promised water had been close…Assuming the stranger was actually there. He willed himself to open his eyes, almost expecting to see Ley’s burning glory shining down on him, waiting to fulfill the promise of water and shade with the everlasting peace of eternity. A wild chill ran through him as his eyes opened and he was met with blinding light, then settled as they focused on a brown male. He was still alive but was now elsewhere. He reached for what had brought him to the foreign land but the reason still seemed distant. Slowly and with great effort he lifted the full bulk of his body, nearly stumbling against the male as his full weight fell onto his paws. He felt nauseous and dizzy and his thoughts seemed to be lost in a haze, but the male surely would help him. “Where?” He gasped and then dropped his head as he dry heaved. By His Light he felt miserable. Why couldn’t he have just died? “You know why.” A voice deep inside him answered, willing him to reach out again and seek the distant answer. "Talk"  "Thought"   "You"

Frost’s features winced as the male began to mumble incoherently. Frost needed to get him out of the sun and near water. He didn’t want to see this male die before him! He began to get up and Frost quickly shifted himself to be beside him and braved himself for the weight. The younger male stumbled into him , but Frost’s legs were spread and his body had been prepared. His muscles were tense helping to keep the male on his feet as best as he could. He spoke then shortly after he dry heaved, he had to be feeling completely miserable and it tugged at the older males heart.

“Just a few paces into the pack territorry,” he replied before gently moving and guiding the male to the spot.

He wanted to rush, but for the sake of the stranger and his condition he couldn’t. He worked with the male and soon shade blocked the sun from thier backs. A few more steps and there was a nice cool pool of water within the shade

“Right here, now easy don’t drink to fast it may make you even sicker,” he warned.

Easing the stranger down Frost let him drink and he himself relaxed a little now they were out of the sun. Frost would still need to have a healer look the male over, to ensure there was no lasting damage.

The stark contrast between the wrath of the desert and the shade of the trees nearly floored him. Under his paws cool grass soothed the damage the burning sand had caused and the scent of water deafened all other senses. The male’s voice came as a faint murmur but he had managed to grasp enough to hold onto the message of drinking slowly. The first laps of water were so euphorically pleasant they were nearly painful. As his senses and his mind returned he laid on his stomach, dipping his head in the water to chill himself. He lifted his head and regarded the male. “Thank you.”He managed in a hoarse whisper. “Where am I?” He asked, his formerly distant thoughts slowly becoming clearer, but his ultimate motive for leaving his home was still beyond reach. His father had mentioned that the land the young prince once called home had packs that served themselves rather than uniting under the common cause of their nation. If this was the war-torn land of Boreas he was sure he would find out from the older male "Talk"  "Thought"   "You"

Despite the young male's condition he seemed to be able to understand the warning and drank slow. Quietly the older male allowed the other to catch his barrings. Frost didn't know how long he had been traveling in the sun or how dehydrated he may be from his travels. He knew one thing, the male would need to see one of the healers to be sure he was okay. Frost would be offering him sanctuary until he was better. It was the right thing to do and he could handle worrying over the male if he decided to leave when he wasn't better. His eyes looked over the golden male trying to look for any injuries or anything else he may need to bring up to the healers, but he didn't visually see anything. His eyes went back to his face just as the golden male looked to him. He started by thanking him and Frost gave him a genuine smile. The younger male then asked where he was. "You are within the borders of a pack called Lirim," he replied. "I'm Frostbite, one of the two alphas of the pack." "Talk" | 'Think'

The desire to slip into the water and cool his heat battered body was overwhelming, but he pushed it aside determinedly. There was something important he had to do, somewhere he needed to be that made the man hadn’t sufficiently answered. “Boreas?” He croaked, his throat aching from the effort until he dunked his nose in the water and lapped up another mouthful of water then turned his head to rest on the grass lined bank. He could almost feel the answer on the tip of his tongue, just barely out of reach, he closed his eyes, fighting to remain conscious in spite of his exhaustion. “Frostbite…of what…house?” He wheezed, his vision growing darker. That was it! It was a house he was looking for, a family name, and with just the slightest push the accursed name came to him: Abraxas. "Talk"  "Thought"   "You"

He still seemed a bit disoriented, but he seemed capable to comprehend what he was saying to the younger male. He kept the questions coming, asking about Boreas. "Yes we are in the western part of Boreas," he replied. Frost kept his eye on the male, keeping tabs on his condition. He was able to communicate and seemed to be doing better now that he was in shade and had water. It would be a matter of recouping from the hot sun. The young male may even need to rest for a bit to recharge, but talking was good. His next question had his brows raise in question. House of? He wasn't sure what the male meant by that, he had never heard of that phrase before. He had already told the male he was in the pack Lirim. Was that what he meant? Frost felt kinda stupid for asking, but he really didn't understand what the question was about. "Um.. Forgive me but what are you asking?" he asked. "Talk" | 'Think'

He closed his eyes for a long moment, relief washing over him. He had made it. The male’s confusion barely registered with him, his question remaining unanswered as he slipped into the void, too weary and spent to do otherwise. “Tomorrow” He told muttered, he would clarify everything tomorrow, for now he just wanted to rest. His breathing eased and slowly Pegasus drifted off, his worries gone for the time being, assured that he was safe and being cared for. He remembered his mother and nuzzling up to her warm belly when he was a pup and dreamed of his father’s proud face looking down at him. -Exit Pegasus through sleep-   speaking Thinking