As the sun began to rise over the horizon the silver marked titan took in a steadying breath. The morning was frigid and he could see his breath as it floated in the air before him. This day had been long in coming, but Roan was fully healed, Sirius’s pups were self sufficient enough the warlord could take his leave West. Resin was ready whenever he had need of her, and he would have to thank her again when the whole ordeal was over.

A heavy sigh left black lips as he called out to Sirius and Resin, an alert to ready themselves and meet him at the border. For the moment he returned his attention to his future wife. He had no doubt he wouldn’t be able to convince her to stay home, and she would also be the one to lead him to a reunion with his sister. ”Io,” he started, forest green gaze seeking out her vibrant green gold eyes. He prayed these wouldn’t be their last few moments together, but in case he wanted them to count.

She'd been having the most lovely dream. She and Roan had built a new home together. Their hard work combined to make it more than just a den. Inside of this home they produced their first child. A small, dark blob of fur. She was happy. They both were. Roan hunted for them and kept them safe and she saw to whatever wounds he might acquire. She tended the garden and tended their child. It was a lovely fiction.

A hard thought pulled her from that dream. A strange, dark feeling. Eyes opened to reality and she knew in her core that today was the day. Roan wasn't in the cottage with her. He was likely out preparing. As she heard his call for her family, the dainty fae pulled her pack over her shoulder and moved out into the world beside him. He spoke her name softly and she leaned against him. She didn't say anything. She simply placed her head against his shoulder and sighed.

When this was all over he hoped desperately that he was still standing so that he could make his true love’s dreams come true. They shared many of the same goals, and unbeknownst to either of them Roan was sharing in her dream before he woke up. They would have a beautiful home, he’d gift her the bear’s skull and the two of them would finally be wed. Those thoughts gave him hope as he steeled himself for the future.

He’d left the den before the sun peeked over the horizon, reluctantly he left Iolaire’s side, and as he called for her mother, and their warlord he was sure he’d brought her into wakefulness. The last of the preparations would be made and then the bear would meet its fate. As his forest green gaze fell on Iolaire he felt fear sneak its tendrils around his heart. He had to come back to her, he had to help her to make the dream they had a reality.

Roan couldn’t help himself as he watched her emerge from the stone den he helped close the distance between them. She laid her head against his shoulder and the silver marked man shifted so he could hold her closer. He squeezed her to his chest and took in a deep breath as he chased his fears away. He was going to return, he had to. Silence washed over them as Roan held his future wife and he silently promised her and himself that he was coming back.

Leaning against Roan, Iolaire tried not to think about the battle that was to come. She trusted her mother and brother to keep him safe, but she didn't want any of them to get hurt. Her mother, she knew, had a habit of sacrificing her own safety for the safety of others. And Sirius... well, he didn't exactly think things through a lot of the time.

Pulling back, she searched Roan's scarred face before offering what advice she could. "Protect them and they'll protect you. Kill the bear, but do it efficiently. Play to each others strengths and you'll come out safely."  The small woman offered him a smile of reassurance. He would come back to her. She knew it. Groups of wolves killed bears all the time. This wouldn't be any different. "If I have to go kill the bear to avenge you..." She joked. It might take her some time and a lot of crafting, but she'd kill it. Somehow.

"I'll follow and be waiting outside. When you're done, you call me right away, okay?" She needed to know the instant that the bear was dead. She needed to know that they were all okay.

Roan wouldn’t have been able to live with himself if he allowed Sirius or Resin to get hurt, he’d failed someone close once before. He couldn’t let it happen to Iolaire as well. She pulled away from him slightly, her eyes full of the worry about how much uncertainty faced them. They really were two parts to a great whole as she spoke easily on what he was thinking. Roan nodded seriously, the faster they finished it the less likely they were to face disaster.

She smiled and offered him a confident joke, she was sure that he would come back. Especially because he couldn’t leave her to finish off what the three of them couldn’t manage. Roan chuckled softly and pulled her close to him once again. He didn’t know that he could love someone this much. He wasn’t ready to let her try and go on without him.

”I’ll kill the bear.” His deep voice assured her softly. ”I’ll come home to you.” Roan promised her. ”I won’t be able to contain my howls of victory.” He further assured her as she spoke. He’d make sure all three of them were able to call out to her when the beast was finally laid down.

Roan told her that he would come home and she smiled, green and gold eyes glittering. "Darling, you don't have a choice." He would come home to her or she would surely die as well. A broken heart would claim her. If giving up Deathbelle had been bad... losing Roan would be exponentially worse.

Her man held her close and she went willingly into his embrace, resting her cheek against him. Eyes closed and she reveled in the warmth of him. The feel of his fur against hers. "Will you leave soon?" The sooner they left, the sooner it would be over with and they could put this whole mess behind them. In the mean time, she had a task to perform. "When you leave, I'll follow soon after. I have something to do first."

The tension was cut by their half joking words and Roan chuckled heartily as she told him that he had no choice but to return. He grinned though he knew what she was thinking and what would happen if he was taken by the bear as well. He pushed the thoughts aside for more pleasant ones. She asked about his departure, and mentioned the need to take care of other business. He tried not to pry, she would tell him in her own time if she wished. For now he had other things to focus himself on.

”Soon as I’m finished saying my goodbyes.” He had no doubt that Resin and Sirius wouldn’t take long to gather themselves and get to the meeting place. ”Leaving is the hardest part.” He held her close once more, but he knew the longer that he lingered the harder it would be to let go. Roan shifted once more to look into her vibrant golden green eyes. He kissed her dark lips softly before pulling away reluctantly. ”I love you.” He reminded her, though he knew she didn’t need it. ”I should get going.”

"Saying goodbye?" She furrowed her brow slightly. "I know you're not saying goodbye to me. We'll see each other shortly." Goodbyes were permanent. This was not permanent by any means. He kissed her, told her that he loved her, and said that he had to go. The woman kissed him back, searched his face, forced a smile and said, "I love you. Stay safe, please." Then she let him go.

Once he was out of sight, Iolaire went into her garden and began preparing. There were several things that she needed to gather before she would follow the trio of bear hunters. Anxiety ate at her stomach, but she fought to push it aside and focus on her task. Positive thoughts would bring them home, she reminded herself.

Some time later, with her task finished, she pulled on her pack and started off towards the place where the bear would die.