He left Raiders Hollow for a few days, leaving the pups in the care of his companions while he was away. The kids were in good hands, and in the meantime? He took off to clear his head and to see if he could find a trace of Aresenn. His wayward kid had left the Raiders shortly after they changed hands under Gil, and he was both worried and keen to see how he was doing. He had a feeling Aresenn would be able to hold his own out here, unlike Diablo...the question was, was he anywhere out this way? Or had Ig gone the wrong way in looking for him? Regardless, the Pines was a place that was a haunt of his past, and he always seemed to end up around here. So here he was, wandering through the sparse trees, keeping an eye and ear out for his child as he let his thoughts absorb him.

Perched atop the rocky outcrop, Aresenn's amber gaze swept over the vast plain unrolling before him. Spring was in full force, and the warm sun breathed life into the once-sleeping earth. The scent of new growth hung in the air, promising abundance and vitality. All in all, it was a pleasant day for an outing. He had decided it would be an opportune time to go visit Andromeda. While the scars on his face- over the bridge of his nose and cheek culminating in punctures of his lip- all looked far better than they did, they still had a long way to go in the healing process. He still wasn't sure what he was going to tell her.

As Aresenn descended from the outcrop, his paws sinking into the soft earth beneath him, he couldn't help but feel a tingling sense of anticipation. Andromeda had always been a much appreciated source of companionship, a pillar of strength in his life. She was the one of the few consistent friendships in his life that he maintained, and she had stood by him for a long time, understanding his need to forge his own path. Now, as he made his way through the sprawling pine forest, he couldn't help but wonder how she would react to seeing him with these scars etched upon his face. Especially how she already pleaded with him to stay with her in Armada.

The pine forest unfolded before Aresenn, its slender trunks reaching skyward like the spires of an ancient cathedral. The air carried the soothing aroma of pine needles, mingling with the subtle scent of damp moss and the delicate perfume of wildflowers ... and something else surprisingly familiar. Dad? Aresenn's brow immediately furrowed, immediately flooded with disbelief as he altered his course with the change of wind. He picked up his pace to cover the ground, and after a couple bends in the forest, his amber gaze found the towering crimson form of Ignis Praetor. "Dad?" He called out, a questioning curiosity clear in his voice as he approached the larger brute. What was the meaning of this?

"Aresenn Praetor"

The much needed quiet was welcome for the old man. After having spent weeks with the newest brood, this was a welcome relief. Though he couldn't say he was here for a vacation, of course. Not when he came here for a specific purpose. He searched for his sons scent, but instead of finding his boy, it seemed his boy would find him first. "Dad?" He looked up to find Aresenn approaching him, and Ig couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corners of his lips. "Aresenn. It's good to see you, it's been a bit." Though he immediately frowned when he noticed the not-yet-healed wounds upon his face. Crimson gaze narrowed, and if he had a tail still, it would be lashing behind him. "Who scarred you?" He questioned, his tone leaving no room for excuses. While sure, he was prone to accumulating scars himself, and his other two kids having their own as well, those ones at least he knew where they came from. But the last time he had seen Aresenn, he was still a clean slate. Suffice to say he would go to war for his kids if necessary, so he waited to hear the answer of how his wounds came to be.

Aresenn halted a few paces away from Ignis, his amber gaze meeting the older brute's crimson eyes. There was a mix of emotions swirling within him as he took in his father's presence. It had been a while since they had last seen each other, and despite everything, there was still a faint flicker of warmth in Aresenn's demeanor at the recognition. "It's good to see you too, Dad," he replied, his tone soft yet tinged with a hint of uncertainty. He had never been one to openly display his emotions- none of them had, especially not to his father. So he certainly wouldn’t start now.

As Ignis's gaze fell upon the scars that marred his face, Aresenn's expression hardened slightly. He knew this question was likely coming, and he had prepared himself for it. "Sephiran," he answered, his voice steady. "We had a … disagreement, and things got physical." He didn't elaborate on the details, knowing that his father would likely understand the implications. Sephiran's attack had been one rooted in paranoia, in a state of mind he equated to what he had experienced himself. Even still, Aresenn didn’t fancy himself sticking around to talk out their feelings. Everyone needed space to allow the tensions to cool. This was his attempt at providing that. "I'm fine … it was a fair fight." he added, almost as an afterthought. He didn't want to have to further explain himself or the situation- there were too many dynamics at play for an outsider to even begin to understand.  "What brings you out here?" He asked, actively looking for an opportunity to change the subject.

"Aresenn Praetor"