The scent had been so faint that he wasn't even sure he'd smelled it, wasn't sure that he wanted to believe he'd smelled it. However, he knew the scent of his father and he knew that he had to be sure. The oddest part had been that before he'd caught the whiff all he'd smelled was his mother Amalia. Maybe the best solution would have been to seek her out and ask her what it was he'd scented. He was already off though, his large paws carrying him away from the mangroves. He found difficulty trailing it in some places, and had he been anyone but Veruex's son he might not have been able to do it. By now he had made it rather far from their new home, the temperature was cooling and he could tell home was close. Except that it wasn't home any longer, that was in the east with his mothers, brothers and grandmother. This was where his sire was, the one who'd left them.. who'd come so close and left again. He wasn't even sure if he wanted to see the brute, but he'd already come so far. Taking a break his haunches would coil beneath him near the entrance of what he would assume a giant underground labyrinth, and he had no desire to look at that. He'd sit here and regain his strength and then continue on. He had to see for himself. ""

Vereux had to think about ways to make himself better. With his current condition he couldn't take down any large prey. He looked like a walking corpse covered in wounds. Thr male flicked his tail as he looked around, the heart ache he felt was real but he tried to ignore it. He was told never to see his children again, even if he hadnt left of his own will. His emerald eye looked up though once he caught the scent. No one of his sons had followed him Amelia would surely kill him. Not that he would mind.

"Bacchus is that you?" He was almost in disbelief as he stepped forward a little wobbly. His skinny gram making ribs visible. His next course of action was to find a pack but this hr hadn't expected. He shook his head, "im so sorry, you and your brothers must hate me amalia told me how hard it was for all of you" he sighed. What had he done to them.

He'd expected he was going to make it to the North before his father's scent became for obvious, but as he sat there quietly his smell would only grow more obvious. As though he were only behind the tree line. There wasn't much doubt left in the young boy's mind that his father was most certainly still alive. He might even see him that day.. at least if he wanted to be found. There was always the chance that he had left again because he'd never wanted them in the first place. If His sire had no wish to be seen again Bacchus had no doubt that he would never be able to track him down. Even now he was wasting precious time trying to rest his tired feet, for a younger wolf the journey was much more than he was used to. Though his attention would be grabbed by the voice of one that shouldn't have been foreign to the pup. Vereux's lyrics would wash over him like an icy glacier, and with obvious surprise in his features red eyes would land on the wounded man. He was a shadow of what he once was, thin with his coat barely recognizable through the scabs of many wounds. His face would quickly turn to horror as he beheld the man who sired him. He didn't care about the apology, but he did notice that he'd spoken to Amalia. She'd seen him.. and she hadn't said a word to him about his appearance. Mismatched ears would fall to his head as his gaze fell to his paws, in part because he found it hard to see his father reduced to this but also with confusion. Why hadn't Ama said anything? Didn't he have a right to know that his father was still alive? Even if they had been abandoned by him, it felt better knowing that there was still someone out there to blame. "You left. Twice." He would count the encounter the man had at the borders of Ludicael. "Weren't we good enough?" He said he was sorry, and would admit his guilt. So why had he left? ""

Amalia wouldn't be happy with Bacchus, Vereux, a part of him still loved all of them. He wanted to cry, but, crying didn't solve anything. Tears would never fall from his face again, he didn't care what happened to himself as long as those he cared about sought happiness. It must have been disturbing to see him like this. What was hard for him though, how do you explain to a child that you were in a dark place? That you couldn't leave even if you wanted. His wounds were proof enough, and starvation, but Bacchus was so young all of them were. Twice.......the first he was kidnapped the second he was told he didn't belong with them. Vereux shut his eye for a moment then looked at him, his child, his son. “You are all wonderful, it is me who is not enough.” they would grow up without him. He didn't want to cause anymore pain. “This is not for a child's ears, but Bacchus. I, was held against my will with Arian your other mothers sister. A place where our captors caused us a lot of pain, I tried very hard to come back to you.” he wheezed lowering his body. “I came back hoping I could make amends for not being strong enough for all of you, for not being able to fight back to come back. Amalia told me the pain I caused all of you, how much you all cried and I never came. So.....at the borders she told me I would not see you ever again. I....don't want to hurt you or your mother. I love Athena very much but she has amalia and amalia hates me. I'm so sorry Bacchus.” Vereux looked at him painfully, very painfully. “I may not be able to see you after this, so take it from me. Get strong, so that you don't hurt the people around you like I have.” he stood there looking at Bacchus. He wondered if the boy would even listen to him, after all he wouldn't. Vereux sighed, “The woman I brought to the borders name is Arian, she is your aunt by marriage she's in Ludicael now, so please treat her delicately. She took the situation much worse than I did.” his tail flickered before he had to lay himself on his stomach. Resting frequently was a thing he had to do otherwise he would keel over and die. “I speak”

Bacchus would do little more than watch as his father took in his words, bright eyes would close as pain was evident on the man's features. Mismatched ears were plastered to his skull as their green and red eyes met. Staying silent and still the boy would listen to his father's words. He needed to know why he didn't care how much it might hurt he wanted the closure only this meeting could bring He had no idea if he would ever see his sire again, hopefully this would clear all of the mysteries. The first words were to reassure Bacc that it was not his fault in the least that Vereux had gone. He and his brother's were wonderful and at least he wouldn't question his worth any longer. Then he was given the real story of why he had gone, of why he looked as miserable as he did right now. Bacchus would be unable to hold his father's gaze. The intensity of his tale too much for the boy as he went on. He'd also tell him why it was he'd left Fiori even before he'd been able to catch sight of his offspring. Amalia was trying to spare them. Didn't she think that they were capable of making their own choices? He had wanted to see his father, he needed to know why it was the man was no longer in his life. Bacchus wasn't sure what to think of that yet. Ears would continue to listen even if his gaze was somewhere far away, he'd be given just a hint of a life lesson before he spoke of his aunt and lowered himself to the ground. Bacchus had not moved any part of his except when he'd averted his gaze from the mutilated wolf. He didn't know what to think. "I don't hate you," he'd finally say rather quietly, "I wish you could live with us again." He might have left, but it was obvious to the boy that he didn't deserve to be estranged from him and the rest of them. He'd sigh then, even through his words uncertainty still held him. "I should go," No whe'd stand, eyes falling on his wounded father, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. He should have told Ama that he had every right to see his children, being drug away from them was no reason to be punished. "I'll look out for Arian. And.. Ill come visit you again." He'd promise, and though he found he loved his father Bacchus needed to go and think about things by himself. With one respectful nod the boy would turn away, glancing back once more in pity. How had his once strong and immovable father been reduced to this? The world was more cruel than he realized. ""

It was heaven to his ears to hear that his son didn't hate him. It mended his broken heart so much. When so much pain had centered around himself for losing his family and here he was having a conversation with his flesh and blood. Oh how proud he was, and he knew that his sons would grow up to be handsome men. Hopefully following paths that would be true to themselves. “I wish I could live with you as well, but I will be in the north should you ever need me. Just try not to worry Amalia or your mother too much.” Vereux said to the boy. He was so young, but he did deserve the right to know, that was what was so scary about it. “Be safe son, don't let the world turn you bitter.” His tail flickered a little as he looked at his son sadly. Though he had a inkling feeling in the back of his throat that he would see his son once more. Oh how that would bring his spirits up. That was bad, but it was good. After all who knew the effect it would have on Amalia, on Athena. Hopefully they didn't scold Bacchus if she found out, it was his fault after all. Though he hadn't intended to meet his son here, it just happened. “I speak”