One heart attack after another. Pyralis had stood in the middle of the grapevine cathedral as a shiver ran down her spine. The scents were old but not faded and she knew she could track them if Risen still stood. She just couldn't bring herself to move. Alkali leaned against her shoulder, a comforting weight she was grateful for. She'd spent the past few days working up her strength to see what had become of her son only to find nothing. No answers. She knew she could sift through the scents that criss-crossed over the territory. She could filter them for Ashiel but some how that just wasn't enough. Pyralis knew how dangerous hope was, she didn't want to get her hopes up only to find out something else had happened. After all, Risen was no longer here. Something had clearly happened. She only hoped it was a positive change and not a crumbling of the Abraxas empire altogether. Pyralis seized on Malleus' scent, the most prominent in these pack lands and began to follow. —————— Alkali soared above her as night felt. The horizon glowed a warm orange that was quickly swallowed by the velvety blue of night. Worry was eating its way around her heart, fear close behind. Yet, she couldn't help but smirk as she realized the scent led right to Amron's castle. The former stronghold of Talis that was usurped by her son. Pyralis let her paws rest on the border as she took a deep breath. It was time to return home, time to see if she had anything to come home to. "Talk" "You" Think

Running from the flash, headed straight into the blast

Ashiel was unable to sleep. He tossed, he turned. Mæva squeaked irritably at him until he left the girl with Griff so he could go and wash the taste of bitter dreams from his mouth. These were no more troubling than usual, he felt safe in the knowledge that they were probably just the result of his own mind and not some spiritual message. Then again, he'd felt the eyes of something upon him. Something that willed him to wake. Perhaps it was the same force that willed spring to wake after what felt like far to long a winter.

Ashiel maneuvered along the new borders, finding solace in the patrol and the change of scenery. He didn't expect to see anyone. He especially didn't expect to see his mother, who he'd given up for dead, standing wistfully on the border's of their new home. Alkali called out and Pyralis turned to start at him. "Mom?" For a moment he was afraid he was hallucinating, or that he was being visited by a spirit instead of the real thing. A gentle, warm, wind shifted toward him, carrying her scent and then he was certain. "Mom! You're alive!"

Ashiel raced towards her and throw his arms around the base of her neck as he nuzzled her face. "Where have you been? I thought the worst! What happened?"

"Talk"

Pyralis had fixed her sight on the castle. In her mind this was the place that housed all the answers she needed, good or bad. As she moved to take her first steps into the territory her companion called out. Pyralis was suddenly aware of another wolf nearby and when she turned she gasped. Ashiel? Was that Ashiel standing there? It couldn't be… he'd grown so much. She was dimly aware that he was speaking to her but the words seemed to just fall over her like a haze. The next thing she knew her son embraced her and she… was not crying… definitely not. Pyralis choked back a sob but she couldn't stop her voice from cracking. "A-ashiel… I'm so happy you're alright." They stood like that for awhile til Pyralis stepped back with a shaky laugh. "I can't believe you've grown even more. You've gotten heavy. I was swept away by the flood and I…" Nothing sounded good to her ears. The excuses and reasons that seemed so perfectly reasonable just days ago now seemed pathetic. "I didn't want to know. I preferred the uncertainty. The possibility that you were still alive rather than the assurance that you were not… I'm sorry." "Talk" "You" Think

Running from the flash, headed straight into the blast

Ashiel felt his mother pull away as he struggled to find his own words. He didn't even know how he felt. Part of him was angry that she hadn't returned sooner but it was so small compared to the overwhelming relief. He felt like it had been a miracle. Like the Fallen god had some how worked a miracle just for him. His mother was back from the dead.

Ashiel shook his head as his mother apologized. It sounded so strange coming from her and truly he could understand her reasoning. Isn't that why it had taken him so long to go back to the canyon. "I understand, don't worry about it. Oh mom, so much has happened. I have so much to- I mean I don't-" He wanted to tell her everything at once and the words seemed to get jammed into his throat. "Mom, Asharya is back, she's ok and she's in Risen. Also you're a grandmother. I… I have a daughter. Mæva. And Malleus has kids to, five of them! And I had these visions, the Fallen god sent me these-"

Pyralis reached up and gently pressed a paw to his lips, a bemused and startled expression across her face. "Actually, how about I show you back to the densite and we can call Malleus?"

"Talk"