He'd been hunting on his own in the woods. He had been on the trail of a young deer. One second, he had it in his sights...and the next? He heard a grunt and the pounding of hooves, and when he turned to look, a moose was charging at him. Next thing he knew everything had gone black. He felt like he'd been out forever, but as he slowly began to stir and his eyes started to open, the forest didn't look the same anymore. He wasn't even sure he was in the same forest...there was son snow. No freezing temperatures. No clouds...it all looked different. Was he dreaming? He stood up, looking around for his companions but they were nowhere to be found. Everything was quiet, and he had no idea what was going on. "Where the hell am I...?" He muttered as he looked around for something. Anything. Recognizable. "Ignis"||"Blödhgarm"

Zuriel drifted through this peaceful world that she had found herself, passing time studying herbs that seemed to grow in abundance everywhere she looked. Occasionally others would join her here, sometimes permanently and sometimes only for a moment, but it was calm and quiet either way. However, a voice that was both familiar and different all at once reached her ears and interrupted the aimless wandering and collecting that she occupied herself with. When she turned around her son was standing there in her world, though it was easy to see that he was not there to join her permanently. As with all of the individuals from the living world that happened to pass through, it was as if he was there and not all at once. Either way, her heart ached with sadness and longing when she saw how much he had grown. The vision of him in her mind had remained that of the young wolf he had been when she was driven away and now to see him grown and scarred... it tugged at her heart. "Ignis..." she called to him as she moved toward him, her familiar pendant swinging from her neck. She reached out to him, pressing her nose to his cheek - though he felt oddly distant and faint. "My boy... I've missed you so much." "Zuriel"

He looked around, feeling a combination of uneasiness, and peace...it was an odd feeling for him. While he didn't know where he was, it didn't feel dangerous here. He felt an odd sense of safety that he didn't feel anywhere else, and as he looked around at the world he was in, he noticed it slowly started to brighten up, showing him something better than what he initially saw. "Ignis..." His ears perked up and he swung his head around to see someone he never thought he'd see again..."Mom...?" He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Was he really dreaming? For so long he hadn't been able to see his face. Ever since his demons started whispering in his ear more and more, his mothers image was driven further and further away. He hadn't gotten the chance to see her before she died...and his heart always ached for her. Yearned for her comfort and presence where Elias had filled it with dread and uncertainty. And hatred. She reached out to him, her nose pressing against his cheek but...it didn't feel completely normal. It was like she was there...but also...not. He closed his eyes and stepped forward, burying his face into the fur of her neck as his body felt like it began to crumble into the heap of a pup that he used to be. He suddenly felt like a vulnerable child. Small and weak. The feeling had happened so fast, he hardly had time to stop himself. Maybe it was this world...or maybe he was finally losing his mind..."Mom...I've missed you too, I-I never thought I'd see you again..." "Ignis"||"Blödhgarm"

A sad smile pulled at her lips as he came to press his face into her neck and she set back onto her haunches so that she could lift one of her forelegs to wrap it around his broad shoulders. She tucked her head over his like he was still her little boy that she needed to comfort. It broke her heart, but it was also such a relief to see that he was alive and well. She often wondered how they were doing, where they were. Casso was the only one she had seen mostly grow up at least. Her vibrant Ignis had been lost to her and this was as much of a joyful moment for her as it was painful. "I know, I didn't think I'd see you again either," she replied as she nuzzled into his scruff. She didn't want to think about the fact that she hadn't gotten the chance to see him again before she passed. No matter how fleeting this moment was she was happy that she was able to have it. After several moments she pulled back just enough to be able to look at his face again, her paw shifting to his cheek so he could lift his head to take a good look at him. Another smile brightened her expression even while she gently traced the scars that marred his cheek. "You've gotten so big," she commented with a chuckle. She wasn't sure if any of their other children had taken on Elias' size in the end, but Ignis certainly had. "How are you doing, my love? Did Casso ever make it back to you? He told me he was going to come back to Boreas before I..." Why was it so difficult to admit that she had passed? She wanted to hear everything that she had missed, she wanted to know how all of them were doing, but she didn't know how much time this meeting would allow them. "Zuriel"

His mother hugged him. And although it didn't quite feel the same as a real physical hug, it still felt warm to him. Though he was much larger than her, his current position made him feel so much smaller. Both in body and mind. "I know, I didn't think I'd see you again either," It was such a relief to see her. While he hadn't meant to, her image had been fading by the day to be replaced by the shadow of a faceless demon and his father. He hated his father. Hated who he was. Hated what he had passed on to him. Hated what could potentially be passed on to his children. He didn't want to think about it, but the children he had now would likely be consumed by the darkness that often filled the souls of the Praetor bloodline. It was something he often thought about, and while his uncle had succeeded in breaking free of those chains, Ignis was failing in that aspect. His mother pulled back a bit and lifted his head, forcing him to look at her. Could she see the fear and desperation in his eyes? When she traced the scars on his face, his ears fell back. How different he must look now compared to when they last saw each other. He was so young then...his fur clean and his world full of hope and happiness. He had surely been on a better path back then, but now...? "You've gotten so big," He forced a small, hesitant smile. "Yeah...I guess it runs in the family..." In some of them, anyway. "How are you doing, my love? Did Casso ever make it back to you? He told me he was going to come back to Boreas before I..." His ears perked up a bit when she spoke, but they slowly returned to lay splayed against his crown. "Casso did come back, yes...he's...part of my pack..." He cleared his throat as he sat back, hesitation clear in the way he held himself. What would she think of him when he told her what he'd done? "I lead a pack now...Incendium...though truthfully, I...I took it from my younger cousin - and Acere - by force...I...I'm not doing too good, mom..." He grit his teeth and looked away, gaze falling to his paws. He could feel the guilt at what he'd done eating away at him, though at the time? He hadn't felt bad nor even though twice. But he also hadn't been himself that day. "Ignis"||"Blödhgarm"