Cleaning out an entire den was a lot of work, and not all of it physical. This was the last space he shared with Zee, and letting it go was almost unbearable. He knew that change had to happen, and that this was inevitable. That didn’t make it easy.

He was grabbing a few bits and pieces he couldn’t do without, and heading down the hill to load them on the wagon when an unexpected face distracted him. He put down the bundle, tucking it to the side as he watched Wynter climb the hill towards his den. “Come to see me off?” He asked, keeping his voice light.


"Speech"

She had heard the whispers in her usual eavesdropping and observations that her grandfather was stepping down from his post and moving away and it felt like all at once her whole world was upside-down. Now that she was a little older she understood that her grandfather couldn't be the Warlord forever and that everyone aged and needed to rest at some point, but in her eyes he was still so larger than life that she couldn't fathom that his time to retire was now and it felt so incredibly sudden to her. Still, what was even more unbelievable was the fact that he was leaving. Perhaps she could come to terms with him no longer being the Warlord, but leaving?

She had to see it for herself so she went straight away to find him, a disbelieving frown on her lips as she climbed the hill to investigate. Surely she had misheard or misunderstood what they were saying... But as she drew closer she realized she had found him packing, loading up a wagon with belongings to take with him. He greeted her with a lightness that bordered on amusement, but she couldn't help the frown that creased her brow and how her ears flicked back with how upset she was that the whispers she heard had been true. "Why are you leaving? Where are you going?" she demanded with frown that just barely avoided being a pout, looking up at him accusingly.

"Wynter Carpathius"