Broken Boulder temple

his reunion with anatha shook something loose inside him. just knowing that she was okay -- after a fashion -- and that her time spent with him hadn't totally ruined her life is.. oddly affirming. he thinks she's one of many badges of guilt he'll hoard with him for the rest of his life, but that's okay. that's his burden to bear.

he is with his children when jomyo's call goes out -- or, well, sort of. queenie's still not letting him get very close, which is fine, he respects that. he's kind of afraid of hurting them by stepping on them or breathing too hard or some other idiotic thing, given his curse and all. for a moment he doesn't register it -- alarian can get it -- and then the familiarity of the call clicks into place and the androgyne hops to his feet, making toward the borders with haste. he's nearing them when he hears alarian offer to go get him, and picks up his pace, calling out "i'm here, i'm -- oh --" breaking into a laugh when he sees her.

his tail wagging, he hops up to give her a quick embrace, his expression brighter than it's been in weeks. "jomyo," delight says, a smile in his voice, "what are you doing here?" (sorry, alarian, for being ignored again.)