truthfully, blix has never been good at labeling the people she loves natrona. she'd lied to keep the label off of mallaidh, she still struggles to reconcile the idea with her younger siblings, stolen by wildfire, and artaax -- no. artaax is any things but he is not a traitor to drageda, and this is not the first time tragedy has driven him from their borders. 

that doesn't mean she isn't pissed about it, though. his call is unexpected and with it comes her anger at him -- for abandoning her to deal with nomi's death alone. she descends upon the borders, not noticing rose yet, righteously furious and ready to give him a piece of her mind but as he comes into view it gets harder to be truly angry. still, she is blix and so she greets him in her usual way, barrelling into him with the intent of grabbing his ear between his teeth -- sort of a wolfish equivalent of tweaking the ear of a child who's misbehaved. "you idiot," she shrills, before dropping into trig, "where did you go?"

artaax doesn't shove her off, which she takes for a good sign. they've always had difficulties with each other but at the end of the day... artaax is the only one who's been with her for everything. with some reluctance she disentangles herself as he pulls away, listening to him speak with a measured frown. west is not an answer but she does not push it -- really, does it matter any more?

"good," she answers with an exaggerated huff, trying to mask the anxiety that wells up in her throat. she needs to tell him -- before she does, she glances around and finally notices rose. their conversation flickers in her memory, and she steels herself. "we're returning to trigeds," blix tells him, "with nomi gone and our neighbors still a threat, we can't stay here anymore." remus doesn't remember if the verx thread happens before or after this one but let's say after for convenience sake -- she fills him in, braced for his judgement on her inability to lead them -- but confident in her and dio's decision nonetheless.

if artaax disagrees -- and she's sure he does -- he doesn't say anything, which blixen is grateful for. part of her has been disappointed that there's been so little pushback. it only serves to remind her she'd never properly won anyone's respect as leader. or perhaps thats unfair -- she knows mallaidh and dio respect her, and bobby too, and artaax in his way, and she's grateful for that, she is. 

she follows his glance, also noticing rose's sudden absence, but doesn't comment. she doesn't know if rose wants to come with them. she finds she doesn't really care anymore. "soon," she answers, only turning to look back at her brother when the sound has finished, naturally falling back into common. "before the next moon. a few days, maybe." enough time for them to prepare physically, but she does not want to draw it out. she does not want to live anymore in the company of ghosts.

stepping back, she beckons artaax to follow her; there's no use lingering on the borders. "i'm glad you're back," she says, despite everything, a smile stealing briefly into her expression -- tired, weary, but genuine. she has artaax and mallaidh; she does not need any of the rest of them.