the day that germanicus julius caesar departed mereo was one of snow. 

it fell from the heights. it filled the spaces between and coated the trees.

he stood alone in the middle of the southlands and his eyes searched all the familiar places.

the latin lady had gone. 

he did not know if @Cad or @Paeon would follow, but called to them in goodbye and invitation. tierra had been informed of his specific plans. 

it was bittersweet.

the day he left, germanicus returned to the den he had shared with fennec and lay silently where they had once loved and slept and spoken.

the eagle thus carried her with him when he left the canyon for a last time, prints fading into the gathering storm as he shouldered the unwieldly burden of guilt until it sat more easily inside him.

and then he turned away from the sunspire altogether.