Redsand Canyon for the fish, the lake in which he lives is the universe

he's calling for germ, but obviously aw <3
@Nanuq and @Siku for visibility

His coat was thick in preparation for winter, aside from the areas where his scars wouldn't allow his fur to grow. There were many of them now after his time held captive; there were even more that couldn't be seen—on his soul, his heart, his mind. He had to become cold to survive and any of the progress Aquene had made softening him up a little was gone. He wasn't the same Kallik as the one who left on a mission months ago. Aquene. Something stirred deep in his heart as it did anytime he thought of his wife. He missed her so much. And the twins—they had grown up without a father, the exact life he had tried to protect them from. He had failed them. He had failed Mereo. He hadn't been careful enough, strong enough. And everyone in his life had suffered because of it. 

Kallik inspected the scents as he drew close to the canyon; a couple he recognized, and he felt relief that one of those belonged to the imperator. But there were so many that he didn't know at all. And he didn't pick up Aquene's scent anywhere. He tried to push the panic down. Maybe she just hadn't come this way in a while. But his mind reminded him that he always lost the ones he loved. 

Kallik shook out his coat as he came to the edge of Mereo. He had once patrolled these borders. He had once been a protector of the canyon. He wanted that life again, even if he knew he could quite fit back into his old life. He drew in a deep breath, tilted his head back, and called for @Germanicus. Then he waited, his heart beating faster against his ribs. The cold silence of the mountains at his back reminded him of what he had escaped.

Someone called. They had the familiarity to ask for the Imperator but she knew that she was closer. Fennec was also keen to begin making good on her suggestion that not everything had to fall on his shoulders alone. She thought she could guess who this was.

There was only one man who was recently of Mereo that she hadn't met, and the tone of his call pretty much confirmed it for her even if she couldn't see his face.

If you're Kallik, she went looking for you. Fennec said as she came into range, her voice only slightly raised. She forewent an introduction, something telling her he was interested in other things more. She listened for a response, one she'd use to pinpoint him as well as confirm he was who she suspected. A week or so ago.

A lot of changes had occurred since then. She wondered what he would do with this news. The smarter course, she thought, might be to wait and see if she returned. But love didn't tend to drift towards 'smart', did it?

fennec was there before him. germanicus was solemn. kallik wore the look of long travel.

and the imperatrix confirmed what he himself would have in the next moment.

"after nanuq departed to epoch and siku to paleo, i think she saw she too must go. her love for you is great."

aquene was also deeply skilled and could protect herself. he had seen her do so. 

but he knew the man would worry all the same. for now germanicus waited in silent welcome.

His heart sank at the woman's words. Aquene had gone looking for him. Anger stirred in his gut as that realization settled over him. Why would she do that? But just as quickly the anger died and he was left with a soul-deep sadness. He understood why she would look for him; he had been gone longer than anticipated, long enough to make her worry. 

Just as he was about to ask after the twins, the imperator arrived at the woman's side. The familiarity of his presence was almost crushing. So many nights he had been alone and all he wanted was to be home. It felt like it would be ripped away from him at any minute. And with their sons leaving and joining the other mountain packs, Aquene would have been here alone. Guilt swelled in his chest. 

His expression never shifted from the icy mask he wore. She went by herself? he asked. She was strong and capable, but so was he, and look what happened.

Germanicus came up alongside her and clarified a bit more about his children. They weren't a family that Fennec had met; but she hadn't gotten the chance to meet Germanicus' own children either. Nor to get any sense of how they felt about their father's new marriage. She wondered at times if that was for the best.

That was her decision. Mereo doesn't have the numbers to spare for a search like that. Not yet. Germanicus was a touch gentler than she was, but Fennec delivered the information matter-of-factly. Her opinion was that Aquene shouldn't have gone, but if she hadn't, they might not have seen such dramatic changes so quickly. Her leaving had been the galvanization for Germanicus' questions, hadn't it?

You could try to follow. But with the head start that she has, word would probably spread faster, and it would be easier for her to find her way here than for you to track her down. She could only say what she would do.

fennec answered with a direct authority that surprised germanicus. it was not that he did not know she was possessed of such things. it was the indication that fennec had settled firmly and quickly into her role as co-helm of the pack.

this swelled his heart with pride and the pink flicker of affection.

"we have had many defections, kallik. lady ruenna herself departed earlier this autumn. cornelius and alivia went with her."

kallik would see the change in the imperator's face, to know that the man was not without his own grief. "stay here. reach out to your sons. mereo is in the process of evolving." his voice was kind. "i would like you to be part of it."

The woman's words were blunt and slightly defensive. Kallik had no issue with directness, and his walls were too fortified with anger and guilt to allow others words to affect him in any way. Of course, Kallik answered with no emotion. I would not expect Mereo to sacrifice its safety in that way. He did wish that Aquene had taken someone with her, but he knew she wouldn't have allowed it if it meant Mereo would be vulnerable. He was here to stay; there was plenty to distract him from his despair while he waited for his wife to return. He would just have to keep his mind from going to the worst possible outcome. 

His attention turned to the imperator. It seemed they grieved similarly. Ruenna had left Mereo with two of their children in tow. The way in which they had lost their families was similar even if the reasons behind their departures were different. He could see the flicker of pain in the imperator's gaze; it was the same he often had in his own gaze. 

But Germanicus was always already working to change things in the absence of his wife and Aquene. He wanted Kallik to be a part of Mereo's evolution, and of course, Kallik would accept. He nodded. Whatever you need from me, I will do, he vowed. He owed Mereo too; he had left them without one of their guardians; even if it wasn't his fault, he still felt the guilt as keenly as if he had chosen to stay away.

Fennec could immediately see why Germanicus liked Kallik, and the way he responded to her blunt declaration made her realize that perhaps she was better suited to Mereo than she'd thought. He didn't take offense that she hadn't meant - instead he took her statement exactly for what it was. It was so refreshing to be heard and to have no outside assumptions drawn.

Germanicus didn't seem to take issue with her explanation either, thankfully, though she hadn't exactly been involved in the conversation with Aquene.

She could introduce herself later. It felt out of place now, especially with the revelation of Ruenna and the rest of Germanicus' family. She wasn't bothered by the mention - she knew it would take a while for the pain to fade, and that it would likely never disappear. But it did make her feel slightly out of place, the two mourning families gone while hers had self-destructed in a way that offered complete (and bitter) closure.

She would allow Germanicus to handle the rest and stand quietly by.

"very good."

it was good to have the man back. the imperator's look now was good as a clap upon the shoulder.

"we are in the process of moving to the south of mereo. it is suited for winter and has the resources to support a changing rank system."

"it will bode well to have your support." he stepped aside to invite kallik back inside familiar borders.

At least it seemed like things with the imperator hadn't been damaged by his extended time away. With all the turmoil in his heart, it was nice to know that Mereo still had a place for him. But things were apparently changing; they were moving to the southern part of the canyon for the winter, and there were going to be changes to the rank system. Kallik was curious, but he refrained from asking his questions for now. 

Kallik moved to the imperator's side when he was invited to cross the border. You have my support, Imperator, Kallik promised. I am eager to get to work. He wanted to be a soldier of Mereo again. It would be nice to have a job to keep him busy, and he looked forward to having routines again.

last for her!

They moved to leave, discussing things, and Fennec listened as they went but didn’t move to follow. Instead she continued her patrol of the border, silently fading off to allow them time to catch up.

There was an implicit invitation but she was happier leaving them to it - she would meet him later and properly exchange names. Germanicus had a lot to catch him up on.