Ankyra Sound shame spiral

The Bratstvo had ditched Vlad again within a week. He should have seen it coming, but his admiration for Vyacheslav was like a latent disease - it did not take long to succumb. He left Saltwinter without a word, pledging himself to the Bratstvo leader whilst the threat of war still lingered over Caiaphas' head.

And then he was alone with his stupidity - again.

The walk back had only taken a few days. It was the shame that kept him from Saltwinter's borders well into the spring, and it was not until Vlad had gone six rounds through the Shame Spiral that he eventually found the courage to approach the forest border. Was there even a Saltwinter left to visit? Winter had ended, and so had the contractual obligation to hang around with Caiaphas and her dank ol' caverns and.. stupid.. face.

Vlad stopped in the shadow of the treeline, squinting into the glum woods.