Hushed Willows oh, it's definitely the end times

good lord it's been literal years since we had a thread together, i realized. @__@

this is verbose on my part as well, i am tired and apparently decided i wanted to work out some things

Another day down and still, he had not picked up a trace of Pippin. He had scoured the lands along the ridges and mountainous terrain beyond the Keep, only for the weather to be the most uncooperative wretch for miles. It seemed the only time it hadn't decided to dump buckets had been when he was willing to retire for the day, far too worn and weary to do much other than drag himself back to the territory and return to Harlyn. Even she had not had her successes; it pained him and at times, served to mount a frustrating string of thoughts.

And at such a time as this as he returned to wind through territory he cared little to pay attention to, he had his regrets of ever leaving the Hollow. Perhaps if they had not left, if they had simply waited out whatever time had been left on the yearly regional disaster counter—in reality, did these things happen annually? He didn't stop to consider—they would have made it out unscathed. Or alternatively, they'd all be dead. It was a vicious cycle that left him mentally weary, lending numbness that he adopted well. He had withdraw from the pack himself, not that he had established knowing them beyond names and faces. The newest of recruits to the Keep had been ignored; he didn't care to know them.

And Tavi, well, he hadn't seen hide nor hair of her. Probably for the best, given the circumstances. A flash of lightning distracted him, jolting him out of his thoughts much in the way it had probably jolted a family of squirrels from whatever tree it struck in the valleys below. He had gone past where he had meant to turn now, hopelessly turned around but not entirely lost. Disoriented was the better word here and it too, sparked a note of dismay that escaped him in a heavy sigh. His steps came to a stop and the deliberation of taking the long way back to his mate and children or just doubling back to cut that time in half began.