Sunset Valley and leave you like they left me here

he couldn't help the lopsided smile that bloomed over his face at alarian's surprise, though it faded when the man described himself as a wreck. he hated to see alarian so hard on himself. nevertheless, he gave a gracious nod in response, affirming that all his words had, indeed, been true.

he had wanted alarian. he still did, somewhere deep down. that desire had come suddenly to the surface, in his sadness and anger; now it was buried within layers of concern for what came next. he had sorted things with alarian, but now he must face dawn.

and that conversation would be even more difficult than this one.

"morningside. . .is complicated," aditya murmured, appreciating that alarian so seamlessly changed the topic. "our leader grayday died, very suddenly. we've been trying to figure things out from there. but there are reasons to be happy, too. we have new pups--five of them. and three older ones besides that. now we just have to figure out how to feed them all," he added, with a laugh.

he leveled his gaze onto the other, head tilted in question. "how is bracken sanctuary? morningside had a visit from your sister, about a moon or so ago. she seemed to suggest things were well." he left out their most recent meeting, for good reason.