Stone Circle lift with your knees atlas

tagging @Mawk ( hi dad! ) for visibility in case belle wants to jump in with him but otherwise this is an open joining thread! c:

coming back felt strange and there is trepidation thrumming through him that stiffens his shoulders with visible tension. will he be received well? or rejected and turned away? he's never thought valette as that kind of woman but it's not like cyron wouldn't understand if that ended up being the verdict. being an unproductive shell as the pack worked around him had been as hard on him as it had the pack. he'd wanted to contribute but the mental space he'd been in — that swallowing and choking black hole that his unpredictable triggers that led him to — hadn't allowed him. it'd taken his energy from him.

he's ...better now.

there's no cure; he will bear the scars both mental and physical for the rest of his life. but he's trying. which is all he can ask of himself. try.

his pace slows as he draws nearer to the borders, sure to leave plenty of respectable distance between them and him. he draws in a deep breath, the chilled air crisp and cool as it fills his lungs. upon the border scent he smells his father but none other. his sister and mother's scent are missing — which does not initially strike him as much of a surprise. neither of them ( much like himself ) seemed to have the same deep-rooted loyalty of mawk.

this time was different, he tells himself.

he's semi-stable now.

cyron draws in a second deep breath and tips his head to let out a howl, announcing his presence.