Hushed Willows maybe it's time, maybe today

His nod to Lily only came half-formed, though he followed her past the threshold of the forest's edge, and deeper still into the cover of the willows. Instead of trying to familiarize himself with any of it, he could only feel his heart racing, and distraction was ruling him as his eyes darted this way, and that, although his guide carried them on a direct path. Soon enough his nose was wiggling and desperately, he was clambering for anything familiar.

Memories of it all seemed so fuzzy and faraway. He hung back behind Lily still when they reached a stopping point. Standing delicately on his three better legs, the fourth resting just gently on the ground, he watched with short, uneasy breaths as Lily called for her by name. What else was there to do, else the anticipation choke him out and leave him entirely?

When she showed herself, he perked up, ears tall and eyes as big as he could make them. Some shade of panic rippled through him, determined not to be disappointed--but there was no need, not now, as he took in sight of her in full with a soundless gasp. This time, his jaw went slack and he only picked it up again so he could whine that he was definitely not able to make into any coherent words; it was her, she was here, and finally, so was he. Qilaq is here. Qilaq is here!

Silas fumbled forward in a jerking, awkward motion with him forgetting all about his entire self other than all to do with helping the distance between them erase faster. Nothing else mattered suddenly, it couldn't, and the sudden warmth of her body heat against his chest was so tangible he thought he could scream if only he had the energy to; it was all he had wanted for moons now. He didn't even register much else than that, and though she smelled different, it's her, it's familiar, and it's all coming back to him in a rush that he wasn't prepared for, despite dreaming of it for so very long.

For the moment, Lily fell away from focus, and he can't even embrace her as much as he wished he could, not confined to this mortal body. He does his best to find his voice, though, and do more with it than whimper pitifully. You're really here, he sobs into her dark fur, his tail wagging too, and his knees feeling weak. I missed you so much, he whined, head spinning, and before it could get worse, he squeezed his eyes shut and went on with: I'm so sorry, that he couldn't do better, find her sooner, prevent whatever it was that had separated them and spanned the time apart. He had taken far too long and suffered for it, so he scarcely wanted to imagine what she had been through to. It was all a lot to bear.. but, breathing deep, and feeling through her coat with his muzzle, he hoped to heal with this turn of a new page.