Hushed Willows a swell of smoke arose and filled the air [festival]

After @Sanguinus had told Charon of the festival, it hadn't fully left his mind. Honestly, it seemed to come at the perfect moment. Amekaze needed all the help she could get on her fertility -- she was getting older and he detected a certain disinterest in her about the whole thing. As if bringing another generation on the earth did not matter as much. Charon therefore decided ultimately when he'd heard of all the details that it'd be a good idea for them to go. @Amekaze had agreed and so they'd gone on their way. It was quite out the way but maybe they could wager a visit to Easthollow to come and see Alya and her boy, too? @Arcturus, @Yama and @Lyra were invited to join them if they wished for the journey (though Charon made clear that at the festival, they'd each go their own way) and @Hydra had already offered to stay and guard the fort.

The travels seemed longer than what he was used to. Charon made a point out of stopping by the sunspire. It still felt like part of their legacy somehow, where it had all started. Everything was different now but this place was still a lot like he remembered. He was just happy that Rannoch and his wolves no longer inhabited it. The nerve to claim it in the first place.

They arrived eventually when a great deal of wolves had already gathered. Charon brought a piece of the star that had fallen down on the ground in Moonspear recently. That had been a sign from the stars, and now he wondered if it was meant to inspire this, meant to make him meet Sanguinus... All of this, it meant something. Of that much he was certain.

His eyes fell onto @Olive first. A ghost from the past, though he did not remember too well how long ago it'd been that they had last seen each other. Her children he had seen but recently but her... He did not even remember why she had left them in the first place. Maybe she hadn't told. Hey, didn't know you moved to this place, Charon offered to a Olive in surprise with gritted teeth through the piece of star. He offered her a surprised smile, though then decided to move on before things got too awkward. Sanguinus was offered a smile -- he'd shown Charon the festival, and for that he was grateful. But before he could make his way over to greet Sanguinus and talk to him, his eye was caught by more ghosts of the past.

Next he noticed @Rannoch who seemed to be trying to get Olive's attention. Charon glanced at Amekaze, and then decided it'd be easiest to just ignore Rannoch altogether. It wasn't like they had much to say to one another.

Many other wolves were gathered that he did not know. The most notable of the others was @Gannet. He had left to... Whatever, find himself or some other bullshit excuse. And now he was here with... Rannoch, Charon could only assume? Are you fucking kidding me?! Charon thought bitterly. They'd even talked about Rannoch's abandonment. Charon had told him he was almost like fucking family and now this? He cast Gannet a sharp look as he moved to the maypole to place his offering to the fertility gods while he contemplated directly confronting Gannet. Whoever else he might know in the gathering was lost on Charon for the moment.