Arrow Lake the caretaker

with one last sorrowful bay, stigmata finally put his active search for thorn to rest. the basilisk returned to arrow lake, somber and empty-pawed; devoid of any extreme emotion mostly out of sheer exhaustion. he had been more or less absent for several days while scouring a massive perimeter outside their claim - leaving scant traces of himself at the borders when he passed near enough - and his manic searching had only left the tracker tired, baffled, and bitter with remorse.

he wanted desperately to see his children, and ketzia's gaze came to mind when he thought of seeking comfort, but the general's slinking march was set towards @Mahler, and he was not likely to cease his pursuit on behalf of anyone else. they would simply have to join him.