Arrow Lake — tied knots in the laces of my worried shoes,

early to bed and early to rise, stigmata was not far off when a pitiful voice reached him - perched above a herd of deer silhouetted by dawnlight and grazing unawares. as one the flock lifted their frightened crowns and pointed quivering noses in the direction of the noise. the general's attentions followed suit, and remained pointed towards diaspora's borders even as the ungulates began to churn and flee beneath him. he began descending even before the stampede's thunder had a chance to drum up, and he abandoned his current task to abate his curiosity for the caller. 

he was only a few miles off, and his pace was a strong canter, bringing his arrival quite soon after aurëwen's. he was equally both surprised and not by her presence there, which wound up causing him to appear    unaffected as usual. and though he had been unable to help looking towards the porcelain ambassador first, it was their guest that eventually drew his commanding gaze.

she was a dainty creature. fine-featured and feathery; colored much like a spring dove, and built as finely as one - leaving little to be visually impressed about, for a wolf like him. he moved like smoke to gather up at his magnetizing packmate's sleek shoulder, and he rose to a resolute posture, peering down at their guest with heavy, half-moon eyes.  "who is it that calls over diaspora?" he asked quietly, skin shuddering.