Moonspear allay; align

A lot had happened since their return to Moonspear. A lot more than he had fathomed possible. Upon their return they'd found the bodies of Alya's parents dead at the bottom of the mountain. Even for Nikai, who'd only met them once and had been hella intimidated at the time, it was a gruesome sight to see. He wished he was closer to them, that he could somehow relate, but Nikai honestly felt a little.. relieved, maybe? He felt terribly guilty about it, but somehow his chances of ever fitting in on this mountain seemed increased without Alya's gruff parents there to judge him. Of course, he'd never tell a soul of this feeling, embarrassed and guilt-riddled as he was about it.

Nikai had gone up the mountain a little bit, breaking out of the forests at its bottom and lingering around the lower slopes. His training had paid off and Alya might find him higher up than she had anticipated -- even though it was still only the lower slopes -- when he heard her call his name. Over here, he called back as he rounded a mountainous corner. Oh, Alya... I don't even know what to say. His sad eyes mirrored the grief he empathically felt for his mate; even though the grief itself wasn't his, he knew she must be going through a lot.