Great Bear Wilderness as the crow flies

ying's howl rose into the murkwood. music to arcturus' ears.

he never doubted the sylph would come. she had been kind to him thus far, perhaps too kind - and he didn't know why in that moment he told ying to howl for her.. maybe it was because subconsciously, he knew lyra would be busy tending to osiris.

maybe it was because if nothing else, he knew kukutux could be discreet.

arcturus' wounds were grevious, but they would heal. he did not know it then, but revui's fangs had thinly nicked a powerfully supplied vein, which in turn had bled profusely until he had passed out on the riverbank. the bloodclot on his face was hideous, but most of his senses seemeed intact otherwise, and he was lucky his brother's tooth had been a centimeter deeper.

knowing help would soon arrive, arcturus sighed and his frame seemed to melt, as if the tension holding his body together had now fled. soon, kukutux would be here.

soon, arcturus would go home.