Blacktail Deer Plateau grab a cup of coffee for your head

AW but @Arielle welcome to either hop in whenever or play behind the scenes. These two officially left the Empire.
He nudged her gently along, trying to keep the weariness and worry from his gaze as he gave her a crooked smile. He hadn’t looked back when he had coaxed her past the borders of the Empire. When Ibis and Lilitu hadn’t returned, his gnawing worry had turned to full fear, as much as the wraith tried to hide it from his daughter.

His mate’s scent faded from the mountain—the rain of previous days washing away a decent trail. He followed it best he could, encouraging Arielle to follow after him. After all, without Ibis and Lilitu, neither had many ties in the collateral wreckage that had become the Empire. Death lingered there, and now children were claimed royalty, rising to lead over them all. Akavir had accepted the strange ways of what was deemed noble in the pack prior for the sake of his family—he couldn’t swallow following after a child.

One ear flickered to the gentle rustle of foliage, noting a pheasant streak away. His stomach rumbled in protest, but he would not give chase—not with Arielle by his side and possibly unable to keep up—nor would he wish to expend their energy.

Ibis seemed to grow further from him with each step he took, and with a huff, the Frostfur reclined upon the plateau, his features blank as the sun began to sink down the horizon.