Emberwood this is our last stand

in the distance, thru the break of the budding green canopy of woodlands come to life, arius thinks he can glimpse the glacier. the riot of emotions within him quiets; yearning, enticing him home. for a few hours he contemplates ignoring the ache in his paws, the exhaustion that settles wearily into his bones, the want to just lay down and steal a few hours of rest even as a mist settles over the emberwood.

but he knows better than to ignore what his body is telling him.

i'm coming home. he murmurs low to the peek of the glacier, imagining that somewhere tzila and wintersbane were listening to and watching him. at least, temporarily. he had to return to atautsikut — though he holds onto the hope that after this trip he would have a better idea of the path he was meant to walk.

for now, he slows his pace, hesitating, again, over the thought of just pushing forward during the last stretch.