Wapun Meadow When you were here before

It was a haggard, unkempt wolf who strode up the slope from the valley, dark ears pricked attentively forward. Thoughts of children and what he would do with them plagued him every waking hour of the day, and nightmares of losing Arielle, and them, hounded him in his sleep. It was clear from appearance alone that Aventus had stopped caring for himself.

He could not turn off the authority of being Bruin-jaw, however he tried to neglect that, as well. When he stood before the caller, forming an approving bulwark alongside Cyril, it was with straight shoulders and head high. Right then, one could almost overlook the bags under his eyes and the drooping of his fur.

Aventus said nothing. Cyril had already asked the only question that mattered.