Dragoncrest Cliffs Underwater

The first warden to respond was not one Njord expected or recognized. A young boy, barely older than the summer season, greeted him at the borders. The child appeared a miniature Erzulie with the same dark points… but whose was he and when had he been born? Njord’s brows knitted, concerned by how much time had passed. His chest twisted, ached. His own sons and daughters would be even older than this one, with only a few memories to know their father.

“Aye lad,” Njord responded, holding back the urgency in his tone, “I ken these borders well. I li-” The red tail’s words were cut short by the rapid cadence of pawsteps running through the woods.

To be alone with his thoughts during the vast ocean swim had spun Njord’s mind tight. The bleak events on Meares Island were layered by a fierce longing to be with his family and the guilt of having been absent in the first place. He knew the look of betrayl, of abandonment, from Sobo’s pale eyes. Was more of that waiting for him at home?

His expression opened, ears rolling forward (though his right drooped to one side), waiting to see who came forth… but he recognized the sound of those footfalls well and deep in his heart Njord knew whose face would appear from betwixt the autumnal colors. Any ounce of effort to hold his emotional state together was sundered, and the man cried out when Meerkat appeared.

Barely a heartbeat had passed before she was in his arms, crying with joy. Njord groaned and choked on a sob – the remorse of knowing that he had caused his wife such sadness embroidered only by a thin, silver lining of happiness to be rejoined once again. He was both overjoyed and ashamed – heart heavier than a rock at the bottom of the sea.

He wrapped around her smaller form and pressed tightly, damp fur masking the wetness that dribbled from his eyes. Chacal’s presence was like a spectre, her words echoing the sentiment of his conscious. “Aye, no more. Nev’r again,” he swore.