Redsand Canyon for the fish, the lake in which he lives is the universe

he's calling for germ, but obviously aw <3
@Nanuq and @Siku for visibility

His coat was thick in preparation for winter, aside from the areas where his scars wouldn't allow his fur to grow. There were many of them now after his time held captive; there were even more that couldn't be seen—on his soul, his heart, his mind. He had to become cold to survive and any of the progress Aquene had made softening him up a little was gone. He wasn't the same Kallik as the one who left on a mission months ago. Aquene. Something stirred deep in his heart as it did anytime he thought of his wife. He missed her so much. And the twins—they had grown up without a father, the exact life he had tried to protect them from. He had failed them. He had failed Mereo. He hadn't been careful enough, strong enough. And everyone in his life had suffered because of it. 

Kallik inspected the scents as he drew close to the canyon; a couple he recognized, and he felt relief that one of those belonged to the imperator. But there were so many that he didn't know at all. And he didn't pick up Aquene's scent anywhere. He tried to push the panic down. Maybe she just hadn't come this way in a while. But his mind reminded him that he always lost the ones he loved. 

Kallik shook out his coat as he came to the edge of Mereo. He had once patrolled these borders. He had once been a protector of the canyon. He wanted that life again, even if he knew he could quite fit back into his old life. He drew in a deep breath, tilted his head back, and called for @Germanicus. Then he waited, his heart beating faster against his ribs. The cold silence of the mountains at his back reminded him of what he had escaped.