Sunspire Mountains praying like a fool who just shot a gun

His touch felt like coming home, his scent the warm and heavenly embrace that had lingered only in dreams after it had faded completely from their den… despite her worry for his injuries, there was a savoring in his return, his soft tone carrying over and washing her over like a cleansing promise. They would never be separated again. If there was another mission, she’d personally chew Germanicus out until he agreed to send someone else. Kallik had paid enough for the price of loyalty; their family had paid enough for it.
 
He stated that he should not have left at all, her head shaking lightly. “There was no way to know you would be gone for so long…” She stated softly as she looked to him. “It’s not your fault… we missed you, but your absence was not your fault.” She knew that to be true, even moreso now as her heart thumped uncomfortably, for the first time in quite awhile.
 
“I know it wasn’t. I told the boys that every day as well.” It had not been his choice. He loved them all dearly, and would never chose to be separated from them for as long as he had. In his absence, they had all done the best they could… the boys had both left, Towhee and Maxim had left, Tamar and Arsenio had been gone even before. “The Mereo that exists now is very different from the one you left… the faces are all different. Towhee and Maxim left to stay in Epoch… our own sons left as well. Ruenna left; I led for a time, acting as Matrona.” She stated, giving the brief synopsis without diving into too much, though she imagined he already knew by the way that Mereo clung to his pelt once more.
 
He insisted that he was fine. “I am okay… physically, I am fine, and mentally I am much better now that you are here.” There was the raw relief, though in the coming days she’d likely not want to let him out of her sight. “I can certainly take a look at them… I trust my stores have remained well-stocked in my absence.” She would have everything she needed once she returned to Mereo as well.