Ocean's Breath Plateau many waters

Valiant and Katmai are with him, but can be skipped. Paging @Rodyn @Simbelmyne @Chakliux but AW

Limping,

scarred,

emaciated,

the panther returned. There was a hollow look to his face. His right ear was now a scabby stump, and his right eye was clouded with infection. His right shoulder, too, bore deep and poorly healed wounds, but he was alive. And so was Valiant, who looked like nothing so much as a pale, matted skeleton at his side.

And, most importantly, so was Katmai. The boy walked closely and Dutch's other side, sometimes tangling their legs together in an effort to remain within his father's shadow. The months had been less harrowing to him than to the two adults, but he, too, was worryingly thin and sporting a tattered right ear to match his father's.

They stopped at the borders, relief at finally arriving sapping all the remaining strength from their bones. Dutch tipped his head back and howled to herald their return before lowering himself to his aching haunches.

"We are home," he reassured his son.

At his side, Valiant stirred weakly into awareness.

"Vaire?"

Dutch's heart twisted.

"Soon," he promised the other man.