Dragoncrest Cliffs I hope you find your peace, falling on your knees, praying.

silence stretched between them as val spoke. he took in a deep draught of the briny air, hopeful.

dark as his features were naturally, the grin that broke his face when rosalyn appeared was like a lamplight in the void. "maman!" he cried, joyous and tail wagging wildly. were it not for indra pressed close to his chest, and his over-protective pains to not disturb her, he would have closed the gap between him and rosalyn with bounding strides.

but something was different. his face fell as he saw coldness in her eye. chacal's voice rose to the wind besides him. was he gone that long? perhaps she only remembered his youthful face -- now he was nearing two years, and what an incredible two years it had been.

his grin fell away. as if to corroborate chacal's words, val spoke again. "maman! it's me, valravn!" the smile reappeared, dogged. "i'm home!