Ocean's Breath Plateau shady grove

@Simbelmyne

Though their tenancy still felt somewhat tenuous to the panther, his spirits had lifted considerably from the heaviness of the glacier. He felt, finally, as if he were exactly where he wanted to be. There were days when he thought of Ulloriaq. Nights where he dreamed of her returning to the glacier to find them gone. He thought, too, about Valiant, and how they were both going to be fathers this year — something neither of them had thought likely not too long ago. It seemed a shame that they should now be parted after so many years together — and for what!

They had each come independently to the decision that their partnership could not continue if they were to be happy. But now they were happy, and once again in sync, and yet still so far apart.

But, despite these secret pangs, Dutch felt at peace.

He carried with him a bundle of flowers in his bloody maw, and extra spring in his step as he whuffed for Simbelmyne. He'd spotted them on his way back from a hunt, and he'd plucked them without a second thought to bring to his wife.