Greatwater Lake i will never believe in anything again

set after this
maaaaaybe @Mahler? all welcome tho. other tags for reference

Herbs forgotten, he runs blindly for the place he'd last left the @Kid, afraid that his (ex)husband will retaliate in the worst possible way if he does not return to his ward immediately. The thought makes him feel sick. Tears sting his eyes, but he refuses to allow them to fall. Fuck him, he thinks with no small amount of venom, following his own scent trail around the curve of the lake and wondering distantly if @Caiaphas might be around.
The sight of the undisturbed den in the distance seems to drain the last of the energy from him. His limbs turn to jelly beneath him, and he collapses. In this moment, there is no thought — no second-guessing, no what-ifs, no regrets. There is only silence, and he finds it oddly blissful for a man who has spent his whole life afraid of being alone with himself.

there was a portent brewing upon the horizon in the form of a charcoal plume.
it rose heavenward, and the skies had blotted out the wheeling birds.
mahler had followed the elk-paths down the mountainside, emptying at a lake. a great hunger had set into diaspora, and daily he hunted for the youngest among them. he himself ate what he could, even deigning for the last berries and worms that could be found within the cold earth.
there was a familiar scent here; mahler strode down to drink, form growing gaunt beneath his heavy pelt, and in silence regarded the always-poignant alarian.

❤

The stillness around the lake draws attention to the smallest movements, so much so that even Alarian, notoriously unobservant, notices Mahler's approach immediately. He rises, straightening and blinking the lingering wetness from his eyes. His gaze drifts briefly between Mahler and the small den a few yards out from the lake, the abandoned home of some other animal which he'd marked thoroughly before leaving his ward in it. Doubting Mahler is a threat to the child, he chooses to approach the man.
Mahler. It's been... awhile, He draws up alongside him, gaze focused on him for a few beats before he glances out over the water. The memory of him is painful in a way, a reminder of all the ways his life has changed and then changed again. He starts to say something else, but stops himself; what is there to say to a man he barely knows? Funny, he thinks, considering their history of stumbling across one another. He's curious, of course, but it feels wrong to prod with his own curiosity when the world is in chaos, and the man at his side more haggard than he's seen him since their first meeting. So he waits in silence instead, wondering how Mahler will respond.

cameo unless he’s acknowledged

Their departure from the valley was daunting to say the least. It was all he had ever known and though he hadn't realized it during the time he spent there it was home. It had taken a long time to get used to it of course, but he eventually did. There was no need to fear the outside world and its mysteries, for it was blocked off by the fortress. He need not worry about being alone. Alarian was there to care for him and so was Midar (as intimidating as he might be). And if they were not present, his little bird was always there to watch over him. 

Ah, the little bird. A silent friend that was always near. He was glad that she had decided to accompany the trio on their way out. Seeing her fly above them during the night was comforting, now more than ever. But she was absent during the day and that made him anxious. Today was no exception.

He sighs in relief when he sees his caretaker in the distance. During his absence he had done nothing but fidgit around nervously. He was relieved to see his return. The boy slowly made his way towards him, but stopped as soon he saw a stranger approach. He lowered himself to the ground and averted his gaze.

"it has," mahler responded, eyes drifting with a hidden spark of worry over the other's appearance. "vhat plagues you in this hour, alarian," the gargoyle pressed lightly; the seraph consistently bore the weight of one crisis or another. it was not something for which he had ever judged the younger wolf; in truth, alarian glowed a new sort of vitality into mahler whenever they met.
in the distance, movement — the general turned away from his companion swiftly, straightening to gaze pointedly in the direction of the shifting shadow. too large to be a mouse or a weasel; his lavender stare bored into the night.

As Mahler speaks, he realizes that maybe he's being a little too pessimistic in his view of their friendship, as he seems to be in his view of everything. His ears fold guiltily, and he vows to keep the thought to himself; it wouldn't be the first time he's left things unsaid in the man's presence. Well — He cuts himself off as he notices Mahler's shifting attention, realizing immediately what it must be. That, for one. He says as he rises, retrieving his ward and returning quickly. As he returns with the child, he glances up to see what Mahler might make of it. Perhaps he'll think the boy is his son; the thought amuses him.

He tries his best to make himself as small as possible and it works for a moment. The two shared words unheard by him, unaware of the child's presence. But of course his stealth only took him so far. The larger man shifted in his direction and stared into his soul. Fear and adrenaline ran through his blood, but there was nothing he could really do about it. Just sit and wait, maybe the stranger would disregard him.

The child wouldn't stand idly by as he had hoped. The stranger's gaze drew Alarian's attention towards him and he approached to bring him closer. He was reluctant to do so but he still managed to shuffle alongside his caretaker. mm, hi... I- sorry, was all he could manage to say.

the last time that mahler had heard alarian's name, it was uttered darkly by a wolf of the now-ended elysium. he did not expect the small frame that crept from the shadows; mahler stared at the child before turning his attention to the seraph. "vhat is this?" by the expression on alarian's features, he expected a reaction, but the gargoyle was silent, watchful, curious.