Dragoncrest Cliffs You have to love yourself a fire.

Assuming @Dio would've shared the information about Sequoia to the family? Back-dated to before Thur's return, just a read only post for my timeline.   :)

As the sun began its gradual decline over the sea, Dacio turned toward the cliffs to regroup with his family. His day had been a pleasant one: he'd hunted for rabbits through most of the morning and although his search had been fruitless, he was unwilling to admit defeat. He trailed through the caverns of Hougeda to try his luck with the birds he'd chased on the beach with Helix some weeks before. They'd been pretty slow, he remembered, and figured he might have a better chance of felling less flighty prey.

He did not find any of these creatures foraging on the shore, unfortunately, but he did cross paths with @Tirgatao and was glad for her company as she offered to assist in looking for a suitable meal. While they did not find anything fit to consume, Dacio was far from disheartened; he liked the pale-furred wolfess well enough, and tomorrow was a new day to try again.

His good mood was shattered, however, as he approached his family's cave to be greeted by the solemn faces of his parents. @Portia's cheeks were slick with fresh tears, her peridot eyes glimmering with the threat of more to follow. With the sound of his pulse in his ears, he tilted them backward and lifted his pastel gaze to seek the mismatched hues of his father's in a worried search for an explanation.

Sequoia had left. She'd gone with Wildfire and Kiwi.

His stomach flopped. Natrona, he thought at once, and held his breath. But why? Why didn't they stop them? Did Drageda mean nothing to them? Did Sequoia hate him? Was it his fault? Did he drive his sister away, by earning Drakru before her? If that was the reason, he would give it all up in a heartbeat if only it would make her stay. Dacio had so many questions, but not the courage to face what the answers could be. Blinking sadly toward his mother, he found himself wanting to reach for her, to comfort her and tell her it was going to be okay.

But he could not know that for sure.

Dacio stormed from the hollow and sought solitude. Darkness hung over the land and he felt the fierce chill of Winter in the air as he strode into the open, but he didn't care. Anger swelled in his chest and he rumbled a low growl for himself as he fought the emotion that pricked at his own eyes. He didn't want to cry. He'd be Gona soon, the boy reminded himself, and gritted his teeth as he sucked in a shaky breath. He blinked the haze away, pressing deeper into the forest until he found fresh water, where he paused to lower his haunches, defeated, at the lake's edge as snow began to fall softly around him.