the scent of the hybrid reached the blind beast before anything else, summoning them to the jungle and its protective shade. he was here, one of their deceased uncle's mate's. one of their closest family members. curling their golden body through the trees, a soft trumpet of heart-felt greeting left the dragon, "uncle" they purred as they stopped just before him.

head ringing suddenly with all that had happened,  they crooned softly, seeking the comfort of his body, "tea? there is so much to catch up on, rene." they murmured lightly, voice betraying the numerous emotions that they dared not show. "ramona is here ... destarion made sure that she was somewhere safer than the open roads, and I was here to look after her."

a soft chuckle lifted from their lips, "done to myself? it's more of what has been done by others, and loss. some is by my own hand, the rest? others." the scarred beast made way, leading him into the territory, guarding him from any who wished to cause harm.

reaching their den, they pushed aside the tattered fabric over the lower entrance, letting him in before following. shaking their body, they went about setting tea to boil, taking their smaller panther body for deft handling. turning back around, they made their way about the den, finding two mugs that they could take their share from. "oh, excuse the mess. my daughter lives with me still, just a cub. I doubt that you will see her, she's more apt to be trying to get close to aine, or follow one of the others around the marketplace.", they murmur, adjusting the pile of furs that the duo often slept upon.

"so uncle, what do you want to hear first? the bad news or the bad news? there's very littlegood these days."

the tone of his voice brought them over with his mug, embracing him and resting their head on his shoulder, "oh rene. how are your girls? destarion died of his injuries. he was attacked by an insane puma with poisonous claws, and died of infection and poison after bringing ram. asteri has died, as well as jerisidie. fallen, hope, and kade are around here somewhere. finnloch too. asteri and mother ... were murdered by augustin. cass has made it to this life, though i don't know where they've went now." they murmured quietly, tail wrapped about rene's paws with a slight squeeze as grief filled their tone at the retelling of the loss of their mate.

taking a moment to gather themselves, they sighed heavily, "i am a semi-high position in this group, but i betrayed them in a recent war. or thats how some see it. i only interfered to save lives where i could. i will be leaving within enough time to make my owm group." they murmur softly, "i am close to laying another clutch, my second with asteri. I am trying to move on, uncle, i really am."

voice breaking in a quiet rasp, they nuzzled him, holding him close as they felt his tears upon their fur. they knew he was close to hysterics, they could feel the ball of emotion ripping their throat apart, "you did nothing to deserve this, rene. fate is cruel. very, very cruel. have cossette and quennel come with you, or have you yet to encounter them?" they ask quietly, a gentle paw upon the smaller canine's spine, holding him.

teeth gnashing together, they shook their head, "there are no congratulations to be had tonight, rene. i do ... however have something for you, from destarion. he bespoke it in his dying words. i promised to deliver it." they murmur, gently pulling away to fetch the sword resting on a shelf in oilskin wrapping. gently picking up the ancient longsword, they lowered it to the ground before exhaling painfully,
remembering the large wolf's words swearing them to the delivery.

the oilskin was firmly held about the longsword, and the smaller one-handed sword and shield would be as carefully preserved, held by a distant family member. tied about the hilt in the careful loving hand of the weapon's prior weapon, was a beautiful pale blue silk ribbon, as was the rich yellow satin ribbon, reminiscent of wheat fields and the beautiful blue sky above the fields. "finnloch protects the rest of his weaponry. ramona has a piece of his human armor, having died and been reborn into this world hugging him." they quietly explained, returning to sit right at his side, pressing against him in support.

pressing their shoulder to his, they licked their uncle's ears tenderly, tongue smoothing his long dainty fur in as soothing of a way that they could muster. "Tell him that I love him more than the worlds and that I never meant to be this far apart, nor this very long. Tell him that his ribbons are safe, that are our girls will grow up strong under his guidance and that I wish I had never taken the damned position that led us this far apart. That I would shed the years to be back in his embrace, to be sung to by his siren's tongue, to hear his voice and feel him against me, encompassing our world and family with our love so brilliant and bright that the stars and suns are jealous." they recited from heart, tears rolling down their own face, "he was so alone, rene. we were with him, of course, but you could swear that he was alone, and he was scared. he knew he wasn't going to make it, that he knew, and he knew he would be leaving you alone. he spoke as if you were beside him in that sickbed, trying to tou h and hold something he could not."