His return would be alone. Temporary, perhaps. He didn't know. Atticus needed time away from Tanglewood after Aurum's ignorant rambling and threats of battle. He wouldn't be around to see their downfall. The canine wouldn't deal with the injustice and mischief in Tanglewood. It was a land of hypocrites with egos, thinking that their do-gooder attitude would benefit them in not being the antagonist to the story. They were generalizing based on one member and trying to incite war on that premise. He couldn't stand it.

The Pittian came blazing past the border with his ears pinned on top of his head and rounded pupils narrowed out on the jungle. As he walked, lowly grumbles reverberated from his throat. Thrown aside. Disregarded. Fuck them. A slew of slurs followed promptly as he mind manifested what had happened. Reminiscing on the past, as per usual, was an unhealthy habit for Atticus. Despite that, he continued to do so as he crossed into the jungle's underbrush and into the central plaza.

Eventually out of breath and left to fight for air, Atticus paused. His haunches lowered to the floor and his head collided with a wooden post on a stranger's shop. He wheezed audibly. With a growl, he closed his eyes and dug his claws into the soft ground below his feet. "Fuck this," came his soft groan. What to do... What to do...

Unaware of the in-fighting and frustration of Tanglewood's latest meeting, the vulpine possessed little context for Atticus' fury.  The youth had appeared on the border among Aurum's patrol earlier, his position a seemingly uninvited but diplomatic one -- marked by diligent intent to maintain peace.  Consequently, Gael had not expected to come across the youth in a noticeably distraught attitude.

"Atticus," the Ardent spoke with a carefully quiet tone in consideration for the boy's mood, inclining his head to Serpentine as well.  "Are you well?"

Encouraging word of his physical recovery had been offered during the last meeting among groups, but Atticus' upset attitude spoke of something amiss.  Gael doubted Tanglewood would harm the boy, but he would rather hear it for himself what had caused the youth distress.

The thundering rumble of a reptilian sounded above him and caused Atticus' eyes to open in dismay. A stranger. Someone new probably. Even so, his golden gaze narrowed and he kept his distance, remaining close to the pole that held him upwards. Caution was his best bet. Especially with those sharp, pointed claws of theirs. One swipe would be fatal. The canine knew when to act and it was not now, so he instead chose to respond formally. "Atticus," he rumbled back. "Atticus Roux, a member of The Pitt." His claws unhinged from the floor and he pushed himself to his feet. As he stood before the rex, he raised his head to look back up at the giant beast with a frustrated expression dawning upon his sharp features. "And you are?"

As for the next phrase that left Serpentine, he wasn't sure what to say. "Your assumptions are correct," came his blunt statement. He didn't want to indulge into his affairs with a stranger, but luckily a familiar face had managed to pop in. Quiet words sounded out nearby. He gritted his teeth together as Gael spoke. A wave of emotions ran over him, knowing the answer to his question wouldn't be a well one. Not desirable whatsoever. Through his rage, a growl rumbled from the back of his throat, biting his tongue in the moment. Blood seeped through his mouth. The tinge of salt donned his tastebuds and an unpleasant feeling of disdain arose. With a shake of his head, he spoke out. "No."

He fell back into silence for a moment, letting the festering rage inside him calm down before he spoke. Another growl left Atticus. Why did they have to come to this? Instead of acknowledging his own dismay, he focused on the prevailing issue that caused it. "Where's Dante?" he sputtered out. "Has Arrow shown up to the border to serve punishment at all?" Their answers would determine his next words. The Roux was done.

Look who decided to show their fucking face. The man who fucked everything up. A growl rolled up from Atticus' throat as the feline began to speak, only to attempt to cut him off. "The fuck did you do?" came his vicious snap. "You attack a deputy, fuck up my dual-alliance, end a neutrality, and have the audacity to walk up like you're hot shit?" The canine moved away from the lingering dinosaur and towards the rebellious Pittian with a snarl. A snort left him."Fuck you."

In the midst of his rage, Kold's words caught his attention. His gaze narrowed. Her answer was unsatisfying. Now that he had seen Elsweyr's wounds, tended to them, and had been ridiculed for standing up for her, Atticus was veering past a thin line. To hear that Tanglewood didn't even hold up their end of the deal had him reeling. "You've got to be fucking with me," he hissed. The male shifted in his spot, deciding between lunging forward and suppressing his instincts, ultimately beginning to walk forward.

The fur upon his scruff began to rise in annoyance. "Well, if they don't show up-" His golden hues shifted towards Gael. "-How about I do the honors?" Claws traversed closer. His muzzle moved close to Dante's, coming face to face. Alabaster stained teeth bared, ready to snap at the other Pittian. For as much as he wanted to brawl immediately, he would listen to Gael's orders.