It was quiet, Kaphiri thought. Peaceful. He didn't know about any drama happening, and hoped Fable and the kids had a good time at their festival thingy. The priest merely went about each day with a smile on his face, happy to feel.... well, free. Unpressured. No looming responsibilities that were too overwhelming to face, just good old fashioned helping out where he was needed - and, in turn, realizing that he could do more than he'd been told he could. Would his mother have let him be a Pharaoh supported and coddled by all those around him, so much so that he'd been convinced he could not function?
He was proud to be finding himself, to bloom beyond the golden bars of his cage.
Spending time with Amrei was the best of it all. He wished he could've been someone who knew his strengths and weaknesses already when he came upon her, but she made it easier to be himself, to have the confidence to find out who he was -- what they could be.

The short ruby man trotted along through the open meadows, silence having lulled between them on their walk as something distinctly pink caught his attention from a distance. He steered towards it, tail flagging and stepping ahead of Amrei in a protective way, but head tipping. His confusion intensified as they grew closer and he realized... they were trees. A tunnel of trees, precisely, thick with pink petals that dotted the air like a blizzard.

He looked over his shoulder with his good eye and smirked.

Race you to the other end, he called to her and shot off, laughing.

As he thundered through the tunnel, he felt the hot, dry breeze of somewhere much different than the meadow. A reddish rocky blur was all he could see at the end of the tunnel, but there was the sound of a river, too.

Kaphiri, the nomad, had nowhere special in his heart for the tunnel to replicate, but someone did.

It had been pretty peaceful as of late. Nothing to crazy or out of no where had made its presence known, and as usual, she was joined by the priest she had come to admire. Funny thing admiration was. You never could tell who would come to steal your heart. The pair had been strolling through the meadows, snow still covering the landscape until spring could claim it again.

Dusk came quicker then she had thought, the sun's rays now lowering beneath the horizon bringing about dark golds, oranges and yellows to meet her gaze. It was a pretty sight, bringing her a warmth that she still had very much longed for, but had nearly accepted that she would never feel it again. But she had found a different warmth within Kaphiri, and she was very much grateful for it. If only she could move on and show the same indefinitely, completely.

The desert rose continued to follow him, though slowed down once he came in front of her. It was as if he was trying to protect her from something. Her attention was drawn to something pink floating in the wind. Were those flower petals? They continued to fall, her eyes being drawn from them to high up. A tunnel of trees had now appeared before them. It was the oddest thing, but at least it didn't seem harmful. Kaphiri in fact seemed delighted by it. He even challenged her to a race. You're on! I'll leave you in the dust! She laughed as she raced through the tunnel, following him like a beacon as they raced through the trail of flowering trees.

The auburn kissed woman kept on running, catching up to him in time. But as she neared the exit of the tunnel, something strange happened. Scents of a time long past, of a place so dear in her mind, came rushing back to her in an instant. A deep orange and rust light hit her eyes, leading her to the outside world. And she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Amrei stopped in her tracks once she hit the soft sand. No....it...can't be.

It was impossible. How can this be happening? Amrei looked all around her, the once beautiful canyons and deep sandy dunes surrounding it were staring her in the face. The smell and sound of the river she had swam in as a pup filled her nose to the brim. Off in the distance, the running water could be seen, beckoning her to swim in its warm depths again.

Soon water of another form was touching her, gracing her cheek bones as tears falling from her amber eyes. Her heart was beating a hundred miles and hour, her voice caught in her throat as she tried to find the words. But nothing ever came. Just admiration, happiness, and a deep longing threatening to grip on to her like all hell.

If Kaphiri noted Amrei holding back in any fashion, he kept beyond her boundary with gentlemanly patience, or perhaps hadn't noticed at all. Most days, he was simply happy to have her company, especially if it was all to himself. He didn't need anything fancy going on for the moment to feel special. Though...

Well, magical pink blossom trees mid-winter definitely screeched special, to him.

He'd come back into confidence with his own legs since their last race, and he was glad to keep up with her as they frolicked; he wasn't sure he'd ever win, but at least it was better than being literally left in the dust. She seemed to notice the change as he did, and personally, he was glad for the confirmation he wasn't going crazy... crazier? In fact, he heard her mutter something to herself as she burst from the tunnel with a sudden stop. Sand cascaded in front of her in two arches, and Kaphiri dazedly blinked around at the desert surrounding them as he halted at her side. In the distance, past a river, he could see a spire of stone that might've been able to be called a mountain, were it shrunk down and tossed in the red dust of the wasteland in every direction. They were on the edge of a gorge, and the harder he looked, the clearer it became he was looking at an island in the distance.

When he turned so that he could see her again, it became clear she recognized the area, the wet shine of tears in her eyes. Kaphiri reached out to nuzzle beneath her chin, offering a moment of quiet comfort. He recalled the place she'd described growing up, and thought it must've been here -- he could see the waterways she'd described, the walls of the gorge, the neverending dunes.
He'd give her a moment to soak it all in on her own time.

It was exactly as she had left it. Right down to the river that ran through the territory, and the massive trails high in the gorge that she had made her home so long ago. She couldn't believe that she was here again. Oh if only her niece was here with her to see this. Kaphiri was standing close to her, though doing his best to give her space. Amrei tried to hold back the wetness she felt behind her eyes, but the tears came all the same. Kaphiri, this is my home. This is where I was born and raised, where my pack lived. But now, they are all gone. They live somewhere else now. I wish that I could see them again. But at least I got to see this place, Neverstep Gorge, one last time.

The former princess and emissary began to take her first steps towards the long abandoned gorge. The scents of her packmates had been gone for many moons now, forgotten by all that had once claimed these desert lands as their own. Come on, there is so much to show you. Amrei took off towards the canyon walls, looking for the trails that would lead up to her hiding places within the high walls. That is where another certain special place awaited her arrival. One that she had purposely blocked from her mind, and had yet to realize that she was heading straight for it.

Before long, Amrei confirmed his suspicions of this being her old home, gushing about her family and how much she missed them. Kaphiri... he wished he could say the same. Sure, he missed them all dearly, but seeing, knowing, feeling the life he was building for himself? Going back home, even just seeing them, would prompt a level of guilt to go back he didn't think he could live with. Not knowing where the Herd was... it was a blessing, really, even though thinking as much also offered a wave of sadness.
He wanted to see them, but the price he would pay would simply be too high; now that he'd escaped his gilded cage, tasted freedom, he couldn't go back.

Nothing is guaranteed, don't despair, he tried to soothe as he swept a kiss along her cheek, You may yet still reunite with family.

The dark princess started forward, and Kaphiri shadowed her readily, tail waving and cheeks crinkling as he smiled. He didn't share his worries they might've died to get here, but all signs pointed to him being alive and well, so perhaps believing godly intervention was better, anyway.

I want the entire tour, my sweet, he agreed enthusiastically, skipping along at her side giddily and waiting for her to grasp some memory to share or place to show.

After a heartbeat, he offered a soft: I love you, Amrei.

He loved seeing her so happy it moved her to tears, even if it was a bittersweet moment.

Seeing all of her old home for the first time in forever, made her feel things that in some ways she didn't want to feel again. Memories of those she had met, of those she had spent her time with, all came flooding back to her at Mach speed. Amrei smiled at Kaphiri, glad that he was here to witness all of this. Truth be told, the desert princess wasn't sure she could have handled all of this on her own. Then again, maybe it was better if she had been alone. Then she wouldn't have to eventually tell him about the man she used to love. Tell him about the child she had with a man that would remain unknown to her. But it was too late.

Amrei had climbed up the trails that led up to the canyon walls. It's dark tunnels welcomed her in with reaching arms, beckoning her to confront the memories that kept her awake at night. The only things that kept her grounded at this point, were the sounds of Kaphiri's voice and the rushing water down below from the river that cut through the gorge. That's when the cave entrance came into view. The one that she guided him into so long ago. Kaphiri, over here.

Amrei called to him, slowing down as she walked inside its cool depths. Yes, this was the place. Barely a stone out of place and the stench of clay and sandstone in the air. There is something that I need to tell you. And it might be hard to hear. Amrei turned to face the man that was shooting for her heart. The man that kept her grounded and facing her fears through her time in this world. And just hoped that he wouldn't leave her after all the truth she was about to lay bared to him.

She didn't immediately respond, and while his anxieties went buck-wild, he also recognized that she was feeling a lot of things right now. He followed her step for step, happy to witness her home and take in every grain of sand and chunk of stone that built this hidden mountain in the desert. It was not up the stony hill Amrei led him, but around and... beneath it? Oh - a cave. He trotted along inside with her surprised at the downward slant of dirt that allowed for a cool, open den with a few dips and scoops that'd clearly been used for nests. It was cozy in here, and the temperature difference was crazy!

The ebony Dusk summoned him for... something he might not like. News. Her past, he assumed, but Kaphiri merely blinked and trotted over her way. He couldn't imagine anything short of perhaps being a serial killer with no rhyme or reason could turn him from her; the priest smiled.

It's okay, Amrei, he offered quietly, reassuring, I'll be fine. Whatever you need to get off your chest, please.

Amrei could feel him right at her heels, following her inside the dark and cool cave that harbored so many emotions. He had, of course, picked up on her nervousness and anxiety. How was he to handle such news? Would he forsake her? It was terrifying to think about, but she had to try. He had to understand. Amber eyes turned to face him, her voice attempting to come out but felt stuck in her throat.

This is where something very important happened to me, at least that's what I figured. I cannot know for sure. But I had slept with someone here, a man that had vanished into the night and possibly sired a pup with me. The reason I say that I am not sure if he is the sire, as I had slept with someone else partially due to grief and confusion. The end result being in my daughter, Rebekka.

The soft hearted woman didn't look at him at first, too scared to see how he would react to such news. You mean the world to me, more then most have in such a relatively short amount of time. But there are some skeletons in my closet, those that I haven't been able to put to rest for quite some time. Coming back here, brings memories that I have both adored yet tried to forget. I'm sorry, it's just so complicated. Amrei found herself trying to be distracted by the cool and somewhat calm surroundings, hoping that it would clear her head for what ever came next.

Kaphiri had worries about someone else, but Amrei's worries seemed -to him- more focused on the fact that she had a daughter than there was someone out there waiting for her to come back home somewhere. Though... it did sound like she could still hold this former lover in her heart, all the priest really needed to hear was that he meant the world to her, not... whoever this random baby daddy was.

Sounds like he left behind a diamond, the Stormhorse rumbled softly, supportive, calm. Did it hurt, sure, but the past was past. Dwelling on it would do neither of them nor their relationship any good.

He dipped his head to try and catch her gaze again, his own soft and crinkled with a smile that never left his lips.

We all have a past, and they aren't always easy to forget. While we're being honest; I don't even know if I have kids out there, but I might. I was... a bit of a charmer, before the accident, and being nomads meant my Herd didn't stick around long enough to find out if I'd messed up.

Not that it was the same sort of skeleton as not quite being over an ex, but he merely meant to convey that, well... it just didn't matter, none of it. Had he known one day he'd meet a woman who'd sweep him off his feet as firmly as Amrei had so far, then sure, he might've saved himself or something virtuous like that... or maybe he still would've been a young man exploring the world, who could know?

He reached to nuzzle their noses.

It's not complicated, not really. If you want me to stop courting you, I will, and if you chose me, then great. If you need time, that's easy too. Nothing can change the way I feel about you, and I'd do anything, even leave, if it made you happy.

It was hard to not show it, but her heart was racing a million miles an hour. She waited for him to want to leave her, for him to be upset with her. But he didn't. No, instead he revealed that he had not been the most virtuous around either. It made her feel better on some level, a small smile starting to form again across her lips. He went on to explain in his own way, that the past was simply the past. And that if she wasn't ready for him, that was okay. To hear him say that he would do anything for her, even leave her if she wanted him to.

It was something that struck her like a force of nature. Amrei moved closer to him, giving him a deep kiss on the lips in a way only wolves could. Small tears formed behind her eyes, softly flowing down her cheeks as she relished in this newfound freedom with him. Her voice turned to silence on the outside, but inside she was screaming for him. Telling him to show her how much he loved her. It was more then she could ever ask for in a potential mate. And she didn't want to let him go.