Because you know, they do not ring all by the themselves

Every now and then he would catch @Edith's scent somewhere near the herd. There were even a couple of times the wayward prince had seen her lurking nearby, and he could only assume she was checking in on him and not because they were family... she was making sure he was sticking to his word, making sure he wasn't lying like their dear ol' broad of a mother and stuck to the herd like he said he would. Judging by the lack of her running up to him with aggression in her eye like the last time... she was pleased thus far, and he was unbothered.

The path felt familiar here he noticed as the wayward prince followed the Elk... as the herd wandered with the wayward prince following in their tracks from behind - not a part of the herd, but a mere follower, the boy soaked in the humid environment with tired eyes.

Then it struck as bone protruded from the sodden ground, a familiar figure that had wasted away over time... Light shimmered from the thin covering of grey clouds above as though illuminating the remains to guide the boy's eye.

“Ah...” Not often did he walk past the rear of the herd, but today he would make an exception - and one that the herd didn't seem to mind either as they ignored the little grey wolf among them walking past a few to reunite with the pile of bones he recognized. “It's you.”

With a heavy heart, he placed his head against the remains of what would have been the Elk's head. His crown caging the boy on either side with pronged fingers in a morbid embrace. Though the memory of @Warwick in this place remained and anger bubbled up as the young Elkling thought back to their last meeting... there had to be a reason why the Elk had brought him back here.

Pulling away from the sunbleached skull of the fallen Elk, Aldritched looked around at the grazing Elk... pondering what was the meaning of this.

As he sat there in silence, waiting for a sign - any sign, it happened.

Moments had passed since the boy had drawn away from the corpse of the Elk, only for the head to twist and fall off of its spine. Empty sockets staring into the soft orange hues of the boy, and he swore, on that day, he heard the High Elk speak.

With this, see through my eyes and be my voice. “Praise be Him.” The wayward prince's new chapter would begin this day. A disciple was born from the ashes of the lost Deorwine boy.

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Disclaimer: Al believes he hears the High Elk speak, but this is his belief and not an actual voice anyone can hear.

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