The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.

When the time came to retire the hunt for young Filavandrel, Quicksilver moved to return to Tsukiishi with the heaviest of hearts. It would not be the end of his searching, he knew, for he would look for his children for as long as he breathed, but the territories South of home had given no sign of his son having ever passed through. The druid's steps were heavy and reluctant as he and @Haruki crossed onto frozen terrain, and exhaustion was clear in the frosted shades of his eyes. He was tired, yet his mind would not allow his body a proper rest - not while Filavandrel was lost to them.

They were enveloped in pale fog and could barely see three feet in front of them. Quicksilver felt the cold nip at his ears and nose; the promise of snow to come. For a moment he allowed himself to think of Springtime on Vanderfell's summit: the vibrant hues of newly sprouted plants and the scent of new life on the breeze. He hoped that wherever his son had found himself, he was safe. He hoped he would be someplace like that.

Silence. His step-son didn't ever say much, at least not to him, and things hadn't changed much since Haruki's demand that Quicksilver swear a vow that he would never break the Empress' heart. As time ticked by, the more it pained and frustrated him. He had given everything of himself to Shiroshika, to Reiko! He had allowed her firstborn brood the space and time to adapt, to give themselves permission to move on - but it had not been enough. Happiness was all he'd hoped for for both Haruki and Hotaru and he wished he could better support them, but he did not know how. They'd made it perfectly clear, he felt, that he was not to be included as a true member of their family. He was an outsider, unworthy of their mother and the title he'd inherited through their mateship, and he was tired of telling himself that they weren't wrong.

He deserved to live his life. He deserved peace, too.

On he went, quiet and careful, and allowed his solemn thoughts to turn once more to Filavandrel when suddenly -


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- from the fog, he appeared. Pale and a little leaner than before but with lilac eyes still bright, Filavandrel rose his muzzle to look tiredly upon his father's face.

Relief, at once, flooded his very being. His feathered tail was swishing at his slender hocks as he realised the druid was not alone. He glanced to the side, searching for the stormy shade of his big brother's gaze, and stepped forward on shaky limbs to reach for them. 

The boy was almost as tall as his sire, yet still he felt small as he moved to press his face among the pale tresses of his throat. A whine strained from his hoarse throat and emotion welled behind his eyes, threatening to overflow. He felt warmth and love and safety to lean into Quicksilver's embrace, and remained there for some time before withdrawing with the hope to feel that same comfort from Haruki.


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