That's a long lonely road you're on...
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1035. March 28th


Today was the day, the day she would alter their path and change their destiny. They were turning from the straight and narrow to forge an uncertain path through uncharted wilderness, she wished it wasn't so, dearly, but events had happened, words had been spoken and offense taken which could never be put right. If she stayed here she would have another murder on her head she was sure of it. The best course of action was to leave and separate themselves from the possibility all together, to keep everyone safe.


The halycon mountains were a lonely yet awe inspiring place as the sun finally blossomed its radiant light above the horizon to the east. She had been here a good few hours before dawn to view this in all its glory, her last sunrise spent as an Ichikan pack member. The spectacular visage of oranges and reds intermingled took her breath away. Jace closed her eyes as the warmth settled into her and basked in the sun's rays. By the time she opened them again the giant orange ball had lifted itself to show the first half of its body.


Like stone she stood, as the line between shadow and light traveled further down her snowy chest until it reached the tops of her thighs. A thin fog clung close to the ground around the forests and obscured much of the vegetation beneath it from her so very high up in the mountains. In silence the she dog slipped down from her lofty position and descended once more into Ichika's depths. When she returned to her house the quartet of pups were just rising, their mood was mostly solemn, they didn't want to leave. Honrin refused to speak directly to her and Dalgina was currently throwing another crying fit in the corner. Pandora looked scared and unsure about all the commotion around her whilst Keldava seemed the most unaffected of the four.


Temo was busy packing the last of his craftsmanship tools and she let him know she was taking the children out for a bit. They lost Dalgina for a bit, she sneaked off when Jace wasn't paying attention and it took a small while of searching to finally find her hiding in some scrub bushes. Jace hadn't the heart to be cross with her and allowed the disobedience to slide this one time. The first of their destinations was Neela's house which was a short way away, the children and Jace said goodbye to their collie friend, and her birds. They couldn't stop long though, they had to set off soon. The second and final destination was Kiara's den, which yielded the expected news that Kiara had at last given birth.


The snowy female allowed the four youngsters a quick look at the new children, which was a slight excitement for them seeing as they had not seen pups younger than themselves before or so she presumed. Jace waited outside while they did so, she understood the maternal instinct that compelled a mother to protect her newborns, one that made them deadly no matter the mothers personality, Jace wouldn't place bets on herself in a fight between herself and an enraged Kiara. So she stayed a suitable distance away to placate the new mother. Maybe in time the non luperci could bring her brood to Cercatori for a nice get together. She presented they idea and was met with a maybe but uncertain which she accepted with a satisfied smile.


Eventually it was time to leave their pack-mate, they bid her farewell and good luck with her children, Jace revealed the small gift she had made for her, a necklace made from polished antler, a paw print was carved deep into the antler, since Kiara obviously couldn't put in on herself Jace put it on for her. She knew a non luperci wouldn't have much use for a necklace but it was a small keepsake for her, a remember me by.


The sun was climbing ever higher and it's fat body had finally completely left the horizon and floated in a sea of clear blue, a better day they could not have wished for, the sun's heat would help to dry out any roads and trails they would need to follow. Then it was time for the horses to be brought out from their paddock. Salvia came first, all long prancing legs and excitable hyperactivity, she kicked up her feet and reared back, happy to be free. Pandemic was next, more cautious than her daughter but showing some signs of excitement too. Emmett, the old grump was last and seemed to be looking to the journey with dread. He was as sullen as the children and stayed away from everyone.


A last check of the house was completed ensuring nothing important or essential had been left behind, the gifts Jace had traded for were packed neatly out of sight of the children, it wouldn't do for them to find them yet. The horses were connected to their respective carts. Pandemic pulled the one containing most of Temo and Jace's things, mainly crafting tools and important things that couldn't be left. Salvia to a smaller cart that was modified to hold the children comfortably.


When the moment finally came that everything was ready the family as a whole seemed to hesitate, unwilling to break ties with their home for the past year. It was Emmett that broke the silence with an ill tempered snort. The spell broke and the caravan rolled out of the garden and out into the street. The horses hooves produced a sharp sound against the asphalt, a ringing echo coming back from the trees. It ailed her to see her family upset over this, Dalgina was sat morosely upon the cart for them, looking combined sad and excited at the cart ride. The journey through Ichika towards the borders was heavy and leaden with sadness, at the borders Jace paused as the horses and carts trundled over the line marked with fresh growths of flowers. She almost cracked and looked back at her now former home but managed to resist only just, there was no looking back, not ever, the only way now was forwards.


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