Finally, the day had come. No longer would he have to gaze upon the mountain's beauty from the dark depths of the woods below. Sticking to the forest and hunting as much as he could had provided the man with just enough muscle to make the climb at least a little less dangerous. Truth be told he was still rushing it, but Naberius wasn't known for his patience. He'd given it as much time as he could afford before the itch chased him to his feet and back to the range. He was too absorbed in what he would see from the top to be concerned with the things he ought to be. Lucifer's Gorge had revealed itself in due time as he paced about the behemoth's wide base; searching diligently for the easiest way up. He might have been brash but Naberius was no fool.

Even if this path was easier than tackling the mountain head on it still presented its own host of challenges. He was thankful that the rains here had been infrequent as of late; or the raging torrent below might have been high enough to carry him away. He could swim, sure, but he couldn't dodge jagged rocks while doing so in that kind of current. He was fully enraptured with the task of sticking to the trail and navigating its trickier sections when a howl rose into the air. Frozen, the Zamora brother's ears pricked up. He understood the wolf's words but the singer's identity remained unknown. Who else was way out here on the mountain? Perhaps this was a weary traveler fresh from the summit? If he lived around here he would certainly make an effort to hike up there every now and then. Mountains like this weren't easy to find. It was a true, snow white gem at its peak as a quick glance revealed. He was so close now he was having to crane his neck higher and higher just to see it. By Isde... he thought before returning to his footwork.

Now there was the question of this stranger. If he was feeling particularly mean it would be all to easy to wind up shoved into the watery depths and have no way of stopping it. The agouti man doubted this was the other's true intention but he'd have to be careful. Still, he chose not to lift his own voice in song just yet. He wanted to be closer, to have the small chance of escape afforded to him just in case. As luck would have it the scent of blood came in faintly over the misty waters, again complicating the situation. If this one was injured, there was a percent opportunity to be their savior, gaining accolades from both Isde and this hapless lone wolf. The idea had him moving just a bit faster; eagerness in each thrust of his already electrified legs. If it was all heading the way he thought it was...

But nothing could have readied him for what was actually happening. As he drew nearer the lanky man hugged closer and closer to the walls of the gorge; still somewhat wary of being dumped into the ravine. His eyes picked their way eagerly over each rock, staring upwards as often as possible so as to catch sight of this mystery wolf before he himself was detected. Eventually, step by step, his persistence was rewarded. Rounding a bend in the gorge, his crystalline eyes locked on target, and he came to a halt. There he was, most definitely injured and positively ragged. While it would be a shame to have to help this one down and to try the climb another day, the option wasn't without overwhelming benefits. He stared at the snake-like wounds, already guessing at what, in this rocky landscape, would have caused them. Naberius had something to fear form the cats as well, and this bedraggled stranger was a stark and vicious reminder of it. And then again, this one might not have been under Isde's limited protection.

His voice was calling out almost reflexively, in case he hadn't been spotted. “Hello? Sir?” He leaned forward to give his greeting more power against the rushing river's racket. He was most definitely noticed now, and the sight of the wolf's face gave him pause. There was a nagging sense of familiarity, as if he'd seen this one in a dream. Now unsure, his dark nose quivered; taking in the air again in case it held further clues. The traveling man's expression was near stunned with a heavy dose of bewilderment. The same feeling emanated from the tiny bit of scent he could gather. The oldest brother couldn't place it but he was reminded of something in his distant past. A memory that refused to be unearthed without digging. Barely managing to push it aside, his lips formed into the proper words. “Are you in need of assistance?” he padded slowly forward, his usual carefree and overly warm tones completely absent in the wake of his confusion. His candor was far more serious than usual. “I'm Naberius.”

Though the stranger appeared to mouth some word or greeting it was indeed lost to the ambient noise around them. Naberius only glanced up before moving; content to ignore the utterance in favor of much more important events. He needed to see if he could help this man get out of here. Still feeling quite unsure and with his memory clouding over; the eldest Zamora was still oblivious as he padded cautiously forward; diligently avoiding the edge. Thankfully he made it to the injured wolf's side without slipping in or being pushed; and the tawny male was quick to accept his charity. However, even as his own name was spoken Naberius found himself hesitating as well. Why would this man react to him in such a way? Was there another Naberius in this far away land? It was no one he had met, surely.

Then, his last name filled the air. It was surreal watching the other creature's lips articulate it, and his own eyes grew wide with wonder. He physically pulled back, even if only slightly, as the two froze. There were few situations in which he could rationalize this injured man knowing his family's name as well as his own; but his mind was far too tangled and tied up to be of use on this matter. Time had slowed to a crawl and it refused to return to normal even as the loner poured forth more condemning words. ”Is it you?” Naberius's jaw remained locked. The vague sense of familiarity he had with the man was growing stronger and stronger. Was he a former pack mate? A friend from his wanderings? No no. This feeling was too strong for the wolf to be anything so trivial. This was family. This was Him.

Stunned in equal parts by the paralyzing realization and the vision of his long lost brother as gravely injured and weak in his demeanor left Naberius staring. With a shaky breath he studied the man again. The features he remembered were there, though now grown and rugged by comparison. All this time he had wanted to find his brother, but what would he do now? Was Camio the same devil from before? In this state it was hard to believe that any malice still lived in the man, though it was clear by his wounds that Isde's protection had faltered. Finally his ancient tongue dared to move, but not in the eloquent dance it usually did. “Camio?” He breathed, still leaning back and away. “What... what happened?” He stuttered childishly, looking at the wounds once more. His own tail fled between his hocks; his ruddy ears folded away. What happened to you?

All of his plans had been forgotten when his brother spoke his name. There was no mistaking it; this was him. Naberius met Camio's whine with a soft, low version of his own and a lick to his already wet nose. It was obvious that the man didn't really want to answer him just by the way he did it; but his brother's ears cupped forward hungrily and his attention hung on each word. Camio had found a home out here. How long since his exile had he been under the protection of a pack? This question and many others crowded at the back of his tongue like a stampede of caribou, but it wasn't the time. It wasn't his turn to speak and he would be damned if he interrupted his little brother. Every few moments he punctuated the story with a nod of confirmation; lowering his own head slightly as he listened.

A knowing yet gentle smile broke his features as the middle brother admitted a long standing flaw; though it was one they shared in very different ways. Where his was bold, Camio's was near brash and even foolish in his mind. He remembered the tawny pup. As Camio paused the traveler's eyes were already moving along the tears in his pelt warily. He'd seen mountain lion damage before, and it fit the bill perfectly. His heart skipped a bit; beginning to worry that wounds such as his would be too much to heal; or that an infection would take his brother now only once he'd found him again. Do not allow it Isde, he chanted, though it was more a plea than a command.

Finally their eyes met with a softness he had hardly ever seen from the man. His smile returned, though it was somber. They shared a quiet moment of wonder before Camio seemed to offer one last statement, and with it Naberius beamed. A chuckle left his throat though it sounded more like a huff. The usual feeling of greatness that would have swelled in his chest and gone straight to his head was controlled this time; if only by his brother's wretched physical state. “I thought I came here to climb that mountain,” he started, looking his brother over and gesturing above, “but perhaps we are both in Isde's favor today.” The mention of their God was flippant; and he couldn't anticipate Camio reacting to it poorly with how he was already behaving. Maybe the “sinner” from his youth had changed in his time here. Oh how he hoped it was true.

“Where is your home?” he asked suddenly, just remembering the gravity of their situation. If Camio remembered the way, everything would be made so much easier.

Camio reacted in a way Naberius did not expect; a way that left him reeling for a second. He refused to pull back from his brother's touch even in his shock, and simply watched the smaller man with a slow, creeping grin and long lost light in his eyes. If his brother had always been this way, oh how their lives would be different. Some small part of him wished to rush home, to tell their parents that the Cainva child they'd raised a long time ago had smote his demons and turned into an admirable man. The moment was lost however as much more pressing matters took the stage. With a widening of his pale, mossy eyes the elder brother straightened. He knew the falls; it was where he and that loner Kenelm had hunted! The recollection was present on his face as Camio half-heartedly inquired the very same thing.

His tail flew this time, though he refrained from any rushed speaking or foolish bounds of joy. If anything the buzzing in his brain actually slowed his speech. It was, perhaps, as much excitement as the level-headed man ever could have been seen expressing. “Yes yes,” he began, watching Camio for his reaction. “I was there not too long ago. I didn't run into any borders but I do know where the falls is.” The contraction managed to slip past his lips before he could stop it. Oh yes, they would get him back to safety now.

Naberius was perfectly ready to get moving, even going so far as beginning to turn himself around on the precarious ledge they were stationed above, when his brother let one last thing rise above the water's roar. Curiosity got the better of him. Even if this had been a stranger he would have been curious, but any words that fell from his brother's mouth now were golden, and his eyes searched the other hurriedly. “What is it?”