Aleksei lowered himself to a sit, staring down at the icy shores of Turtleback Lake that laid nearest to his mother and father's territory. A lot had happened, it seemed, in his self-imposed absence and Aleksei deeply regretted the days -- weeks, months? -- he had spent far from his family's side. And yet, part of him was bitter. The place he had been born was all but wiped from everyone else's hearts (as far as he could ascertain) yet Cut Rock River could never leave the yearling's heart. Not now, not never. That was his birth place, something tied to his very soul. The cedars were rooted into his flesh and the river coursed through his veins. Perhaps that was why @Rook had acted so selfishly ... had that land he claimed been his sacred soil? Could Aleksei really hate the man for his actions, when they could possibly share that love for the Cedarwood in their hearts?

He lowered down, laying upon the snowy bank with a long, drawn out exhale. He watched as condensation drifted from his nostrils, twisted lazily through the cold air before disappearing from sight. Aleksei stretched out, laid his chin on his paws and simply took a moment of meditation, of reflection. He simply needed to think a moment, to allow his mind to catch up with all that had happened.

Most of all, he just wanted to escape the guilt he felt whilst navigating Kingsfall.

Yes, he felt excruciatingly to blame for everything that had tumbled down hill. Perhaps if I had been there, what if I could have stopped it ... over and over, thoughts stung him like angry hornets. "Keep it up, Aleksei, and you'll end up with a boiled brain," he muttered quietly to himself. "You've really gotten yourself into a mess, haven't you?"