His whole body ached, overpowering pain pounding in his head from lack of sleep and sustenance. The search had become all consuming in the father's life, thoughts of Percy taking up every conscious moment. While most of the Fields wolves were evenly divided between looking for the lost girl and caring for the pack in general, Drestig had thrown his every fiber into searching, returning only when his hunger and exhaustion got too powerful to ignore. He'd only just done so - exchanging a mournful look and light head-shake with @Askan before collapsing into the den - when a piercing voice pulled him from the early lull of sleep. Ember eyes flew open, every painful muscle in his body tensing; Jessie..! He'd longed for her return pretty much from the moment she left, the Fields weren't home without her, too quiet without her voice, however nagging it could be. Then of course, the unthinkable had happened, he'd committed the worst blunder yet; He'd lost their daughter.

Forcing his stiff, painful legs into action, Drestig tore himself from the den floor, pushing back out into the cold to meet his mate. His pace could hardly be called a lope, but he did his best to hurry through the snow, soon spotting her grey form in the distance. A large lump pressed in his throat as he slowed to a halt, breathing deeply several times to try and prepare. As if there was any way to prepare for this. He'd wanted to greet her return with nuzzles and apologies, instead the first thing out of his mouth when she reached him was a hoarse: "She's gone." He didn't dare wait, didn't trust himself to get it out if he said anything else first. So he met her sparking gaze mournfully, voice low and pained as he repeated: "Jessie, Percy's gone!"

The Tainn would meet him halfway, staring him down immediately upon contact. There were no loving gestures exchanged between the mates or soft glances, but Drestig's confirmation of what she already knew did nothing but fuel her anger. She snapped at him in her fury, "I know!" She knew her daughter's scent just like she knew the scent of Wild Rye Fields. She was home but now she was gone. The anger coursing through her was the only thing keeping Jessie afloat. The woman had to stay focused, she could not remain in a dark pit. She wouldn't loss anyone again. This can't be like Rissa. Light gray ears pinned back on her head, she took a moment to take a good look over her mate and what she saw softened her heart. Jessie swallowed the bile that was threatening to rise in her throat. He looked exhausted, a worthy testament to how worried he was and, she was sure, how much he searched. Drestig had not done anything wrong and it was not his fault. She had been gone and even more responsibility had been put on his shoulders, but now they had to fix this.

She remained silent for some time, her emerald eyes finally softening as she seemed closer to him, a shaky sigh escaping her maw. They would have to support one another through this and thus far he had been alone. She trailed her muzzle from his cheek up to his ear, words soft, "I'm sorry I wasn't here." It was the best she could do for comfort and after a few moments of contact, she pulled away, eyes steely in determination and exhaustion forgotten. He would not insult him by asking the obvious and she knew that it would be awhile before she would be able to do any scouting on her own again, but by the smell of it there were other capable members under their belt that they could utilize. Ears perked forward now, she questioned him softly, "Where do we still have to look?"

The snap was expected, though that didn't mean it didn't hurt. But he was in no position to get insulted by her fury, he deserved every bit of condemnation she saw fit to throw at him; I failed..! Shoulders sagged, head and tail both hanging low and ears flattened against his skull as he looked up at her, crestfallen. Only his eyes still held hers, and that just because it was the honorable thing to do. Most of all he wanted to turn them down, to crumble completely under her blazing gaze. Finally, unable to manage anymore, he tipped down his head further, closing off his dull embers and clenching his teeth briefly. "I lost her…" He breathed, defeatist. Feeling his legs starting to shake - either from the exhaustion or anxiety, or likely a mix of both – he leaned back into a slumped seat, body still quivering slightly; I lost her!

His eyes stayed closed until he felt her touch, jumping a little at the sudden sensation; Unlike her anger, the caress was completely unforeseen.  But he leaned into it easily, looking back up to meet her emeralds, now so close. "I'm so glad to have you back," he answered her softer words, shaking his head lightly when she pulled away. It hadn't been her fault, she'd left the responsibility to him while she was gone, he should have been able to handle it. Steadying himself with a deep, shaky breath, the Rye king pushed aside his self-accusations, knowing that he needed all his focus on the matter at hand. Just like he knew telling Jessie it wasn't her fault would be a waste of time; She knows that perfectly well! What she needed was the facts, as evidenced by her next question, back to business.

"South," he answered, immediately, his own voice level and brisk now; "It has to be, we've scoured all through the lowlands and found no trace. I even spoke with the Whitestone alphess, she hasn't seen her either." He grimaced slightly at that admission, both because of their shaky history – which involved threads to Phoenix's very life – and, even more, what he had learned from the encounter. "But she said one of her pups had been attacked around the same time, came home wounded. He's alive and recovering, but it was… Brutal." Drestig shuttered again, clenching his teeth once more before continuing; "There's no proof of any connection, but it seems… Likely." Again, fear and pain crossed his face; What's happened to you..?

After being away for so long, it was comforting to be able to touch Drestig again. She wished it were under better circumstances. Emerald eyes gazed up at him after his proclaimation, their feud from before she left forgotten. There was something much more important here at stake. There  was no denying how hard he had worked since she left and her love grew for him then, knowing that despite her not being there, he had not given up. You are so strong. Ears perked forward when he spoke, her emerald eyes bright with the knowledge she received. There was so much south and there was only so much they could do, especially since the two of them were near their physical breaking points. Something else that Drestig mentioned bought Jessie's full attention. The Monadnock pup too? A feeling of fear seeped into Jessie's heart. Brutal... She swallowed, eyes glazing over as if she were in a different time.

Rivers and mountains, along with a small broken, bloodied body laying in a heap, almost unrecognizable with a starky white skull just noticeable from being beaten so harshly. "Rissa..." Jessie blinked, focusing back on Drestig. It could not be them, the lore had taken care of it. They had all made sure that something like that would never happen again. Connecting with her mate's amber orbs, she knew that the River pup was before his time but there was no time to dwell on or explain the past, especially if there was a chance that it was repeating itself. "Umm," Jessie started unintelligently, a frown on her lips, "then we should definitely send someone down there. I think it would be best if we stay here. I'm not fit to travel as of right now and, by the looks of it, neither are you." It was harsh but it was the truth and if Drestig could count on anything from her, it would always be that. A sigh left her lips, "Who do you think we should send and where?"

He was destroyed, physically and emotionally. The exhaustion was making him tremble slightly, eyes peeled wide to keep the heavy lids from dropping. And his mind was blurry, the same thoughts of failure flashing through it over and over; It's my fault, it's MY FAULT! Such preoccupied, he didn't notice Jessie's reaction at first, too tired to realize the uncharacteristic silence. It wasn't until she actually spoke again, the hollow tone in that one word bringing his focus back to her features, that he noticed the paleness under her fur, eyes blank and wide and jaw firmly set. And then it was gone again, shrugged off with professional efficiency. But it was clear enough that she was shaken; And why wouldn't she be? He wanted to reach for her, comfort her, ask what memories had so clearly just passed before her eyes. But his brain and body were both sluggish, the thought taking so long to move into action that she had already regained herself completely before he even moved, her vague utterance quickly followed by that trademark professionalism.

Drestig shook his head, trying to clear that buzzing heaviness from his head to focus on her words. Part of him sought to protest – he'd been waiting for her return so he could go, travelling longer to search – but again his reactions were slow, and his mind changed before any words came to his lips. She was right; I can't go..! He was ready to collapse right then and there, and it looked like she wasn't far from it either; Who then..? The answer came to him instantly, and finally he managed to gain control of his voice, pushing through the fog of exhaustion to answer steadily: "Askan." The king trusted his second completely, he had been with them from the start and loved the pup as much as her parents, he'd been searching as vehemently as the father himself; "He'll find her if anyone can. Send one of the new ones with him, Reyes maybe, they'll work well together." The two of them already clung to one another constantly, or at least had before Percy disappeared. He didn't doubt they would give it their all.

The second question was harder though, and finally the dark man had to shake his head helplessly, ears flat against his head; "I don't know where… We've been through the nearest regions but…" His eyes stung, legs and jaw trembling more noticeably now; "If she's out there on her own, why hasn't she come home? Where else would she go? And if someone took her..!" He shuttered, closing his eyes against the terrifying thought; She could be anywhere! And with no trace, what hope was there to find them? The world started to spin around him, body inches away from crumpling completely under the insurmountable task. What had he done?

He took time to answer her but when it came she could feel her countenance twist into a wry expression. Askan? After her harsh words towards him before she departed, why would Drestig possibly think him a good option? I haven't been here in over a moon. Gray ears flicked back and she realized quite quickly that their second would be the best one to locate their daughter. Putting personal feelings aside, she allowed the rational part of her to lead. Yes, Askan was a pain in the ass but he had served long before they founded their pack lands and was there when Percy was born. He was their best chance. So without much else to say, she offered an affirming nod. It was then they came to a roadblock in their plan of action. Where?

She did not get a chance to respond. Drestig continued on, his emotions clearly laid out before her. Her mate's words caused bile to rise in her throat and by the end of his ranting she had to wrench herself away from him to empty the contents of her stomach. Another image of Rissa popped into her mind but Jessie shut her eyes and forced it away. She coughed to relieve her respiratory system of what had transpired before turning back to the Avalon, an exhausted sigh falling past her lips. Her voice was but a whisper, "Let me think."

She stood there in front of him and closed her eyes, making a mental map of the lands she knew. Eyebrows creasing in thought, she let out a breath before continuing, "Okay. We send them south, passed White Fir Notch and have them scout the area north of Fireweed Rise. Triell is settled in the Wildwood, so I feel as if Percy were somewhere near there we would have heard word. But the boys can spread word along the way, especially to them. They need to talk to all the packs that I didn't visit if they don't find her, Willow Ridge and Grizzly Hollow as far as I know. And then when they loop back around, they just have to look again. They leave no area unchecked." Emerald orbs flashed decisively. She swallowed then to moisten her throat. She didn't think she needed to say it but, "If she tried to cross the mountains then...well, there's no way she could have made it at her age." And she doubted Percy would have attempted such a feat. The rocky, large mountains were a far cry from their fields.

It was such a mess! Not that long ago he had waited excitedly for her return, eager to show her all that had changed, how they had grown since her leave. But now, it was all so pointless. He felt like he had aged ten years over the past weeks, he was exhausted from days of endless searching, and sleepless nights, fearing what had become of his daughter. His only daughter. But of course, he was not alone in his despair. Looking over at Jessie, he saw her tremble slightly. She was pale, her eyes glassy, and suddenly she turned away, shivers running through his body with her every retch. The queen was just as drained as her king, the long journey through winter having cost all her physical strength, and the news quickly using up her mental energy as well.

The two stood face to face on trembling legs, sharing the most horrible moments in any parents lives. He nodded vaguely at her whispered words, breathing heavily. His eyes closed as hers did, heart beating loudly in his ears while he waited. He had no problem letting her do the thinking, as he wasn’t able to at all. When finally she did speak, he looked back up, clinging to her every word. As she laid out her plan, his brows furrowed, confusion further muddling his already strained thoughts. “Triell..?” He started to ask, but then shook his head. There’d be plenty of time for her to relay all she had encountered on her trip, but for now all that mattered was Percy. He nodded at her strategy, licking his dry lips. “They’ll be thorough, we can be sure of that!” Askan had only improved since Jessie’s departure, keeping his temper in check and working hard to guard the pack, as well as search for the missing pup. And the two had always been close, no one would be better suited for the task.

Then the grey woman spoke again, and Drestig’s eyes closed, his face contorting in pain. She was right of course, their daughter was strong and stubborn, but it took more than that to survive on her own, and crossing the mountains was a task far beyond her capabilities. They could only trust, prey, that she’d not been arrogant enough to attempt it, whatever had happened to her. The father shook his head, tears stinging in his eyes. “Jessie, if we don’t find her… If she’s gone, I…” He couldn’t finish, staring down at his paws through the blur; I’ll never forgive myself! And how could she possibly be able to? In the end this was all his doing.

Whatever happened between them, the gray woman had to remind herself that Drestig was going through everything she was experiencing. With a plan in action, Jessie could feel her beginning overwhelming panic subside to a constant anxiety. At least one of them at to keep a steady mind and as she looked into the dull amber eyes of her love, it was clear that she was going to have to be the one to do so. With her plan so set in her thoughts, it had slipped her mind that Drestig would not know everything that had happened in Oak Tree Bend. The woman kept her lips sealed knowing that the conversation for what happened on her trip was for another place and another time. Their daughter was missing and that’s what was most important to the two parents.

Drestig had no complaints about her plan and if he had anything to add on, he didn’t voice it. His reassurance did nothing to ease her worry though. She would not feel any better until their daughter was found. Her goal with her final words were not to bring her lover any pain but there was no possible way that the thought of the death of their children wouldn’t bring either of them heartbreak. It would seem that grief would come sooner to Jessie’s heart than that, for her mate’s voice cut through her dry thoughts. It hurt her, to see him going through such anguish and she finally approached him, pressing her muzzle firmly against his neck in an embrace only meant to comfort. Her words were soft when she finally replied, “We can’t afford to think like this right now. Percy needs us to believe in her.” She offered a swift kiss to Drestig’s cheek before pulling away, emerald eyes set on his face, determination sparkling vibrantly in her eyes. “Now let’s go get Askan and Reyes.”