He was exhausted. He'd pushed himself so hard the past week, even more so the last few days, and he hadn't slept in almost 36 hours. He hadn't even given himself a moment to rest when he'd returned, calling a pack meeting and then talking to his daughter and now he didn't know where Eclypse or Leo were... how could he leave, knowing two of his children were missing? What if they came back only after the pack had gone? He didn't want to consider it. They still had time; Aven and Neva where nowhere near old enough to travel and he wouldn't uproot whelping pups.

Nori hadn't returned from her trip to the Backwater yet, either, and that itself was concerning. He should have waited for her before going to Paradise Falls... he should have waited, full stop. It wasn't as though it had been a productive trip, other than for him to get his thoughts in order. It was nothing that couldn't have waited. Chan had nothing more to offer him.

The thought hurt.

Before he could fall asleep, however, a demanding howl split the air and Nash raised his head. Eros? What was the co-lead of the Backwater doing up here? Anxiety churned in Nash's stomach. Had something happened to Nori? The leader murmured softly to Aquene, promising to be back soon, and dragged himself to his feet. He was so tired. He hoped Eros wouldn't be as cold towards them this time, or was looking for a fight... Nash didn't have the energy to deal with it tonight.

When he arrived on the borders, he was certainly surprised by what he found. An anxious Eros hopping in place and an absolutely bedraggled Nori with a slowly oozing shoulder wound. Nash would have snarled at the Backwater man and demanded to know why he'd attacked his niece if he hadn't realized how old the wound had to be. He looked between the pair. "What a surprise," he said, trying to find the energy to hold his head and tail high. "Welcome home, Nori. And Eros; how can I assist you this evening?"

So I can go to bed...

The pair started talking almost at the same time, Nori blurting out a storm of words, throwing in 'it's not his fault'. His ears swept back at the barrage, his exhausted brain taking longer than it should have to process the words. "Slow down," he said, brow furrowing. It was clear both wolves before him were panicking - a state he'd never seen Eros in. No matter how upset the Backwater was with the Cove, Nash would never think they would attack them, let alone Eros.

"Leo is hurt," he said, the stirring of anger back in his chest, "by the one who hurt Magg," his head swung to face Eros, "and you want to help us bring him home." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His limbs trembled with exhaustion. "Take a breath, both of you. Nori, how far is he?" And how long had he been gone? This explained why he wasn't at the meeting. "...Is Eclypse with him?" he added. Twice now Leo had disappeared with one of his daughters and turned up hurt. This time, however, there was a clear cause.

Nash looked at Eros. "I... can't," he said, voice anguished. He wanted to charge off down the mountain and bring his adoptive son home... while it still was their home. "I need to sleep. I..." he let out a shaky breath. "I will have to go in the morning. Eros if... if you can, if you want to, go look after him until I can get there, I will be eternally grateful." He couldn't even send Matos; the boy was more tired than he was. Galen could probably go, but that would leave them completely exposed in the territory and he had the pups to worry about...

He sank to his haunches with a frustrated growl. Damn him and his own journey, his ties to his brother... his priorities should have been here. "This is why we're fucking leaving," he muttered, mostly under his breath.

Nash nodded in thanks as Nori offered to take Eros back to Leo. It was good to know she'd only just left him, and that he wasn't terribly far. It would make things more manageable. Especially with the day's conclusions... Nash sighed. And then she started talking about Eclypse and the leader could only listen in growing dismay. Eclypse... gone. His jaw sagged open while he looked for something to say. Anything to say. What did Nori mean, she messed up? What happened while he was gone?

He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his hide, trying to push out the memory of Magg coming home with a mangled leg, and his ever-helpful imagination inserting Eclypse in her place.

"We will have to worry about her later. For now, we know where Leo is and that he needs help. As far as going..." He sighed again. "We had the meeting today. As soon as Magg's girls are old enough, we will be abandoning the mountain." The words came thick. It wasn't easy for him, even now, but he didn't see any other choice. It was long since time.

Now he looked to Eros. "Come with me," he said. "Aquene is... she's..." Lost, broken, not herself.

Empty.

"...grieving," he landed on. "I'll take you to the medicine den, you can take what you need." He turned, beckoning for Eros to join him. "Nori, we will be right back, and I'll get you caught up."