Zedekiah walked along through the dense woodlands on a chilled and merky morning. The sky was gray and filled with so many clouds you could no longer see the sun. It made the mood seem rather dreary. The leaves beneath his feet were crunchy and frozen, though there was luckily no snow as of today.

He stopped his walk, letting out a breath through his nose, white air curling in plumes before him. Though Zede was a rather controled and content wolf, he hadn't been feeling that way of late. He felt...lost, though he wouldn't admit it to himself. One of his intelect, experience, and usefulness couldn't be lost, right? He was no longer out hunting for Ada, but wandered around out of habit instead.

Zede was not the only one that had grown restless. Tomoyo's son had recently come back to the pack with his mate, Nessarose. It seemed things would finally settle, but some weeks later the two came to the red-she and declared that they intended to return to Kouji's birthpack and reclaim it from Chen. Tomoyo was a crafty, wise female, but she had not seen this coming. Now it seemed like she would be able to return to the home that she had missed for so long, not just physically, but the emotional state of the pack would finally be restored... There was just one thing that could hold her back, and he was wandering in her direction right now.

Tomoyo could see there was something different about Zedekiah. Something about the way he carried himself, or the aura he gave off, it just seemed...

"Zedekiah?"

She stood a few yards ahead, panting softly to let similar puffs of humidity float away. She looked concerned and the tone of her voice made her sound uncertain, younger than she normally did without the confidence.

Zede blinked his emerald orbs, his ears snapping in her direction. Normally he was a very alert and observant male, but he hadn't seen her coming along today. He lifted his head slightly, for it had been bent forward a little in thought.

"Tomoyo?" The black and green male asked, though he knew it was her. It was more in the sense as her question had been. Not only was he rather surprised to see her, since he hadn't seen her since that rainy night, but she seemed a little tired and set off. Looks like they both were a little on edge now-a-days.

"Aa." She smiled warmly and approached with a light wag of her tail. "What are you doing out wandering on such a cold day? Even my bones are aching from the chill, and that's saying something." --considering Tomoyo didn't consider herself anywhere near old.

The corner of Zede's maw twitched upward slightly, finding the situation ironic and amusing. Here he was, not knowing what he was doing, and she had to ask, when he couldn't truly answer. The truth, he supposed, was far simpler then anything else he could possibly say, "I'm not quite sure myself, really."

"Oh, you are. Your mind just doesn't feel like making that apparent just yet, but your heart always knows." She smiled again, a little more mysteriously this time. She seated herself, pausing briefly, then easing onto the ground. It caught her by surprise, just how cold it was, hence the hesitation. Seeing that Zede had no answer to her question, Tomoyo paused verbally this time for a few moments to let her words sink in and guage his reaction. After a time she finally asked: "How have you been...?"

Zede seemed unsurprised by the advice, for he expected something like that from her. She was far from stupid and from what little he knew of her she seemed to have a strong empathy for others. The comment did cause his ears to twich in slight uncertainty, though the small, almost invisable smile remained, "I suppose that is true."

He settled down on his haunches as well, ignoring most of the cold. His fur was rather thick and warm, so days such as this were only slightly uncomfortable at worst. As to her second question, he answered, "Fare I suppose...Ava has grown into quite the lovely young adult. I'm very proud."

Ahhh... that was probably it. Tomoyo was only able to realize this so quickly because of prior conversations they'd had. She knew from their first meeting that Zede lived for his niece, who had suffered a terrible, terrible loss. Now that she was grown...

"They grow up quickly, don't they? I wouldn't doubt you should be proud, you make a good role model and parent."

Zede gave a nod, "Yes...that they do..." He sounded rather wistful, not that he was sad for her gain or anything along those lines. "As for my rearing...well whether it was my influence or not, she turned out for the better," he said, thinking about how many bad ways her nature could have turned, especially after the incident with her parents. Events like the broke wolves, and it was understandably so.

"Hmm..." Tomoyo smiled again softly, looking off to one side to let the words sink in a little better. Zede was a very modest wolf, but it was an endearing, and refreshing trait. "I did hope I would run into you, Zede, I needed to talk to you about something."

Zede tilted his head to the side slightly, seeming mildly curious. What was it that she could want to discuss with him...? For it seemed whatever she wished to say was not said without thought or in an off-handed manner. No, this had to be something of some importance. "Talk to me?" He questioned calmly.

"Yes, you see, my son wishes to return home to our pack's-- our real pack's land."

So she was leaving? He couldn't say he wasn't disapointed, for he enjoyed her company. But whatever was best for her and her pack was fine with him. That was just the way his mind came to conclusions. "I see...is there something you wish for me to do before your departure?" he asked, asuming that it was something along those lines.

"Actually..." Tomoyo looked.............. was that--? Yes, she actually looked akwardly uncertain right then. Her usual composure dropped, and not for the first time in her life, but the first time in a long time.

Zede's ears stiffened in attentiveness as he blinked slightly. "Mm?" he was a little...well, he wasn't sure what he felt. He was puzzled, he supposed. What kind of question would cause her to drop her guard so?

And Tomoyo's voice dropped to a soft volumen. She was nervous, why? She supposed that she would too find out the reason someday soon. "I wanted to invite you to come with us..."

Zede's ears flickered slightly as he was startled to a small degree. He really hadn't been expecting that. His gaze drifted away as he turned the idea over in his head. If he went along...he could be useful again. He'd have a place, a purpose again. But what of Ava?

This question caused him to feel slightly torn. Ava was so dear to him....but he wasn't blind to her show of independence she had given of late. She didn't need him anymore. In a small murmur he said, "I...suppose I shall have to find something to tell Ava...."

Judging by the volume and nature of his reply Tomoyo wasn't entirely sure if she should be happy to hear that. She knew that his niece was... really all that he had left, but she seemed to have wrongfully assumed she'd come with. She didn't much like the hurt she thought she read in the time Zede took to think this over.

"... You can have more time to think about it if you need. It's probably going to be dangerous, to be perfectly honest with you. My- former mate still leads the pack, he's less than plesant on the idea of my son and I returning home."

His body stiffened slightly at this. So it was dangerous? Somehow, this rung the last bit of doubt he had had in his mind. He wasn't about to leave Tomoyo-and her pack of course-to simply be in danger without all the paws they could have to help. No, Ava would be fine. "No...that's all the more reason for me to come. Ava will understand."

Tomo wasn't entirely sure what she expected to hear to that, probably an agreement to think on it, but Zede's sudden resolve came as a surprise as well.

For a few moments she couldn't find words, but then...

"Thank you,"

After a small pause both his restlessness and unease seemed to fade away. The corners of his maw twitched upwards slightly once more. He said in rather calm good-humor, "I suppose it's just easiest for me to...go where I'm needed most. Sitting around doesn't suit me."

Tomoyo simply chuckled to that one, all too familiar with that restless spirit. "When you're younger they call it restlessness, an urge to find your calling. After a year or two they call it wanting to proove you're not too old."