Haemon knew he was to be sent to Draug before the words left the Goblin Monarch's lips though it was the pompous ceremony of it all that made it all the worse for Haemon to digest. He had stared into those red glowing eyes with his own vermilion eyes with vague disinterest and had said little and waited until he'd addressed the others before promptly turning his back and leaving the small group of the hierarchy of the Reign to chatter as they will amongst themselves, the shaman wanted nothing to do with it. He understood his duty in the pack and he accepted it but sending him back to Draug was not only his duty it was Draug in particular the King wanted him to venture to for other reasons of loyalty and dedication other than simply to gain tribute; he was testing him to see if he'd be faithful to him and the pack or to his mate, Raelin.

Most of his and Raelin's second litter had now grown and ventured out into the vast expanse of the packs territory alone however it was Liulfr and Zisa whom still remained close by, Nessus came by from time to time but Haemon didn't like the blood thirsty streak in his eldest son, he'd spent too much time in Geri and Freki's company to trust him. Liu of course was wanting to study under his mother as a healer though Raelin herself was still visiting the alpha female on the boarders of AC studying under her tuition herself. Zisa, well he was rather fond of his youngest daughter, stronger than Nayeli by far with much the spark from Raelin but still affectionate. However much he loved his intimate family though it was not enough that he wanted to go back and spend time with them before he made his way to Draug. Raelin would convince him to bow down to Haku and try to strike a deal rather than to simply demand it of him and Haemon would argue he'd already had the option and had dismissed it quickly, that of course would bring up the original argument and he'd of left the following morning in a foul mood and leave on a bad note with Raelin which he couldn't bare.

Thus he decided to simply begin his journey northwards out of the packlands and towards the territory of Draug Faroth. Raelin of course would make him pay when he got back in her own way, just enough to make his life miserable for a bit than to all out explode on him for now she had a little more respect for him, it was a delicate balance between her fiery temper and his smouldering depressive and dark outbursts but that against and underneath mixed up emotions he loved her deeply and would want it no other way. Swift paws bore him onwards; his appearance usually provoked the question was he ill of health however Haemon was simply a tall and lean wolf who's muscles always seemed stretched to try and cover the skeleton which gave him his height and his frail like appearance, true he didn't have the same physical prowess as a lot of the more respected males and hard trained warriors and hunters in the pack had but he had other skills which gave him just as much standing in such a pack as the Reign of Terror.

The Reign's territory was hard to cover in one single day, like most territories they needed to be large expanses of area to be able to home the game which in turn fed the wolves which lived there and the Reign had many a wolf which called it home nowadays so bit by bit it claimed a little more territory in the prime central spot of the lowlands, near the main river that ran through Telk and fed the lush grasslands which produced good game. True The central hub of the parkland was rocky terrain, the top soil limited producing strange twisted trees but areas of the pack lands were more welcoming, they had to be for the Reign could not solely depend on tributes of food to sustain the numbers of wolves here. So it was Haemon set a quick pace for he also knew his brothers patrolled the boarders and though he doubted he'd pass through without them or their ravens knowing he didn't want to physically meet them.

So it was that he crossed the bounders late that afternoon, it wasn't as though he'd left from the far side of the pack's territory, he'd left from the centre so that had shortened the distance somewhat. He eased his pace as he approached the scent markers which indicated to other wolves they were entering the Reign's territory and then with a quick pause as he considered Raelin and pups and hoped they remained save whilst he was away he picked up his pace once more and swung in the same direction he and his mate had headed some moons ago together, alone now however he felt more business like with the mentality he'd do what his alpha wanted of him this time and enforce the Reign's terror.

Time and days passed, he hunted on occasion, small game predominately as he didn't want to waste time and energy pursuing large game where the failure rate of a prize catch was lower. He stuck to the river bank, prey of course where never far from a water source plus it meant there was a small gateway that allowed him to miss many of the central packs territories, once he'd skirted the north edges of Akiiki Chibale. He slept mostly during the day, shifting his sleep patterns for the summers heat, though late in the season, meant travelling at night was cooler than during the day and therefore cost him less energy. It was on one such morning where he'd travelled over night and was now searching for a suitable place to sleep the day away that a ghost from the past crossed his path.

Valerian was a beauty to behold, age had not claimed a mark on her at all however she was as old as Ulfhildr and the other senior members that had formed the old pack. It was as if the memory he'd always had of her simply formed in front of him, she walked with a grace he'd seen in no other and a wisdom in her eyes no other processed. He adored Raelin but Valerian was in a league of her own, even the fabled charm of the ice queen was no match for Valerian's charm. Haemon stood silently frozen in awe as he glided through the low undergrowth and her voice caressed him in musical tones, 'Haemon, you look as young and even more lost to the world than last I saw you, you have a sorrow in your heart that causes my own to ache.'

'Good morning Valerian.'

'Tyr and Var have news of the family and resent actions made by you all.'

'Tyr survived then?'

Valerian smiled, 'Your more surprised he survived over Var, interesting.'

Haemon looked into the swirling grey of her eyes, it was like looking into thick fog, unreadable yet ultimately enticing and beckoning you to get lost. 'Well...' he trailed off. Valerian made a sound as if she was laughing and then slowly closed the gap between them, she stared into his eyes and titled her head ever so slightly, 'You've softened, if that was at all possible, have you found yourself someone to carry some of your baggage young wolf?'
'I have someone I share my baggage with, in exchange I help her with her own.'

'That is generally the way of relationships, good ones at least. But it's not enough though, your still sad, still tormented.'

Valerian knew what Haemon was, there was no point in threatening her with a fake display of what haunted him, she knew it all and really they both knew it was pointless discussing it, 'What does Tyr intend to do, Fenrir is dead so why does he track Ulfhildr, Freki, Geri and myself.'

'Stupid question young wolf. You know Tyr will not let Ulfhildr nor the likes of Freki and Geri see that they thrive elsewhere in this land.'

'And myself? Where do I fit into his plans?'

'Tyr knows your heart isn't as dark as the others, your tainted but not without light, I can help you there. Do you know Anastaia still lives?'

Haemon's eye widened with that and then he pulled away slightly from Valerian and drew into himself. Valerian smiled softly, 'that is why Tyr does not hunt you.' Haemon looked up at her and his eyes bled, a look that allowed her to plunge into his soul should she desire, 'I have pups Valerian, some have been drawn into the Reign and it's pull, one or two others I can care for but please consider for me taking one or two away from this madness.'

'Haemon, you ask a lot after so much has pasted but I shall ask Tyr and Var, it is their call. Tell me though, where are you heading, Tyr and Var have been travelling about the low lands but when you left a few moons ago they had me follow you.'

'The alpha of the Reign wants tribute from Draug Faroth, a northern pack, the alpha of which is my mates, Raelin's uncle. He is testing me again as I have already visited the pack with no success...'

'I see.' The simple acknowledgement also displayed her understanding of what this could possibly mean. 'I will return to the low lands and discuss with Tyr and Var what they wish to do in regards to your pups, I will find you on your return journey.' She offered no other words of goodbye but simply retraced her steps and vanished from sight. Haemon did not doubt he'd see her again but the prospect for meeting Tyr and Var was not something he looked forward to even with Valerian's explanation of why he was omitted from Tyr's vengeance list. He stared at the undergrowth where Valerian had vanished from sight then with a quick dismissal he started once again to look about for somewhere to rest, one problem at a time though he knew for past experience it didn't always work like that.