It had been a few days now since Cayde left the Shrine of Kimlasca, and even longer since he left the hospital. That time, that moment, it all felt like it was in another life. Perhaps it was, seeing how his soul was in the body of someone else, being preserved.

But now, he was going home. He was a wolf again, he was HIM again. And he was going back to the place he thought he'd never see again.

And with each passing day, the view of the mountain was clearer and clearer as he got closer to it. With each passing day, he grew more and more hopeful, more excited, to return home.

But even so, what would everyone else think? To them, he had been assumed gone for well over a week now, and when he just showed up again, what would happen? How would everyone feel?

How would Saint feel, his loyal and strong friend?

How would Vande feel, his trust and friendly relationship towards Cayde still in need of repair?

How would Soula feel, Cayde's loving and caring mother?

What about Anise? What about Malahayati?

[I]What about Pahanin?

He couldn't make assumptions, he didn't know how they would react, he just had to remain hopeful that all would be well.

And finally, after several days of travel from the shrine to the mountain, he was nearly there. Nearly... home.

It was a starry, cloudless night, with the gleam of the moonlight casted over the land like a blanket. The perfect night for the Wolf of Harmony to make a return to the place he called home.

Finally, he was back in familiar territory, the scent of pine trees carrying itself through the wind made him feel like he was home again. Because he was.

The Kimlascan Pack was close by, the many dens all around the base of the mountain. From beautiful, small caves carved into the mountain, where the Alphas, and the beloved Master Alpha rested, each having their own cave, to the dens in the forests and trees below, each wolf calling their own den home.

The Kimlascan Pack was a place of peace, beauty, wonder, and happiness. With the name of the pack dedicated to Kimlasca, it was no surprise that they focused and devoted themselves to peace.

To the wolves that lived there, it was home. And for Cayde, it was home too. And while he knew his journey was not over, having some time to spend with himself and his friends and family in his home, it was all he asked for. Peace.

Making his way through the forest, he came across a small clearing. A meadow, that showed a clear view of the mountain. This wasn't just any meadow though, no...

This was the very spot that Cayde and Pahanin once stood, the night before the Trial of the Mountain. One of the last interactions he ever had with her, before the Shrine of Kimlasca, before his sacrifice. It felt like a lifetime ago, when the only thing he had on his mind was the Trial of the Mountain, and doing what his father could not.

Now, here he was, the Wolf of Harmony, who completed the Trial of the Mountain, defeated his corrupted Master Alpha and freed him from the evil that controlled him, gave his life in the name of peace and protection, woke up as someone else and returned to the shrine, became a wolf and returned home, and now... thought about the future, the dark forces that may be arriving soon.

As he made his way through the flowery, grass covered field, he gasped in surprise and crouched down, seeing a group of wolves standing nearby.

His eyes were wide as he remained hidden from view, watching the wolves. They were talking amongst themselves, planning on returning to the pack which wasn't very far from the field. But these weren't just a few wolves who he did not know well...

These were his friends. All of them. Saint, Anise, Malahayati... his mother, Soula, and even Vande, the Master Alpha. And of course, Pahanin was there too.

He listened to some of the things they said, but only made out a few words:

"Come back here... every night... he returns... promised."

This was all he needed to hear to know what they were saying:

"We'll come back here each and every night, until he returns. He promised."

Then he watched as some of them turned to leave, their heads hung low as another night passed where Cayde didn't return.

As some turned to leave, only three stayed put. Vande, Soula, and Pahanin. But one by one, they turned to leave as well. First Vande, then Soula, and finally... Pahanin.

With Cayde's just barely being able to hold back tears, both of sadness and joy, he stood up.

And he walked forward.

A soft breeze blew through the land, blowing through Cayde's fur as it glowed majestically in the moonlight.

He slowly made his way to where they all were once standing, and just as they all started to reach the treeline, Pahanin, who was at the back of the group, turned around to look at the field one last time.

And the two of them met each other's eyes. For the first time in what felt like forever, they looked at one another again, both of them at a loss for words.

The group must have heard Pahanin's soft gasp, because one by one they all began to turn around to look. Soon, each and every one of them were looking at Cayde, their eyes full of surprise and shock, at a loss for words.

With another soft breeze blowing through Cayde's fur, he smiled softly, and he spoke:

"I knew I would find all of you here." He told them, his smile never fading.

And one by one, each and every one of the wolves smiled back, their eyes full of hope and happiness once more.

"And besides..."

Cayde looked at each and every one of them.

"I made a promise."