Ares and his son trudged through the snow, heavy crunching beneath their boots as they walked away from the cabin and into the forest.
"Father. Where are we going." Iba asked, a grip on the sleeve of Ares cloak, as to not lose his father. Ares was taking big strides, but making sure Iba could keep up.
"I'm taking us away from the cabin, in case what I'm about to do fucks up." He explained. He had lost his care about swearing around his children, or child moreso. Ever since he lost Selena and Sirin, his whole personality shifted somewhat.
"..You're going to open a portal, aren't you." Iba sighed "Why must you anger the gods?"
"I made a promise to your sister, Iba." Ares said stern. Soon enough, the pair emerged into a clearing. Their dark clothes were getting highlighted with white from the snow, particles within their dark hair, somewhat camouflaging them.
"Well, can you at least tell me where we are going?" Iba tilted his head somewhat, focusing on the surroundings. Ares took a step forwards from his son and held his hands out slightly.
"We are going to visit a few old friends. We both know neither of us can do this alone. I just hope all your training was worth it." Ares closed his eyes, flashes of his past playing in his mind as he began to shift the focus onto forming a portal.
"Old friends.. you mean.. Uncle Torrent..? And Aunty Terra..?" Of course, he would recall Thunder too, just not say his name.
"Yeah. I'm just praying they don't mind me appearing and dragging them all into conflict again." Ares joked, though his expression remained dead. Slowly, a black swirl began to form in the air a small ways ahead of him. Iba felt the rise in power in the air; and took a stance - ready if the portal burst. Ares grunted slightly, as the portal took form as a black swirl of doom. It didn't burst, luckily. He sighed, and looked at his handiwork.
"That was a lot easier when I was doing it every day." He gently placed a hand on Iba's shoulder and walked through the portal, leaving the arctic forest, and returning to the dragon realm.
- - - - -
Nate's House. The Anniversary of Nate's death.

Torrent, his wife, Doremi, Thunder, Terra, Abenanka, Kiir, Cyrus, and Benjamin were all gathered in Nates old home. Benjamin had taken up the job of keeping the home clean and such, as Nate's son. Torrent was the king of the dragon realm, a dear friend of the late Nate. He has long blue hair, and a scar on his neck, stretching up to his cheek. He had glasses sat gently on his nose, solemnly sat with his family. Doremi had certainly grown too, now 5'7 with her hair now stretching down to her lower back rather than just to her shoulders. She now also had some curves to her, now almost an adult. Thunder was the self-proclaimed protector of the Vitor family, and also a dear friend of Nate's. The three were practically brothers. Thunders hair now only reached his shoulders, with gray hairs and a resting bitch face of sorts. It appeared his anger was back in full force. Abenanka was now taller than his father, with long red hair and stubble growing. Hes 5'9. Kiir had grown to be the same height as thunder, red hair down to her waist, and a figure taken after her mother. Cyrus is the third child of Thunder and Terra, with a brown ponytail and only 4'8. Terra was a tall lady with large assets of sorts, with green hair. She certainly had a figure to her, it was a wonder thunder ever ended up with her. Benjamin had grown to a whopping 6'2 with short purple fluffy hair, and stubble. He had taken after his late father a lot. The group all sat in the main room of the home, sharing stories of Nate, and simply trying to have a good time, while honouring their friend.

"He was like a father, and a brother to me.. to all of us." Torrent chuckled a bit, pushing his glasses up his face somewhat with a small smile. Thunder wasn't smiling at all.
"If it wasn't for that parasite.." Thunder grumbled angrily.
"Now, now.. we can't dwell on things we can't change. We can just enjoy the memories we got." Terra had an arm around thunder, trying to comfort him in this hard time.
"Well.. it's not the same." Benjamin commented.
"What do you mean?" Terra shifted her gaze to the boy.
"Without Ares.. and.. yknow.. everything changed so fast. It all went downhill." Benjamin didn't show much expression in his voice or face, only the shakiness of his emotions.
"I'm sure Ares would be here.. he.. changed. Rightfully so, really." Torrent wanted to switch the subject fast.
"I miss Sirin.." Doremi poked her fingers together a bit and looked away.
"Guys- Cmon." Torrent sighed "We are here to remember Nate.."
"But why can't we go and see Uncle Ares!" Abenanka commented.
"He.. never told us where he went. We found out about Sirin, and then.. he caught wind of her killer, and we havnt seen him since." Torrent explained.
"Well.. we are almost adults now, can't we go look?" Abenanka asked, mostly to his friends.
"He could be dea-" Terra was cut off.
"He's not." Benjamin crossed his arms. "Ares isn't foolish enough to get himself killed like that." He shook his head.
"Well.." Doremi looked at her father.
"Who cares whether Ares is dead or not! He isn't here! He isn't here to honour the passing of a friend of his! Whatever you thought ares was- it's wrong! He disappeared because something happened to him- we all have things to deal with!" Thunder yelled, exploding somewhat. The room fell silent.

The sound of someone placing a cloak onto the rack broke the silence, as the heavy footsteps of boots walked into the main room.
"Thought I might find you all here." Ares crossed his arms. Snow was still in his hair and on his boots, looking around at everyone. They could barely believe it, the timing and all. Iba walked in behind Ares, slowly growing accustomed to the pure amount of her power in the room. The whole group was full of extremely strong individuals, but it was stronger than he remembered.
"A..Ares..?" Benjamin stared at him.
"Fuck yeah!" Abenanka laughed and jumped up a bit.
"Language!"
Doremi smiled, and giggled a bit "Hey, Ares.."
"It's.. good to see you." Torrent got up, hugging ares gently "How have you been, old friend?"
Ares returned the hug, patting him on the back gently.
"Surviving." Is all Ares said.
"It's good to see you're alive. Some of us had thought the worst." Terra commented, observing him. It was clear to them all he had let himself go. Thunder remained silent. Torrent let go of ares and stepped aside.
"Iba." Torrent smiled a bit and pat him on the head. "You've grown havnt you." Torrent spoke to Iba off to the side while ares looked around at the changes everyone had gone through. First, he approached Abenanka.
"You've got some stubble coming through now.. almost a man." Ares teased, punching his arm lightly. Abenanka chuckled a bit. Ares then shifted his gaze to Benjamin.
"Holy shit.. you've grown havnt you." He approached, looking down slightly. "I've still got a couple inches on you for now." He joked. Benjamin smiled slightly, it quickly fading.
"I remember when you were all wee little pains in my ass." He joked, moving to Doremi. "You've got long hair now.. interesting." He looked around at them all again. "I see Torrents vision is deteriorating." He shifted his gaze to thunder "and he's still pissy."
"Shut up, Ares. You don't get to come in here and act like nothing happened. We havnt seen you in thousands of years!" Thunder stood up, looking up at Ares.

Ares took a breath, and pushed his own hair back somewhat, looking down at Thunder.
"I lit a candle for Nate every year on this day. I thought about you all every day I was gone. I would have returned sooner, but I guess I needed some encouragement." Ares and explained. Torrent looked at Ares, a concerned expression.
"Did something happen?" Torrent asked.
"Well." Ares sighed "The gods want me dead, so I can't kill the fucker who got Sirin."
"Oh.." the room fell silent, them all realising why Ares had returned.
"You.. you.." Thunders blood was boiling.
"You disappear for thousands of years and return to drag us into your shit?!" He pulled a fist back and swung it at Ares, connecting with his chin. Ares was sent down, not expecting the hit, grunting a bit. Iba stepped forwards, stopping once Ares raised a hand toward him.
"I deserve that." Ares stood up. Thunder ran at him, fury overwhelming him. Ares noticed this, his chains stretching out and opening the back door, as he grabbed the fire dragon and throwing him out into the backyard. Ares was soon out the back door too.
"No-! Fuck-" Torrent went after them.
"Seriously-" Terra got up and ran outside.
"Wait here.." Abenanka said to his sisters, and ran outside with Doremi and Benjamin.

Ares took off his coat, having only removed his cloak when entering the home. He was certainly bigger now, having been training for a big fight against the guy who got his daughter, he had out some muscle on. It was clear to see. Iba stood beside Nanka, Doremi and Benji.
"So we are really already going to see a fight between them.." Doremi sighed.
"Go on, Dad!" Abenanka cheered. Benjamin hit the back of his head and sighed. Iba shook his head.
"Uncle Thunder needs to clear his mind of those angry thoughts, else he'll never win." Iba explained. Thunder didn't care for the increase in size Ares had undergone, his hands and arms erupting into flame. Ares stared at him, tossing the coat aside and cracking his knuckles.
"Fine.. I'll knock some sense into you, Knoxmillon." Ares raised his head somewhat, and raised his fists. Thunder grunted, and dashed toward him at high speed.