He had been to the war-won lands of the east, and he had mused upon the battles of the gods. He had moved through his land silently, objectively watching those within the borders and how they interacted with those around them. He had cast his gaze across the formations and found them lacking. The season had changed quietly, and brought along with it the nip of impending Frostfall. They were safe and secure - momentarily - in the alliances they had struck with the herds around them. But Kaj was not content. He was not assured by these evanescent, mercurial ties that could change as quickly as one's word. He was dissatisfied, uneasy, and he would not allow that emotion to fester within his mighty breast any longer than he had to. 

Archibald was not of concern here, as he stood upon the grassy knoll of the meeting area. Kaj knew that how he stood now, made whole and purged of a major weakness, they would see even more eye to eye. There was no need for conference, not when he could see the fault lines in the bedrock, the impending chasm that would split the moment the earth shook around them. And that earthquake would come, for it always did. But when it came, Kaj would be sure that the herd - the family - beneath his reign would be prepared. They would fall no longer, they would not live up to the literal name of their sanctuary. Kaj would ensure it, whether it killed him or not. 

His might frame swelled with air and with frustration, expelled on a bellow of words that raced to every corner, rebounding off cliffs and trailheads to herald his words to all with keen ear. "FAMILY OF THE FALLS, COME TO ME!" He would not call them by any other name, for they were not citizens or members. Their cohesion meant their survival, and Kaj could not care less whether they griped and moaned about having to hold hands and play nice with the child next to them. The hard decisions lay upon his and Archibald's backs, and while they were strong enough to weather them, they were hardly ever appreciated. But they would thank him in time, when their family unit lent them loyalty and trust. When those attributes secured them triumph even when the tide of battle seemed to go against them. 

He stared out at them, critical and silent, wings drawn tight against his body in a language that portrayed and projected his stiff, minor displeasure. The Aurelight awaited their gathering, and only spoke when the shuffle of hooves fell to the quietest their masses could manage, and when Archibald stood stoic and present beside him. 

"The new season is upon us. We remain. But we are faltering, and we are growing weak." He let his words fall like a heavy blanket upon them, watching their reactions, trying to find the passion within them so that he could speak to it and draw them back to the excellence he knew they could achieve. "We are lax, we are subdued. This land has never known peace for any long stretch of time, and we should never expect it! Where are our soldiers, sparring and growing stronger? Where are our patrols, our eyes and ears throughout the land? Where are the new members, ushered warmly in to become part of our family? Where is our passion? WHERE IS OUR FORTITUDE?" And he bellowed it, wings snapping briefly at his sides, wanting to stir them up and make them change. And he did not care if they cringed away from the truth that he presented, if the ones who were continuous in their efforts sneered at being placed within the masses. Their efforts could be praised, but he would not forsake the harshness necessary just to spare their individual prides. 

"This land has known too much fallen blood, blood of loss! Blood of defeat!" He had orchestrated the defeat of its last reign, and he knew how easily it had fallen. How they always turned belly up and resigned, awaiting the final blow as if it did not matter any longer, that they had been waiting all along for someone to come along and defeat them. "We have always been the weakest member, the omega, the crippled stag. Now...now is not the time to let those same curses fall heavy upon our backs, to let the infection settle in early. I ask you now for your heart, for your pride in this land and those around you. I hold you to a higher level of excellence, and I vow here before you to hold myself to it as well." Kaj stepped forth beyond Archibald's shoulder, wondering if this would ever be enough. If they were strong enough to rise above the curse, once and for all, and leave the Falls a name to be rightfully remembered. 

"While the snow buries life and the world turns in upon itself...we will be preparing. We will be growing stronger. So change. Do more. Do better. Accept nothing less of yourself than the best." And he fell to a somber silence, awaiting any input Archibald had as he stepped back to where he had started, knowing this was something he would never be convinced otherwise. And maybe now they looked upon him and did not recognize him, did not see Other Kaj but finally saw Kaj. But his mind would not change. Peace was never a time to grow quiet and submissive. For peace never lasted.