d'Artagnan never realized the sky was that vast, always taken for granted and most days ignored, it was only upon leaving a crowded dark hole that he could really appreciate just how enormous it was. It was difficult at first, the light stung his eyes and he spent a day or two wandering around the heart trying to regain his bearings, his legs feeling wobbly with the sudden increase in space and the Nightshade was almost certain he would probably never enter a cave again. Not willingly that was. He even began to feel uncomfortable in small places, of all the things he never thought he'd one day turn claustrophobic, not with his previous love for caves. Then again, maybe he was other thinking it and it was just because he'd been inside for so long, or maybe his madness really had gotten a hold of him forever. Who knew. For now he did his best to hide this 'fear', his enemies needn't see or know this weakness. If that wasn't enough, he still hadn't found Kou. These days they seemed doomed to live apart, the members of the Aurora Basin had returned but d'Artagnan still lingered in the wilds, searching for his pale Queen with a sick feeling that maybe she might have been caught by the wraiths. He would know wouldn't he? If anything had happened, it was supposed to work like that wasn't it?! From time to time anger had once again clouded his vision and branded him with new little scars along his legs where he'd reared in frustration and snagged on something, the pain jolting him back to the present.

Aramis had watched on, knowing this was no way for his bonded to live at the same time he knew there was no way to stop him. When they had first met each other, the Nightshade had triumphed in a battle, so typical of him and his ego that needed no further boosting. Yet, day by day, he was slowly becoming the hollow shape of that former stallion. What was undecided was which way he was going to go, retract within himself and slowly descend into misery, or fall into dark madness with no sense of who he is or used to be. Two cruel fates for a cruel soul which life had twisted beyond repair. It was almost hard to believe that he was once an innocent boy.

In time, d'Artagnan and Aramis had made their way back north and towards the Basin, returning on the will of Kou who had curled her lip and shouted at him for leaving. He had been irresponsible and uncaring, in that moment he wondered if she truly hated him now, maybe that was why they didn't see each other much any more. Yet, d'Artagnan couldn't help trying to set things right, returning to the Basin was what she wanted him to do right? Though it hurt in a way to know that she might now follow him everywhere like old times, though they had different responsibilities now, responsibilities that Kou knew better than him.

Wading across the winter stricken steppe was no easy task either, it was easy for one to get lost in a blizzard up here, but luckily for d'Artagnan he had the nose of Aramis who guided him dutifully. By the time they'd made it back to the pathway into the Basin, his coat was riddled with frozen snow, the whiskers from his nose were a shade of white and his once brown leather bag was now even more of a weight as snow had collected in its pockets. Great! He was now carrying half the Frostbreath Steppe with him, was this all karma had?! If there was any time in his life when he felt truly old, this was it. He wandered down onto the frosty surface with a thunderous face set in place, noting the gathering of horned kin and he rather grumpily stomped over to join them. Snow filled man purse in tow.

"What a meagre gathering." He announced his presence in his typical gruff manner which was tactless as ever. "Corporals and Generals with no soldiers. A thief with no spies and two knitting buddies... A Lord and Lady with no army" he noted as he slid in beside the noble brat, Deodat, and nodded to Deimos before looking at Illynx. "And you want us to go mining?!" Aramis sat down beside his bonded with an expression you could almost describe as an eye roll, they'd been together over a year now and in that time the hell dog had learnt that as the months rolled by his friend was becoming that little bit more cynical each day. Herd gatherings were never really d'Artagnan's thing, they lasted far too long and required him to remember names. "I suppose I better go find us some soldiers whilst you broaden the living quarters" he grumbled as he set himself his own task, managing to hold his tongue successfully before he fatally plunged on into the irk he had of mares in charge.

"Congratulations Lena" he offered randomly to the bay mare who was now his successor. Their personalities couldn't be any different, but maybe in her reign more lives might be saved than lost, the Nightshade preferred watching someone die than watching someone live after all.

Lastly, he looked around the gathering and didn't find any of the faces he wanted. No children, no Kou. He sighed quietly and apprehensively whilst observing the meeting unfold.

[ooc; ack sorry for length and him being an ass!! He's getting too old for all this new technology of moving statues and such ;D]