As the pastures were scorched and the cliffs were too wet with humidity to travel safely on, Xerentis found serenity in his pack territories. What had at first been a small walk through the clearing to, in a lack of better terms, clear his head became a midnight adventure into the claimed lands they surrounded themselves with. His bicolored orbs shined a haunting reflection as the moon pooled into them, the moonlight only making his pelt even more illuminated as he walked quietly through the timber. Every so often he'd come across a new friend. They would appear from the bushes, acknowledge his presence and quickly scatter across the path to safety. No use in keeping a strong, leveled stance, as he had no one to feel superior to, Xerentis kept a low profile off to himself. He felt most relaxed when he was like this - no one to impress, to intimidate - just himself, being who he was, alone. Closing his eyes and using his sense of hearing and scent to guide him, he imagined what life at home was like right now. In a sense, he was home, but.. where it all began was made him want to know so badly. Did they miss him? Perhaps. He had a feeling his dearest friend and beneficial lover did, wherever they were. Perhaps they had families of their own by now. These thoughts carried with him the entire way to the babbling Halcyon Pond.

Reaching the pond's edge passed several stones, he lapped up for a drink and allowed his paws to become drenched in a few inches of water. Smaller fish circled his feet, but he paid no attention to them as a whole - his mind continued to wander. He sighed and retreated back to shore, before leaping onto a rock which jutted out towards the pond's center. Several tinier stones surrounded it, to which he padded onto and balanced nearest the surface of the water with a divine grace. Back home, whilst under vigorous training in his youth, they were made to balance on stones much like this for long moments in the day. Those which fell off were fed last. Winner usually ate first or was allowed the next morning a full rest. His adopted sister was highly skilled in the practice, but he had his moments of spotlight. Competition with her made for the best of every morning in their apprenticeships. Now standing on one small stone, Xerentis knelt down close to the water, eyes fixated sternly on the surface. He remained still for quite some time before movement was seen under the water. Quickly, he opened his jaws and snatched a bass right from the pond, gnawing it to find a grip as soon as he found the balance to back up. Shaking his head and tightening his grip to make the fish stop from writhing around, he took it back to shore, ready to strip it of it's scales and fins. Unaware that the Elite had been in his presence the other time, he dropped the food at moment's notice and stared up at him with a sudden innocence to which he never really had deep down. He wished to reply with some suave response, having seen the other's eyes were closed and most at peace perhaps until he showed up, but held his tongue otherwise.