His name was spoken and then his Papa and Mama came into view and tears fell from his red jewels. He didn't have time to run into their arms as @Roan did that for him and he was instantly curling into the familiar plush mane that his Papa had. Tears staining it but Jai was sure Roan wouldn't mind. Not right now anyways as he would turn to look at his Mama and reach for her. The comfort of them both was enough to ease his nerves but then he remembered, Where is Grandpa? He was just here with me.. I was taking a nap with him.. He would try to explain as best as he could, looking around for the older male.

@FaelynSpeech.

Table & Ref by Amanda | Background | Lineart

Happy tears continued as Roan could hardly keep himself from squeezing his son too tight. With @Faelyn catching up to him, though, Roan loosened his grip to allow for her own much needed cuddling of @Jai. The two parents could not have been happier to see their son safe and out of the mist. Before their emotions even had a chance to settle down, though, the albino prince was mentioning a grandpa. It wouldn't initially dawn on the Hodari to assume he might have found Dero within the mist, not expecting or knowing if anyone could find anyone else within the lively fog. Maybe Jai remembered his biological grandfather from wherever it was he came from. "What do you mean, Jai? What Grandpa? What did he look like?" Was it a ghost? Was that what had made the mist so different this time? Was it possessed by the dead? Roan would struggle to make the connection for now, though he was ready not to dwell on it for long, just happy to have his son back.

Table & Ref by Amanda | Background | Base

@Roan asked him questions as Jai huddle near his parents warmth. Red jewels glancing around the area, desperately trying to find his grandpa. He had found him. Why hadn't he returned with Jai? It was terrifying but Jai knew he had to bring him back home. Eventually, red jewels landed on his Papa's gaze and words would come spilling outwards. He was dark. Like you. His name is Dero. Where is Grandpa Dero, Papa? I was just with him, I was only taking a nap he couldn't have gone far. He would desperately explain to Roan and @Faelyn. Surely they knew who Dero was? He was Roans dad so he had to know right?!Speech.

Table & Ref by Amanda | Background | Lineart

She listened to the boy as he spoke, delighted to be able to hear his voice once more. His words didn't make sense to her, though, despite him speaking the common tongue. Grandpa? Well, it certainly wasn't anyone from her side of the family, because hers was all dead, far from these lands. Could he mean... And then he confirmed it, speaking of Dero.

"I don't see him right now," she said, lifting her head and offering several chuffs for the man. It had been some time since she had seen him, and she hoped he was well. If he had also been taken by the mist, then they would have to go looking for him as well. "We'll have to see if we can find him in the mist."

The mauve lion studied his son intensely, as if trying to find fault in his words. @Jai had a name, though, one he wasn't sure if he had ever told the boy before. Dero. A dark lion. It could be no other. "Dero...?" the Hodari breathed the name to himself. "My father?" In disbelief, Roan's head lifted, minty gaze searching the surrounding mist that had just spit out the prince to them. "Dad?" the king called out as the realization sunk into him that Avana had been right all along. Their father had gone missing to the mist. It wasn't by his own choosing to have been away for so long.

Not a word came back to them, though, but it only prompted Roan to try harder as he took a step closer to the fog. "Dad?!" Despite being a grown-ass adult, the thought that his father could be so close had the masked lion feeling like a child himself. They had Jai back, at least, but it was still a desperate state to be in to feel as if Dero was just out of their reach. The agony of his own desire to go on searching the mist for the dark elder was not allowed to last long, however. They had to protect what they could for now. Still, they would receive no answer. No sign of any further life being held behind the veil. Their ursine navigator was long gone, offering no more insight to the missing as Roan returned his attention back to his wife and child. Nodding to @Faelyn's words, the king's minty gaze looked to his son. "Don't worry, Jai. We'll find him. If Grandpa Dero is anything, he's strong. He's a survivor." He'd been through so much. A little bit of mist wasn't going to stop the old man. "First things first, though, let's get you home. We've all missed you so much, Jai," the mauve lion purred as he aimed a gentle kiss atop the boy's head. He'd look between the two for a moment, hoping for no argument about returning home for the time being. All Roan wanted to do was get his son's back into the safety of Obsidian. They would just have to come back later to look for his father.

Table & Ref by Amanda | Background | Base

Neither seem to know where his grandfather was and that worried him so. His tiny form began to shake with worry and fear that something had happened to his grandfather with him now gone. Ears flattened as he pressed himself against @Faelyn's white form nearly blending in as @Roan called out for Dero but there was nothing and a whimper came from his lips. Red jewels glanced around trying to find his grandfather in the mist but never did he see the dark male. His heart sank when his Papa began to usher him towards the hollow and slowly, ever so slowly, the prince would make his way back home.

exitSpeech.

Table & Ref by Amanda | Background | Lineart

"We'll find him," she said, promising both her son and her husband. She wasn't sure how, or when that would happen, but she was sure they would. She might not be related to Dero by blood but she still loved him like the family he was, and she would do her part to search for him just as hard as she had Jai. She would have been looking for him the whole time if she'd known he was lost in there too, honestly.

It was time to get their son home, though. Once that was done and he was settled in again they could return to their search but this time with another target.

-exit faelyn-

With no argument, the small family would return home to the Hollow. Roan's attention remained on high alert, however, just in case anything else might emerge from the mist still around them. He didn't want to take any chances of getting caught off guard and sucked up into the anomaly again. His minty gaze would hardly leave his son's hide for the entire way back to Obsidian. Only as the mist was finally fading out of view did the mauve man stop for a moment. His head turned back, just lingering a long stare at the disappearing fog, deep down hopeful that Dero might still emerge. When the elder didn't show, though, Roan was forced to return his attention forwards, adamant that he would continue searching for his father another day.

exit Roan

Table & Ref by Amanda | Background | Base