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Description
March 2nd, 39 BC

  Griffon, in all his years had never felt paws as heavy as his own felt that day. His heart was sunken as far as it could sink, and his core felt empty. Life hadn't been the same since Tolmi went missing... but back then there was still hope. However, hope dwindled. He could still hear Warrick in his ears that night, hollering for his father to move before the ceiling caved in on them. He still remembered... not caring what happened to him in that moment - because not finding Tolmi was in a way his last straw. The light of his life, gone. The reality of it was, she was probably killed in the ring - but that wasn't a conversation he was ready to have with himself.

So as he walked, with a heavy heart and chain weighted ankles, Griffon made the journey up the rocks for the last time. "Shay?"

  Head lowered in conversation with her mate, Zadar, Shabeel noticed the tiguar's approach when the red lion broke eye contact. She looked back over her shoulder, twisting in a way to be sure her good eye found Griffon. He appeared... more weary than usual. Shabeel couldn't blame him. Hell, a part of her would always blame herself for what happened to Tolmi, where ever she was...

The dark, webbed jaguar turned back to Zadar briefly, nudging him off to give Griffon less prying eyes and ears. Their discussion on hibernating bears waking this spring could wait a moment anyway.

"Griffon." Shabeel replied, meeting him halfway. "Something on your mind?" It was a bit redundant, but she wanted to prompt him into speaking.

The tiguar found himself smirking then, that same crooked little smile he'd grown pretty accustomed to presenting. She would be correct to assume the old mutt was weary, and weary he was indeed. One might even say he looked hollow, but there was still enough Griffon in him to get him through this conversation.

  "Always" He replied, making his way just a little past her to find a seat against the cliffside wall.

Griff seemed to carry a lot of thoughts now a days. Watching his paws for a moment, mossy green eyes finally fell into the leaders gaze. "You've really got quite the spot up here, you know that? What a view.." Griffon began, toying with time for a moment.

"I wouldn't wanna make that trip every day though-"

There was that smirk, the one that told her the old Griffon was still in there deep down. A twitch of her whiskers revealed the amusement she found in his response.

Shabeel turned back around to stand next to where he sat against the rock wall. Staring out into camp, she waited for Griffon to continue. Quite the spot indeed. Practically the entire camp and population of Ice Empire could be seen from their vantage point. Not to mention the way the rising sun bathed each and every surface-- Shabeel re-focused on Griffon's words, pulling her one-eyed gaze back to him.

"What did you make the trip for then?"

Dread filled his belly then at her inquiry. Something inside him was telling him 'not yet!' and 'I'm not ready!'... but he was ready. After weeks of tossing and turning in a nest that used to fit two, contemplating every outcome and every roadblock... he was ready.

"I think.. It's time I left..." Griffon expressed after several long, silent pauses. Its not the thing he wanted to say. Nor the thing he hoped to of actually said when the time came. But its what came out.

The silence continued after Griffon spoke. Shabeel's stare scoured and scored all over the tiguar's tired face. She took in every exhausted feature as if looking for some hidden message between them. Finally, landing back on his dull green eyes, her own brow creased in a serious frown.

"Are you sure?"
The words sounded heavy on her tongue, like they didn't want to leave her mouth. But, her voice held strong as she faced her adopted son-in-law for possibly the last time.

There was no going back now. ”Times are changing Shay. There’s nothing left for me here.” He spoke, voice gruff and raspy.

  ”I want to raise my kids in a place where I don’t have to worry about them being captured or killed by the retaliation that city might bring.” He didnt blame Shabeel for anything. Nor did he believe she was a poor leader - In fact she mightve been the best voice of reason Ice has ever had. Griffon sighed. He was beside himself , torn by the decision he made.

  ”I’m sorry”

Shabeel couldn't fault him for wanting to keep his kids safe. It was only a matter of time before the city and its hunters would retaliate after Ragnarok. But would life outside Ice Empire without all its members to help really be any safer? She supposed she would just have to trust Griffon knew what he was doing.

Her ears flattened to her skull at hearing his apology. It was a tough decision on his part, but she had the capacity to understand. She only had two follow-up questions: "When do you leave? And who is going with you?" If all her grandkids, adopted or not, were leaving too then she needed to get her goodbyes in with them as well.

"Within the next day or two I'd guess." Griffon chuffed a reply.

He needed time to usher his own goodbyes, and pack what little things his family had. Though...what more did they need besides their armor and claws?
"Everyone but Silas & Warrick. I urged him, but with Mary... Well you understand." He admired the dedication his son had for the little family he'd acquired. Blood or not, he took to them as if they were his own - Maryanne included. After several moments, suddenly a more remorseful tiguar appeared.

"Watch them for me... ok?" Coming to terms with all that had been said, Griffon understood the weight of his words. He understood leaving meant missing out on important milestones and memories. It meant leaving behind important cats too.

She gave a quiet, almost solemn nod to his responses. Warrick was a good kid, and he always tried to do the right thing in Shabeel's book. And Maryanne's little ones were still a bit too small to be traveling such great distances. It was, however much it may pain Griffon to leave one of his sons behind, probably for the best.

The jaguar's ears pressed ever tighter to her head. Should he really trust her with them? After what became of Tolmi and how she failed to protect her eldest adoptive daughter? Shabeel swallowed against a lump she hadn't noticed forming until now.

"I will."

....

March 5th, 39 BC

One by one, Griffon - as promised - made his rounds. Starting with one of the more bitter goodbyes, the old tiguar found himself asking Gale to go on a walk with him that morning. Together they talked, and reminisced about the better days. The simpler times where the only thing Griff had to worry about was impressing Tolmi and staying out of trouble. He'd tell that story a hundred times more before it got old - of the infamous old oak the two apprentices raced up and down... and the war that brought them closer together than anything.

He smiled fondly at the memories he had of Gale, who sat by him those cold nights after the raid had passed. The raid that gave him his biggest story in the shape of a scar on his belly. He could hear him still, even now years later....

"How're ya feeling, hotshot?"

Griffon let his smirk grow as Galieo propped himself up by the tiguars large paws, his frame rising and falling softly with each shallow breath. Letting out a rigid sigh, the larger apprentice curled his tail around- his ears pricked forward as his starch white mentor quietly inquired him.

Giving a chuckle, Griffons smirk faltered at the mention of his physical health "I feel like BS- everything aches chief." He mumbled numbly. His belly wasn't the only thing hurting however, as his mind could hardly shake the thought of Toulouse since the hunters had carried her nearly lifeless body away.

“Good,” Gale replied, giving Griffon a sympathetic look. “Pain’s good. Means you’re still around.”

...

"I'm gonna miss you chief." Griffon began, letting his ears fall as his guard began to crumble. "You'll always be my brother."

For the next several moments, many words were exchanged. Some held knowledge and some were filled with hurt and concern. Gale had been there since day one. He was there for Tolmi when he went missing, and he helped shape his kids into the cats they were today.. hell. Galieo shaped him into the cat he was today.

And with tears bubbling to the surface, the two shared probably the longest hug either had ever endured... and letting him go was ten times worse than he initially thought.

....

Gathering his thoughts, Griffon solemnly padded back to camp. By this point, his children had begun to wrap up their own goodbyes as well as their things... but he still had more to say. Having already broken the news to Shabeel days prior, it didn't make the final thing any less harder.

Shay would forever be an amazing leader, and a damn good role model for him and his kids. She was his mother in law, and he was proud to hold that title, even after Tolmi's fatal disappearance. The hard part for him however, had already passed. Now it was just a matter of finishing what he'd started.

Memories flooded him once again, taking him back to his youth. Everything from rescuing Zadar to the fights him and Toulouse endured - Shay had always been around the bend watching and guiding from a distance. She had his back in times, he wasn't sure he had anyone. He remembered the day Chara had confessed her wrong doings with the hunters - and he remembered being up against what seemed like the world.

But Shay was there. Shay was always there.

He remembered the walks they shared, and the patrols they waltzed together. Each conversation engraved remarkably in his mind.
All the same, saying goodbye to Shay meant wishing her family (as well as his own) goodbye. He cuffed Mumu over the ears and brought her in for a tight hug.

"Don't worry, you're big ugly frost giant will always haunt these woods, Picasso. Even when you can't see me." Griff reassured, butting heads affectionately with the younger gladiator. She had certainly grown up... where did the time go?

"Paint me a pretty picture while your at it, you still do that?" He purred in amusement, poking fun at the not-so-little masai liguar. Joking is simply how he coped. Even when it wasn't all too appropriate.

And just like he'd wished Mumu a farewell, he did the same with all the rest of her kids - Zadar included.
Bittersweet till the end, Griff nudged the old lion with his wrist. "You be careful in your elderly state, you hear? Don't make me come back here for something stupid-"

He knew good and well how Zadar acted out to being called ancient or anything of the sort. The guy lived in denial, what could he say? Still - He'd miss their talks and jokes... that's for sure.

....

But before the day was over, and his final goodbyes were handed out - there was still one cat left.

Standing beneath the old oak, Griffon took it all in. Visualizing little ghostly figures of the two of them , racing around and rough housing. In fact, the tiguar's whole life seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye. He watched as he grew from a cocky little kid to the man he became. Watched, as he and Toulouse grew up and with each passing year would gain a new scar or two.

He remembered all he could about his one and only love.... and it broke him to leave her behind. So with the sun on its way to kiss the horizon, and several hours had passed... Griffon made his way home to wish his remaining children goodbye. His cheeks were wet with the past. This was the final stretch. He was almost there.

So with a heavy heart, he hugged his sons, and Mary goodbye. He spoke softly to her cubs, and gave them each special little messages. He wished Mary the best, and reassured her things would be ok - and in the very very end he told them all that he would be just beyond the mountains, if they so wished to join him. To leave them behind was hard, but to stay would be harder.

----

WC: 2134
(The Full RP at top will be linked later, and posted as it concludes)

WELL. here it is.
Thank you all for shaping Griffon into the cat he is today. he was my first baby, and to do this ultimately was the hardest thing I could've done.

it was just time <3

- this was also a collab w zinc, she lined for me LOL

Bugwhisker2
ViriZona
Breezy-likes-to-RP
Nyther-oh
Rain847
Opportunity-Rover
Zincwolf
TwisterLeaV2
tiger09716

EP to Everest & Harper?

Description
March 2nd, 39 BC

  Griffon, in all his years had never felt paws as heavy as his own felt that day. His heart was sunken as far as it could sink, and his core felt empty. Life hadn't been the same since Tolmi went missing... but back then there was still hope. However, hope dwindled. He could still hear Warrick in his ears that night, hollering for his father to move before the ceiling caved in on them. He still remembered... not caring what happened to him in that moment - because not finding Tolmi was in a way his last straw. The light of his life, gone. The reality of it was, she was probably killed in the ring - but that wasn't a conversation he was ready to have with himself.

So as he walked, with a heavy heart and chain weighted ankles, Griffon made the journey up the rocks for the last time. "Shay?"

  Head lowered in conversation with her mate, Zadar, Shabeel noticed the tiguar's approach when the red lion broke eye contact. She looked back over her shoulder, twisting in a way to be sure her good eye found Griffon. He appeared... more weary than usual. Shabeel couldn't blame him. Hell, a part of her would always blame herself for what happened to Tolmi, where ever she was...

The dark, webbed jaguar turned back to Zadar briefly, nudging him off to give Griffon less prying eyes and ears. Their discussion on hibernating bears waking this spring could wait a moment anyway.

"Griffon." Shabeel replied, meeting him halfway. "Something on your mind?" It was a bit redundant, but she wanted to prompt him into speaking.

The tiguar found himself smirking then, that same crooked little smile he'd grown pretty accustomed to presenting. She would be correct to assume the old mutt was weary, and weary he was indeed. One might even say he looked hollow, but there was still enough Griffon in him to get him through this conversation.

  "Always" He replied, making his way just a little past her to find a seat against the cliffside wall.

Griff seemed to carry a lot of thoughts now a days. Watching his paws for a moment, mossy green eyes finally fell into the leaders gaze. "You've really got quite the spot up here, you know that? What a view.." Griffon began, toying with time for a moment.

"I wouldn't wanna make that trip every day though-"

There was that smirk, the one that told her the old Griffon was still in there deep down. A twitch of her whiskers revealed the amusement she found in his response.

Shabeel turned back around to stand next to where he sat against the rock wall. Staring out into camp, she waited for Griffon to continue. Quite the spot indeed. Practically the entire camp and population of Ice Empire could be seen from their vantage point. Not to mention the way the rising sun bathed each and every surface-- Shabeel re-focused on Griffon's words, pulling her one-eyed gaze back to him.

"What did you make the trip for then?"

Dread filled his belly then at her inquiry. Something inside him was telling him 'not yet!' and 'I'm not ready!'... but he was ready. After weeks of tossing and turning in a nest that used to fit two, contemplating every outcome and every roadblock... he was ready.

"I think.. It's time I left..." Griffon expressed after several long, silent pauses. Its not the thing he wanted to say. Nor the thing he hoped to of actually said when the time came. But its what came out.

The silence continued after Griffon spoke. Shabeel's stare scoured and scored all over the tiguar's tired face. She took in every exhausted feature as if looking for some hidden message between them. Finally, landing back on his dull green eyes, her own brow creased in a serious frown.

"Are you sure?"
The words sounded heavy on her tongue, like they didn't want to leave her mouth. But, her voice held strong as she faced her adopted son-in-law for possibly the last time.

There was no going back now. ”Times are changing Shay. There’s nothing left for me here.” He spoke, voice gruff and raspy.

  ”I want to raise my kids in a place where I don’t have to worry about them being captured or killed by the retaliation that city might bring.” He didnt blame Shabeel for anything. Nor did he believe she was a poor leader - In fact she mightve been the best voice of reason Ice has ever had. Griffon sighed. He was beside himself , torn by the decision he made.

  ”I’m sorry”

Shabeel couldn't fault him for wanting to keep his kids safe. It was only a matter of time before the city and its hunters would retaliate after Ragnarok. But would life outside Ice Empire without all its members to help really be any safer? She supposed she would just have to trust Griffon knew what he was doing.

Her ears flattened to her skull at hearing his apology. It was a tough decision on his part, but she had the capacity to understand. She only had two follow-up questions: "When do you leave? And who is going with you?" If all her grandkids, adopted or not, were leaving too then she needed to get her goodbyes in with them as well.

"Within the next day or two I'd guess." Griffon chuffed a reply.

He needed time to usher his own goodbyes, and pack what little things his family had. Though...what more did they need besides their armor and claws?
"Everyone but Silas & Warrick. I urged him, but with Mary... Well you understand." He admired the dedication his son had for the little family he'd acquired. Blood or not, he took to them as if they were his own - Maryanne included. After several moments, suddenly a more remorseful tiguar appeared.

"Watch them for me... ok?" Coming to terms with all that had been said, Griffon understood the weight of his words. He understood leaving meant missing out on important milestones and memories. It meant leaving behind important cats too.

She gave a quiet, almost solemn nod to his responses. Warrick was a good kid, and he always tried to do the right thing in Shabeel's book. And Maryanne's little ones were still a bit too small to be traveling such great distances. It was, however much it may pain Griffon to leave one of his sons behind, probably for the best.

The jaguar's ears pressed ever tighter to her head. Should he really trust her with them? After what became of Tolmi and how she failed to protect her eldest adoptive daughter? Shabeel swallowed against a lump she hadn't noticed forming until now.

"I will."

....

March 5th, 39 BC

One by one, Griffon - as promised - made his rounds. Starting with one of the more bitter goodbyes, the old tiguar found himself asking Gale to go on a walk with him that morning. Together they talked, and reminisced about the better days. The simpler times where the only thing Griff had to worry about was impressing Tolmi and staying out of trouble. He'd tell that story a hundred times more before it got old - of the infamous old oak the two apprentices raced up and down... and the war that brought them closer together than anything.

He smiled fondly at the memories he had of Gale, who sat by him those cold nights after the raid had passed. The raid that gave him his biggest story in the shape of a scar on his belly. He could hear him still, even now years later....

"How're ya feeling, hotshot?"

Griffon let his smirk grow as Galieo propped himself up by the tiguars large paws, his frame rising and falling softly with each shallow breath. Letting out a rigid sigh, the larger apprentice curled his tail around- his ears pricked forward as his starch white mentor quietly inquired him.

Giving a chuckle, Griffons smirk faltered at the mention of his physical health "I feel like BS- everything aches chief." He mumbled numbly. His belly wasn't the only thing hurting however, as his mind could hardly shake the thought of Toulouse since the hunters had carried her nearly lifeless body away.

“Good,” Gale replied, giving Griffon a sympathetic look. “Pain’s good. Means you’re still around.”

...

"I'm gonna miss you chief." Griffon began, letting his ears fall as his guard began to crumble. "You'll always be my brother."

For the next several moments, many words were exchanged. Some held knowledge and some were filled with hurt and concern. Gale had been there since day one. He was there for Tolmi when he went missing, and he helped shape his kids into the cats they were today.. hell. Galieo shaped him into the cat he was today.

And with tears bubbling to the surface, the two shared probably the longest hug either had ever endured... and letting him go was ten times worse than he initially thought.

....

Gathering his thoughts, Griffon solemnly padded back to camp. By this point, his children had begun to wrap up their own goodbyes as well as their things... but he still had more to say. Having already broken the news to Shabeel days prior, it didn't make the final thing any less harder.

Shay would forever be an amazing leader, and a damn good role model for him and his kids. She was his mother in law, and he was proud to hold that title, even after Tolmi's fatal disappearance. The hard part for him however, had already passed. Now it was just a matter of finishing what he'd started.

Memories flooded him once again, taking him back to his youth. Everything from rescuing Zadar to the fights him and Toulouse endured - Shay had always been around the bend watching and guiding from a distance. She had his back in times, he wasn't sure he had anyone. He remembered the day Chara had confessed her wrong doings with the hunters - and he remembered being up against what seemed like the world.

But Shay was there. Shay was always there.

He remembered the walks they shared, and the patrols they waltzed together. Each conversation engraved remarkably in his mind.
All the same, saying goodbye to Shay meant wishing her family (as well as his own) goodbye. He cuffed Mumu over the ears and brought her in for a tight hug.

"Don't worry, you're big ugly frost giant will always haunt these woods, Picasso. Even when you can't see me." Griff reassured, butting heads affectionately with the younger gladiator. She had certainly grown up... where did the time go?

"Paint me a pretty picture while your at it, you still do that?" He purred in amusement, poking fun at the not-so-little masai liguar. Joking is simply how he coped. Even when it wasn't all too appropriate.

And just like he'd wished Mumu a farewell, he did the same with all the rest of her kids - Zadar included.
Bittersweet till the end, Griff nudged the old lion with his wrist. "You be careful in your elderly state, you hear? Don't make me come back here for something stupid-"

He knew good and well how Zadar acted out to being called ancient or anything of the sort. The guy lived in denial, what could he say? Still - He'd miss their talks and jokes... that's for sure.

....

But before the day was over, and his final goodbyes were handed out - there was still one cat left.

Standing beneath the old oak, Griffon took it all in. Visualizing little ghostly figures of the two of them , racing around and rough housing. In fact, the tiguar's whole life seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye. He watched as he grew from a cocky little kid to the man he became. Watched, as he and Toulouse grew up and with each passing year would gain a new scar or two.

He remembered all he could about his one and only love.... and it broke him to leave her behind. So with the sun on its way to kiss the horizon, and several hours had passed... Griffon made his way home to wish his remaining children goodbye. His cheeks were wet with the past. This was the final stretch. He was almost there.

So with a heavy heart, he hugged his sons, and Mary goodbye. He spoke softly to her cubs, and gave them each special little messages. He wished Mary the best, and reassured her things would be ok - and in the very very end he told them all that he would be just beyond the mountains, if they so wished to join him. To leave them behind was hard, but to stay would be harder.

----

WC: 2134
(The Full RP at top will be linked later, and posted as it concludes)

WELL. here it is.
Thank you all for shaping Griffon into the cat he is today. he was my first baby, and to do this ultimately was the hardest thing I could've done.

it was just time <3

- this was also a collab w zinc, she lined for me LOL

Bugwhisker2
ViriZona
Breezy-likes-to-RP
Nyther-oh
Rain847
Opportunity-Rover
Zincwolf
TwisterLeaV2
tiger09716

EP to Everest & Harper?