it's not by bone but yet by blade
can break the magic that the devil made

 
It was a visit long overdue. The guilt had ridden him for a while and finally he was spared a moment to venture out and travel. The world outside the Taiga seemed so much brighter compared to the dark forest, the sun baking through his thick coat. He stopped halfway through to dunk himself in a clear-water pond, cooling himself off with a brief soak. It would've been faster to use his magic, but where was the fun in that? He preferred not to use it.

He could use a little stop-and-smell-the-roses anyway.

With a heave, he pulled himself out and gave a vigorous shake, throwing water in all directions. His fur stood fluffy and thick, dark with moisture but more comfortable under the heat of the sun now. When he stepped into the kingdom, he surveyed around him. It'd been a damn long time since he'd been here. He was a terrible friend. He should've visited more.

He'd been kept busy.

At the sight of Magnus nearby, a smile crossed his dark mouth and he made his way over. The golden stallion had probably just finished with a visit at the border, also kept busy, but his happiness at seeing his friend again didn't allow him to feel to bad about interrupting his day. Friendship was new and welcome to him. He hadn't been allowed them previously.

"Magnus." The children weren't with him today, a last minute decision. They were normally at his side nearly constantly. He hadn't wanted to bring them out of their forest without first knowing how the world was managing out here. "It's been too long. How are you?"

and it's not by fire but what's forged in flame
can drown the sorrows of a huntsman's pain

it's not by bone but yet by blade
can break the magic that the devil made

He grinned when Magnus met him, greeting him with a warmth Ruan hadn't been entirely certain was mutual. Friendship was still a new thing for him, it felt like, but he felt the confirmation of this one settle in so solidly and ease the tightness in his chest. He returned the shoulder-bump with a chuckle, enjoying the genuine comradery between them.

“Hellfire and magic,” he shot back lightly as he joined him in walking, though the truth soured in his gut, the memory of the fairies betraying them and letting in the Dark God to injure and chase out every last innocent person within. Some were never found again and their losses weighed heavily on him, added to the list of his many failures. It was in the past now though and he didn’t bring it up.

”I have been well. Busy with Tephra and little else.” Ruan nodded as Magnus continued. He understood perfectly. For years after his wife’s.. after his marriage ended, every waking breath was spent on guarding the Taiga and its people with the aid of Aten and Jinju. He was certain Magnus had plenty of his own help too with how great a king he seemed to be, but there would always be times when the leader was doing everything alone while his people rest.

”And you, Ruan? How have you and your family fared?”

He shrugged, looking forward and taking in the beautiful place his friend called home. “The dust has settled in Taiga as well. Jinju is still at my side when she can be, otherwise she is caring for the Taigans from within. I don’t feel comfortable with her venturing out where she could get sick.” Even saying the word seemed to call it back up in himself as well, and his chest pulsed a few times with a stifled cough.

“Sorry,” he apologized with a glance, and continued. “It caught up with me in the field that day. I try to keep apart from the others as much as I can, but it can’t always be avoided. Taiga lacks any healers.” Though he’d try to search for one soon if he can find one, someone that would want to heal the children. Each one he infected would just be more to add to his list of failures and things he’d have to make right. It figured the fairies would not bless the Taiga as other lands had been blessed. They seemed forsaken no matter what they did.

“The family is well, though. As well as we can be. Aten helps in just about everything, and Jinju guards the children when I need to be away. Polaris still does not enjoy when I must leave, and Rian… will get better, I hope. His mother’s absence is hard on him. Lilitha leads now,” he looked over to him to see if he recognized the name. Magnus likely knew the first and only king of Taiga. “She is Romek and Maribel’s adopted daughter. She has a girl of her own now too that she adopted.”

His lips twisted up in a wry smile. Adopting seemed to run in the family, and in the Taigans in general. Even Ainlif had found a child wandering and had taken her in, it seemed.

He didn’t mention his ex-wife. Or his only children by blood.
They were gone.

“And how is your family, Magnus?” Ruan figured the man had had children of his own, new and old, and they’d never really gotten to talk to each other about their families.

and it's not by fire but what's forged in flame
can drown the sorrows of a huntsman's pain

it's not by bone but yet by blade
can break the magic that the devil made

He flashed a grateful smile at his friend when Magnus dismissed his apology. Not that he could help being sick, but it was frustrating when it interrupted conversation. And this was important conversation to him. A long awaited one. Things in Taiga had kept his hands so full he hadn't even had the time to see Magnus. Or anyone but the Taigans.

And the one time he finally took a moment to himself, their entire world fell apart.

He walked and listened. Tephra didn't have healers either then. They seemed to be a rare breed. Ruan only knew of Bright that may be able to heal or ease symptoms, but she was nowhere to be found. Doing her own things, no doubt. Important enough not to return for her boy yet, so they must have been dire.

"Your family is sprawling then," Magnus joked and he huffed a soft laugh. "Good. That's good."

He continued to tell Ruan that his own family was growing, that he had more children than he ever thought he would. That they were independent and roaming. Ruan frowned and looked to him when he said he had never been a perfect father and that he wished he was better at keeping his children together so he could look out for them.

"You are too hard on yourself. They make their own choices and that is no reflection or measurement of yourself as a father." He knew it so certainly. His own dawn and twilight daughter had left home to forcefully takeover a kingdom, something he would never, ever encourage or even expect of any of his children. She absolutely hadn't learned that from him, so he knew all too well they would make their own choices, for better or worse.

"Have you married? Or are you not a marrying man? We haven't had the opportunity to talk about it." He grimaced in regret. He would've preferred to have had more time to speak with him, and people outside of his home in general. Either answer would be welcome; he held no judgement, only curiosity.

and it's not by fire but what's forged in flame
can drown the sorrows of a huntsman's pain