It had been a long time since the Dominion had fallen and life as Pompilius knew it had changed irrevocably. He had come a long way from the boy prince born as a piece of godhood, surrounded by the wealth and security of an empire untested. Though just what he had become still eluded him. He had been somewhat… lost since he had been forced to run from the burning kingdom of his birth, from the culture that had crafted him into what was supposed to be the perfect vessel for his father’s power and prestige. He had depended on his bizarre, convoluted concept of family for his entire early life and for it to be torn away, with so much violence and blood, left him flimsy. But the Dominion had never been all that he was.

It took finding Erasmus to discover that, though, to truly see the world for what it was: a new opportunity, not something that he had been forced into because of the loss of his home and kin. They built each other back up, relying on each other and eventually loving each other. It was unlike anything Pompilius had ever experienced: the trepidation of trying to survive in the demanding world around them and the thrill of recognize his feelings for the other man. So long as he was by Erasmus's side, he would be fine. They both would be.

They'd make their way.

Though that did not mean they would be without their struggles. They were both free now, but the land was unforgiving. They scrambled for food and shelter, trying to properly provide for one another above themselves. It was tiring, and the strain of living on next to nothing day to day was wearing on them both. Pompilius found himself more sluggish than usual, almost dragging his feet as they searched for another place to rest and recoup for as long as they could manage. He tried not show any weakness to Erasmus, not out of fear or shame so much as a desire not to worry him. He didn't need his husband sacrificing any more than he already had to try to insure his health and happiness, not when they both needed their strength.

After all, Erasmus was the larger, more formidable of the two. Pompilius would be all flailing limbs and discoordination in a fight, and he had never been properly taught how to take down large game (his royal lifestyle had been especially stifling) - they both needed Raz at his best. Yet, no matter how many times Pompilius had tried to convince him of the logic behind such thinking, Erasmus pretended he was fine. That hunger wasn't eating at him the same way it was Pom. It was aggravating.

For the moment, Pompilius rested in the makeshift den they had found, catching up on some much needed sleep. His head lay pillowed against his front paws, his tail curled over his hind legs. He lay peacefully, unguarded, until there was noise at the mouth of the den. Paw steps woke him, making him lift his head as a dark shape filled the entrance. Erasmus's scent flooded his nose and he relaxed, stretching out his long legs before rolling onto his stomach and rising so he could greet his husband. The other man brought with him a jackrabbit, but Pom paid it little mind as he leaned in to lick at his lover's chin and nose at the thick fur of his neck.

He stepped away to look down at the meal Erasmus had caught him before peering suspiciously at his mate. "What have you eaten today?," he asked, pulling the carcass toward him. He pointedly tore off the hind legs and deposited them in front of the large man, unwilling to eat all of even this relatively small catch. "If you start losing weight you'll lose your figure," he said, as he sat down with his meal, "and god knows if I'll be attracted to you anymore." He tried to make a point with his mild humor. Neither of them needed to get into the familiar fight over appropriate amounts of sustenance for the pair of them.

As he at, Erasmus's face was contemplative, his eyes flickering away from Pompilius. Pom studied him for a moment before he swallowed, licking blood from his lips to answer his question. "We'll follow the plants. Wherever it's green should be.. better." He offered his husband a smile. "We'll eventually run into a pack," he said after a pause, considering the rabbit between his paws, "it'll be safer for us. With others."