One eye lifted in silent inquiry at her words. A bit busy? We were all a bit busy. For the sake of her privacy however I chose to remain silent on the topic, along with my knowledge of her newly returned Father, at least for now. I was quite undecided on what I thought of the old male I’d found attempting to run that day in the east and as such, until I came to the conclusion on whether I wanted him destroyed or not I had thusly decided to hold my tongue. Zen had only spoken poorly of her sire and I saw no need to upset her further by indicating his continued existence. I would tell her in time, unless she found out herself, I simply wished to know more of this Amissus before I did and indeed some part of myself, for some reason- wanted to protect her. I didn’t want to see my Zen unhappy or in any way afraid and indeed, while the silly old wolf was hardly anything to be fearful of, Zen had not seemed particularly……calm when speaking about her sire and I had no intention of being the one to upset her without need. If he was a threat to her he would no doubt reveal that in time and if not- well, then it hardly mattered if she knew of his existence or not did it? No, I wouldn’t tell her, I wouldn’t upset her- for some reason I much prefer to see her smile it is….nice.

She chuckled lightly at my comment on her pelt, the sound a pleasant lilting that brought a grin to my own lips as I moved aside and offered her a position beside me, the black female moving with a languid ease to take such a place. One violet eye flicked back towards her, easily handsome features regarding her own a moment, admiring, briefly the fineness of her pelt and form. What? It’s been years, literally years since I have even considered looking at another n such a way and maybe I am older now but that doesn’t mean I have desires that are any less, that doesn’t mean I don’t see females as attractive and really, in my opinion, Zen is very….well proportioned. I had allowed myself to slip this past winter, or at least in the eyes of my family I had done such a thing, my infamous honour tossed aside for a few hours with Cat Eye, those hours resulting in the rather unplanned birth of Oswin and yet, her birth had only proven to myself that I wasn’t even nearly done being a Father. Despite my- methods, perhaps, I enjoyed being a Father, I enjoyed sitting as I do know to watch over my grandchildren, I still had something left to give in the regard and Zeviah can no longer give me that. My family may think what they desire- but I don’t believe I betrayed my mate. No. Zeivah, I believe, would never desire that I spent every day for the rest of my life alone. Cat Eye will never be my mate, we do not see each other in such a way yet for what she had given me, for just one night, I would be forever grateful. She gave me what Zev couldn’t anymore, another child and, I would never regret that. I may be old but I can still create life and I don’t think I’m done with that, not yet. I don’t regret Cat Eye, or Oswin. I waited, for years I waited for my mate to come home- she never did and surely…..surely there is nothing wrong with not wanting to be alone forever? I cannot replace Zev, never, she will always be my mate- but does that mean I should deny myself any kind of affection or love for the rest of my existence?!

I sighed at these thoughts, distracted by Zen’s sudden words as she too moved to watch Amir and the pups below, my head tilting slightly in contemplation. Never? How was it that such a pretty little thing had never taken a mate? Or at least, never ‘successfully’ enjoyed a winter? I nodded, tail flicking, brushing against her pelt a moment before I spoke, voice smooth and easy as always. That, at least, hadn’t aged. It still sounded beautifully wonderfully in my opinion. Then again, I might be biased. I offered the female a smirk all the same, attempting to lighten the situation a little more.

“There is still time darling, you are not to old just yet. In the early days of Trenus, an old wolfess sought my protection and joined my pack. She was twenty, would you believe and she and her mate, a male of twenty two, bore a child that year. You, Zen, are not nearly that old. You simply need to find the right boy.”

I grinned again, chuckling lightly. Her efforts at finding the right boy had, to my knowledge, involved her being near eaten by three males that I had been forced to destroy on her behalf. Even so, perhaps she will have more luck this coming season. She’s a pretty thing, shame she isn’t white really but as it happens I have no issue with a black pelt either, at least not when it comes to certain things as Cat Eye will ascertain. She spoke once more, violet gaze drifting back to her own. What had I done today? I scowled lightly, was she attempting some kind of jest? Insinuating in some way that I was lazy? I smirked, eye flashing with iniquitous delight. There was always something about this girl, just like Moth, that made me feel younger.

“Why, might I ask, do you think I would be tired? Are you insinuating something there, darling?”

One eye lifted, daring, teasing with good-natured humour. Yes, we all know I’m old, but that hardly means I have retired to a life of meditation, as she calls it. Honestly why I did it I cannot be sure, perhaps it was a spur of the moment or indeed some wilful desire to prove I was entirely as fit as I ever had been. Evidently watching children play may be hazardous for my health for indeed, what I did next would surely sprain something. I lifted lightly to my paws, tail waving in tease before I struck quickly towards her, one paw reaching out to smack against her muzzle before I leapt away, pivoting expertly before lunging suddenly upward, leaping smoothly and lightly up and up the cliffside until I rested on a ledge above her and well out of reach, smirk down lightly.

“I believe, my darling, that you have now become ‘it’. I don’t understand this game very well, but I have been informed that you must now attempt to make me it, by catching me- not that you can. I am far faster and significantly more agile. Your also looking a bit, how you say….tired.”

I grinned again, white teeth glinting in the sun. No, I’m not so old as I’d have you all believe.