The woods were a source of mystery and excitement for him, though he seldom understood the reasons for his being within them. He remembers her, her of black and gold, and then no her; then he, whom he knew as his father, taking them to this wondrous new place. There had been looks of sadness, hope and all so many emotions but all he knew was mystery, adventure, a serenity found in the endlessness of the tangled roots and canopies. He finds simple pleasures among this new world; digging up roots to chew upon, chasing unusual creatures that flee to the skies or to the trees and watching unusual others pass by, sometimes along or sometimes with family. Till now, all he has known is the world of Taviora and those within it but now he has seen so much more. He has felt new soils and stones beneath his paws. He has felt a new kind of chill in the midst of winter. It is all abnormal and exciting.

He perches now atop one of the many root ridden stones of the forest, staring up into the canopy that waves down at him with golden light. He watches as the leaves illuminate and resonate with the breeze, a silent dance he watches with a keen smile and wide, excited eyes. A bird will flutter through some times, a robin breaking the leaves' intricate dance. In his own mind, he pictures what it is the leaves must be spelling out to him. They remind him of home, after all, where had spent time with his sister playing among the fallen, golden leaves. Now, they are green; it is change, he thinks. Change is coming just like the melting of the snow.

He moves now to find his sister, the one he wishes the most to show. Perhaps she will better understand what it is the dancing means, for she is blessed to understand the world in her own way. He moves quick with his nose flush to the ground, his paws dancing across the earth with practiced precision. It is a surprisingly graceful movement, unusual in his stride and yet unique to him; his inability has given him ultimate freedom. He moves without judgement, unaware of the strange words others might speak of his swinging, loose strides. His tail bounces behind him like the leaves, his eyes hopeful as he spies her familiar form, the flashes of gold all too easy for his eyes to find among the bramble. She, too, was charging for him, her mouth indicating excitement that instantly set aflame his own. She knew!

He lopes then behind her, following her foot steps though he continues to absorb the textures and the smells of their new world. He isn't sure what the change is, only that there is something strange about this day. There is a scent on the wind, riding through the twists and turns they take until he is sure he recognises it in all its glory. Mother, she of gold and black who had spent so long with them. No more was she air, but a corporeal being once more; he sees her, he sees Tuari rushing towards her and rubbing into her. For some moments, he is inclined to pause, watching them from afar with his head tilted, eyes narrowing with understanding. Is this the change? Is this the precursor for some new adventure?

He soon follows his sister's lead, loping towards her with no regard for the world in those moments. He wishes to test this reality, pressing his forehead against her chest. He feels it then, the pulse of her heart thumping against her chest. He feels it and now, he knows, this reality has changed to something he is even more pleased with. These forests, after all, would be more beautiful now that his family was once more.