My name is murmured from her lips, and while I feel part of my inner self faltering, I remain strong, if only just for her. She is my Mother, after all, and while it is her natural duty to be strong for me- I know now, in these moments, I must be her strength. And I am glad to do so, just as I am glad to have her back. Even if this is temporary, even if she will leave us again; I am glad to have seen her once more. At first, she is her stubborn self, reluctant in leaning into me, but I hold diligent. I know she will need it, and so when it comes, her gentle weight against me I am strong and firm beneath her. I would carry her all the way if I had to, but as it were, I only needed to give her my shoulder to lean upon. Though the journey is short, it seems as though it takes a life time. We are almost to the edge of the thick Taviora forests when I break the silence, my voice quiet and soothing for her in these moments, lilted with genuine curiosity. "Will you be with us long?" I wanted to know, so that I could make proper arrangements. As an adult this past spring, I had taken it upon myself to move out of the family den and into one of my very own. If she wished, I would take her to her den with Father, or to my very own. As much as they love one another, I know there has to be something between them, if anything at all. I just did not know what, at least, not entirely. "And would you like my den, or yours?" There's no hesitation when I call Father's den her own, for, regardless of time, it was her own. Sen would always be my Mothers, though I did not know if my Mother would always be his. That was between them, and left to them. For now, I was simply focused on her, getting her into Taviora, and finding Moth. I would not call for my Father, I would not draw him to inevitable pain and suffering. In time, I knew he would find her, as they always found one another. Always.

It was when we were a few hundred yards from the pack territory that I finally gave pause long enough to tilt my slender muzzle to the sky and let loose a song. I called for Moth, prime healer of the pack, and for Coza, if he would come too. I knew Hush and Coza were long time friends, and it had undoubtedly been awhile since they had seen another- and beside Sen, he would be the one Hush wanted. That was my thought process, anyway. Once my lilting tones had faded off on the wind, I turned with a glance to my Mother for but a moment, before continuing forward on my small paws, determined to get her there sooner, rather than later. I hoped someone would heed my call, but only time would tell who might have heard it, or at the very least picked up our scents. Any recent pack member might not know hers, but they would know mine, as it has been present since almost the very beginning of Taviora. We had come here as a family, for a new place, new home, new beginning. And the result had been a scattering; a broken family, as a result, spread to the wind and Fate at its leisure. Only when we are safe within the packland do I stop to give her rest, my pale shoulder remaining near her dark one should she take the pressure off, and should she need it, need me, once more. I would always be with her, just beside her, should she ever need me. I would not leave her as she did me, as she did us, her family. But that did not matter. One did not treat another as they liked to be treated. One treated another exactly how they wished, well or otherwise, and for my Mother- I had eternal love that would never cease, and could never cease.