I come home feeling better than when I left. Perhaps it was simply being with my soul that brought me some happiness and peace to my spirit. I race back home as if I know my sister is soon to go into labor and bring upon the world the pups that had been created between her and Leonidas. I will not leave her, not in her time of need and not ever. I am certain he will not show his face ever again though I will not deny him the chance to see his children if he did happen to make an appearance. Like Fenrir I do not deny those, no not even Leo who earns almost all my ire now, the chance to see their children. I would never wish to be denied to see Haven and Idunn even if they are not my blood they are, essentially, my children. Should I have been kept from them would have broken my spirit and surely whomever blocked me would have won my fiery hate.

My golden and mahogany form treks the mountain side so easily. I know where she is, her den the den she too was birthed in and the den I was raised in alongside of her. I would never abandon my sister though and it was not intentional that I had let her be alone for so long. I needed the break though the time away to get my own head back on my shoulders and set my paws back on the path that was laid before me. Changed perhaps, for father again to my families’ pups I predicted myself to be but I didn’t bother me for truly I was content in being a father to my adoptive family’s blood so long as they needed it. So with that I was like fire on the trail, blazing up the mountain side and soon dragging myself close to the upper confines of the mountain where I was certain she would be giving birth alone with no Leonidas no anyone there and my heart died for her. Her soul was with another I presumed but with family I hoped she would be comforted with at least my presence.

Imagine my surprise then when I see another male come upon her den that was neither Leonidas or myself. I quirk my large head, forest green eyes intent on the stranger though he is thick with Spirane’s scent a member. I am curious to this male and his nature perhaps I have missed something in my time away. I do not get angry; I do not go into the protective mode over my sister despite the very will of my being wishing to rip the stranger from the den and away from her in such a delicate state. But I do not, my sister makes no growl or call and as I come close what I hear is no sound of threats but encouragement. I pause not entering, like I would have but instead leaping to the top of the den perching myself on top like a statue and a guardian like sentinel watching as this stranger peeks in the den. How interesting, for a moment I wonder if this is some misunderstanding, or perhaps my sister finally found herself a decent suitor? I know it is Leo who is the father though part of me has some vain hope mabe it is this, perhaps overly excited, soul standing at her den’s entrance.

At least he was here for her. Fool perhaps, he never likely had to deal with Leonidas’ insanity as Taliesin had but that would come in time if he continued to hover above my sister as he did now. I look down at him and I can hear the muffled cries of pups within and my own heart and soul at the sound feel warm and light. I cannot stop the song that then comes from me the joy at which I feel knowing the mountain’s blood carries on even if it is Leonidas it is my sister’s too. New life always is a good reason to sing.

I throw back my head and allow the beauty of my song to fill the mountains, exclaiming to the world of this fantastical birth and the joy it will bring us. Hearing the joy and beauty of my own voice praising to the skies above and I hope even those in the heavens above can hear me for surely Moon Glow and Alcide were watching and listening to us now and can hear my message.

The Mountain blood lives on