The howl pulled him so suddenly from his nap that he was almost dizzy, head lifting and tilting slightly as his ears perked towards the source. Rapidly he blinked away sleep, unsure if he was still dreaming or if her voice really was echoing off the sharp inclines of the mountain. A yawn stretched his jaws wide and he lifted his form from the embankment of snow he had curled up just beneath. His masculine figure rose, turning towards the sound as he shook his head and pricked his ears once more, listening more carefully. She called for Ailith and another, and reality rocked his world firmly out of dream land. He had not been mistaken; that voice belonged to none other than Natu.

For a moment he considered not going, staying his paw and respecting that she had come looking only for Ailith. He knew they shared a bond that ran as deep as sisterhood. His time of late had been split three ways - between comforting and keeping Ailith company, spending time with Kiyomi (who had become one of his closest friends after she saved him from certain death a year prior), and ensuring the overall safety of the mountain. So he had learned much and more about Ailith. But no matter how many times he tried to reassure her that all would be well, a sadness still gripped her from deep within. Perhaps Natu could help to finally dispel such notions. With that thought, his mind was made up, and he took off at a gallop, not wanting to miss his opportunity to see her.

It took him some time to traverse the snow laden mountain trails that led down the mountainside, and so the trio of females were given some time to themselves. But as soon as he hit the borders, he turned in the direction he knew them to be and loped along with ease, regaining his breath and composure before cresting a slight knoll in the rolling landscape of the foothills and catching his first sight of her in over a year. He could not help the smile that widened across his features as he recalled their last encounter. The summer before last they had enjoyed a relaxing day in one another’s company, pond-side at the crags. They had talked of many things, primarily their children and the trials of life. He recalled the plans they had made for Sven’s training, ones that had never come to fruition as Natu’s presence on the mountain had lessened and lessened in the months following her meeting Fenrir. And when she had left last winter, Sleekwing had not been there. If he had, maybe he could have been there for Sven, delved into some form of training to give the boy’s mind some focus. But illness had stolen the Castellan of the mountain, nearly taking his life. But Sven’s life had been the one lost. It was something Sleekwing could not forgive himself for. He was supposed to be the strength of the pack, and he had failed.

He reached them just as Natu withdrew from an embrace with Ailith, exclaiming that she would be an aunt again. Sleekwing slowed to a high stepping jog, practically dancing around the two females and the child. He immediately picked up on the excitement that Natu felt, his tail wagging out behind him as he nudged his nose just behind the line of her jaw in greeting. He darted towards Ailith then, bumping his shoulder against hers as he so often did in a sign of reassurance. Withdrawing from them both so that he stood just off to the side and directly between them, his dark blue eyes fell upon Natu. For a moment there was the tiniest etching of hope that she had come home, but it was quickly replaced with the truth that she had only come to visit, to retrieve her child.

“This business of a year and a half passing between each of our meetings really must stop.” Sleekwing teased, grinning broadly at his old friend. For so long he had tried to deny the aching in his chest, how he craved the easy flow of conversation they had once known. All those months ago he had felt such affection for her, only ever allowing it to be attributed to friendship. Now his desire for their uncomplicated relationship came rushing back. She might not have been coming home, but he would not allow another six seasons come and go before he saw her again. The whiff of Taviora’s forest was all he needed to know that she was close at hand, and that perhaps he would encounter her while on border patrol sometime. The thought warmed his heart.

Of course he could not help but be drawn to the young lady that stood between the two snow white females, the coloration of her pelt and the distinct markings she bore pulling focus. “And who might this beautiful young lady be?” Sleekwing had known of the girl’s stay upon the mountain, catching sight of her and Ailith as she showed the girl around as much as she could in the short time they had together. The heather painted brute knew that Ailith had moved her den closer to his, much the same as Kiyomi had done when she’d chosen a place to live in her new home, and it was a comfort to him to know they were close at hand. It made checking on their well being all that much more easy. But she did not know him, and from the excitement that made her little body tremble he could only imagine she was bursting at the seams to say something. Why not give her the opportunity?