This. He had missed this. Her. Their friendship. He had tried to find it in other things, other wolves, but nothing seemed to match this. Though he treasured the friendship he had found in his savior - Kiyomi - and the companionship that blossomed between him and Ailith, neither could rival what he felt when in Natu's company. Maybe it was rooted in the way that their life courses had somehow mirrored one another's; the struggles they had both faced when first they'd met, though different in every way had brought them together. Then musings over the minds of their respective children, and the free flow of conversation that always seemed to fall from their lips whenever they met. Despite all that had happened he still felt reason to trust her, as he always had, in the form of some inexplicable gut instinct. But that was why they were called instincts, for sometimes they could not be defined.

All in a blur he thrusts forward to hug her, and she receives him with a laugh and the press of her forehead into his fur. As always he ignores the exhilaration at her touch, associating it only with the depth of their friendship. His front paws fall back into the creek, relieving her of his weight as he steps back. The shaking of her head sends pristine droplets of water flying in all directions, so reminiscent of that day at the crags. Swiftly does he lower into a play bow, so close to the surface of the water that had could have scooped out an unsuspecting fish to further recreate those memories. Instead though he is caught up in the here and now, practically launching towards the skies with his exultation. He paws at the water before him repetitively, speaking the words again as the reality of it set in. The boy who had once been his charge to train was alive and well. Her reply echoes his astonishment and exhilaration, and in this they celebrate a life they had both thought lost, found again.

No matter the running or his level of fitness, as they both begin to calm he cannot mask the loss of breath this news brought him to. It is not the same as that which would result from over exertion, but a heady kind of panting that only accentuates the happiness felt. But the slightest shift in her gaze clues him into the fact that there is more on her mind, and as her eyes drop away from his he stills and his mouth pulls shut, nose angling slightly down and head tilting ever so slightly to the side. His brows furrow at the words that follow, unsure what she was asking at first. As she splashes her hindquarters down into the creek he straightens up, clearly confused at her sudden switch of behavior as his mind still races with the buzz of the prior moments. Deeply does he inhale, steadying his thoughts as he remains on his feet, and on the exhale she continues and the connection is realized.

His eyes soften, brows still furrowed in concern as he listens to all she has to say. The troubles that claw at her heart make him ache, wishing there was a way to turn back time and remedy the way things had happened. Whether anything he could have said or done would have changed the outcome was all speculation, but he hated to see her hurting over the results that had brought her to this day. When she glanced back up at him she was met with empathetic eyes traced with the seriousness that accompanied any dealings he managed in regards to the pack. Still, he speaks as honestly with her as he always had, and always would. "To be spurned by someone she had entrusted so much to...it did not sit well with Daenerys. It hurt her greatly, I think perhaps because it was the first time she experienced such a thing." His sister sometimes confided in him, but much of what he said was speculation. "Our mother...she was not much of a presence in Daenerys' upbringing. I think it is why she finds it much easier to lay her trust in males." The entirety of her small council was comprised of males - Jericho, Taliesin, and Pan. It was true that Dany had suffered betrayal at the hand of males as well, but to have your foundation formed upon a mother who was barely present did things to a young girl.

"But Daenerys took after our mother more than she realizes. She values family above all else, and she considers every member of this pack her family. You were once part of that, Natu, and family is forever." He blinked down at her. "I do not doubt that things would take time, but I know she would not turn you away." In his heart he knew this to be true, even if Daenerys had never spoken such words. He could tell, in those first months after Natu had disappeared, how much his sister had missed her. Often he wondered if she did not, on some level, look up to the older shewolf. He could not be certain. "For his own sake, though, I hope that Fenrir does not think to return here." He said these words slightly under his breath, though clear enough for Natu to understand every syllable. It was not a threat, but Daenerys did tend towards having a rather vengeful spirit; she had chased Purge from the very realm of Moladion altogether. And Sleekwing could not deny that he felt personal unrest towards the male who had caused Natu to chose to leave her home, and now left her grasping at scenarios that no mate should ever have need to.

His voice softens then, and feeling laces the words he speaks next. "Just, don't give her false hope, Natu. I would be lying if I told you I didn't want you to come home. I do. But, don't come back unless you know that you won't leave again." It was strange how quickly the conversation shifted, and it made his heart ache to say such a thing to her, but it wasn't only Daenerys that couldn't stand to lose her again.