Since their births, Sleekwing had been a routine presence in the lives of Ailith's pups. He would stop by the den whenever he got the chance, sometimes bringing Ailith pieces of recent kills, so that she could focus on rearing her children instead of having to hope that they'd stay in the den while she hunted. The two children were growing fast, and those things that their mother had told him the day they were born already began to shine through in truth. Kirsi with a wild imagination and Cadwan with his protective tendencies. Even though the Castellan had many other duties to attend to within their mountain home, he made a habit of coming to visit them at least twice a week. Ailith's den was quite close to his own, after all, which made the stops easy enough if he was on his way home and they were out playing.

Sleekwing was stalking a herd of elk that morning, not to hunt, but merely to track them and assess how they had faired over the winter. With three litters already born this spring and another on the way, large prey like this was important, for there were many mouths to feed. Already there were many calves on the ground, sticking close to the flanks of their mothers. From what he could tell the herd seemed to have done well through the colder months, though Sleekwing did spot a few older cows who neither had calves at foot or the tell tale signs of pregnancy. These were the ones who Sleekwing tracked, for if there was something about them unhealthy they would make the best targets for future hunts. The sound of a distant howl made the herd perk up, on edge even though they had been so relaxed moments before with his presence. As the bull began to meander his way towards the dark grey wolf, he lifted from his place among the trees and barked once with indignation; he was not a threat to them when alone and the bull knew it. Still, that voice that had called out for Ailith and her pups belonged to a dear friend of his. So he turned and loped off into the woods, leaving the elk to their own.

He made his way with ease, loping over the landscape towards the border shared with Taviora. Natu and Ailith had been close for a long time, and this time of introducing her children to the sister of her heart would be a special moment for Ailith. So he did not rush, giving them a bit of time before he fixated his trail more steadfast upon their location. He came up from the east rather than from the heartlands of the mountain as Ailith had, and as he came into view he noted that Natu's daughter Ankh had accompanied her once more. He was glad to see such a thing, to know that her children had not fallen into some adolescent phase of not wanting to spend time with their mother.

Jogging up to the small gathering after their introductions had concluded, Sleekwing grinned and nodded to Natu before he stopped at Cadwan's side. He lifted a paw and bumped it against the boy's shoulder in a 'brothers at arms' sort of fashion, for the Castellan of the mountain had noticed the way the boy watched him. From the day of his birth Ailith had speculated that the boy would grow to be a warrior like him, and Sleekwing would gladly help him to achieve such a thing if it was his goal. Cobalt eyes rimmed in pale lavender then flitted to each of the others wolves present in turn, his tail waving gently along his hind legs. "What a beautiful day," he mused, for the weather was absolutely pristine and what could be better than such wonderful company as this?