His conversation with Orca had been...unexpected. It had brought to the surface many issues that he'd thought he had long ago dealt with. But as it turned out, he still longed for that which he'd never had, that which he feared he may never have. His sister had told him there was still time for them, twelve was not so old an age that love could not find a place in their lives and pups could not be brought into the world. Still, it had gave him cause to think over the things in his life. Unlike it might have done years ago, such thoughts did not bring him down. They simply caused inward reflection. And when it came to thinking, Sleekwing found comfort in running the borders. As he moved along the shared periphery with Taviora, he did not slow his pace as he might have only weeks prior. None of his efforts had resulted in a meeting with Natu or her daughter Ankh - chance or otherwise. And only last week Sleekwing had caught a scent that made the bridge of his nose wrinkle, probably the reason he had not seen Natu since she'd come to meet Ailith's children - Fenrir. The male that had caused so much turmoil in Natu's life had returned, and Sleekwing could only assume that his sudden presence in her life after so many months having been gone with no explanation meant that her thoughts of returning to her true home - Spirane - were pushed aside. But really all that mattered to the Castellan of the mountain was that she was happy. Soon he would seek her out, ensure that such was true, but not today.

Today, despite the somber feeling of such realizations in his chest, something made him feel light as a feather as he loped along the borders. He moved across the ground as if those markings streaked along his sides really did give him wings, and it took him a spell longer to realize the cause of such feelings than he would have liked to admit. It had been quite some time since last he had seen Malina, when she had spent time here in Spirane while their children got to know their father. Since Tesseract's fall Sleekwing had gone out looking for her once, wanting to ensure she and the kids were safe, and ended up encountering his son Los instead. He'd informed his father that Alcmene remained in Glorall while he roamed; Mana's location had been unknown to him, but he had suspected Malina may have returned to her former home, Diveen. In the end, he had worried only about Mana, because he knew that if something bad were to happen to Malina he would feel it. Just as he felt her very presence nearby now.

Picking up the pace, he continued his lap of the borders, making his way ever closer to where she must have been. Finally he caught her scent as it trickled into his nostrils and began to wash over him. His head lifted, glancing around as his pace slowed to a jog. Of course it did not take him long to spot her, that white ear upon her head like a beacon in a storm even as her head lay upon her paws. His tongue lolled from the front of his mouth as he moved to join her, knowing she would not refuse his presence. He climbed amongst the rocks and bramble atop which she had placed herself until he stood on the same level as her, thinking back upon a time in which she had once discovered him in much the same way within the crags. He had been so sad that day, after the deaths of his parents. He was only glad to find Malina did not radiate such an emotion. But still, there was something...not quite right. And so he moved to lay opposite to her, his body curling slightly towards her but giving them both some space. For this moment he felt that perhaps words were not necessary, that if something was on her mind that she wished to talk about she would bring it up. There were no expectations in his eyes as he looked upon her, merely happy to see her here. Trivial pleasantries were not required between them, for they shared something more important than mere friendship - they shared a soul.