The time we had spent in Spirane had been short, and I had not been given the opportunity to take Elowen to Taviora as planned. What with Sulan's murder and looking after Emerald, not to mention checking in with Isola and spending any extra time I had with Elowen, we just hadn't had the chance. And then Achilles had taken back Diveen, and we'd been able to return home. It had come as a pleasant, though not entirely unexpected, surprise to find the den Elowen and I had raised our children in untouched when we returned home. Very few wolves had remained when Covet took over, and fewer still came to live in Diveen while he was playing at leading, nor when Ambrosia had either. Shortly after returning home I'd set to work to prove myself to the pack and to Achilles and Vega, that I could be their advisor. Now there was nothing to do but wait and see how things played out in regards to what I had told my King and Queen. Thankfully, this would finally give us the time we needed to travel to Taviora so that Elowen could meet my mother.

Despite how excited I was for them to finally meet, it still took me a minute to be roused the morning of our departure. It was so nice to enjoy these simple pleasures in life, laying side by side with my mate in a home that was safe. Diveen would always be my pack, but the real home that I lived within was Elowen's heart and soul. We were curled together and soaking up each other's warmth when my love was the first to rise. I sighed softly at her touch, eyes remaining closed though the barest shifts of her bodice woke me. It was a peaceful wakening, one I did not protest against but reveled within. This was paradise.

Ears flicked atop my head at her words, nose shifting to press into whatever fur of hers was closest to me so that I could deeply inhale her perfume before finally opening my eyes to the new day. Reaching my head forward I licked her cheek before offering her a smile, and as soon as she moved towards the den's mouth I was rising to my paws to follow her. Together we made our way across the borders of our home and out into the free lands of Moladion. No words were needed between us as he made our way ever closer to Taviora, simply enjoying one another's company and the beauty that winter had created around us.

When the trees of Taviora loomed before us I felt the wonder in Elowen's gaze as she looked upon them for the first time. I chuckled softly at her words as we moved beneath their canopy, knowing that we were welcome here and need not wait upon the borders. "I thought you might never want to come back to Diveen," I joked back with her, knowing that no matter what we were home when we were together. She knew my devotion to Diveen and Isola's family, but it was still nice to visit the beautiful forests of Taviora. Elowen was right. We should have done this sooner. More often. How many more times would we have? If any?

I was worried for my mother, knowing that age was beginning to steal her away from this world. I pressed myself softly against Elowen for comfort as we made our way towards the meadow where I knew Moth would be - her favorite place in all of Taviora. When we reached it I could see her against the snow, laying peacefully amongst her surroundings. Coza stood not far off, surely having helped her get here and I nodded to him in greeting as we made our way closer. Moth looked to me, though I knew she could not truly see me. Not as she once had. Her voice brought a smile to my lips and I hurried my steps, breaking away from Elowen only at the last moment as my mother bid me forward. Drawing one leg underneath myself I leaned forward in something akin to a bow, head and neck wrapping around that of my mother in an embrace. I tucked my nose into the fur of her ruff, nuzzling her fondly before withdrawing. "Hello, mother," I said affectionately, then pivoted slightly so that she and Elowen could meet properly for the first time. My tail waved back and forth, overjoyed in this moment; and yet some part of my heart ached, wishing that Dessa and Berke, and Goliath and Ash, could be here to share in it. Alas, it was not to be so, and I knew that I should simply treasure what it was that we had - this time together.