Magical relief flooded through Taika when Tithe emerged and forced his small smile at Pandora. It seemed as though years of friendship was still a mere candle compared to what the man felt towards his Imprint. Her body quivered and her crackled eyes watched him closely, optimism swelling in her slowly but brilliantly. The golden woman leaned into the wounded knight and she saw Tithe visibly relax at the touch. For a moment a flicker of jealousy lived in her. The connection between the two was nearly visible to someone who knew Tithe as Taika did. She blinked for a minute and shoved the feeling aside, willing herself to be happy for her friend, and pleased that he had something to live for.

Tithe himself felt as though he could breath again as soon as Pandora had stepped beside him. His tail beat once again against the ground at her words. Glancing behind him, he cringed a little at the pain in his neck, he studied the den. It still smelled slightly of fox, though their scent was far more fresh. He did not think it was possible for Pandora to lie to him. Her logical blunt nature had always been brutally honest to a point. Even during times when her words could have been hurtful it had been a comfort that she would tell him how she saw it. When she spoke he knew it would be true, there would be reason behind it. If she were going to stab him, he would see it coming. He would deserve it. The realization was small, but he grasped it as firmly as he could. It was the sword he would draw, the defense he would hold. There were two beside him who would face him with the honesty he needed. One of them knew where he came from, the creatures that birthed him. The other he hoped would still accept him if she knew.

Fear pulsed through his veins and he tried to ignore it. Tried to turn away from everything that had happened and boiled beneath his surface. Instead he looked at Sila. Though he knew her to be Spirane’s healer he trusted the company he was in. Mostly when I turn my head. He admitted softly. Remembering the treatment he had received from Niviaq, he figured the daughter would also learn a way to make him reveal his wounds one way or another.

Taika grinned at Sila, her tail still wagging. This was going far easier than she had anticipated. If you tell us what to do, we can take care of him. She said simply with a smile. Taika thought to herself, if Tithe had been any other kind of man he would have loved the attention of three females slathering his battle wounds. As it was, she knew he did this grudgingly and with embarrassment.