Delight filled the young woman as day and night eyes landed on the minos. She rose gracefully from her place as Despoina approached, feathery tail sweeping against dainty ankles. Aurelia hadn’t realized that she’d missed the other’s company until now, and it filled her with warmth to see her again. As Despoina settled onto her haunches, she reached to prod the other woman’s shoulder with her nose in playful greeting. Whether she actually touched the other woman or not, Aurelia too seated herself and was silent as Despoina gave her a once over. The other woman was softer around the edges, and underneath the general pack scent, she smelled like another woman and milk and children. Disappointment fluttered against her ribcage, battling with her earnest happiness for the other woman.

She would gladly call Despoina her friend, and she was more than pleased that she had started a family with someone. Aurelia was pulled from her thoughts by Despoina’s words, gentle in a way that clashed with the woman’s brawler image. Your queen has won again. She liked to think she heard understanding in the words, but perhaps she was just projecting what she wanted. Aurelia nodded her head in agreement, thoughtful as she let the silence remain for just a bit longer. She had few relationships - family or otherwise - and she found herself not wanting to disappoint her, probably first, friend. Blue and gold eyes turned away from Despoina as she contemplated what to say, staring out into the marsh. ”Yes,” she agreed once again. ”Did I ever tell you what happened between my leaving Spirane and coming here?” the masked girl asked, already knowing the answer. This would be her explanation, she determined - to let the other woman understand her motives. It only seemed fair.

When, or if, Despoina responded, Aurelia continued. ”I have two brothers, Caderyn and Berwyn, and a sister, Jubilee. We all followed our mother into the loner lands - it seemed to be the only option. When everything you’ve ever known starts to crumble, running away always seems to be the best option. I liked being a loner, in the beginning. It seemed like I’d gotten the adventure every youngling wants,” she explained lightly - retrospectively. Hindsight was 20/20, and even as she spoke, she was beginning to see her choices in a new light. ”And then I lost myself in all the space I’d been given. I had known who I wanted to be from the time I turned a year old - and all of a sudden, that wolf was gone and I was left trying to figure out who I was. And I couldn’t do that with my family acting as though we were the same wolves that we used to be. So I left one morning without telling them I wouldn’t be coming back.” Aurelia sighed quietly at her own admission, ashamed but not guilty. She had done what was best for her at the time, and she would not regret that. She would regret hurting those she cared most about, and mourn the bridges she had most certainly burned.

”And I came here, with every intention to create a new life for myself. And at some point, I found myself in my solitude. Iromar will always have a place in my heart - without it, I could have never found what I was missing - but it is not my home.” Her expression was remorseful as she met the woman’s slate eyes, the corners of her mouth turned up sadly. ”Spirane is my home - and it is calling for me as we speak. I cannot deny that the mountains are as a part of me as the blood in my veins. And when my family returns, and I have faith that they will, I must mend what I hurt. I hope you understand, and that this will not change anything between us.” Her lips curled higher this time, her quiet smile genuine as she added, ”It’d still be an honor to call you my friend.”