I looked on as the small gathering continued to grow, a myriad of children brought together in the shelter of the mountains, and a content feeling settled over my mind. It was good to know that the youth of other packs had not been discouraged from coming because of the former instability of Spirane. And as that content feeling spread within my bodice, at first I did not notice the warm tingling at the edges of my consciousness. It was a relaxed and complete feeling, and one that I did not at first realize was due to my imprint's proximity. It had been a long time since I had last seen him, and while I had felt the inner turmoil he had gone through, I had had my own set of problems to deal with in the last couple of years that kept me from seeking him out. I had seen him a handful of times in the wake of my defeat, as he assured that I healed properly, but his visits had been centered around my care and we hadn't talked much with Jericho always around. He hadn't come after I had taken back the mountain, and I felt his absence - but I knew there must have been some reason for it.

Only when he drew near to me did I realize that it was him, and I glanced over my shoulder mere moments before he came into sight. "Meryl," I said softly, a gentle smile caressing my features. It was good to see him. For a long time I had always hoped that he would make a home here in Spirane, to bring his family here so that we could be close to one another. But it was not to be, and I could never ask him to give up the loyalty he had to Diveen. His apology was met with a swift shake of my head, dismissing such a notion. Rising to my paws, I moved to greet him, pressing my shoulder to his and my cheek to his neck in an embrace. Mahogany eyes were quick to take notice of the scars that littered his back and scruff. Memories flashed to the forefront of my mind, from all those years ago when I had found him near the river and supported his weight to get him home to Yin so that she could tend to his wounds. But there were more than just those scars upon him now. Questions and concerns surfaced within my mind, but I withdrew to look him in the eye and simply said, "It has been a hard couple of years, for both of us, I think."

Gesturing for him to join me, I moved back to the wide outcropping of rock and looked down upon the party once more. A couple more adolescents had arrived, but the gathering was much smaller than any of the previous ones had been. Then again, it had seemed that fewer and fewer couples were having litters in the last few years. Was the tumult of changing leadership in the packs to blame for it? I hoped that those within Spirane might find the mountains stable enough once more to raise families within - it had been years now since the yips of newborns were heard upon the mountainside. After a moment I looked back to my imprint. "How have you been, Meryl?" It was an open ended question, and perhaps a loaded one at that, but it would give him the chance to steer his end of the conversation. We were old friends, with a bond that could not be shaken, but it had been a long time since we had confided in one another. Perhaps today was the day to reawaken that age old friendship.