The weightiness of my idle statement seemed to resound with him, the stunted chuff of a laugh and his words causing me to lean into him momentarily. It was a gesture of comfort for us both, and I smiled sadly at him. Things could only continue to get better from here - I knew that things were improving on my end. Just regaining my throne hadn't been a fix-all. The pack had stabilized, but there was always the underlying notion that another usurper would try to take what rightfully belonged to the mountain people. But what about Meryl? I listened quietly, mahogany eyes fixated upon his features as he spoke of tidings in Diveen. It was good to hear that Solara's rule was proceeding without hindrance, but the quietness that he spoke of concerned me. At times I feared that Spirane would sink into that type of silence, that which had gripped the mountains in the times of Purge and Roman. But I would do everything in my power to make sure that didn't happen. It was good to know that Meryl had taken back his rightful place as header healer of Diveen, but my eyes opened wide in surprise at the words that followed.

"Taliesin is going to be a father?!" I exclaimed, my tail thumping wildly against the stone surface upon which we rested. "And a royal one, at that!" I laughed aloud; what joyful news. I missed my brother terribly, but to know that he had found happiness with Solara and was making a family of his own was such wonderful news. "I shall have to come and meet my nieces or nephews; perhaps in the summer?" It was a question, wondering when Meryl would think it best for me to come and visit. Some mothers could be very protective of their children for the first year of their life. I would not infringe upon the precious family time of their first season of life, but my personal ache for pups of my own had me excited to spend time with those who would be born to my brother's den this season.

Once the exhilaration of the news settled, and my body calmed under the misting rain once more, I looked out to the group of pups as yet another arrived. My inside ear pivoted towards Meryl as he asked about me and Spirane. I drew a long breath and sighed. "Thing are good, peaceful yes, but one can never know how long that will last." I watched the pups for a moment longer, then looked to Meryl once more. "Pan retired upon my return - he hasn't been seen since; and with Taliesin in Diveen, I am without any advisors. The majority of the ranks stand empty and untried for. The pack seems content - perhaps too content. And I am not sure what else I can do to spur them into action." It was a frustrating thing, to offer the opportunity to scale the ranks to any wolf who sought it, and have no one even grasp at the opportunity. There was, of course, Arthfael and Aurelia, and I was sure that soon one of them would complete their tasks and the role of Mercenary would be filled. But there were so many more roles than just that to fill within the pack. My focus upon regaining Spirane was to strengthen us from the inside, but there was only so much an alpha could do, before it became the pack's responsibility to step up and make an effort.