Nervousness was thick between the two. Taika looked over at her friend and frowned when she saw his expression. It was clear that he wanted nothing more than to sink into the ground at his feet. It broke her heart, to see the man who had come to life in the mountains now seem to break apart at the seams in their shadows. Forcing herself to grip what she had been, she yipped at him, and lowered her head in the smallest of play bows, her tail swinging for no more than two beats before falling still at his slight smile.

Tithe took a breath and looked up at the peaks that stared down at him. The times he saw the sun shine through them and brighten his soul were gone. He saw the blood and the betrayal flow in the rivers that created the cracks in the faces. The wind blew, bringing with it the scent of the Alphess and Sleekwing. The protective visor fell over his face, covering his body with the armor he had worn in his youth, though now it rested uncomfortable on his shoulder and shined battered and dented. He sat beside his friend, his face impassive. Daenerys spoke his name, his eyelids flickered with the pain of hearing his name on her lips. Lady Daenerys. The greeting was spoken with the utmost formality. Familiarity had been lost and their friendship broken. They had both stepped wrong, and at times he was still searching for where to step. At least until Taika nudged him again and smiled up at his guarded gaze. He knew where he stood with her. She was solid ground.

Taika herself snapped to attention at the sound of her name. She could not help the grin on her face, nor her eyes lighting up. She could see the friendliness of the man, though his hesitancy to approach held her back. Oh really? And what have you heard about me? She asked teasingly, her tail beginning to wag in its instinctual manner. Crackled eyes looked over at her friend, who finally broke through his resistance. Tithe smiled fully at her, the friendliness that came from years of companionship. Only that the Queen of Fantasy is a challenge to pin down at times. A free spirit whose paws were always moving. Taika smirked, though the corner of the smile fell for a second. She had been that once, she could feel the desire to be that woman again. Ah, well then. The woman turned her face back to the pack wolves. Yes, I am Taika, Tithe’s long-time friend. At this there was a heartbeat of hesitancy. She eyed the Queen of Spirane, wondering what these words meant to the woman. Taika, free-spirited and with the desire to laugh and to love, was not so naive to be blind to the implications behind being a life-friend to one who had been branded ‘untrustworthy’. She put the silent accusations aside and continued, her expression turning nervous. I had heard there was to be a play in these mountains. Unfortunately, my daughter, Masque, also heard this and has made it very very clear to the world that she wanted to come. Masque did not shut up about it, really. I need to stay with my other daughter. Tithe is one of the few I would trust to be able to watch Masque’s tendency of escaping. I wanted to ask you if he could escort her to this performance. I know the gypsies are welcome, but I been sheltered by a pack with my children. She grinned ruefully at Tithe, once more the flicker of their childhood friendship lighting their bodies. And I think Tithers has been too comfy holed up to give much thought about where he goes. ‘Tithers’ rolled his eyes at his companion and snorted gently at her poking. Once his gaze returned once again to Sleekwing the lively glimmer faded tarnished just so. He missed his friend in the older wolf. When he looked back to Daenerys, he hardened once more and dropped his gaze, struggling once more to keep himself grounded. He was here for Taika.