Betrayal is a strange thing. There was so much left unsaid between Tithe and I, but now was not the time for such conversations. His actions had spoken volumes, but perhaps it was that mine had as well. It was something I had wished to discuss with Pan, but my longtime adviser had all but disappeared into thin air upon my return to Spirane. And with Taliesin dedicated to Diveen and Jericho's absence, I was left with only my elder brother for any semblance of an adviser. I looked to him now, glad that he had accompanied me to this meeting unbidden. It seemed that his presence provided some ease to the situation. And though I had missed the exchange of looks between Sleekwing and Tithe, the barest whine that slipped from the latter caused a single audit to prick in his direction momentarily. Yet my eyes and the bulk of my attention remained steadfast upon Taika. Sleekwing's had dipped slightly at the sound, that sadness at the loss of any hope that things may yet be remedied flitting through his gaze before he, too, stowed away such emotions in favor of concentrating on the here and now.

Once I had explained my stance on the forthcoming event, and Tithe's attendance, I could not help but smile at the cheerful shewolf's response. Sleekwing could not help but chuckle. "I look forward to meeting her," he said. Taika then moved to Tithe, offering him the chance to leave and deliver the news to Masque. He readily took the opportunity, dipping his head to myself and Sleekwing. Responding in kind, I nodded my head and Sleekwing seemed to lean forward as if to rise and properly say farewell to the male. But the motion transformed into a dipping of his head, a longing look in his eye as his friend turned and departed the mountain's borders. My own teeth were set together, not quite clenched, for the sight brought up the memory of him having turned his back on me. For a moment I watched him go, nostrils flaring before I looked back to Taika, wondering why she had lingered. Were there other affairs that concerned us, Spirane, that she wished to discuss?

My teeth did clench together at her comment, mahogany eyes narrowing slightly as I searched her face for meaning. But the gaze that looked back at me was free of deception, and my jaw slackened as Sleekwing spoke again. "He is missed here." Taika continued then, including them both in the sentiment as she rose to her feet. Light and whimsical as she might come across, there was something deeper within this shewolf than met the eye. I was not so tactless a wolf as to think that time alone would heal the wounds Tithe and I had inflicted upon one another. But her acknowledgement of such things brought it to the forefront of my mind. And yet, I had no words, no reply for her sentiments. Perhaps the wounds were still too fresh, even a year on. Her departing words, however, brought words back to my tongue. "I am glad to have met you, Taika. I look forward to meeting your daughter - or at least I hope she will meet my daughters, for they are sure to be among the audience." An amicable grin graced my maw once more, dipping my head in farewell to the shewolf.

It was then that Sleekwing rose to his paws and finally closed the gap, the tension of the meeting dissipating as he made this closing gesture. He stepped forward and touched his shoulder to Taika's in a brief embrace before withdrawing once more. "I am glad to finally have a face to put to the name. Until we meet again," he said, dipping his head low in something akin to a bow before lifting himself and stepping back to stand alongside me. And for a moment we stood there, watching her as she went, until we both turned and began to trek back up into our mountainous home.