His name called over the roar of the flames around them. Instinctively he looked towards the call. In the second his eyes saw her his blood ran cold. For just the heartbeat his body was ice before being alight with the flames again and a need to protect what was his, the life in his jaws. He did not care about his life, or her’s, their choices or their fates. All he needed was to make sure his son survived this day so he would feel the joys and sorrows of life. There was no other hesitation before he leapt forward and followed the woman down whichever path she chose to lead him.

She stopped and approached him, her intentions to help confusing to him at first. In the hot wind his hackles rose, possibly unnoticed in the chaos around them. Tithe had to make his choice in a second. Slow his already tired body, or trust the woman whom he had entered into bloody combat with. Trust her with a life that was his, but so much more. The precious soul between his teeth he was so sure was more and greater than he could ever be. He took the chance and gave the pup to the mountain queen. If the worst fate came to be he knew Daenerys would at least bring the boy to Spirane and he would know the comfort of calling the mountains home. He knew Bazyl was old enough to know he had lived and was his father.

The pup passed between them and Tithe positioned himself just ahead of Danaerys. His position let him feel her movements and direction while still making himself be the first to step into danger or see the shifts in the wind and the fire. Every sense was on alert for any change that would present another danger. Their paws touched the water and he felt as though a weight of fear had been lifted from him. Whether the water was an illusion of safety or a real haven from the fire he took the chance and led them to a small island just off the banks. He pulled himself from the water that just barely touched the underside of his body and looked anxiously back at Daenerys and his son. When at last the boy returned to his paws he nuzzled him in a quick check for injuries. A single paw rolled the boy through the shallow water, cleaning him off the ash and soot that had settled onto his copper and red fur. The general markings of the son were the same as the father, but the colors hailed brilliantly to his mother’s bloodline. Their eyes though, showed clearly their relation. Identical ironclad irises looked up at Daenerys. One peered in open curiosity, the other in careful and guarded consideration. A single ear flicked back and at last he nodded his head.

Thank you. You saved something far more important than my life. He felt such a statement needed no further explanation and Bazyl carefully stepped forward to sniff at Daenerys’ feet. The knight looked down at the pup for a minute, letting the silence give him time to think of his words. Curses, snarls, pleas, threats and words of grovelling all beat against his mind, threatening to breath the fragile barriers he had spent the seasons rebuilding. His eyes flashed for a second before he slammed the visor down once more over his face. Breathing deep, he calmed himself and smiled at his son. There was more here than him. There was more here than he and Daenerys. It was something else to fight for.

We need to talk. He said in his quiet, soft and smooth voice. Talking was all he had ever wanted to do with her. He looked at her now, calm and respectful. He did not bow to her, she was not his queen here and he had worked to win back his pride, but he still gave her the respect and honor she deserved. “I stand by what I had done. I had vowed myself to Spirane. When Roman took power the alliances that had once been in place could have been shaken and there were ones of the pack that had chosen to stay, so I stayed and worked for the pack of Spirane. I had called the packs for the gathering to protect and keep strong what was already there. When Roman proved to be a poor leader for the mountains, I challenged him, and bloodlessly became king. I had hoped, possibly foolishly, that somewhere and somehow you would have been pleased that a friend of your’s would have done such a deed. I had hoped you would have come to the mountains to speak with me, for I was busy working within them to build back what had fallen to pieces. Had you called my name in friendship I would have asked you to rule along with me. Not as a mate…” His mind jumped to Pandora, his soul’s queen. “...but still as a leader of the mountains.” Perhaps he had put too much trust in their friendship. It was clear that he had. Gaze looked over at his son, who was doing his best to pretend he was not listening to the adults, sniffing instead at the dry brush by the banks of the river. Tithe did not care that Bazyl was only half-heartedly distracting himself, this was a lesson that would be interesting for the youth to learn. “I may not have been innocent, Daenerys. But nor am I the only one guilty.”