Exploring this territory that I knew better than the back of my paw would never get old to me, and to have my sister by my tonight only made it all that much better. I looked to her as I spoke about the challenges of inspiring the youth of the pack - the new generation seemed driven by different things. I wondered, sometimes, if the instability created by the interruption to my rule had affected the aspirations of those had come of age during that time. The quick shifts in leadership had meant working towards a rank would likely later become pointless when the next wolf rose to power. But it had been nearly three years since I had taken back Spirane, and I thought by now they would have stepped forward and shone brightly amongst their peers. Even so, I nodded at Haven's words, leaning into her as she did against me. In general I believed myself to be munificent with patience for my pack. My sister was a prime example of all good things coming in time - she had not stepped forward to become Courser until she was seven years old. And now she readily displayed her capability as the most proficient hunter in the pack, teaching the younger wolves this most important of life skills.

A laugh escaped me as Haven spoke about Hollowpoint. He was certainly his own man, but the three children they'd raised to maturity already spoke to their aptitude for parenting. I had no doubt that the four pups who now resided within their den would grow up to be equally unique and interesting wolves. Haven and Hollowpoint had each other to lean on through the parenting process, and some small part of me envied my sister for that. Even though I was old enough to have grandchildren, there was a some reserved part of my heart that had always hoped for another litter with Jericho. Perhaps it just was not meant to be. Presently, Haven's features turned slightly and my brows lowered with concern. She mentioned that Aine's health did not seem to be improving, despite the attentions of the septons of the pack. If there was nothing Niviaq and her apprentices could do, there was only one other wolf to call upon - one who I trusted above all others when it came to matters of healing. "I will ask Meryl to come see her - he is the most learned healer in Moladion, if anyone can do something for her, it is him." I touched my nose to Haven's neck, hoping to offer her some comfort in this. There was nothing harder for a mother than to witness her children struggling.

I shook my head lightly at Haven's comment, my lips turning back to a grin, glad to see the heaviness that had weighed upon my sister's face lift. "Oh, I know all too well. I hope Winchester and Janus don't get up to half the trouble my boys did when they were pups!" I laughed, remembering the antics of my young dragons in their earliest days. "Ah but I don't do any of it alone - I would be nothing without the pack. Though I must say I do miss Pan and his --- well, we'll call it wisdom." A light chuckle, as I recalled the blunt way of my once Hand. His intelligence had known no bounds, but neither had his tongue. "And it's been difficult without Taliesin, too." I paused and glanced out at the fields as the sun began to disappear below the horizon. "And Jericho," I whispered softly. I blinked rapidly, keeping the tears at bay as I swallowed the hard lump in my throat. "But I am grateful for the work of Baird and Arthfael, of Viora, as well as Nymeria and her," a knowing grin creased my features, "friend, Vortigern; and you," I smiled as I looked back to her. Loss was an inevitable part of life, but sometimes it felt like I'd already experienced my fair share of it, with still so many years left to live.

Out of the corner of my eye I spotted the first flash of a lightning bugs' dance, and my sad smile transformed into something far more mischievous. "But come, Haven - we did not come here to dwell on the past. We came here to dance, didn't we?" Drawing back ever so slightly I bumped our shoulders back together and then launched from my spot sitting at her side into a gallivanting stride down the hill and into the field as twilight lay across the land and the fireflies came to life.