unable to bind.mated to none.father to Eztli, Lixue, Petra, Citlalli, & Itzel.Taviora

She was worthy of all of his attention and more and the more time he spent with her, the more time he wanted to spend with her. There was something so alive about her, something that made him light up inside. It seemed like such a short time ago that they were strangers but he wouldn't go back to that even if he could. She seemed so happy here. It was like she was meant to be here and he was glad that he had thought of it. She followed him eagerly further into Taviora. It was an advantage that he was indigenous to this pack land in particular. He knew all the ins and outs of this place and hopefully in time, she would too. She teased him about alone time so he brought up that he'd been looking forward to having her alone. She smiled and it was the kind of smile that lit up the whole area. He gave her a saddened look when she said that the hunt was his idea.

"Only because I wanted to keep you well fed. I haven't even gotten a thank you yet."

He smirked teasingly as he moved on ahead. Right about that time, she brought up that she had left the rabbit and he parted his lips in a silent gasp.

"That's what I get for hunting for you. Tsk, tsk."

He shook his head as if disappointed but his eyes were twinkling playfully. She looked back down the path they had taken and he followed her gaze. He would volunteer to go with her if she wanted to go back for it. But then she said that she would go back for it later. He nodded.

"Well if they don't, they'll have me to deal with."

He held his head higher in a matter of fact way, trying to look big and bad but really he was laughing on the inside. He felt the need to tease her about pawing at him though. He couldn't help himself when it came to her. She raised her head and teased him right back, her voice full of a new tone that caught his interest. He tilted his head, raising his brow at her as his lips quirked. He laughed.

"Oh come on, I think it can grow a little."

Next thing he knew, she was licking his cheek and he paused for a second, thrown off guard. His eyes widened but before he could say anything, she had jumped ahead and that laugh gave him a new warmth in his chest. He smiled before he could help himself, trotting ahead to be near her. He could see the confusion at first on her features when they stopped in the snowy meadow but as he spoke of it, he watched her face and he liked seeing the sudden change. It was like she could see it through his eyes, see it the way Moth used to see it. She took a small step forward, saying how beautiful it was and he smiled.

"Not as beautiful as you."

He said it before he could help himself. His eyes suddenly widened. Oh crap, did he say that out loud? But she was still moving closer, leaning back against him and he sighed in contentment, reaching over to inhale her scent as he pressed his nose into her scruff or a minute. Then she touched her muzzle to his for a nuzzle and his eyes lowered to half lids, feeling almost dopey with all this affection. She was doing something to him and he liked it. Then she was thanking him and he shook his head slowly.

"I should be thanking you for putting up with me. For coming with me. For being here now."

The moment was growing tense but in a good way and he didn't want it to end any more than she did. He nodded when she said that she would have liked to meet Moth, that they had a lot in common.

"You do. But maybe as a small compensation, I can introduce you to my father sometime. He would like you too."

He watched as she lowered herself to the ground and stretched out, only taking a moment to enjoy the moment before he joined her on the ground. Then she told him to tell her more about his mother and he tilted his head in curiosity. She told him that she wasn't close to her parents and that it was an easy decision to leave and he scowled thoughtfully. He hated hearing that but he was sure she didn't want his sympathy. He wouldn't know what he would do if it wasn't for his own family. They were always there for him, even when he didn't deserve it. He was sad that her own parents didn't make time for her. He knew if he ever had kids, he would never put duties before them. She thanked him for showing her everything again and he smiled before reaching forward to lick her cheek.

"You deserve so much, Talien. Never sell yourself short. Your family doesn't know what it was missing. It was them who lost out, not you. My mom's name was Moth. She was a kind caring soul and an avid healer. She always wanted to help others. She was older when she met my father. In fact, he was half her age when he imprinted on her. She tried so hard to push him away because she didn't think she was worth it. She didn't want him to suffer beause they wouldn't have much time together. But Dad wasn't having any of it and he was persistent so over time she gave in and they became mates. She became a lead healer in two packs, watching over the children and helping others. She helped heal both her mate when he was alpha and the alpha before him, her friend Heyel, when they came back from pack challenges. She helped when there was a war between packs, healing the ones who came back. She was a legend in her own right. But she never had a bad word to say about anyone. She gave my father one litter, the one that consisted of me, my brother, and my sister. She was too old to have more but he was okay with it. As it was, it was hard for her to have us but she wanted him to have a family. She wanted everything for him. She died quietly surrounded by family in the den. She had been sick for a while and it was only getting worse. She could barely breathe sometimes. But she died looking into my father's eyes and I know to her last breath, she loved him. You could say they're my role models."

He looked at her, hoping she liked the story as he leaned against her.