Nihil Timeo! I Fear Nothing!

Razorwhip was my title and while it was impressive, I felt a sort of distraction with it. Spirane had been relatively peaceful in the past year. Kalesru had stepped up to take over while Daenery's healed and Nymeria had taken to spending much of her time with her secluded mother. I did not begrudge her, although those moments whenever she came spiraling back into my life I grew animated. When she was gone, well, my position was a good distraction but not good enough. I had worn a path that widened ever so slightly with each tread in a circle around my den. The need to pace, to leave some imprint of myself behind, had become a constant nagging sensation and whenever I had a moment to spare I would barrel towards our favored meeting spot.

The times when she was not there left a disappointed tang in my mouth and yet each time I saw her, it was washed clean, forgotten. Patience was a virtue. I always assumed I was the most patient of my family, being the protector, but apparently I still had a lot to learn. Early in the morning I had spent a few hours lounging about the clearing we met in but when the sun had begun to burn through the gray clouds, I had finally, somberly, slipped away to do some hunting. With winter fast approaching the prey was becoming scarce. The mountains were harsher than the lower lands but I knew the bighorns still climbed the ridges, prideful against the weather. Unrelenting.

It is why I found myself climbing rocky hills again, reminiscent of our last hunt, the one that had left Dany with wounds. It is possible that I had a grudge against these creatures for it. Possible that I blamed them for this forced separation of Nymeria and I. I would wait though. Always. The burning I felt for her... it was unlike anything I had ever experienced. No one understood. Except, maybe, her.

In the midst of my climb is when I heard a faint voice echoing across the slopes. My ears prick, heart racing, but then silence and I feel my heart drop in disappointment again. Until her howl rises. It is as if I am zapped by lightning. My fur stands on end, tail pointed straight out behind me, nostrils flaring to scent the breeze (which was pointless this far up). Then, I howl, and it is full of glory and eagerness. I take off down the slope recklessly, paws skidding dangerously across loose shoals and rocks rolling in front of me. It is a miracle I do not slice open my pads but the moment the ground levels off, I am racing down it, a white blur, my red-tipped tail a beacon behind me.

The meadow seems incredibly far away now but she will wait for me. I know she will. Just as I waited for her. But I don't make her wait long. My run is quite likely, the best I've ever done in my life, and when I come barreling into the meadow, a grin lights up my maw. She is... stunning. Only a few weeks apart and it is as if I see her anew. Beautiful, vibrant, my closest companion, the keeper of my... well, I would tell her THAT soon. Once I ascertained if she was going to be back permanently and that her mother was healed.

I run towards her, not quite as fast as before, and bounce up on my toes as I near, aiming a lick at her face with a mischievous and somewhat relieved expression. "Don't tell me you've been waiting long?" My voice is smooth and filled with mirth, a happy giddiness at her appearance, and I have an inclination to dig my nose into her face, to nuzzle her, but the lick would do.... for now.