Vortigern had been my closest friend for years now. It felt like we had known each other all of our lives, that he had been born to the mountains rather than the forests to the north - that was how well he fit into my life. I could not imagine my life without him - even though I felt uncertain of my own future in regards to the pack, I knew with certainty that so long as he was at my side things would work out no matter what. Whether I remained as my sister's Shivertooth, or whether we might exchange roles at some point in the future didn't seem to matter so much now that I stood so close to Vortigern again. These months apart had been anguish enough - if we were to be truly separated I did not think I would be able to function. He was my rock, my closest confidant, and...maybe something more...something I wasn't sure how to name.

As he stepped forward, boldly pressing his cheek to mine, my stomach fluttered with a sudden nervousness. The energy between us had always come so naturally, but I felt as though it had built and changed over the past year, strained by our time apart and yet somehow strengthened all the same. But did he feel it the way that I did? Or was this tension something different to him? I wasn't sure, and I didn't want to chance ruining our happy reunion by broaching the subject. So when he stepped back, proclaiming that he would wait forever for me, the flutters in my stomach tightening to a knot and I could only drop my head, pressing my crown into his chest for lack of words. There was no anger or impatience in his voice, no irritation at the distance that had been between us. Maybe, just maybe he felt as I did.

Sighing softly, accepting the topic as resolved, I stepped back and lifted my head, smiling thankfully at him. Our eyes met and once more it was only happy butterflies that made my stomach do back flips at the sight of him. He asked of my mother, and I breathed out, grateful for this easier topic. "She is doing much better; she's gone to meet with Kalseru today. I doubt retirement will suit her well for long though," I laughed lightly at the thought. After ten years of serving the pack, Daenerys deserved her rest, but I knew my mother well enough to know she would never be one for idle gossip and sleeping away the day. But I could see in the intensity of Vort's gaze that there was more to his question than wishing to know of the wellbeing of his Queen Regent. There was a patient searching there, and I grinned coyly at him. "I dunno, though, maybe the life of a hermit is what I was meant for," I said teasingly, moving to nip playfully at his shoulder, knowing that he was fully well aware of just how much I had missed roaming the wide expanses of my home during these past months of seclusion - especially with him at my side.