Crisp mountain air filtered through my body, the wind in the peaks blocking out much of the noises that would otherwise provide distraction, allowing me this quiet moment of reflection. I knew that I would always have my family, always be a direct descendant of the Mountainborn lineage, but had I given up my only chance to make a name for myself? Deep down I knew that I could still make an impact on the pack's future even without leading them, but I had prepared myself for leadership for such a long time. To take a back seat to it all was more difficult than I ever could have imagined. Having Vortigern at my side made things easier, but there was only so much comfort and distraction he could offer. I knew that at some point I would have to broach the topic with Kalseru and try to figure it all out...somehow.
As the fates would have it, the rustle of the brush that hid this treasured place away from prying eyes alerted me to none other than my sister's presence. Unperturbed by the arrival of another wolf - knowing it must be one of my siblings - I glanced over my shoulder. A small half smile quirked at the edges of my maw. I was glad to see Kalseru, but the heaviness of my thoughts weighed upon my shoulders. Maybe there was some greater force that had drawn us both to the peak today. Something telling us that we had put off this conversation for too long already, despite only a matter of weeks having passed since Daenerys and me had rejoined the pack.
No words were needed as she came to sit alongside me, and together we looked back out across Spirane and Moladion sprawling out below us. It had always been impressed upon Daenerys' children that just because we sat upon the highest physical throne in Moladion, that did not give us the right to look down on others. For a moment longer we sat in silence, simply taking in the views, perhaps soaking up these last moments before whatever would happen today happened.
Sitting up squarely, I looked over to Kalseru just as she broke the silence. There was the barest hint of amusement to her words, and I could find nothing to say in response. It was true, after all, that this place was special to our family, even if most trips up here were made to reflect of matters of grave importance. Kalseru turned to me then, meeting my gaze and remarking about how we had gotten to this point.
Where Kalseru's face was slender and feminine, mine was more fierce and angular - apparently a callback to our primordial great-grandmother, according to our uncle Sleekwing. But there was strength behind both of our eyes - hers now honed by a year of leadership. Did the work I had put in for years prior lend me anything remotely similar? One thing was for certain - my sister did not doubt her ability as I now doubted my place.