He waited or rather he paced back and forth upon the side of the grassy outcrop called a hill. A part of him wanted to turn tail and highlight it out of there. However, a much larger part of him forced him to tread in circles, relenting to his need to move yet restricting him to this one area. He couldn’t leave even if he wholly wanted to. They kept him there, and he was not all the way sure that he liked this new feeling that pervaded his being. He was a father. Who knew? Of course, he would have known had he not succumbed to the call within his blood. No, that is not true. He had given to his mind and heart. He had released her to the other so that she may be happy. He was not for her, yet he wanted her. She was his. Always.

A sudden left roundabout brought him face to face with the one being he did NOT want to see; Flame, his brother. Fate would torture him by bringing forth her Flaming song bird to greet him. Would this result in another heated showdown? Would Flame come with burning wit and damning accusations. Just the very thought caused the fur down his withers to shiver and rise. The anticipation of a possible clash repulsive yet it was welcome for no matter his age he was a dog of war. Did that make him a bad brother?

Head rises in slow increments as he stares down his snout, a snout speckled with the grey of his youth, tiered hued eyes never once leaving the sun kissed form of Flame as he slows several paces away. A moment passes, a second in time pregnant with tension as he awaits his brother’s first move. Should he charge him then he was fully prepared to retaliate yet something was different about Flame. His face showed signs of distress. Did he cause that? Did his appearance stress Flame so much that his eyes danced with concern? The thought almost caused him to step forward, to barrel down the hill and embrace Flame…..HA perish the thought of him showing such weakness. Must be his age catching up to him.

”Flame”

He honored him by acknowledging his presence before closing the distance between the two. He does not still until he is beside Flame. His stance is rigid, unable to relax quite yet, as he looks Flame over. Time has been good to him and despite his aura the lad was strong and able bodied. ”I have a son. Did you know?” He wastes no time in pleasantries. What would they do with that, and besides Leo had no time to waste with that foolishness. But before Flame could answer well Leo continues, his own tones just as weary and without any hint of the rage that always simmered within his breast. ”Of course you know. Nevermind this, are you well?” Okay so perhaps he needed to know this. Know that if Flame fared well then so did his Dragon. However he would not inquire about her just yet. Oh no, he would learn what he could from Flame then he would vanish into the shadows. He would stalk his seed and learn about them, perhaps he may be able to speak to them without their knowing who he was…that is if his son does not tell all.