Seeing Taliesin in such a worried state concerned me greatly. For many years my adopted brother had been a rock in my life. He had been there for me through so many hardships in my life. And not only mine, but my family's. When our parents had died, it was Taliesin who had raised young Haven and Idunn. When I defeated the lackey of the usurper who had sent our lives into upheaval, rising to the throne that I had been destined to hold, it was Taliesin who stood firmly at my side as my Justiciar, providing me level-headed guidance and advice. When Leonidas had vanished once more, leaving me heartbroken and pregnant, it was Taliesin who stepped up for his niece and nephews as a strong male figure to look up to. For so many years, he had always been there for me, until he wasn't anymore. Until he had needed to be there for his imprint, for the family they had created together. But I knew if ever trouble arose for our family again, I could count on him. And as he explained the reason for his visit, it seemed that it was my turn to be there for him.

Wren. I remembered the first time I had met her - shy at first, before quickly warming up to me. A unique combination of her parents, I had been sure at the time she would grow up to do great things. As they all would. To know that she had gone missing made my stomach clench with worry. The whispers about what was happening in Iromar immediately surfaced in my mind, but I couldn't allow myself to think darkly on what might have happened to my niece. I needed to be strong for my brother in this. I shook my head lightly, sorry that I could not have better news for him. "No, I'm sorry, she hasn't been here - as far as I know." I wished that I could say differently, that I had smelled her scent on the borders or seen her exploring the mountain with her cousins. But that wasn't the case.

When he apologized, it brought about a more firm shake of my head, dismissing his need for excuses. "Nonsense, Taliesin. You know that I'll always be there for you, and so will the pack. Once a member of the pack, always - remember?" I stepped forward, accepting his embrace and wrapping my neck around his in a canine hug. I had wished on more than one occasion that Taliesin and Solara might choose to live out their retirement in Spirane, but just as I could never imagine calling another place home, I doubted that Solara would willingly leave the land of her birth.

Only when he was ready to let go would I step back to look him in the eye once more. He said he had searched high and low without finding a trace of her. "Where have you not yet looked? The girls will be sending out envoys to a few of the packs soon, perhaps they can learn something of her whereabouts." I thought fondly of my new friend, Tyrion; he had a certain way with words, and if anyone was going to slyly learn about a missing girl's whereabouts without raising suspicions, I knew he was up to the task.