It takes Talien some time before the silver white female can find it in herself to step back across the borders of Taviora. Dexter's choice had hurt her... much deeper than she ever expected it to hurt. Though the Gods had decided Thor as her bonded soul, it was her heart that the black and tawny dragga had stolen, almost without her knowing. She knew he cared for her, after all, it was hard to spend so much time together and not have feelings for one another... but, at what point those feelings had turned from appreciation and affection to pure adoration and love... she was not quite sure.

It had hurt her heart when he told her that his affections were caught between herself and another female... the black mute huntress that she had seen occasionally during pack gatherings but jealousy prevented her from daring to approach the female.

His choice. Choosing her. That hurt. Nenetl and Eztli were old enough that she knew her absence for however long, would not affect them deeply. Truthfully they spent more time with Dexter than they did her anyway. But when they started spending more and more time with Tuari too... that had been the straw that broke the camel's back. She tried with Eztli, tried to understand him, tried to teach him and work through his anger with him... but Dexter introduced him to Tuari and together they shared a pain and understanding that Talien herself knew she never could. Nights she slept alone, her black painted muzzle nestled lowly between ivory paws in the middle of the beautiful little meadow that Dexter had showed her when first she decided to make Taviora her home. He told her it was the place his mother found herself most at peace... but at the time, it did nothing to quell her aching heart. So she left.

Without a word, she disappeared into the deepening snowdrifts of winter, letting the large snowflakes cover what small trail her paw prints left behind. In winter, she could be the ghost, disappear in the blink of an eye and if one did not keep close watch on her slight figure against the white blizzards. She needed to get away, to mourn Dexter's choice, and the choice of her own pups in her own way and grow from it.

But she could not stay away forever.

Zelda opened up her pack to the silver white drappa and with such friendliness and welcoming that Talien knew she would never be able to forget it. Taviora became her true home a lot quicker than she ever before imagined any place could. She was not raised among the towering pines and thick conifers, but still she knew them each as though she had tread through this forest from puphood. Plus, no matter how much seeing his affections for another hurt, still she could not stop he need to see Dexter and her son and daughter. They were apart of her and always the need would be there.

So as the leaves begin to turn yellow, red and gold in the early autumn, and the cold wind bites as it billows through the hills, Talien once more finds herself sitting quietly at the border and staring before her, willing herself to not need to return though knowing the attempt was futile. A heavy sigh escapes her lips as the pale dancer finally gives in and glides effortlessly towards what had once been the small den she shared with Dexter, Eztli and Nenetl. Silver blue eyes scan the area around the den, searching for some sign of life as slim muzzle lifts and tastes the scents brought to her by the zephyr winds. Nothing. No one had slept here in many moons and for the moment it seemed quiet. Despite the memories left here, she needed to rest and the den she knew was quiet, warm and safe.

With a final sigh she allows herself to curl up against the thick root of the large oak just outside the den. Thick ivory tail curls over her feet as Talien tucks herself into a small tight ball and settles into a restless sleep. She needed to find a new den, or make one for herself somewhere for this place held too many memories... perhaps the meadow that Dexter said his mother favored. Perhaps now it would soothe her. It was at least worth the attempt in the near future.


OOC: I apologize now for the sporadic post... next will be better.