Things around her den had been… different. Yes, that was how she would word it, different but not unpleasant. Lazarus had come and stayed with her the first night, she had told him that they could search for a place in the subsequent days of his living in Taviora. She wasn’t persistent on the matter though and soon enough he had his own little bed in her den and made his home at her place. She didn’t mind, just because it was different didn’t mean it was bad. He was her imprint, but honestly even though they stayed in the same place she rarely got to see him with everything else going on. She had been trying to get better about seeing her cousins from both her mother’s and her father’s side. Of course things weren’t going so smoothly with that. Petra had come back informing her of Diveen’s changes and no sooner was she informed that Blackthorne came banging on her door being… him. It wasn’t just that though that bothered her. There was an absence that she had grown used too and seemed to have quieted ever since the ball. That of the four brothers that was Alexander, Herschel, Vladimir and Constantine.

They were her diligent scouts and Zelda hadn’t really seen any of them since then. Part of her knew it was likely her fault. She didn't outright reject Alexander’s attempts at courting her, it was more she felt unworthy or unable to give him all he deserved. Just as she felt towards Lazarus too. Imprint though he was Zelda was still unsure of any other feelings she might have for him simply because she had been mated before, still felt love for Hyrule, but as more time went by that love slowly corroded her and turned to hurt. That strong belief that he would someday come back was turning to doubt and pain that he had left her to do all of this on her own. Part of her even wondered if his venturing away hadn’t been her fault as well anymore. That it had been a clever ploy on his part to leave without hurting her feelings quickly. That his word that he would be back someday had been a lie. She didn’t want to think so. Over the years now though it had simply just left her feeling empty and broken in part of her and any thoughts of ‘trying again’ were non-existent. She felt unlovable, and now that Taviora was her main focus far too busy to attempt any form of romantic relationship.

It was for the best that she let it be. She barely had time for Lazarus who was in her den sleeping every night, though lately she had been noticing a rise in the amounts of small flowers grown around her den. New arrangements within it and everything above. She always thanked him and was so grateful when she saw them. Often coming into the den late at night and then leaving early in the morning, not always before he was awake. She felt bad for that too, but not as badly as she felt about Lex and how he had distanced himself once more from her. Matters of the heart were so difficult, and convoluted, and Zelda had enough problems without inviting those in.

She was heading home for an early evening when she spotted the silvery form of Talien outside her den. It surprised her at first, causing her to pause as she saw the wolfess waiting amongst Lazarus’ flowers. He didn’t seem to be here though, not right now anyway. Zelda was somewhat aware of the situation that her uncle caused. After all her mother had been quite upset with him and what he had done, accident or no. Zelda was young, she was still young, she had seen wolves take multiple partners and had heard of such things in different forms in the past yet nothing like that had really happened in her family, at least, not at the same time. Her grandmother had had multiple mates until Zelda’s grandfather, but each had passed away or left the lands. Even her mother had taken Zelda’s father, then later was with Eden. It wasn’t unheard of, but none of these situations had come to cause issues because, well… the past relationships had been done… over. Finished. It brought back to light on if Zelda counted her and Hyrule as done and she shook her head not wanting to muddle her thoughts with such jargon right now. Her gaze landed on Talien, of course now, Zelda knew who Dexter had ultimately ‘chosen’ between the two. Talien’s distancing of herself had been understandable, she had been wounded. Things had to go on though. Zelda told herself that all the time too. It was hard.

”Talien, I’m glad to see you.” Zelda spoke lightly, gently, though perhaps a bit tired from all she had been dealing with as of late. Though… Perhaps not all bad. Seemed as if Asteraia had been met with a challenge, Zelda was uncertain of her position with them anymore. Jinx had garnered a small peace between the two packs so at the very least they were… neutral and would leave one another alone for the time being. Though who was to say the new leader would be any better? ”If you are here you must have been looking for me. You are lucky, I usually not here. What can I do for you?” She smiled warmly at the wolfess, their hot and cold pelts giving them a good foil for one another, though really they both were quite similar. SHe hoped the wolfess was well, but if she was back, Zelda assumed that meant something. If she was going to leave permanently Zelda figured that perhaps she wouldn’t have come back. Those were all assumptions though, and Zelda was more than happy to wait and here what she had to say.