As he neared the suspicious wolf, Halcyon could have sworn he had heard more than one voice echoing above the constant bubbling of the river. But as he neared where the howl had come from, only a single figure stood on the bank. Confused, he approached. When he smelled his mate, the thought was pushed away as he barked his question to the wolf. An awkward expression was quickly followed by a challenge. The worried father had little patience as it was, and that comment did little to ease his growing frustration. A deep growl leaked from his lips as he showed a few teeth in reply. Then, just as quickly as it had happened, the wolf ducked his head and an entirely new voice replaced the previous.

The newcomer explained how he had met with Aster recently and she had told him to find Halcyon. A sudden pain in the russet wolf's heart made him stop growling, though he continued to glare at the stranger. It had been months since he had seen his beloved mate. The last they had spoke, she had expressed her disappointment in Halcyon and he abandoned her and their cubs in the forest. How he longed to be with her now. The fact that her scent was on this bridle boy made him jealous, a feeling he was not quite used to.

Taking a moment to calm his inner turmoil, the smaller wolf took a deep breath and let it out slowly before replying. "I am. Who are you? Why did Aster send you to me?" he said, his voice level. It took all he had not to turn right there and then and bolt back to the forest where he knew Aster and his children were waiting for him. A single tremble crept down his legs as he forced them to remain pinned to the riverside, far away from his family.