It had been a trying year. Never had the prince of the mountains been so tested as he had been through his children's first year of life. To become a father had been one thing, but with Bastille at his side he had always felt he was capable of anything. Their longtime friendship had finally blossomed into its true state of love, resulting in three beautiful pups who held just as much vigor for life within them as could be expected from two such troublemakers as their parents. But when their little girl Melee had fallen ill, Rhaegal knew that he would never survive losing her. It was unimaginable. And then, on top of it all, he had encountered his sire in the freelands. Leonidas had come into his life like a raging storm, and just as quickly disappeared with the receding tide. Rhaegal's mind had been a whirlwind, his only focus on doing anything he could to help his daughter.

His tri-colored eyes turned to the golden girl now as she trotted along at his side. Against all odds, she had survived. Melee's ears flicked backwards momentarily under the gaze of her father, and an unbidden twitch of her head to the side caused her to lower it slightly. Rhaegal reached out and licked her cheek, aware of the embarrassment she felt at this remnant of the disease that had tried so hard to claim her life. To him, she was alive and that was all that mattered. The ticks and twitches left behind could only be loved in turn by her father, but Melee hated the reminder of her near death experience. The girl who had once been so vibrant and keen for adventure on the mountainside had become withdrawn, rarely leaving the safety of her father or mother's side.

Together they moved across the mountain, Rhaegal doing his best to slowly rebuild a sense of confidence and wonderment in the girl. There were brief moments when he saw the puppyhood wonder in her jade eyes, only to have her disappear once more into the inhibited yearling she had become. Rhaegal would never love her any less if this was who she had become, but he wanted only to help her.

As a melodious call rang out across the mountainside, Rhaegal's ears pricked forward and his head lifted, coming to a halt in their movement. Meanwhile, Melee's ears fell back and she pressed her shoulder to her father's nervously. Where once she had always been excited at the prospect of meeting someone new, now all she could envision was the uncontrollable ticks of her body making someone think she was weird and that something was wrong with her - which she knew there was, and that nothing could fix that. Rhaegal bumped his nose against her neck, his tail waving back and forth happily. Anticipation rose in his chest at the familiar voice. Though another did not join hers, Rhaegal couldn't help but hope that a dark and looming figure stood by the woman's side as she returned home. Lifting his head, he let out a short, happy bark-howl to let Semele know he was on his way. "She is family, Melee. Come, you will like her." After all, Semele had been as much family to him as Bastille had been in their younger days. She had been part of their small troupe, Daenerys' young dragons and each of their counterparts, roaming across Spirane and Moladion alike, seeking adventure (and often mischief) together.

Father and daughter set off at a lope, the gray and golden girl settling in comfortably just behind Rhaegal's shoulder as they made their way. It did not take them long to find her, and as they approached Rhaegal only just checked his stride in time to keep from crashing headlong into Semele. Melee, however, had slowed herself as soon as the woman came into view, falling back and allowing her father to greet his old friend. Her golden tail hung loose behind her, jade eyes watching as Rhaegal lowered his head to bump it happily against Semele's shoulder. "Semele! Welcome home. It has been far too long." He smiled at her with a brotherly love, but his gaze only lingered on her for a moment before those mismatched eyes of his lifted to look out into the trees that surrounded them. Surely Drogon would be lurking nearby in the shadows, returned home after reuniting with the girl he'd cared so greatly for all his life. That had to be the reason he'd been gone so long, why he'd left without a word to his brothers or family. It had to be. And yet, he did not loom in the darkness, Semele's ever present shadow. Slowly Rhaegal's gaze returned to Semele's, his questions unanswered, and an unsure disappointment bubbling up from deep within. If Drogon was not with her, what had become of his brooding brother?