For a moment, silence holds between them, his fierce green eyes roaming over the curves and contours of her delicate face and searching through his memory for more than just the simple response that came to his mind. He had seen the way Akela looked at her, the way together they disappeared into the deepest parts of the jungle without a backwards glance in his direction. It did not miss him how so similar to Zjeena’s son the two children that gathered at the mare’s side seemed. There was a small part of him that felt the first inkling of pride. He had worried for awhile that Akela might not ever feel the rise in testosterone enough to want to father children. Knowing now that he had chosen a mate and had sired two healthy foals was proof enough that perhaps his hands-off approach with the grullo stallion was working, however slowly.

Finally the mare speaks, her eyes rising boldly to meet his own. ’Bathsheba’ she says, the name ringing faintly in his memory. Curiosity cocks his head as the stallion draws his ears upwards, attentive to the words that follow. Vaguely he remembers the pale stallion that had come charging into paradise in hopes of stealing from the wolf. He had been filled with anger and hatred in that moment and very little of his attention had been focused on the mare. Lagoon stallions were notorious for their desire to fight and spill blood, at least they had been back then. Now, now, even they were silent as the stars. No, not stars. Stars were bright and beautiful in the dark sky. The stallions of the lagoon were far from that. Instead, they were vultures. Silent as carrion birds waiting patiently for the wolves to take their fill. That day, the stallion had come like a carrion bird, waiting for the wolf to turn his back. It had not taken much to beat the mongrel back to the sea but the audacity had left a sour taste in his mouth that made him forget all about Akela joining him on patrol that day.

Sudden realization flickers in his eyes as he draws his head up with a mischievous smirk. ”Seems my son has received more than enough of your thanks if the children who trail after you are any indication.” he breathes, his words ending in a chuckle that shakes the stiff curve of his muscular neck. Absently he shifts his weight to one hip, relaxing in the company of a somewhat familiar face. He blinks at her again, before turning his gaze back towards the jungle. ”What are their names?” something no doubt he should have already known but well, Akela was never exactly forthcoming with information these days and concerns over the Ridge and Cove were enough to keep his mind occupied elsewhere as of late. Still, that did not hide the fact that the old wolf felt the very beginnings of something akin to guilt stirring in his breast. He should have made time for them. He should have known.