His eyes slipped closed, a small smile curling the very edges of his lips as he enjoying the warmth upon his fur. It was not sleep that consumed him, just a simple contentedness. It was not long that he sat there basking in the sun before a single ear was given to pull backwards at the sound of another’s speech. Eyes of dark blue and pale lavender snap open, and as he turned to greet her the small grin split wide open into a full smile. Of course he had recognized her voice; it had been quite some time since last they had seen one another, but her vocalizations were not to be forgotten. “Never,” he replied simply in regards to her comment about tiring of the mountains. But then she knew that, his utter devotion to his home. The sadness it had caused him to remain in the place he called home when it was ruled over by the wolf that had killed his mother. “It has been far too long, Natu,” he said as she approached. A year and a half had passed since they had kept each other’s company, that day when he had come upon her so startled as she bolted from her den.

She seemed a changed wolf now, carrying herself with a bit more surety to her stride and most assuredly a different purpose. In the days of the usurper’s silent stead upon the mountain, Natu had angled for a position as a diplomat. Now she served as his sister’s Spider, an informant and secret keeper. He had been glad to hear of her promotion, glad she had found a duty that called to her as his did to him. A sense of functionality within one’s pack could change one’s entire outlook on life.

Sleekwing’s lips pursed in a coy smile at her mention of the two lads who he would soon take on to train in the armament; one being her son. The warrior could hardly deny his curiosity about the boy, and how he had come to have Natu as his guardian. She had never carried a litter in her time upon the mountain – Sleekwing would not have missed such a thing, to be certain. But it was not his place to question, and the adoption of homeless pups was definitely not an abnormal thing for wolves of Spirane to do. His mother had taken on many orphans throughout her life. “I am sure that Sven will do well; I look forward to meeting him. If he takes after you in any way, he will be a delight to be around.” It seemed to Sleekwing almost as if the repartee between them had not missed a beat since last they had spoken.

The light in her eyes was hard to miss, and his tail wagged happily across the ground behind him. To know that her life had changed in some way, for her to not feel the sadness she had spoken of that day when they had met, it gave him a joy all his own. “My own children are due to arrive in Spirane any day now; perhaps I will have to send one your way for training in exchange.” He said with a light laugh. “Though I haven’t the slightest idea what field any of them are interested in pursuing.” He added, shrugging and shaking his head. It was curious to him, not knowing anything about his children. But Malina was giving him the chance to change that, and the opportunity would not be wasted.

As he met her brilliant blue eyes once more, he sighed softly. It was refreshing, to be with her again. He had nearly forgotten how easy they had gotten along before, how much they’d had in common back then. But what about now? With their miseries put behind them, was there still something there to give them common ground? “My manners escape me. Congratulations are in order; from what I understand you impressed my sister. She will be lucky to have you as her Spider.”