Silence lingered between them as they worked on each other's coats, getting to know each other again. Olaf had never been much of a talker and much preferred the small moments of silent communication such as this. They were the definition of his relationships rather than the words which failed to hold the same meaning, as the old saying goes, actions speak louder than words. After an indeterminable amount of time passed, however, the red woman ceased their mutual grooming and lay her head over his back. The smoky stallion merely continued to nibble at the patch of hair he had not reached until she moved.

While Chianti, to the outside eye, might have appeared relaxed, Olaf could feel the tension building. He had known the question would come sooner or later, and had expected it to be the former. His ears swivelled toward her voice all the same and he blew a gentle puff of air from his nostrils. He was about to answer when she added that she deserved to know. Of course she did, she was the girl’s mother after all and Jörmungandr had been ripped away too soon. ”She is on the islands, I am not sure where. She returned before I did.” He had not located her yet, but he knew their daughter and he was certain she was here, ”The forest of Luthien if I had to guess.”.

He doubted that was all she wanted to know, however. The reason he had left and seemingly taken their daughter with him but left Chianti behind must have weighed heavy on her mind. ”We did not intend to leave” He said finally, ”she was taken. When I found her, I had to choose.” He’d chosen to stay with his daughter, assuming that Warsong and Chianti would have already dispersed in his absence. Jörmungandr needed him more than they did and he did not regret his decision.