The sensation that coursed down my spine was at once icy cold and burning hot when I heard the sound of his voice lift, intertwined with another's, calling upon those of the mountain to hear them. Involuntarily, I felt the skin along the bridge of my snout wrinkle, but my teeth remained sheathed beneath tense lips. For a moment, I closed my eyes and simply listened to the call, feeling the twinge of betrayal make my hackles prickle with unease. Taking a deep breath, I exhaled slowly and opened my eyes, remembering my parting words to him - that he was not an enemy of Spirane - and his to me - that I was the one who had killed our friendship. I had never stomached that accusation, for in my mind he had severed our friendship in the hours after my defeat. He had come to Diveen, not to ensure that the Queen he had pledged loyalty to was alright, but to invite the residents to a celebratory party upon the slopes of the mountain I had only just lost. I shook my head, sickened by these memories, and unwilling to relive them. So I set off at a jog, traversing the familiar paths of my home to draw me towards the borders where Tithe and his unknown companion lingered.

When they came into sight, I found that I was not alone in my approach. My elder brother, Sleekwing, fell into step beside me, and together we approached the duo. He bumped his shoulder against mine momentarily, and almost instantly I felt my hackles settle back, smooth with my fur. My visage remained neutral, and together we came to stand before the two wolves. While my own tail lifted stiffly, Sleekwing's waved back and forth. I looked first to the shewolf, and I did not recognize her. She smelled strongly of the forests to the north. Looking to the wolf who stood at her side, I noted that his own scent did not hold any distinct notes to it - at least not of any of the packs. "Tithe." I said, my tone firm, but cool and composed. "And you must be Taika. I've heard a lot about you," Sleekwing added without missing a beat, smiling and stepping forward to bridge the gap between we four wolves. He did not reach out to touch the two wolves who lingered upon the border, but his body pivoted slightly to show his reception to them. I trusted my brother, and was grateful for his presence. He had been friends with Tithe, he'd been the wolf to first bring him to the mountains. It was his imprint, Malina, who had later sealed the deal by stealing him into our care, and from there he had made the choice to remain.

Sleekwing's friendly greeting seemed to chip away at the tension that was rife in the air, and my own tail twitched. The stiffness in my legs slackened slightly, but I remained alert. Tithe had proven himself as untrustworthy - fool me once, shame on you, but fool me twice... Still, the situation did not lean towards challenge or strife, and so I saw no reason to look upon them as threats to Spirane. "How can we help you?" I asked, and the question was genuine. I recognized the name Taika - Nymeria had told me of how the gypsy Liquid Amber, who had brought some of the band with her to shelter in the mountains over the winter, had been looking for a wolf named Taika when they'd met. And though I had set out tasks for those who wished to rise in rank to gather information about Tithe and the gypsies alike, no one had stepped forward to take up the tasks. Where Tithe had been and how he had dealt with the loss was a mystery to me.