She can sense him. Long before his thick scent reaches her nose or the sound of his claws padding over brittle leaves she can sense him coming... and she hated herself for it. Hated the way her heart still skipped a beat at the mental image of his strong broad frame pressed so close against her own. Hated the way even in her mind she can see his smile and the way his brilliant green eyes shown in stark contract to the cream and black of his hansom face. Most of all, she hated how she could not bring herself to hate him.For a moment she ponders an attempt to slip away. Winter was not yet here so she could not just disappear into the snows like she loved to do. No, in autumn her brilliant silver white coat stood out like a sore thumb. She was too obvious, too notable and slipping away was out of the picture. Plus, no matter what her mind tried to tell her, she really did want to see him.It felt odd hearing him call to her from the entrance of the den. It seemed like only yesterday when their children were small, nursing furballs a her side he would pad right on in and settle into place at her side, nestling her lithe frame into the strong supportive muscles and fur that made up his larger body. She fit perfectly there, her pale body contrasting against his dark form. She felt secure then... as though there was not a thing in the world that she could not face and conquer knowing that he was beside her. But then her mind would remind her the night she had heard the vocal rejoicing of his voice and knew he had made his choice. It was her mind that reminded her things were different now and that they would always be this way.Despite herself, the thick fur along her spine bristled. Though she had never met the black Tuari... still she hated her. But then her heart thrummed, its soft beat reminding her that she could not hate... that was not who she was. Jealousy led down a dark path and Talien... she was not meant for that. It was the soft whisper of her heart that contradicted the pain of her mind. The broken battered voice of reason that surmised that if Talien's love was indeed true, then she should want what is best for Dexter and what made him happiest. It was only her mind that could not quite understand why I was not her.He does not leave as she halfway hoped he might. Instead she can hear him make himself comfortable outside the entrance as though he fully intended on waiting her out. For the briefest of moments she finds herself caught up in a wry grin that tugged a single corner of her ash dusted features upward into a smile. There was a time she would have teased him... would have made him wait just to see how long it would take before he either gave up an left or came on in. But that was not this day.With a deep sigh and a heaviness in her heart Talien rose now and walked with cautious and stiffness to her pace towards to the entrance and stopped. Proudly she raised her small head, silver blue eyes frigid ice and emotionless as she met the deep emerald green of his own. "What do you want Dexter?" she asks, careful to keep her voice monotone and force away the swell of sorrow that threatened to envelop her words. No, she was not that weak. She couldn't be that weak. She knew the decision she made when she returned here... knew that she would have to face him at some point... would even have to tolerate seeing him with her, so once again she reminds herself to be strong. Surround her heart with ice and refuse to let another in. She was the cold winter snow, and that's how it should stay.