Tuari has always longed for that family bond that others seemed to share. So many times, she remembered staring off at the other members of the Inlet herd and watching. She always felt like an outsider, staring at a world through the window of shattered ice. Always she could see them, hear them, feel the adoration and love that they shared but never was she close enough to be welcomed into that life. Despite the knowledge of their tied lineage, Torsten had been the first to offer her a glimpse of what that life might have been. But the fates seemed determined to keep her from finding any sense of happiness. How odd it was that Requiem was the one to tell her the truth. She had been angry at him. Hated him even for the joy that he robbed from her just before her daughter was to be born. It should have been a time of pure bliss and joy, not the horror and filth she felt in the aftermath of his words. How funny it was that now she was, planning to leave her precious daughter in his care.

When the anger and hatred had disappeared, Tuari did not think she would ever know. Perhaps it was Torsten’s relenting that caused her to let go of the betrayal she felt. Whatever it was that caused her to come here in search of her sire, she cannot help the sigh of relief that escapes her lips as his ghostly form comes into view. It is almost amusing, to the cynical side of her mind that had begun to grow over the years, the concern that crosses his face when the recognition hits him. He had never made any attempt to seek her out after that morning in the Inlet, never tried to ensure that she was safe or even run after her to console her in the grief that struck her. Perhaps that was why she had been most hurt. He had simply left. As much as the small girl in her wanted to search his eyes for answers, she knew that now was not the time. She was on borrowed hours as it was. Torsten was like the wolf lurking in the doorway and Tuari was determined to keep Torvi from him. Requiem starts to speak, but Tuari interrupts him, not quite ready to completely forgive him. She watched his eyes widen and his mouth fall agape with shock. Had he really not known? For the first time, confusion flickers through her own silver blue gaze as she cocks her head towards him, but the shudder of excitement from Torvi is enough to bring her back to the present, especially when Requiem’s gaze turns to the girl.

He nods his head at her request, offering her reassurance that Torvi would be safe here with him in the Ridge and even suggesting that she too stay here. As he offers to protect them both Tuari cannot stop the scoff from her lips or the narrowing of her gaze as she lifts her finely dished head to meet his gentle brown eyes. ”No. I cannot risk him finding her. Your track record at protecting me has never been good….” she says pausing to turn her longing gaze to Torvi as the girl stepped forward, stretching her neck excitedly to scent her grandsire. A heavy sigh leaves her lips as she gives the growing filly an affectionate nudge forward before turning her eyes back to Requiem. ”I just hope it is better with her. Torvi is precious to me… even if she should never have been.” she says, the final words lingering in her throat.