Steam gathers around his nostrils and icy clings to the whiskers on his muzzle - a reminder that Winter swiftly approaches. Each night grows colder, the warmth of autumn fades quickly from the Northern lands and reminds them who is truly the ruler of these frozen mountain-scapes. He has been awake, his watchful eye over every member of his family. Instinct and age remind him to be ever vigilant, especially as the summer fades to autumn.

His glacial eyes tilt toward the sparkling heavens, his breath lingers on his lips. By gods it is beautiful. he whispers to himself. But he is suddenly aware that he is not alone anymore.

The shadows conceal her until she is almost to his side, her brilliant red coat glows beneath pale stars light.

It's just me, she whispers. A smile touches his whiskered lips. It is not JUST you, he thinks inwardly. She is more than just Sio to him. She is more and always had been. He nods gently and tilts his head toward her as she settles down near to him.

Her voice is soft, barely audible above the whisper of the midnight breeze through the tops of the evergreen trees. "I wanted to say thank you. For everything - for Deidre, and for taking us in, and for protecting us." his throat tightens as the last words leave her lips and her muzzle gently presses against the skin of his shoulder. He wants to badly to wrap his neck around her, to feel her skin against his own, yet he hesitates.

His voice betrays him - the emotion thick - as he speaks, "You're welcome."

He knows that her heart still belongs to Ailill - that their coupling had been one out of necessity - not love. "I would do anything for yo..." the words fade from his lips as he brings his glacial eyes to meet her dark gaze. Was this the right thing to say? Was he just confusing her and making this harder for when she decides to leave?

"You, and your family," he finishes as the last words are drawn painfully from his lips.