Aureus' death had rocked Aerie to their core, and his grief atop his own obsessive search for a cure to his blindness had distracted him from his pack's needs, his family's needs, and it was well past time for him to do better by those he loved and was responsible for. So today, though he ached all over and his head hurt like it had since that day, he set out to right some wrongs. He still walked carefully, for his sight wasn't fully returned just yet, though his progress was so steady that he had no doubts of his full return to vision, and he had didn't even try to make the relatively short leap to the top of the meeting-rock, in part because this wasn't going to be an official meeting and he wanted to keep it casual. Lifting his muzzle, he called out for Danta and Deus, now yearlings who were well past when he should have offered them the chance to choose a Path. He hadn't done well by his brother's children these last months, and he regretted that more than he'd ever be able to express. He would need to do better.

Dantalian came at an easy run. With puppyhood falling away from her it was becoming more and more clear that she was destined to be the smallest member of her family. With that rapidly solidifying knowledge came a determination to exceed the unspoken expectations of those around her. She would never, ever, allow anyone the chance to think her small and helpless. Well, she couldn't help the 'small' part but she was going to kick the ass of anyone who made the mistake of looking like they thought she couldn't handle herself. She was determined to be a mongoose, not a mouse.

"Uncle Eli?" She slowed to a halt in front of Eligos and fixed him with a curious, expectant look. His time of illness was unknown to her and if he'd been scarce that too would have escaped her notice as everyone had been a bit down in the mouth since Aureus' death. Though she'd loved her uncle and been saddened by his death, Dantalian knew instinctively that life moved on. She'd grieved with the rest of them but as time went on and the bitter sadness became less and less present in her mind, she'd allowed herself to move on. The living still had to live. "What are you up to?"

The call from his alpha and uncle was not one Deus was about to ignore, though he couldn't help but feel a squeeze of worry in his chest. Had someone else died? He hadn't handled Aureus' death as well as he should have, the topic was always at the front of his mind and everything seemed to be a cruel reminder of his uncle's passing. Still, the yearling squeezed out of his roughly dug den and headed slowly towards where the call had originated.

Seeing his big sister there already at least eased some worry and he gave her a small smile as he approached, seating himself beside her much smaller form and looking up at his uncle. He tried to keep the worry from his face, but still cast nervous glances to the sides. Was there something wrong with his mother or father? Is that why he'd called them both? "Yes, Uncle?" Reaching up with one paw he removed his cowboy hat, placing it between his paws and running his claws across it gently while he waited to see why they'd been summoned.

The arrival of his niece and nephew caused his expression to soften, as it always did around either of the pair. He sat before the two of them, facing them squarely. "I have been neglecting you both these past seasons," he began carefully. "There were reasons, but it is still wrong of me to have done so, and for what it is worth, you both have my sincerest apologies. I should have spoken to you about this months ago. You are both well past the age that I should have assigned you mentors to guide you into your chosen Paths. If you feel you are ready to choose, I would like to remedy that mistake now. Have you, either of you, given any thought to what you might like to train in?"