My heart keeps racing

Black ears perked, tilted toward Quelt as he spoke, bringing up the feelings that had been roused in him at the meeting. The pups had caused him a bittersweet feeling, bringing up memories that hurt him. Her ears folded back as he sadly stated that he felt like a failure of a father... so he had kids, too? Why did she feel like she understood so clearly? She loved pups... but in the same way, they caused her pain. Not them, as individuals, but as reminders of what she'd lost and left behind. "Maybe they saw something in me I myself couldn't see." Her silver eyes watched him as he spoke, and offered him a melancholy smile at his comment. She agreed with that statement, and she was sure it was why the pups had been drawn to him. Obviously there was just something about him that appealed to the young.

Bright Moon continued to listen, endlessly fascinated by him. Everything he said, she felt like she could understand him, and in the same stretch, felt like he could understand her, as well. As he opened up to her, stating he was glad to be here as well, that he was comfortable around her, she could see his unease as he looked away. It was hard to open up like that. "I'm glad we can be friends... there must be a good reason we met," she said, her black-tipped tail swishing along the ground.

As he looked up, she met his gaze with a soft expression, a slight smile still on her face. What he said next drew her interest even further - so he did have kids, and they were in Abaven. This surprised her, making her wonder why he had come to Fiori instead. But everyone had their reasons, and he had mentioned his misgivings about himself earlier. She nodded as he asked if she had children, her chest tightening for a painful moment before she found the courage to take a breath. The courage to speak names that had not passed her lips in countless seasons. "Yes," she whispered on a breath, afraid to let her voice pass, lest she might lose control and be overwhelmed by sorrow. She bit her lip as she forced back the grief she had kept bottled for so long. "I've not seen any of them... in years now," she continued quietly, "I miss them all dearly. My first litter, Silverfrost, Frozen Mist, Sacrifice... my second litter, Haru and Ajax, and the litter I adopted side by side with my boys... Elysia and Esarosa."

She clenched her teeth, blinking silver eyes as she tried not to let any tears form. She didn't want to bother Quelt with her sorrows, but she had a feeling he would understand. It was grief from so long ago. Grief that could not be resolved, that simply had to be felt, and moved beyond. Why did she feel as though, through Quelt she might find healing?