the sun a'setting

With his thoughts fixed firmly on the "mission" ahead Valentine very nearly replied with 'nothing' when Chaos asked what happened. No, he reminded himself. There was more to this than getting Rhythm from point A to point B. It was in his best interest to be more sensitive to her loss and he needed to be more self aware. Valentine feared causing Rhythm to backslide. She was doing so well and with the loss of Shaye to contend with he was afraid of being the thing that might push her over the edge.

"There's been a loss in Rhythm's family. Her niece Shaye has passed away and she wants to go to Abaven to be with them." Short, sweet, to the point and with nary a trademark pithy comment to round it out. It felt incomplete, honestly, but this wasn't for him. "I'll be taking her there...just wanted you to know what was happening so you wouldn't think your two old fogies had fallen into the river or something." The loss of an alpha was something Chaos needed to know of as well.