howdy ho neighbor!

The more he talked, the more Theory felt herself relax. Maybe he reminded her of Rhyme - just the littlest bit. A different, very huge version of him. There was a warmth to his voice that hadn't been there when she'd faced him off on the beach over Void. Having children certainly had seemed to mellow him out. "I'm sorry. We have all lost so much to the eruption," she said quietly. Wolves had disappeared into the ashes never to be seen again. At least they had bodies to bury when Shaye and Odysseus passed. Theory couldn't imagine how much worse she would feel if her mentor had just disappeared, never to be heard from again.

Then the conversation dramatically changed tone. Theory's eyes widened when Sirius snorted and said that Acere had a stick up his ass. She wouldn't have expected that from him and couldn't help herself from laughing aloud. "Yes, I suppose we're talking about the same wolf. I don't believe it's any fault of yours. My moth - " she looked away and corrected herself, "my mentor told me of his rash history while teaching me about the other packs in the land. Of course, much has changed since then, and I thought he had settled into better manners in the north. It seems like nothing has changed." She frowned slightly, thinking back on what Shaye had told her about Acere refusing to step down when ordered to. An alpha needed to rely on their pack to listen and respect their authority, otherwise it was a madhouse. Theory was grateful that the wolves of Abaven had respected Shaye's choice of successor.

"Thank you for that kindness. Poem hasn't forgotten it and neither have I. Motif has returned safely home... I don't know if she will ever forgive herself for missing Shaye's death, but we all did. She passed away alone with one of our greatest warriors - but we will never forget her. Shaye's memory lives on in me and both of my sisters; in some twisted way, I suppose I'm in debt to you for reuniting us," Theory said, chuckling bitterly. Life had a funny way of working things out. The titan that stood before her now, touched and transformed by the love of his life and fatherhood, seemed to be an entirely different beast. Maybe even an ally.