finally, he reached brecheliant, and sagged a little as he sank back to howl, calling for the leadership—and for shenanigans, whom he'd dearly missed.
his nostrils did not pick up her lack of scent along the border, though even if he had, he'd perhaps chalk it up to something else. shyness, perhaps?
he was blind to everything but seeing his daughter again.
adi cast a cheerful eye over the caldera; he'd forever be grateful to them for giving ani the home he could not.
Maia didn’t recognize the call, but was in the middle of a hunt when it came. She considered finishing but couldn’t bring herself to make someone wait like that. With a quiet sigh she abandoned the trail and set a pace for the source of it. She could always finish after, and hope that the trail hadn’t gone cold.
She did recognize the face, though it wasn’t quite clear to her why. Hello! I’m so sorry, I know you’re familiar, but what was your name? Mine’s Maia. It’s good to see you again.
She had no recollection that this was Ani’s father, and no sense of foreboding to hint that the conversation might soon take a turn for the worse.
the woman that greeted him was quite friendly. he returned the affability in kind, tail swishing behind him, eyes shining despite the lines of age that creased the corners.
hi, maia. i think i remember you!
he replied. i'm aditya—i'm looking for my daughter, ani. you took her in seasons ago, when she was lost.
his heart warmed considerably at the thought of seeing his vivacious daughter.
really sorry this took so long! I meant to prioritize it but then time got away. Feel free to forward date this or adjust it if you need to
Oh. Any cheerfulness she felt was immediately doused with the instant recollection of who this man was. Ani’s disappearance still worried Maia, and she still missed her adopted daughter terribly, but it had been so long that she’d forgotten that Ani had family out there who would be checking in. She should have sent word.
I’m really sorry. She left a few seasons ago. I don’t know where she is now.
The lie came a little too easily. None of it actually was a lie, but there were things she could say that she intentionally left out. It was a kindness, right? They couldn’t change the fact that she was gone, and Maia couldn’t bring herself to make him worry the same way she had to.
You’re just being selfish. You don’t want him to see what an awful mother you really are. Maia let her gaze fall.
I should have sent word.
Any hope she might have held that Ani had returned to her birth parents was shattered. It didn’t matter that Maia hadn’t known where to find him. She should have at least tried.
all good! I will make this my last post though since it's old
aditya was far too in tune with facial expressions to not see the way maia sagged. he knew the answer before she spoke, and his shoulders fell with hers; his smile, too.
i. . .see,
he replied, mouth suddenly dry.
i—no, it's okay. i will tell her mother. maybe she's gone to find her, herself.
doubtful; you just saw tytonidae. . .
we're wanderers,
adi continued, shrugging.
here and there, and. . .
he dipped his head in brief thanks, trying not to feel like the world was crumbling in upon himself.
thank you, maia—shrukriya. i must go.
he took his leave from brecheliant without another word.
ani. . .kahaan hai tu?!
She wished the news could have been better. Wished she had been more present, keeping a better eye out, been someone Ani could confide her plans in.
At least he knew. And at least he did not need to bear the worst of it.
Maia watched him go, then turned to slowly make her way back to the space she shared with Eljay. She needed the comfort after this.