It had been slightly easier to settle into the environment because @Takiyok was already familiar with it. She seemed to be not completely herself on some days, and he wondered if that had something to do with her injury. As usual, she was hardly the kind of person to voice her pain, forcing it down.
Taikon had been working to care for her while she recovered without babying her. The easiest way to do this was to fill caches within the woods. This was secondarily something he'd wanted to do for the Ivory Rose, who were kind enough to shelter the three strangers because @Zephyr had kept to his promise. He wondered silently how his injuries were healing. Even though Taikon wasn't as worried about him once he'd returned home, it was frustrating to not be able to get progress updates on the silver boy's condition. He didn't like the distance. It made him sad.
Taikon uncovered one of the empty caches and placed two voles into it that he'd caught earlier. He covered it, and heaved out a sigh through his nose. For a moment, he stared at the dirt, wishing things had turned out differently while simultaneously counting his many blessings.

As if by magic, there she was. Takiyok tucked herself affectionately under him to lift his head, and in turn his spirits. The softness and scent of her brought a smile to him, and at once he remembered how very lucky he was to have met her. Lovingly he nuzzled her cheek, and did not bother to hide any of his thoughts from her.
I'm okay, he said. Zephyr pretty much hates me after I told him about us. He won't even talk about it, he frowned, looking at her. It was comforting to know that he could share such inner turmoil with her, though he was careful to avoid the more carnal things that he thought might make her feel jealous.
I think it's a pretty childish reaction, but I also feel bad. I thought it would be okay, and we could still be friends. I don't understand what is so problematic for him, he explained, shaking his head. He knew that he and Zephyr had shared a connection, but other than the brief sexual intimacy, none of it really seemed to have to be tied to romantic feelings. Taikon thought of their conversations, and felt frustrated that such talks would never happen again.

When she offered the walk, he nodded. It was like she knew him completely, and knew that moving around helped him ease his stress and anxiety. How had he been so lucky to have someone like her want to be with a creature like him? Even as she moved, he felt a buzz of wonderment and the old, familiar influx of passion for her. In this honeymoon phase, he saw only beauty in her.
Takiyok gave him much needed insight on why Zephyr would be upset. She seemed to understand that Zephyr had some form of feelings for him. He felt something, but whatever it was, he couldn't imagine being upset by Zephyr telling him that they couldn't be more. He thought about it, and decided that had he been younger, he might have felt like that. Or maybe there was something about normal attraction that caused others to have such strong, possessive feelings. Whatever the case, Takiyok made it clear that Zephyr was hurt. While it gave him understanding, it also made the guilty feelings he had harden.
No, you're right, he said quietly, returning the affection she gave him with a gentle press.
I'll keep giving space — that's what I've been doing. I just.. I dunno, he scrunched his brow again, glancing to her. I guess I'm afraid he won't deal with his feelings, he said. He thought for a moment about it. He wondered if they could stay here permanently if Zephyr wanted it so. He wondered if Zephyr would drive them away all for the sake of not looking at Taikon's face anymore. He didn't know what would happen. He just wanted things to be stable, if not for him then for Takiyok and young Taktuq.
I don't know where we would go if not here, he said.

Taikon and Takiyok were well aligned when it came to the safety of their potential offspring and Taktuq. He worried fairly consistently about the girl. He knew that people who had been through recent trauma were more likely to make poor decisions and side with the wrong kinds of people. That was one reason why he was thankful that at least the girl had the two of them to keep her safe, for now. Even though his heart bounced happily once more at the thought of their children in spring, he knew that such a thing could only happen if they were in a safe place. I know we will, he answered. He was determined to do everything in his power to ensure that Takiyok could see through her dream, and that he might finally be a father. The thought scared him, terrified him, even, and so he was happy when she refocused on her little niece.
Taki told him that her brother would need to be told, and at the idea he made a wincing expression. No, he said abruptly, but stopped himself. I.. I'm sorry I don't mean.. He didn't intentionally try to tell her what she could or couldn't do. The thought of her crossing the mountains after what had happened before completely terrified him.
He needs to be told, I agree, he said slowly, I just.. With Sagtannet still over there and the cougar and.. either I go with you or we send a messenger. Couldn't we just send someone else? He asked, thinking aloud. Her brother needed to know where little Taktuq was, certainly. However, either of them travelling was dangerous given that they had just fled from the other side.

She didn't like him telling her no, and he knew it right away. Even with him correcting himself, she was noticeably more tense. The reaction hadn't been intended to harm, and he certainly hadn't meant to throw a leash on her in any way.
He stopped with her, and she made several good points. Taikon didn't know what Siarut was like, but given Taki's reaction, it seemed that a messenger was simply not going to be enough. He resented this. Then, she asked if he meant to leave Taktuq alone for a week while they went, and he understood then. No. He couldn't leave the girl alone. In fact, he wouldn't. Not in this weird, tree-obsessing place of childish nightmares. He sighed. I know you are, Taki, he answered softly. I just don't... He couldn't. He wouldn't.
I can't lose you. I can't. It terrified him to be separated from her. To not know where she was on the other side of the Sunspires. They ran Taktuq out. Or someone did. What if... Or Mahler's crowd... I just.. He was rocked by the idea of losing her, especially with her injury fresh in his mind. He couldn't imagine being powerless to protect her, yet that was what she was suggesting.

No no, I understand, he said swiftly. He did understand mostly all of it, though the reasons why her brother might only accept the word from her mouth didn't fully make sense to him. She nuzzled him, and he pushed back against her, happy as always to feel her warmth and wonderful softness against him.
If it really came down to it, of course he wanted her to do what she believed to be the right thing. He would never claim to know her brother better than she did. That's why we should send a messenger. Maybe one who knows a secret between you and Siarut, you know? Something that acts as an assurance that it's the truth, Taikon offered. He had always been a solutions based person. Anytime he thought he saw a problem and its solution, he usually offered to perform said fix himself. In this case, things were more complicated.
A messenger, to him, seemed like the best option for everyone's safety.

He had a hard time imagining that the girl would want to return after what had happened to her. If he'd been in the same shoes, there was no universe he'd come back to a place he'd been run out of. Taki explained more and more on why she wanted to carry the news herself, and he nodded slowly, frowning and walking along with her. He hadn't forgotten the pain she'd described when Simmik had run away. Plus, Ursus was nearby. He knew that as a parent, he would have been terrified if he had a child go missing.
Even when she agreed, albeit begrudgingly, he looked at her for a moment and let out a long, stressed sigh. He shook his head. You're right, he said, licking his lips anxiously. He couldn't keep her from doing what she thought was right. He didn't know Siarut, but if this was the best way to make sure he knew where his daughter was, Taikon couldn't stand in her way.
Can we at least wait until you're completely healthy? He wanted to send someone with her, but he didn't know anyone who would go except him. Zephyr certainly wanted nothing to do with either of them. He sort of hoped it was all a moot point, but even if Taktuq wanted to go back, Takiyok would need to escort her. In that case, he was definitely going with them.

It was the second time in the same hour that he'd admitted she was right. He was amazed by her ability to consider a different perspective and convince him that he was wrong. He felt very lucky to have a person in his life who was willing to hear him out, but had her own ideas about the best course of action. He had spent most of his life having only himself as a guide, only himself as the voice of reason. They were already a good team.
When she stopped, so did he. He saw her eyes, glassy and real. Taki.. He whispered, almost inaudibly.
And then she met him halfway. She moved close to him, settled into the place under him that felt too perfect to be real. She was willing to try, and that was more than enough for him. He felt her heart beating. The moment was long, and he felt something pure and deep, something familiar yet frightening. So, he leaned into it, smiling and closing his eyes as he lost himself in a dream.
Thank you, he breathed. He pulled back from her so he could look at her again with a gentle, warm stare. Once more he walked on if she would, finding the cool air helpful for his spinning thoughts. I'm just glad she's okay. I can't imagine how traumatic it would be for someone her age, he continued. Though the three of them were sharing sleeping quarters, he had been careful to give the girl space and not ask her about the event.

Me neither, he agreed, furrowing his brow. He glanced toward her when she mentioned her desire to harm the people responsible for Taktuq's suffering, rather surprised by the intensity. He nodded slowly. She was too little to have to be dragged through such a thing. No, they shouldn't, he said, feeling his lip quiver with a rather deep anger.
Do we even have a description of them? I haven't talked to her about it — I didn't want to bring up her pain, he asked. While he wasn't about to run to the other side of the mountains to hunt down two child-hurting freaks, he also wanted to make sure he knew what they looked like. In the strange case that he bumped into one, he could potentially help bring the monster to justice, with Takiyok as the sentence.

He listened, quietly, as he oft did. Taktuq, like Takiyok, avoided expressing much of anything. Taikon had always been generally guarded, but he had an obvious heart to him. He felt sorry for the girl, who had been through so much but was unable to let much of it go really. It was a good thing she had Takiyok at least to help guide her through the darkness, and of course him too, when she was ready. He nodded briskly, knowing that it had always been the priority to get all of them safe before doing anything else.
Yes, I don't want this happening to anyone else, he added, suddenly feeling even more of her urgency to get a message out to her brother. There was part of him that wanted to go there himself, but there was fear at what could happen to her here without him to protect her. What if the Ivory Rose suddenly decided that she was no longer welcome, as a way to get back at him since Zephyr was still pissed?
He smiled, small, quiet, as she told him that she was glad to no longer be alone. He wanted to tell her that he would always be there for her, but he feared the future. We'll get through it together, he offered, shouldering her lightly. It took him a moment to speak. His brow was scrunched in thought. He licked his lips, anxious, afraid to offer what he was about to offer. Maybe I should go. To your brother.

It is just as dangerous—
I know, he answered quietly.
And then she explained that it would tear her apart to be without him for a week, unsure of whether or not he was safe. All the while he had a dull expression that said, Yeah I, uh, I know, all over it. He didn't mean to make her realize what the big problem was he had with her wandering over the mountains by herself, but that was how it was. Still, he understood her worry. She probably knew that now. He nodded, but he wasn't willing to let it go completely.
I get it, he said coolly, and I really don't want to go all the way back over there again, especially with you and Taktuq in this condition. I want to stay and help out. Of course, he knew she didn't have any desire to leave Taktuq either or make the journey on her own. But Taikon was realizing that somebody needed to do it, and fast.
I just.. I worry that if we wait too long, it could happen to someone else. There isn't a good solution. I'm the healthiest of us right now, so logically I should go. No detours, just go through the pass Zephyr showed us, come straight back, no problem. It was a problem. The cougar could still be lurking. Anything could be out there. He was not useful to her dead or injured.

He frowned. She did not like this idea; that much was clear. He struggled to see her perspective, feeling anxious tension balling up and filling his insides as his stomach bubbled and he shifted in place. Takiyok acted as though she was somehow doing him a grand favour for staying within the forest long enough to heal herself before trekking on another potentially intense, long journey. He certainly didn't want her to feel as though she should stay for his sake, since that wasn't the point.
She even went so far as to accuse him of trying to fix her problems, and at this, she pushed a button. He furrowed his brow, glaring at her for a moment. He opened his mouth to speak, then decided to take a breath, and swallowed the feeling as she continued on. Finally, he sighed, annoyed. This isn't really about you, or me, he said. His voice was quiet, but there was frustration straining it. I put it out there as an idea because someone needs to warn them, and I know you could do it, but you're not fully healthy, much as you shove your way through it, he half-hissed the last bit, and immediately regretted it. Well, not shove, anyway, I won't go if you don't think it's a good idea. It was just a thought.
Though he continued walking, he was tense, staring ahead of him with a rather heated stare.

She had stopped, and he slowed down, but continued walking. She was no little girl, and he wasn't about to let her dictate things based on emotion alone. They needed to be rational about the next step. There were pros and cons to either or them leaving to the other side of the mountains. Eventually, Takiyok caught back up to him and he quickened his pace again, avoiding eye contact. While she stewed, he thought hard about what they had discussed.
Neither wanted the other to leave. Both needed the support and knowledge that the other was safe. However, zooming out, Siarut's children and others in Easthollow could be at risk if they didn't send someone out fast. Coupled with this was the fact that the brother had no idea where his daughter was, and was likely tearing his hair out at her absence. According to Takiyok, he could be a difficult man and was likely to question anyone who told him other than perhaps a relative. Ideally, both of them could travel together for safety, but they couldn't leave Taktuq by herself after what had happened to her.
He held a clenched expression, focusing his annoyance into finding a reasonable solution to the problems they faced. Finally, he breathed a long exhale, glancing more softly to Takiyok and subtly brushing her shoulder. Let's wait another... I don't know, week? If your headaches have improved, you go. Your brother will do best with the message from you. If you're still the same, I go, he tied it up with a ribbon and handed it to her. It wasn't perfect. It was the best he could come up with. He smiled thinly, his expression softening.