The way had felt infinitely longer without @Takiyok at his side. The trek through the mountain pass had been easier than it had been in the times he had done similar journeys, thanks to @Zephyr. The new solitude was raw and harsh, like entering a dark cavern after laying in the sun for too long. Since leaving the woods, Taikon was focused solely on his goal to find Siarut at Easthollow and tell him where his daughter was. He'd left Taki and Taktuq alone only because, after discussion and tears, he and Taki had decided that he was the best person to go in her stead.
There were people monsters out there that wanted to hurt the children of Easthollow. He did not know if it was Ursus at fault, or if some other strange things were about. There was a cougar prone to violence to the West, and who knew what Sagtannet had become in the North. Bad things were afoot, and Takiyok's brother and by extension, his pack, needed to know.
The prince was not the most royal-looking beast, of late. The journey had taken a week of a steady, loping pace through mountains, across streams, through plains and forest. He had left looking already rather thin, and though he had taken a week to rest just before, the days travelled showed sharply in his weary eyes and unkempt appearance.
A thick, white winter coat hid much of his discomfort, but it was clear from the muscles at his hips and shoulders that he was not in a great state. He had eaten three of the days he had travelled, which while perfectly comfortable for a pack wolf that ranged only around one territory per day, it was not the calorie density he had needed to look well upon Easthollow's doorstep.
Taikon set down a small squirrel he had caught before coming to the border, hoping that it might appease Siarut's distrustful nature. Then, he howled for the brother, making it clear that he brought urgent news regarding @Taktuq.

Valette, and not Siarut, appeared then. As soon as he saw her, the pallid male lowered himself slightly, maintaining a respectful posture and keeping his eyes away from her gaze. The woman introduced herself, and at this Taikon's ears perked. He remembered that Takiyok had told him Valette was a reasonable woman. Taikon nodded his head.
He made a deep, low bow as was his style when introducing himself. I am Taikon, of the Ivory Rose across the Sunspires. I come with a gift, and bearing news of Siarut's missing daughter, he said, before rising again. This style of speaking was hardly normal for him, but had long served him well among strangers. Coming from royal blood had few benefits, but this was one. As he rose, he nudged the squirrel toward her, hoping that she would accept it.
Stepping back from her, Taikon sighed. Taktuq is safe. She is across the mountains with Takiyok and myself, he began, offering a small, pained smile.

The Ivory Rose are forming in Blackfeather Woods, near the foothills of Sawtooth, Taikon answered, knowing well that it was important for people to have as up-to-date information as possible when it came to claimed territories. The prince had no idea that his own map had become distorted by old information, though he knew at least that the Saints seemed to have left the canyons. He gestured with a toss of his head toward the west.
Valette accepted the gift gracefully, and he was very pleased that she would give Siarut the news. He wasn't sure how Takiyok's brother would take it. He knew that if the northerner had been the one to answer the call, no doubt he would have been less gracious and kind. Taikon had expected far more questions and opposition and distrust, but Valette was cordial.
At the offer, he breathed a soft sigh. That's very kind, thank you, he answered, taking a step forward. I'm sure that an alliance would be beneficial for both of us, he agreed, following her lead. He had never been to Easthollow and had generally avoided the surrounding areas because of their proximity to Ursus, but he was glad to be seeing something new. He was more than glad to find that Valette's was a friendly face.
As Taikon followed Valette, he swallowed a small lump in his throat, knowing that there was more to tell. Taktuq... You and the others of Easthollow need to know that she was attacked by two wolves. They threatened her with violence should she try to return to Easthollow, he explained, knowing the information was sour. His face was lined with a deep frown.

Taikon nodded. Taki mentioned something about that, he said. He didn't really have full details on it, but it didn't surprise him that a spooky place with a weird-ass tree in the middle of it had once harboured the unkind and unjust. To be honest, Taikon didn't fully trust anyone who called the Ivory Rose home, but he assumed much of that was because of Zephyr's strange, almost two-faced nature. Around Takiyok he was fine. Around him, not so much. The rest of them he didn't know much of at all. Rowan was a strange sort, though it was hard to figure out exactly what it was that made the prince feel uncomfortable.
Thanks for the heads up, I'm hoping that Zephyr and the other leaders will be able to give a better impression, he said, though to be honest, he had some doubts after everything that had happened. The image of Zephyr writhing about in pain after visiting the tree was still very much bothering him. He didn't like that he and Takiyok had joined a pack of youngsters to keep Taktuq safe.
She's okay physically, he answered, still following along in step near her side. The smells were unfamiliar, and so often, his nose would twitch at the novelty. As Valette pointed out the Stone Circle, Taikon's mouth opened. When she described the importance of the stones, he swallowed uncomfortably. Takiyok had told him only that she had died when the children were quite young. The way Valette spoke of her, it was as though the two were not sisters. Taikon wondered if the names of the dead had special meaning to those of the north, or those of Easthollow.
Taikon, a son of knowledge and secularism, had never been one to understand rituals, though he knew their importance to others. Taki mentioned.. that she passed when the children were very young. I am sorry, he breathed, looking carefully toward her, meaning his words.

It made sense to Taikon that Valette had taken over the rearing of the children when her sister had passed, but it hadn't been something he'd realized had happened until she said it. There was no doubt in his mind then that she must have cared dearly for Taktuq. Likely her absence had been worrying her just as much as Siarut. Taikon looked at the stone when the tender-hearted woman did, frowning for a moment, but finding his spirits brightened by the recollection of Siarut's late wife. He wondered silently what she had been protecting them from and whether Ursus had been involved with trying to harm the children.
Taikon wished that he might have met this woman who had pushed hard to make a life for her children. Nanook. What a pretty name. He looked on in silence, unable to recall a memory of this person and wishing that he had stepped into Takiyok's life sooner.
O-oh, he answered to her realization, lost in thought. But before he could stop her, she was off, and he was left alone with the stones.
Taikon sat down, exhausted from his trip and feeling rather out of place in this clearly sacred area. He looked at Nanook's stone, wishing silently that he might have been available during her time of need. Taktuq had had a rough beginning and a rough middle. He wondered if she would ever recover, but knew that only with time and healing could they find out. She was a strong girl like Takiyok, but Taikon wished that she didn't have to be. Now was the time for girls to discover themselves and learn what they loved. It was supposed to be a time for crushes on boys that didn't matter and angry outbursts over nothing. Instead, Taktuq was practicing avoidance, just like Taki had done in the past.
When Valette returned, she was carrying a massive prize from a kill. He would have offered to help, but instead he just stood there and stared wide-eyed. When she set it down, he was about ready to cry. Wow, uh, thank you. This is very gracious of you, he said, and did not hesitate in leaning down to eat, pulling the meat from the huge bone in large bites. He stopped for a moment to speak. I don't know what Taktuq's attackers looked like, she hasn't said much. I worry that they're still around though. Do you think it could have been Ursus?

Family? Taikon realized then that his intentions with Takiyok were obvious, or perhaps Valette believed him to be a brother. To be honest, Takiyok was already someone he considered family. He wanted to do something special to tell her properly, to show her in some what that he was ready to commit to her forever. This trip to Easthollow had been the first part of that, but there was more he wanted to show her with actions.
He listened, knowing well that asking for help could incite fear and then pushback from others. He frowned as he ate, stopping again to answer her. You hardly look senior to me, he said, smiling a bit. He was rather biased, not realizing that his own age was beginning to show. But I understand; you don't want pushback from others when you ask for help. Who are your allies? Perhaps I can help.

Taikon ate as she explained, savouring the rich, fatty meat. He had never eaten bison before, though he had heard of the creatures. He knew that they were very large, that it took great skill and teamwork to bring one down. This made him appreciate the food all the more, though he did not let it distract him from what Valette told him.
We are not many, just yet, he inserted briefly, knowing that they did not have the numbers to run the pack across the mountains to assist against Ursus. However, Moonspear was nearby, and that meant the Glen had plenty of able bodies. If Zephyr would allowed him, he would eagerly volunteer against such brutes to protect Takiyok's family, provided Taktuq was settled and okay. I understand, he said, though he had known only cruelty and stupidity in the leaders before, with the exception of Artyom. Zephyr was still someone he was deciding on. It was difficult to keep everything straight.
Moonspear has grown large. They have taken Firefly Glen, and from what I know, there are a lot of them, he explained. But once aggression is fully unleashed, there is no turning back. It was a warning in the shape of basic advice. However, it was advice that he had seen many, including Wylla, throw to the wind. Taikon had little doubt that starting wars they could not finish or win had been the detriment of many packs.
He wanted to suggest relocating, knowing that Sagtannet was also on this side of the mountains and that most of the allied packs were on the other. However, he had spoken enough to a leader; she was a woman who might have been like others and not taken advice well from a practical stranger.

You will, he concurred softly in between bites of food. Even though Taikon had never been in a real position of power, he had seen many struggle with it. He had seen it abused. He knew that Ursus were not wolves to be taken lightly, for though he had only ever had a run in with one, the stories about them reached far across the Teekons. If Easthollow and Spook's pack had not managed to snuff them out or at least force them to let up, Taikon was not sure that even the triad of Moonspear, the Glen, and Easthollow could manage it. To do so would require much of Moonspear's finest to travel a great distance to assist, leaving them open for attach from the Saints.
When she gave an apology, he shook his head. He did much the same thing when he thought aloud. There's lots in the world these days, so it makes sense there would be lots on your mind, he half-joked, grinning a bit and nodding.
He continued knowledge-sharing, even though he didn't know if any of it would be of use to Valette or Siarut. Taki and I were on our way from Sagtannet when we found Taktuq, he said, licking his lips nervously and scrunching his brow. Mahler is.. unstable. Wylla left, and I worry what state that's left Sagtannet in, he explained. He left out the part where he'd been thrown out and Takiyok sided with him, even though he didn't think he felt any shame for it. He tried his best to keep the information relevant to Easthollow as a whole.

Valette was a good listener. Part of him was still thankful that he hadn't needed to properly meet Siarut at the border. Valette had been very generous, and Taikon had felt nervous about meeting the brother that Taki had so strongly suggested might be... less than pleased to see him. He hoped only that the pack would be able to do something about whoever had pushed Taktuq away and threatened her. He hoped that the threats had been empty, but given Taktuq's traumatized status, he worried if they might have done more than she had originally let on.
He nodded, though he didn't think Mahler deserved any real sympathy, nor Wylla. As far as he was concerned, the both of them had been warmongering idiots, and he was glad to be rid of them, even if it meant a lack of stability. His only regret was that Takiyok had jumped off the sinking ship with him, and now they seemed to be in a ship that didn't know which way was north or south.
Consider me one of those friends, he said easily. He didn't know her well. He didn't need to. I'll talk to the leaders of the Ivory Rose when I get back. It's likely we are too few to spare any fighters to keep Ursus back, but if you and yours ever need a place to rest, I am sure they will be open. It was an easy, albeit empty offer. He was not a leader. He did not get to make those calls.

Of course, he answered, continuing to eat as Valette described her plans. I'll look forward to it. For the time being, he would rest for a day or two in Easthollow. She was rather like extended family, he figured.
They stayed there for a time, largely in silence as Taikon finished as much of the massive amount of food she had brought for him. He cached the rest of it for others to partake, and found a pleasant place under the stars to sleep. It was a welcome reprieve from the long journey. He wished that he had known more details about Taktuq's attackers and could help to point them out, or do something about Ursus. But, instead he would have to be satisfied with a brief and pleasant adventure given the poor circumstances.