King Elk Forest -- we can't say we didn't try

Mato thinks that they are both at fault for their feelings; and perhaps that is true. It is true that without word, without anything yes he thought she had abandoned them. What other choice did he have? She’d been gone for almost a month, maybe a little bit more. It is his fault for not knowing and it his fault for not being able to warm the ice that has settled into his heart even when he hears the truth. It’s not a simple truth to accept because it makes him feel indirectly responsible. Yet, what happens out of the King Elk Forest is out of his paws, out of his jurisdiction; and even if he would have known it’s not as if he could have spared the man power to search for her. Tindómë had been dying, barely hanging on by the very skin of their teeth. He had thought to abandon ship to look for her, considered it seriously a few fair times but he is not apologetic that he didn’t either. Especially knowing what he knows now: that Delight would have followed him, that he would have indirectly murdered his grandfather who without a pack would not survive and that it Tindómë without him at it’s reigning throne would have crumbled into ruinous dust. He is responsible for those that look to him as their leader and he knows now that leaders must make sacrifices for the good fo their people. It was burden that he — that all leaders everywhere — must bear.

His lips are terse as she is sharp with him, assuring him that he doesn’t have to do anything that she made sure everyone is safe. It’s not that he doesn’t trust her; it’s wolves like the ones that had captured her that Mato does not trust. “That does not mean that your captures did not have friends, or were not puppets for a larger force.” Mato speaks gently. “I will feel better alerting Tindómë nevertheless.” There was nothing wrong with precaution, in the druid’s mind. He would much rather be safe then sorry.

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