Ankyra Sound oh wow, you look like the fourth of july

With the departure of Wildfire and Kiwi, and disappearance of Bat, she’d have her own conclusions about what happened. Wildfire and Kiwi were easy—where else would her former mate go?—but Bat? Part of her had hoped she’d been taken or killed but as Artaax starts to explain, she is filled with the same coldness she’d collected when Tux told her of his mother and sister. It would be easier if they were simply missing or dead, but her sweet goofy daughter turned her back on her and that... why did that hurt the most? Wildfire had stolen Kiwi away from Drageda (regardless of their decision to do so) but Bat made the decision on her own.

Antumbra’s jaw tightens and she nods once, slightly. She does not know how long Artaax has been gone, that Wildfire had left in his absence, and perhaps for the better.

She’s seen the hurt in Tux and Silkie’s eyes, their efforts to be strong and how much it doesn’t bother them. She sees it in Blixen, whom she’d consoled with a physical touch, and it surprises her to see it in Artaax. For most of her children’s life, she has not bene as active a part as she should be, so she doesn’t really know how to deal with it. He’s never been an affectionate child but dutiful and strong to a fault. Her heart squeezes and she looks away, watching Blixen as she sits there waiting for the same answers as she’s been given.

“Blixen, take Furi and go home, I want to talk to Artaax,” she says, slipping in their native tongue. Maybe Furi knows a few things, maybe she doesn’t, but they do not need to be here anymore.