Arrow Lake Kick my shoes off and run

had mahler known of takiyok's thoughts upon ruenna, he might have sought in his blunt way to place her more at ease. not even love could cut him from the unleavened rock of diaspora, and the shadowpriest doubted very much it had been so, love. an ember, one he sought to extinguish despite its stubborn nature. if he remained all his days as he was now, that would suit mahler, for in it was the ability to be father to all the children of diaspora, hunt leader, confidant. emotion paled in contrast to that.
he watched with fond amusement as she rose to gather her wayward daughter, keeping an eye on the displaced boy. and when she returned, a light chuckle accompanied her resettling. "a vild lot," he observed, teeth flashing in a rare smile. "have you named them yet?" he went on, thinking of the last time they had spoken upon the children.
entwined lineages from both herself and stigmata — the pair had accomplished that and mahler knew whatever names were to be bestowed would reflect the same. he was surprised to notice that the urge to father his own pups had faded, and wondered if it had anything to do with the ended season. or, perhaps, if he was being honest, with ruenna's departure; why hope for things that would never come to pass?