Blackfeather Woods No number, no return address

She inwardly winced at the look on his face and his words that confirmed what she had already known. Whatever it was, they would figure it out. 

At least that was what she thought until he brought up Zephyr and how he wanted to travel across the mountains. She could understand wanting to see a family member, but they had proven twice now that it was not an easy journey—it certainly wasn't a journey he should do alone. 

And it seemed Zephyr hadn't wanted to go alone. He wanted Taikon to go with him after he had almost died the last time he made the trip. Resentment burned in her stomach. Why Taikon? Didn't Zephyr have friends he could take with him? Things had been strained between them and the leader the entire time they had been a part of the pack—so why was Taikon suddenly the one he needed to go with him? There was nothing about this that Taki was okay with. She was supposed to sit here and worry while he traveled over the mountains yet again? She didn't think she could bear to do that again, nor did she think he was in any condition to be making a long, arduous trip like that. What had her chest tightening, though, was the fact that he hadn't said he told Zephyr no. 

Taki shook her head, a deep frown knitting her brows as she finally spoke. It is dangerous, and he should not go alone. But you going with him is not the answer, either, she reasoned. You almost died last time and you are still not fully healed. I do not think I could sit here and worry that you might never come back. It was too much of him to ask of her, so surely he wouldn't. Surely he had thought logically about this and had come to the same conclusion she had. He needs an escort, but he needs to find someone else—another pack mate maybe. But not you. There was no way he could convince her otherwise.