Noctisardor Bypass Do you like it when I'm away?

wylla had been getting about, and phaedra to boot. gone on excursions. mahler did not tempt himself with thoughts of going after her; she would drift back 'round in her own good time. his own was separated into many pieces: sequoia's den, the healing cave, the ongoing search for praimfaya.
the summons found him at birdsong lagoon, where he had been staring off and thinking of laurel, how agonized and pleading her beautiful face had been. it lodged hurt inside mahler. he wheeled away from the water and came to attend the cry.
but as he came near, mahler thought it might be taikon! why had he come! and so he barreled down upon the stranger with a silent lift of lip and full bristling of granite hackles, halting himself at the last handful of seconds and glaring at the man who resembled too easily the great sum of his own failure.
the gargoyle calmed, but not in apology, only watchfulness.