Blacktail Deer Plateau the dolls

"love is a fickle mistress, dante. he knows me, and i adored him before fox ever drew near, but with the anticipation of new children, a family began anew..." the earthen servant rolled his shoulders, heart suddenly heavy. he could not give peregrine those things, and so it was natural that the panther should seek out a woman to carry on his lineage — but taltos was discovering it stung him all the same, albeit quietly. recognizing the irrationality in his thoughts, he turned his attentions back to dante, who spoke with the same careful nature he had always exhibited.

peregrine had said little when last he and taltos had spoken of the ruby; the epsilon would have liked his lover to say more, but he did not, and lasher had not pressed the issue. though in retrospect, he did wish he had.

"yes," he agreed, a wan smile lighting his face. "her happiness has returned, and each day atticus seems to grow stronger. i do not know what he has remembered, or if he will retain his memories from before, but he recognizes her, and also peregrine." falling into a comfortable silence, lasher drew strength from his companion and the lot fell to dante to continue the sharing of words, if he so chose.