Moonsong Glacier in the dark of the moon

Ariadne had seemed perfectly stable and happy when Leith had seen her last- so he was led to assume that something had happened at the hunt that had been either traumatizing or bitter enough that both she and her mate had decided not to return. It seemed that Dutch had not been informed as well- if he had, he might not have spent time searching for them. 

"You're sure she's not somewhere, injured?" He asked, then. It was a way to suss out whether her disappearance had been elective, or if she had suffered some affliction that kept her away in spite of her want to come back. He doubted the answer was affirmative; Dutch would have known, he felt, if Ariadne had been injured. She'd left, after all, she had not been left behind. 

"I study birds," He explained with a modest tip of his muzzle. Some thought it a useless hobby, but he'd never been discouraged from his studies. Nevertheless, his ears pricked at the sound of another bird's name- and was surprised to find that it was the name belonging to the young, quiet one who had formed a partnership with a bird of prey. At first, he took the expression 'her ears are closed' literally and opened his mouth to ask what that meant until the meaning became clear. She was deaf. "Ohhhh," He breathed; now understanding the gestures that Dutch had been using. 

His tail thumped against the ground. A new study? Excellent. Especially if he could learn to speak to her- and learn more about her hawk! "Oh, I would be....Delighted!" He half-whispered, reverently. "Does she teach the language?"