Things had changed, yet everything was still the same as the sleek form moved through the fog that wrapped itself around the mountain. Within its freezing grasp her silver pelt blended in almost perfectly, her icy eyes pale enough that even those couldn't be seen from a distance. Her pawsteps were placed gracefully along the snow and stone, there was no need for caution. The pads adorning the fae's paws had spent more time on the mountain than on the dirt of the earth below. It had always been her birthright to rule this mountain, something she had been bred and raised to do and now she had come back to reclaim her prize.

Yet despite that owning the mountain had always been her goal, something she would have given her last breath to do, it was not what she thought of now. Her mind was occupied with the image of a pup, golden as her brother yet nestled against her silvered side. Kyna was what had brought her back, that and the haunting thoughts of her own mother. So long ago she had felt the sting of her mother's seeming indifference towards her and had vowed when she had first felt her daughter moving within her that she would never do the same. Yet when she had murdered Aesire and her nights had been a constant onslaught of images of not the woman falling over the edge but of her father instead, Aponi had left.

It was only supposed to be a few weeks, a month at most. Yet days slipped by without getting any closer to finding his murderer  and she might as well have been chasing her tail. All of her potential leads had led to nothing but nonsense, having gained only one insight from a potentially crazed old woman, beware the crow.  It was then that Aponi had had enough of her wild goose chase and had tried to return to her beloved mountain and her beloved daughter but her return was much slowed. She had stumbled upon a wolverine's den and while she managed to come out the victor of the scrum that followed beneath her lush pelt three long scars marred where her shoulder met her chest.

It had taken time for her to heal enough to make any kind of distance each day and because of her constant movement it never truly healed properly. The skin had sealed itself yet it still ached constantly, like she had rubbed her skin raw against stone every time she moved herself improperly. Still as she stopped along the borders of what had once been hers Aponi was thankful for the ache, it was distracting enough to keep her thoughts from the possible rejection that could be about to come. Lifting her muzzle to the sky she called for them, for her daughter and her daughter's father.

Oh how she had changed, when Aponi had left Kyna had just been beginning to grow out of her puppy chub and into her frame.  Now the girl before her was becoming an adult, her legs had shot up though her paws still looked too large for her body. The most notable change though was how fiery her eyes had settled into. There was no way that Phineas could deny that this was his daughter any longer, the Argyris blood in her was as plain as the eyes on her face.

Taking a step forward towards the girl the mother forgot all about the pain in her chest and the fear of rejection, she just needed to be with her child. The step was rapidly followed by another until suddenly she was right before the pup before she hesitated, not sure that she would be welcome to embrace her.  It was a strange feeling for the Aqulia woman who had always only cared about herself until this point of her life. Never before had she put the needs of another before her own and now she knew that she would do anything to keep Kyna happy.

That in itself seemed to be enough of an answer, "Of course Kyna, I would do anything for you."

When her daughter's nose touched the corner of her jaw Aponi's caution melted and she used her chin to bring the girl's head into her neck. It was a strange feeling to her being in such an embrace, it had been so long since anyone had showed her such unabashed affection. In fact it may have been since Mercy had left, yes she had been with Phineas the night they had conceived their daughter but that had been more physical in nature. This moment now was completely different, innocent even and the fae knew that her daughter had not yet grown enough to have her heart broken. It was so different from her own childhood when she had been forced to grow much too quickly. By this age Aponi's pack had been forced down the mountain and nearly starved to death and she had known how hard one had to fight to stay alive.

This was not the life her daughter would lead. Somehow Aponi would regain her crown and ensure that Kyna had her life handed to her on a silver platter as she deserved. Pressing her chin deeper into the ruff of her daughter's neck she inhaled her sweet perfume, "As long as your father will have me, it is his decision now." It was a sneaky move. The mother knew that her daughter would be able to convince the man, or at least pull at his guilt enough to allow her another chance. Her could be cruel to get his own way but he felt enough guilt because of his children that he would do what he could to keep them happy. If only Aponi knew that it was not longer Phineas' decision to make.

The silver woman stepped back slowly as her daughter uttered words that she had not been expecting. Her brow furrowed as Kyna explained what had happened in her absence but then it smoothed again and she raised her head higher. Oh this could definitely work in her favor. If only she knew that she was once again wrong in her assumptions. A smile slid across her face as she nudged her daughter's cheek once more, "I had no idea that @Datura wanted to step in, but my brother will let me return to you....." She was never able to finish her sentence as her newest error became clear to her.

Charging into the scene was a man she had never met before but could only be related to Phineas, so this was the uncle Kyna spoke of. Aponi did her best to show her respect despite the fact that she had none for a man who had had his crown handed to him. Pressing her ears to her skull and lowering her body closer to the ground the woman had to grit her teeth to get into such a demeaning position but she knew that she must if she wanted to be with her daughter once more.

However as the strange spread lies about her in front of her daughter Aponi could hold her tongue no more. Her ears flew forward at the accusations and her body stood once more, her muscles begging for her to lunge forward and teach this pathetic fool a lesson. She had enough sense not to start a physical fight in front of the pup but her tongue she could no longer control. Narrowing her icy eyes she practically hissed the words, "If by murder you mean be present when Aesire fell then yes that was for her." The man continued to smear her and the fae's blood boiled dangerously, how dare this man who had not even earned the right to call himself king make such accusations on a matter he knew nothing about?

Blunt claws dug into the ground below her as if this could keep her body rooted to the ground when all she wanted was to physically wipe the smug grin off the loser's face. The ache in her chest returned at the exertion of holding her tensed body still but she ignored it. Clenching her teeth her jaw was visibly working through her pelt as she strained out, "I did not abandon her. I left on private business which was discussed with Phineas before my leave, it was always meant to be temporary." There was so much more she wished to say and it was becoming clear to her that she would not be welcomed back to the Plateau, the only concern now was making sure Kyna came with her.