The alabaster witch was an unfortunate piece of his past—one that he had done well in suppressing. He did not care what, or who, she was doing. Nothing would change that. At least she had given birth to a sensible Archer and fled before she could taint Attica with her poisonous words. The witch had been hungry for power, believing she was entitled to the throne of Willow Ridge. Why—because she had hooked up with Sköll, Elettra’s beloved son? The promised prince? The prince who couldn’t even claim the throne as his own? His frown deepened as the thoughts quickly entered and left his mind. It took everything in him not to roll his eyes. “Not miss much,” he answered with a shrug. Perhaps Attica was better off not knowing her parents. She seemed capable and level-headed. The disappearance of her parents had saved her whether she believed it or not.

At first he nodded at her question, his frown promptly replaced by a small smile. “Greer go north first. With Morg. Sköll-sister. Stay while. Greer go south—with mate. Kyna.” Explaining definitely was not something Greer was good at, but he was trying for his niece. “Now here. Aurora Heights. Greer pack. Greer home.” His head tipped to the side as he watched her take a seat, his silver eyes not once wavering from her ebony frame. “Willow ok. But not Greer-home.”

The shadow did not know what his life would have been like if he had chosen to remain in the ridge or stayed in the north with his sister. He wouldn’t have been happy, he knew that much. His paws had always craved new terrain; his eyes yearning for new sights. Greer would not have been satisfied if he remained among the drooping willows, confined to the forest and limiting his adventures to the neighbouring territories. Heading north with Morganna and her posse had allowed the Archer to see new landscapes and stretch his legs, something he would never have been able to do if he’d stayed in his birthplace. Sometimes he wished he had stayed—for his family—but he knew it would not have been good for him. Heading north had also brought him closer to Kyna, even if it had increased the distance between them (temporarily). Would he be where he was know, with Kyna and Revon, if he had chosen to stay? It didn’t matter. He had them now and that was all that mattered.

A smile tugged at his lips, his tail wagging frantically behind him at her words. Attica wanted to join them on them mountain? Of course there was room! There was always room for Archers. The shadow nodded and stepped toward the peppered Archer, his nose pressing against her cheek. “Yes, yes, yes,” he hummed as he pulled away and motioned for the girl to follow him, his mercury pools glistening with excitement. “Attica welcome. Aurora be Attica home too.”