Just like that Borden became the omphalos of Arlette's sparked interrogation. He was no longer the Keeper nor a loyal follower of Jaysyek Lyall, the matriarch of Grizzly Hollow, but a man who sought refuge under the fallen king of the Plateau... the lone leader who had taken up a rank in Jaysyek's pack. His stomach churned and he fought to keep his face straight as he tucked away the thought that had resurfaces from the depths of his mind - whether or not he was still regarded as Arlette's {adoptive} father could wait. Though, either way, he opted to steel himself, to guard his conscience and his heart.

He kept his lips sealed until he found a way to unfold the full answer to her. "Your mother and I felt it was time," he admitted. "You are very much grown up now and, well, we just... felt it was only right for you to know. Alexander had come to see you... you... and... your brother, Theodore." His eyes averted to the ground and his brows furrowed as he tried again to sort out his sentences. "You both came to us from the Mountain when a mountain lion had invaded your pack's den. Vlarindara and one other brought you here for safety's sake. Without them you probably wouldn't have survived." His words again came out slowly, cautiously... He did not yet dare to tell her straight out that he had known Alexander had had quite an unfortunate accident on the rocky cliffs or that he had once held a grudge against the wolves of the Mountain for a foolish misunderstanding... or that he had almost denied Vlarindara entry into the Hollow. The corners of his lips twitched but he still fought to maintain it. "You were merely a few weeks old, half-starved and already striving against the odds to survive, and we took you in... brought you up as best we could.." He gazed at her quietly, adding sincerely, "I'm just terribly sorry neither of us, Alexander and I, were there for you when you could have needed us the most."

the suns going to shine, and sometimes the clouds will rain.

The Hollow patriarch slowly looked to Arlette, taking in the emotion on her face and the downward motions of not only her ears but her muzzle and eyes as well. Her words came just as quietly as his. She asked why he and Jaysyek had taken them in and he merely shook his head. "Because I owe Alexander every bit of credit to who I am today," he repeated. "If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have come here, to establish Grizzly Hollow, to discover who I really am, or... or even understand what one could possibly do for love. The least I, or we could do, was to take care of what was most precious to him."

"Arlette," he cooed. "Whatever you choose to do from now on is your choice. Whether you choose to stay here or to follow him wherever or to leave to make your own path... is solely up to you. No one else. And, whatever you decide, you will always have our support." A cautious smile lifted his face, and instead of the slightly sorrow tone that his voice had taken up, his voice mellowed into a more kindly pitch. "Come now... After you finish up, you are dismissed. Wouldn't want to keep you from enjoying whatever you had planned this afternoon."

[Applause.]