The last few weeks had been turbulent not only for him but the rest of the pack as well, even more so than it had been in the past. The words he'd spoken to Moonshadow before he left on his trip had been truer than he would have liked. The loss of Des had hit him hard but he wouldn't mourn her until he'd sought his revenge. The only problem was the trail had grown cold and now he was left to come up with a plan that would find her killer and give them the revenge he wanted. For now it wasn't something he was able to do, with Lunette having just returned a lot of his focus had been on her. He didn't want to make the same mistakes he'd made in the past. He worried how her parents would react if they ever found out his true feelings for her but he felt it was a risk worth taking if they shared the same feelings. He was almost certain Lunette felt the same way as their relationship seemed to have changed.

Moonshadow was also at the forefront if his mind as he worried about her everyday since the day she'd had her pups. She was a strong woman but losing two pups wasn't something to get over quickly. He was always reminded of what Namid had gone through the previous year and hoped that somehow he could keep his friend from going through that. He didn't want her to fall into the dark place like he and Namid had, she had Chan and even though his siblings were gone he hoped the little cub could bring her enough happiness. His plans had been to take the day since it was so sunny and spend it on a rock somewhere but they had changed. He and Moonshadow hadn't really talked since she'd gotten her memory back, he felt they were long overdue.

So he went to her early before his duties hoping that he might catch her alone. He hoped Tagg would have gone to take care of his own duties to give him and Moonshadow plenty of time to talk. He went to the den as it was the most obvious place to look for her now. “Moonshadow, are you in there?” He called into the darkness hoping to hear her answer his call.

Kajika fully expected to find his friend inside the den especially after the snake had ended up in there with Chan, Moonshadow had become even more protective of her son. He couldn’t blame her since the cub was all she had left of her litter. It was thoughts like that which only fueled the anger that had taken up permanent residence inside of him. As always he wished that he could protect her from anything bad happening but he had learned with Des that it wasn’t possible to be there every moment of every day. There was no way to tell what would happen, he would have gladly canceled or postponed his trip had he known about all of the things that had happened during his absence. There were so many more what if situations that popped up from considering that one small change to the plan.

When he arrived outside the den he wasn’t expecting to find Moonshadow inside if it as it was still rather early. So he had spoken into the den calling for his friend and hoping she felt up to speaking with him. Luckily he had been right and Moonshadow was indeed inside the den as she soon emerged and greeted him. It brought a smile to his face, “Good morning to you as well.” He then let his gaze fall back on the entrance to the den, “How is my godson today?” He asked wanting to make sure that the pup was doing well. It was the first time that he had ever really had to worry about how the pups were doing. Kajika was still ecstatic about Moonshaodw asking him to be Chan’s godfather.

The dark beta was thankful that spring had truly arrived to the lore, he was usually pretty tolerable but this year it had work out it's welcome. With the water temperature's they could now add fish to their caches but that could wait until later. Speaking to Moonshadow​ was his top priority at the moment. He was pleased that she seemed to be in good spirits as she came out of the den. Their greetings were exchanged but he was curious about his godson, “Sounds like he might be quite the handful?” Which he wouldn't be surprised by. It was good that Moonshadow was able to get a few moments to herself though he wasn't sure she wanted them after the snake.

Once she'd told him how Chan was doing she asked him how he was doing, it was a heavy question as of late. He was better than he was before his trip but was he truly better. His thirst for revenge for not only Des's murder but Moonshadow's attack and subsequent loss of two of her children weighed on his mind daily. Lunette helped more than she would ever know in keeping him grounded and not lashing out from the anger inside him. “Right now? I'm doing okay but you know better don't you?” She knew him well enough to know when he was fine and when he wasn't. “It's been a rough month for all of us. Are you okay and tell me the truth Moonshadow. You do your best to hide it but I know you like you know me.” He wouldn't let her off the hook like he had in days past. He wanted to know for sure she wasn't falling into the darkness.

Hearing that his godson was doing well was good news to hear.  Though Chan wasn't his and he might not have the right to feel the way he did he still felt the pride a father might feel because he was his godson son.  He had been grateful to be there when the cub was born, to see him come into the world.  Kajika knew some father's didn't even get that chance. “They do grow up fast and it can be very hard to watch that but then you get to see what they become. Having a mother and father like you and Tagg I'm sure Chan will do great things.” With those words he did have to wonder what Chan would grow up to do.  Moonshadow had come so far since he had first brought her to the cove, he was proud of the woman she'd become. “With him growing so fast I suppose you have to cherish the moments you have with him while he is still young.”

They went through how he was but he also knew deep down Inside she knew how he was doing.  It wasn't something he liked to dwell on. He knew from past experience that it could and would consume him. He couldn't have that, not now or ever.  It was best to give it it's time and place and by doing that he hoped to keep the darkness that he had once found himself in at bay. She knew him well and knew when he wasn't at his best because he had had seen him at his worst. This time was different he tried to hide it but she didn't know what lived just below the surface.  This he could tell her it wasn't like before so when she asked how he was really doing he didn't hesitate. “I'm angry most the time for what was done to Des and you I want those responsible to pay for what they did.” That was part of it and there was Lunette and what he felt was going between them but he didn't know how to explain that to Moonshadow. It also wasn't the first time he'd wondered what his friend would think about his relationship with the young Vuesain.  There was worry there to about when Namid and Vespertio found out how close he and their daughter had become. It wasn't something he'd planned, it just happened.

He was also concerned for her as he had been since her return to the cove. He wondered if she’d even talked to Tagg about how she was feeling. Or if the tawny male even recognized there was something that wasn't quite right with his mate. He had asked her to tell him the truth of how she was doing because he knew she couldn't be okay after all that had happened to her. He caught the way her ears flicked back when he asked her to tell him the truth. As she spoke his brow rose just a little and he became more curious when her gaze dropped so she was no longer looking at him. “Considering what Moonshadow?” He asked his tone serious.  He knew there was something that she wasn't telling him and like her he aimed to find out what it was. Though he had the idea that it probably had to do with the pups she'd lost. If that was the case he had to help her so that she wouldn't go to the same place he had went earlier in the year. “I can't help you Moonshadow if you don't tell me,” he added his tone gentler than his had been before.

Despite the reservations he'd had when he first found out about Moonshadow and Tagg starting a family together he did feel they would make good parents. They both lived their son and he knew would do the best they could for him. His student was however quick to remind him just how important he would be in Chan's life. “I want to teach him all that I know,” admitted the dark man. Since he didn't foresee a son in his future he was thankful for the opportunity to pass his knowledge on to Chan. Of course the young Eastfall wouldn't stay little forever and Moonshadow's agreed they would have to cherish as many moments as they could while he was still young. Kajika hoped for Moonshadow that Chan wouldn't follow in the footsteps of Namid's children and leave the cove when he was older.

Their conversation soon turned to him and how he had been and this time he didn't need to hide from her his true feelings. What he felt in regards to the cove and most especially Des's death weighed heavily on his mind always. He expressed to her the anger he felt as there was no reason to hide it. Nor was there reason to hide from Moonshadow the fact that he wanted revenge. He knew it wouldn't bring Des back or change what had happened to his ebony friend but it would make him feel better. He wasn't able to help them when they'd been hurt but making those responsible pay for what they had done would hold some satisfaction. His gaze fixed on Moonshadow as she spoke if not dwelling on the feelings he felt and how his anger would tear him apart. He shook his head, “I won't let that happen” he told her, “I have you and Chan and Lunette to help keep me grounded.” He was certain that was what he needed to not let himself be consumed by his anger and desire for revenge. His brow furrowed as she stated that what had happened was her fault because she had left pack lands in search of food he assumed. “It wasn't your fault Moonshadow,” he said close to her with his nose only inches from hers, “You should be able to leave pack borders in search of food without having to worry about having something bad happen.” However it was starting to seem that they couldn't leave pack lands without something bad happening.

There was more to what Moonshadow was feeling, Kajika knew it and he was going to get to the bottom of it. There wouldn't be any point in her trying to avoid as much as he had when she had tried prying into his feelings. So he went about prying into what it was that bothered her so much. He didn't have to wait for her to spill what aceit was as she did it almost right away. He nodded, “I think all that's happened has brought the pack’s spirits down, it's times like these we really need to stick together.” They had gone through some rough times before but nothing like what they've had to endure over the past months and he had to wonder if Fallen Tree Cove could recover from them. He did fear what would happen if Lunette decided to leave because he was afraid of what it would do to Namid. In that moment however he was more concerned with Moonshadow and as she stuttered out that she was fine he shook his head. “Don't lie to me Moonshadow I know that you are not fine,” he stated before moving closer and whispering, “Do you think I don't know what it looks like when the darkness is trying to swallow you.” His tone was serious but gentle so as not to scare her. He wasn't going to let her fall as he had, she had more to live for and he hoped that would keep her from being brought down as much as he had.