Tonight, he didn’t retire to the den right away, instead he decided to trek through the range to find a good view of the stars on this clear night. Having a lot on his mind as of lately, Aleister needed a place to help clear it somehow. With his sister deserting him, Lila deciding to stay, and his interesting interaction with Flair had him wanting to seek solace somewhere that didn’t involve women. Especially now that all of them have changed with the upcoming season. The dark agouti male had to try to keep himself in check with all these instincts flying about.

As he was following the trail towards the northernmost point of the Dire, the Vuesain’s mind was swirling through the most recent events to have happen within the Cove. His paws mindlessly taking him through the familiar path. Though, he was unaware of another along the outcrop he was heading to until he was practically right on top of them. Shaking the fog from his mismatched gaze, ”Oh, I’m sorry! I wasn’t paying attention,” he muttered quickly as his gaze looked to the cream coated stranger in front of him. Blissfully unaware of who he stumbled upon.

As his mismatched gaze found her seafoam eyes and distinct golden features, his gaze lit up. What a coincidence that Aleister would find the star gazing female once again after all these years. He let her speak, Mavis observing how tired he looked. And at notion, a sudden awkwardness fell upon him. Well, she probably wouldn't believe what just transpired between him and a certain chocolate coated female just south of here to get him so tired. Who he left sleeping in the den they shared. This was cringeworthy to say the least. Though, he most certainly wasn't going to explain why he may look so tired. Instead, he gave her a wary smile.

Her next words did bring a more cheerful smile as she hinted at some of their conversation they shared the first time they met. "Sure, I suppose I can sit for a bit," he responded, with a soft smile. Though keeping up the theatrics of pretending to not recognize her, "The stars help clear your head too?"

Usually they helped him too, but tonight many thoughts and emotions buzzed within his head and he was sure a night full of starlight wasn’t going to clear them today. Many nights were needed for him to clear everything away. Again, Mavis was hinting at their fateful encounter on this same ledge years ago. Back then, he was a different man, dependent on his sister’s companionship and approval. Now without her here, it seemed the Vuesain was flourishing into a totally different man. Perhaps, Neha was his crutch that kept him from becoming all that he could be, her decisions and choices ruling his life. If he hadn’t vowed himself to her all those year ago, maybe he would of found himself sooner.

Her sea foam gaze looked to him softly, his own mismatched gaze softening in turn. The dark agouti male did miss his friend and occasionally throughout the years he would think of her, wondering where she was and how she was fairing. Aleister wondered if she thought about him too.

“The boy wishes he wouldn’t of run away either,” he answered hoarsely, perhaps everything would be different if they both hadn’t run away from the Lore. ”He probably could of taken on those coyotes,” Al replied with a meek smirk as he looked to her softly, hoping she realized he of course remembered her. How could he forget?

They probably could have, but it would have been dangerous with three against two. Back then, he thought there would of been a chance for them to meet again, though he wished he would of realized it would take years for them to come back together again. Perhaps then he would have set his heart on fighting the vermin instead of leading them away from her. Another thing he would regret.

Almost like she read his mind, she mentioned how she thought of him throughout the years since they last saw each other. “I’ve thought of you too,” he murmured quietly, returning with a soft smile of his own as she continued. She admitted how he helped her feel more like herself when they met and how she finally got the courage to come back to the place that held so much pain for everyone. “I’m happy you are back,” Al replied softly, his mismatched gaze looking to her softly. ”This time the boy isn’t running away.” Aleister was here in the Lore to stay, even if his sister was quick to abandon him.

The Vuesain was finally happy to admit he wasn’t going to leave the Lore like he always used to. The wanderlust still pricked at his toes, but now he was able to subside the feeling and just take a walk to soothe it. Mavis moved closer, their coats almost intertwining, a smile reached his lips at her warmth she offered. The breeze was pretty chilly on the ledge tonight. As his mismatched gaze looked to her, Aleister saw the next phase of events happen almost in slow motion.

It was almost as if she was revolted with him as she inhaled his scent and jerking away from him in one clean, shift motion. Mavis gasping out apologies and staying she didn’t realize he had someone else already. His gaze widening for moment as he as stunned she thought that. Though, how couldn’t she think that? Aquene was sleeping away in the cave he left her in while he was out getting some fresh air, but that didn’t mean they were a thing. It was a unexpected incident, that he hadn’t been guilty about until now. Had he traveled a little farther up the mountain, he would of found Mavis here alone and not disgusted at his scent.

“I don’t have someone and I’m not anyone else’s.” He answered truthfully, his mismatched gaze looking to her sea foam gaze. Sure, he had been a bit of a floozer the past two nights, but he was hurting and being reckless after his sister decided to up and leave him alone. But, he hadn’t promised himself to anyone. He was still free to choose.