The leader’s ribs were finally feeling better after his run in with the elk, not fully back to normal but he was beginning to resume normal activities. He was still sore by the end of the day, but nothing like the pain that had come just from breathing in the days after the breaks had occurred. Vanadis, and Clover after her return had of course been taking good care of him, but Viorel found the down time stressful and he had quickly become impatient with his healing process.

Today was a sore day, and he had been grumbling to himself while making his way to the medicinal den, hoping the women would have something to help him. This had been abandoned though at the sight of Sharlee and Vasco, silhouettes slightly blurred by the thick, floating, flakes of snow that seemed to sleepily falling from the ground. He had thought maybe he could snuggle up with Vanadis after having some herbs, maybe sneak some private time away from their sons, but this was intriguing. He wasn’t sure he had seen Sharlee speak with Vasco alone since he had joined them, in fact, he wasn’t sure he had spent much quality time with either of them recently.

Approaching slowly, he chuffed a greeting, then winced at the way his side protested at the movement. Trying his best to disguise it with a cheeky grin he added, ”I almost thought you two were snow wolves from a distance, it sure is coming down today.” Looking Vasco over he added, ”How have you been feeling Vasco, Clover and Vana taking good care of you I hope?”

They each grinned and shook off their coats at his snow wolf comment, but he couldn’t help but chuckle about the fact it took less than a minute for them to be covered. Glancing over his shoulder at his own pelt he grinned that he was looking more like his mate than himself. Maybe this would help them all blend in, not that they were sneaking around currently. Nodding at his words, but not saying anything Viorel kept his thoughts to himself, Vasco may claim he was almost back to himself, but the leader knew he had seen better days.

Sighing slightly at the comments about his sons, he shook his head in exasperation, ”Well you’ve both met that pair, hard to get anything else done but keep them alive.” They seemed to have a knack for getting themselves into danger, danger that then put everyone else in harm's way. Looking appreciatively towards Sharlee he continued, ”I’m sure she would appreciate the offer, but they’re getting to the age that unfortunately having a handler might not make much of a difference. They’re going to do what they’re going to do.” Almost yearlings now, his litters were about to enter their teen years and their parents would not be around forever.

Viorel wanted to keep things light, but standing here with his advisor and one of his mother’s closest friends he couldn’t help his thoughts. Shifting on his paws a little, he blurted out, ”Did my mom tell you she was going? Or where she was headed? Or why?” How could she just show up, pregnant, and then leave all her children behind once her daughter got old enough?

Viorel could only smile and laugh along about the comments on his twins. They almost felt like chaos embodied at times and it took the whole manpower of the pack to keep them alive. Still, he smiled in appreciation at his cousin and nodded, ”I think they’re good boys, and I think they’ll do great things. But, maybe they need to work on their impulse control a little bit first huh?” Stop charging rutting moose, going for long walks where they shouldn’t, getting into fights with wildlife. The thought caused him to snort, ”Maybe they take after Vayko in the fighting wildlife department.” He certainly wasn’t running around fighting anything he shouldn’t be.

He watched Sharlee shake her coat off again, but this time Viorel did not follow suit, he was deep in thought. He nodded slowly, ”I agree… Last time we were taken as a group, not one by one.” His words were slow and well thought out. It stung to hear that she had been so happy here, when this was not something that he had thought. He shifted on his paws, uncomfortable and wishing that he had not brought the topic up to begin with.

It was too late now, so he said his piece, ”I think Xulia left because she wanted to. This is not the first time she disappeared since we got here and her and Andrey were never happy we were staying to begin with.” Frankly, he was sure she had volunteered to take the trip with Clover fully intending not to come back. Sure, the storm made an easy excuse but she had not turned back up, and that seemed like a choice on her part. His mother though, ”And my mother…she showed up here pregnant with a man who immediately took off, and then left all of her children without a word including Hazelnut who is still a child.” He sighed, looked to Sharlee, hoping she felt the same, and then back to Vasco, ”I think she went after him, Azra, I think she made a choice.” And the choice was not to stay here and build bridges with her kids.