He had come north after ensuring the pack would be okay. The leader had returned from her trading journey, but Thomas had told him that Deuce had been no where to be seen. Tal wanted to know for himself if his mother and other family had gotten through the hurricane okay. He had only just arrived in the area, when the scent of burning wood and a haunting melody came to him. A flute. He could only think of a small handful of wolves who played a flute. Hurt and anger rose in him as the memory of a handcarved flute around Shawchert's neck came to him. But there were others. Why not go look? And the melody, so soft, so compelling.
He knew the song. His mother sang it often, when she'd been in love with his father. As he came closer, he recognized the form playing the flute. Soran. Strange, mother had told him Soran had been missing. The melody she played pulled the words of the song unbidden from his lips. His voice was deep and rich. Once, Sky had been enchanted with him as he sang the same song to her. "Red is the rose, that in yonder garden grows. Fair is the lily of the valley. Clear is the water that flows from the Boyne. And my love is fairer than any..." He stepped into the ring of firelight, a small smile playing on his lips. Soran was a mother to him, in many ways. "Mom must be thrilled that you have returned. She was mad with worry when you were missing."
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