My radiant beam in the night.

With Spring's arrival, much had changed. For some mysterious reason, several of Shiroshika's wolves had vanished: Gyrfalcon and her mate, Edelweiss and her ward, Alexei, Filavandrel! The displacement of his own son was most troubling of all, and Quicksilver was spurred by determination to unite his family.

He'd looked for the Prince and their comrades in the weeks since their awakening, searching daily among the lowlands beyond their claim. During this time he'd realised how vastly different things had become and was anxious of how their location seemed to have drastically changed. Where once his silver towers had been surrounded by vast tundra, the wild frozen sea now lapped at the Easternmost borders. He could no longer see Vanderfell's proud summit reach into the sky to the South, and instead he recognised it to the North. Confused but eager to find the young Prince, Quicksilver sought the company of @Haruki to take the hunt further afield.

Quicksilver's relationship with both step-children continued to feel strained, despite the great length of time that'd passed since he'd wed their mother. He understood that there was a great deal of trauma in their background and had chosen not to force his presence on them. Reiko's firstborn duo were fond of their younger siblings, however, and so the druid did not doubt that Haruki would be as eager to locate Filavandrel as he was.

Evening crept in as they crossed the Frozen Ground's boundary, and Quicksilver felt the milder temperatures almost immediately. He lifted his muzzle and tested the air, certain that no pack had sought residence among the trees. He looked around, ashen ears twitching at the twittering pair of sparrows that swooped overhead, and saw Spring wildflowers of vibrant shades prepare to bloom between the roots. “This is different,” he commented, and shifted to regard his pale step-sun to see what he made of this unusual discovery, “how about we look around here, then rest for a few hours when the sun sets?”


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It was no secret Haruki wasn't very fond of their new father figure. The last man their mother chose was a monster, more so than he could remember from their youth but all he could think of was how frightening he became near the end of their stay in the vale and how much trauma Hotaru had gone through in those final moments. So when the new father-in-law approached it took him mentioning one of his younger siblings being missing to spring the Prince into action.

The world around their empire had changed drastically. For a moment it was similar, snow-laced grounds as far as the eye could see but flowers soon sprung up from the undergrowth indicating something had definitely changed. This was no longer the mountainous terrain from before, but a lush brush of flowers that his mother would certainly enjoy. If he remembered, he would take some back to make her happy along with his half-sibling in tow.

At the mention of what the plan was, he only cast a single stormy eye in the direction of the Emperor, acknowledging what he said but choosing not to respond. Nosing through the perfumed flowers, he'd continue to try and find a trail of the young ward and see if he could find the child first before their father did.

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Quicksilver's pastel eyes lingered quietly on the alabaster Prince, expecting something - a word of disapproval or even a nod of reluctant agreement - but he received nothing more than sideways glance. He blinked, deciding at once that there was absolutely nothing he could say to his step-son that could temper his dislike of him. Their trailings so far had been mostly silent on Haruki's part, but the druid did not dwell on the way his heart lurched with each failed attempt to communicate. He was a sensitive soul, and of course the continued rejection hurt despite his loyalty to their family over the past year, but he'd become a master of shielding himself from each scathing reminder that he was an outsider.

Haruki's gaze turned to the forest before them, and the silverwhite's own stare followed his companion's movements before he chose to follow along. He allowed some distance to fall between them, figuring that his step-son may require that, and Quicksilver nosed among his own chosen trail for any sign of fresh paw prints in the damp earth. He could smell no sign of wolf in the area, but his learned nose detected fresh herbs on the breeze.


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Despite the cold shoulder the man remained silent rather than giving the Prince an earful about respecting his higher-ups or those who were now among his family members due to marriage. Of which he would have scoffed at. Respect was earned after all. The Izukas had been through enough and though he had shown no ill will as of yet with their family - Haruki would remain on guard until he too could learn to trust a new man in their family. The smell of lilacs and lavender fill the air in the fairy-like landscape. Green buds preparing to open and greet the sun any day now after slumbering for the cold winter. It reminded him almost of the stories his mother used to tell them; and of their birthplace. So rich in greens and blossoms, all it lacked were the mountains surrounding the landscape. Coddling them in a chilly embrace.

Silence didn't remain, however. The internal roaring seas eventually gave way as he offered a flick of his tail. Quick, hairs bristled only along the plume in disdain for what he would say next. What business do you have with our mother? He wasn't here for their marriage after all. Their courtship or all the hardships that had come with it. Lord forgive if he had known of all the heartache that had come prior but Quicksilver was lucky that rumours didn't reach the Prince's ears on that one.

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Haruki carried on ahead and Quicksilver stole glances at him, ensuring that his step-son didn't vanish among the foliage. He was an adult and more than capable of holding his own, of course, but the druid didn't want to lose sight of him. Searching for one missing Prince was difficult enough, and to return without either he was sure to face Reiko's wrath.

The silence was uncomfortable. He'd choose that awkwardness, however, over the scathing question that spilled unexpectedly from Haruki's lips. Quicksilver stopped in his tracks and lifted his muzzle to regard his stormy-eyed companion, quiet as he considered how best to respond. It was hard to tiptoe around the Empress' firstborn duo, hard to be shunned and ignored by them. He'd never attempted to play pseudo-father to them nor had he mistreated their dam. He felt he'd been patient and understanding that it was difficult for them to accept a new addition to their little family unit, but for how much longer did Haruki and his sister need to make their resentment of him so obvious?

He'd tried to prepare himself for a question like this, yet to have it sprung on him left him stupefied. Quicksilver blinked, figuring it in his best interest not to provoke Haruki in any way by offering the simplest response: “I love her.” He had shown her that every single day, to the best of his ability. He had spent almost an entire year by her side as husband, had reared a litter with her! Quicksilver was confident that he'd given Reiko everything of himself, yet Haruki saw fit to question the weight of his loyalty.


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He didn't bother to glance at the Emperor behind him. The silence after the question spoke enough for how much it stung, and it brought the first prince joy to think he might have stuck a sharp knife into Quicksilver's side with it. After all, he would show no mercy - even if getting along with this man would make their mother happy, it didn't matter. Her safety came first before a shallow joy brought by some man who might only have one thing in mind with their mother.

Haruki took the silence to ponder the strange shift in lands. Did this also mean the tiger was brought elsewhere? Preferably far away if not transported to wherever the missing members had gone - perhaps not in the same place as he didn't wish ill on the missing Shiroshikans, but more so in a similar manner of... away away.

He'd be damned if this new life they were given would end in the same tragedy that Sachiko had told him of her own memories prior to this. How the prince and his sister could forget such a thing he could never wrap his head around it, but there was no way Sachiko would lie to him about such a horror. Sure. He responded coldly at the reply almost immediately. And Tiberius was "loyal" to her, and Izumi was her "friend". In other words, he was done with people turning their backs on his mother with hatred in their eyes.

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He'd half expected Haruki to dismiss his admission of affection for the Empress, yet it pained him to hear the chill and disbelief in his tone all the same. His step-son didn't even look his way, simply pressing on through the unfamiliar forest and carrying on with his cold shoulder. The druid considered when he'd located and returned Reiko's lost Princeling to her as a yearling, thought back to how much more receptive he'd been to his companionship during their travels. Quicksilver's marriage to Haruki's mother had been the only thing to sour the tentative bond forged during that time, he assumed, and could not think of a way to return to those gentler times.

Loving his mother and being a great comfort to her was out of the question, apparently.

The druid averted his eyes, frustrated and pained by the constant reminder that he could never be good enough for Reiko. He loved her, wholly and completely, with everything he had - he could reach up and gather every star in the sky for her, and still it would not be acceptable in the eyes of her firstborn. Quicksilver had chosen her, however, and she him - despite the odds, their disagreements, the disapproval of others. He was hers and she was his. Fate brought them together, time and time again, and the stubbornness of her son would not alter the intensity of his affection for her.

“I am aware,” the silverwhite said softly, “but I am not her guard, nor her friend.” To be compared to those who'd left Reiko behind when their opinions failed to match was an insult. “I am many things, Prince Haruki. Leader, healer, teacher, hunter... but my priority is to be husband and father.” He wished Haruki and Hotaru would open their eyes and see that he was not so terrible. He'd spent a whole year among their family, serving to the best of his ability in a role he never asked for, yet still they focussed on the impossible. “I'm not going anywhere.”


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To his credit Quicksilver remained level-headed. Most would bite back with sour words to entitlement shown here today, and yet the Emperor did not. Showing he was right morally through actions now, and prior. Still, the prince was stubborn. They didn't get this far by being overly kind, and their mother had fallen into so many hardships by being overly kind.

Auds twisted to catch the druid's response, his tone still as calm as before despite the internal turmoil. Haruki remained quiet a little longer, waiting for the man to finish his answer before being bombarded again. That's how Haruki could make sure he could cut deeper. Let them finish, listen and strike back. The best of warriors were patient and waited for their openings. This was no different really.

“I'm not going anywhere.” Was when the firstborn prince turned around, faced the silver druid with a cold stare. Unforgiving and filled with turmoil like the ocean in winter as waves crashed onto the rocks violently through chilling months. Pledge that to me. I was not present for your wedding, nor prior. I want you to promise you will never turn back on those words. With ears pinned back, despite their sie difference, despite Haruki needing to crane his neck up to stare the man in the eyes when they both stand with heads held high - the young prince felt the need to appear on a pedestal in this moment. The judge, so to say - so that should Quicksilver's promise be broken, there would be good reason for Haruki to hate him until the end of their days.

Unlike my mother, I will not forgive you should your promise be broken to me.

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At last his pallid step-son turned to face him, marched closer to invade his space and stare angrily up into his silverwhite face. The druid inhaled sharply, his lips pursed; he did not appreciate the sharpness with which Haruki glowered at him, nor the bite of his demand. “I swear it,” he answered coolly, the easiest vow he would ever need to make. Only death would truly separate the Emperor from his beloved. They were different wolves from different places, with different beliefs and goals, yet the love they shared united them no matter what reared up to try and break them. Every obstacle made them stronger.

She was his world. She had been his whole world for as long as he could remember.

He withdrew from Haruki after a short time, placing a more comfortable distance between them once more and allow the stormy-eyed Prince some breathing space to consider his retort. Quicksilver had spared him enough time to brood over the negativity and unfairness with which he painted their family's future, when their focus ought to be on finding Filavandrel. The silverwhite regarded him quietly, wanting very much to ask if his promise was enough to temper whatever bitterness he'd long felt for him.

He would remember Haruki's threat. He would remember it should the boy see fit to once more abandon his mother without a word, just as he had done before.


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Three simple words. That was what was offered as an answer. It would do for now he supposed and he would remember it. There was only so much he could do when it came to his mother's suitors. It wasn't right to expect her to not seek out companionship, even if the thought felt strange to him after all they had been through... but still, he held suspicion close to the chest. Hoping that the worst would not come back to haunt them as it did once before.

“Very well.” He'd offer the same least amount of words. Letting the topic fall for now and just sealed away should the thoughts need to be reopened again. “Let's find my brother then.” A little olive branch considering that he still saw his younger siblings as a part of the family. Even if they were half of his blood, they were still blood and it would upset mother terribly if he didn't see them as such.

There was no sign here and so he began to figure they should move forward. Away onto different lands that the young prince could have wandered off to.

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