The salt and pepper man was distinctly aware that this winter seemed harder than most. The snow came down harder and formed deeper piles, the nights colder and longer, the storms more unpredictable. Or, maybe he just felt that way because of how often the children continued to go missing. Atlas and Kalysta had a habit of wandering when they shouldn’t, and now Ally was gone as well. Every icicle felt like a personal insult, every tree that groaned under the weight of accumulated snow felt like a scream to his ears.

And, now Eros had given up completely. When the rest of the pack needed him the most, when Ally needed him the most. They couldn’t afford it.

Viorel’s heart rate climbed as he continued to ruminate on their situation, his paws carrying him through his paces subconsciously, carving a path into the frozen ground. The call was almost unbelievable and for a second he just stood there, sure that he had imagined it. Ally had been found and returned back to them safely? He returned with a call of his own, trying to rouse Eros from the infirmary, but wasting no time in heading towards the summons.

Silvered face brightened at the sight of his granddaughter, ”Ally! You had us all worried sick.” Maybe that was a little too on the nose. Looking towards Matos, he nodded, ”Thank you for bringing her home.

The grandfather smiled down at Ally and shook his head, ”I’m just happy that you’re home, and Eros will be so glad.” Or the closest thing to glad that his son could be right now, or maybe he wouldn’t acknowledge it at all. It would be a true test to whether or not anything would be able to raise his once co-leader or if this was what the rest of his life was going to be like.

The warm feeling faded when he heard that one of the Cove’s children was missing. They had had their own fair share of wanderers, but something was nagging the back of his mind. The corners of his mouth set and he looked up towards Matos, ”We haven’t seen her, but I will keep an eye out for anything,” he couldn’t stop the next comment, ”I’m assuming you already asked Nori? I’ve heard she has an interesting approach to babysitting.” That was sarcastic, and probably uncalled for but…

Well they had a pattern of having children drown or almost drown while in their care, so maybe it wasn’t that unfair at all.

Viorel mistook the darkening in Matos’ eyes as recognition and felt his own muscles tighten in anger. So much so that he missed the look of confusion that followed. How could they house an attempted cub killer and feel good about it? At one point the Backwater leader had thought that maybe he had been too rash in his judgement of the once Cove wolves, but this had sealed everything he had ever thought. They couldn’t be trusted - not even with their own blood.

Which was why Magg’s arrival set him even more on edge. His hackles rose for a moment before he could stop them, though he ushered Ally to the side and whispered in her ear, ”Go to the infirmary, Eros is there and he’ll be excited to see you.” And watched carefully as she went on her way. Remaining off to the side, he knew better than to step into his subordinate’s familial business, but he was here and he would not move. A silent sentinel in case Magg needed physical protection.

He wouldn’t expect Matos to attack his own sister on sight, but he would not put anything past the Cove wolves at this point. He slowly released his breath, watching the dark wolf almost unblinkingly.