Though Kaj worried incessantly about the little lightning child, his story was not to end in the tragedy that had plagued Quilyan and Resplendence. Yes, little Rue had wandered away, never to be seen again - but she had been a mere babe. Aleta was older than the prince's daughter, more knowledgable in the ways of the world thanks to a father who was actually present. Kaj had taught her all that she knew, and she had utilized all of his teachings on her errand to the Dragon's Throat. Of course, all of this might have been avoided if she had simply asked her father to come with her... but, for whatever reason, hers had been a quest that she was determined to complete on her own.

Besides, can you imagine if Kaj had shown up on Gaucho's doorstep with his and Sohalia's daughter?

In any case, she had returned home after a relatively short time period, having excused herself after the revelation that she had many siblings in a family that she would never know. It wasn't that her mother had asked her to leave; in fact, Sohalia had begged Aleta to stay, if only for a little while. But the little lightning girl was already gone. From the beginning, Aleta had been a mistake, and afterthought, a part of a family that was never meant to exist. And Sohalia had made it abundantly clear that she had chosen the Throat, had chosen Gaucho, had chosen Zenobia and Rhoa and Ivezho and Hawke and Aelin and Vinati... she had been choosing them for months. Aleta was not a fool. She knew when she was unwanted.

What she hadn't expected was for it to hurt so much. She had always been a child of calm logic, interested in fact above all. Until it had been proven that she meant little and less to her mother, she had clung to the frail hope that Sohalia would return, that they would all be together. She had never been fool enough to think that her parents were in love, but she had thought they were friends. They could have been comfortable, could have been happy. Despite her reservations, she had waited and wanted and hoped. Well, she wouldn't be making that mistake again.

Suddenly, her father appeared, blowing his soft air-kisses beside her muzzle, a gesture that she returns in a rather subdued manner. Her lower lip trembled as he exclaimed over her, and she turned her round, tearful eyes upwards to see his worried face. Without warning, she burst into tears, the hot liquid streaming down her cheeks burning against her sensitive skin. "I w-went to find M-mother," she choked out between sobs. "And s-she was i-in the... the D-dragon's Throat, and -" So violently was she shaking that her words were almost incomprehensible. "S-she doesn't want to b-be with us h-here b-because... b-because... s-she has another f-family," Aleta wailed, finally falling into inconsolable sobs as she stood as close to her father as she could without actually touching him.

"Talk."