The father had just about had enough with his daughter’s constant back chat. As he caught sight of Lachesis approaching them, Lorcan done his best to ignore @Oksana in the hope that it would encourage her to keep quiet. It didn’t and when the dark pup dared to raise her voice towards him in front of her leader, Lorcan decided to take immediate action. The father had never had to put her in her place so harshly before but this time it seemed entirely warranted.

The whine that pushed past her clamped lips was an indication that she felt uncomfortable, for his grip was not tight enough to actually draw blood and hurt her. After a long pause the father released his grip and focused back on Lachesis, flashing him an apologetic look.

The news of Whitestone and Wraith’s untimely death seemed to devastate the pale leader almost as much as it had Lorcan himself. The agouti male’s own brows mirrored the expression that was now visible on @Lachesis and he gave the leader a small nod in understanding after he was thanked. Russet ears then pricked up as a question was posed to him, but before Lorcan could answer, he felt something press against leg which caused him to look back towards his daughter.

Golden eyes met her deep orange gaze and held it for a heartbeat, his grieving expression faltering for a moment to show something more akin to guilt. He blinked and flicked his tail behind him dismissively before returning his attention to Lachesis, his ears now pressed back uncomfortably against his head. “I don’t have a solid plan yet but I’ve heard word that Morganna has returned, so I’m hoping to track her down before the snow gets too bad…” He admitted. He didn't dare mention his plan to also track down Piety. He could only imagine what would happen if Inna were to find out.

Lorcan understood the reason why he was not permitted to return to Hearthwood River. He had broken pack law one too many times by leaving without word and, as both @Lachesis and @Inna had explained to him numerous times before, the pack was no longer prepared to let wolves like him comes and go as they pleased.

If circumstances had been different, the agouti male may have regretted his decision to wander off two months ago, but as things stood now he considered that perhaps it had been for the best – his relationship with Inna was not what it once was, and after everything that had happened over the last year, he wasn’t too sure if Hearthwood ever really was his home. He had joined the river pack out of necessity, to face up to the consequences of his actions and support Inna with raising @Oksana – although, according to Inna, he had failed at that. He was a lousy lover and a disappointment of a father.

Nothing he ever did was good enough for them. 

“Thank you, Lachesis.” He replied, giving a shrug of his shoulders and a defeated sigh as he watched his daughter shuffle over to the leader and bury her face in his alabaster fur, clearly upset. Lorcan’s pale brows furrowed and the corners of his mouth pulled downwards into a glum expression. Oksana was mad at him and obviously wanted nothing more to do with him right then. The father’s heart sunk. He had tried his best to make her understand, but like her mother, she was too wrapped up in her own wants and needs to see things from his perspective.

Leaving would be the best for everyone, even if she couldn’t see it yet.

Lorcan quietly stepped over to her. “Be good for your mother and uncle Lach, Sana.” He said, flashing a look to Lachesis as if to warn him. Moving closer, the father then placed a single kiss on her forehead, even with her face still buried in Lachesis’s fur. “I love you.” He whispered as he pulled away, not caring if his daughter believed him then or not, before he finally stepped back and offered the pale leader a polite dip of his head in farewell.

~Lorcan exit~