Adeltra sniffed around a cache, pawing up the dirt and nudging the different prey that was held inside. She decided on a plump hare, dragging it out with a wagging tail. However, she didn’t bite into it to chow down. No, instead she turned and headed toward the main den. This hare wasn’t for her, it was for her Father. Ever since everything had gone into chaos she hadn’t been spending much one on one time with the aging male. In fact, they hadn’t been able to spend much time together at all since her return with was, largely, her fault. The man was older and it was hard for him to get around now, keeping him to the main den most of the time. She was always out exploring, trying to keep everything in line and yes they got to see each other in the nighttime when they all gathered together to sleep in a nice warm ball but she still felt they needed...more.

Snow fell from the sky in light flakes, clinging to her fur for dear life. She flicked an ear in annoyance as a flake settled itself onto the delicate hairs on the inside. The young Archer shuffled through the snow drifts, leaving a path in her wake. The hare’s back feet drug across the ground as she went, finally making it to the main den after a few moments. She placed the prey on the ground for a moment, giving herself a good shake. You’d think I’d get used to this, but I never do, she mused, amber-yellow eyes moving toward her present parent.

She picked up the animal once more, moving it to drop at his paws before nudging his cheek affectionately. Hi, daddy. How’re you feeling today? she asked, plopping down in front of her father with a yawn but otherwise good natured smile on her lips. However, as she looked at him her heart ached. She worried about the time they had left together. Del knew they were only mortal, the body of Cyril’s father splayed across the ground prominent in her mind, but the part of her that was still a child stubbornly wanted to hold onto the belief that she was being ridiculous and that Nicolo would be with them for a long while.

The girl’s auds flickered backward as her father called out for Adele. Now that she’d talked to Sven and Ravenna she knew who the woman was and...it frightened her. He didn’t even recognize his own child? Was he really that far gone? She plastered the smile on her face despite her heart beating wildly in her chest. She reminded herself to breath. The young Archer nuzzled his cheek as he mentioned he was tired. Addy could see that, plain as day. She listened to the rasp of his breath, the wheezing that showed maybe his tiredness wasn’t just from laying around all the time.

He asked how she was, her tail thumping on the ground happily. I’m good! Real busy. Helping with food, walking the borders, being nosey as usual, she laughed. I think I’m gonna try and be a scout, she informed him, watching his reaction to see what he thought.

Everything about her father felt off and it concerned her. Like he wasn’t quite all there. It was sad to think that he could be losing his mind, especially considering he’d been known as the historian. So much knowledge slipping from his grasp and from the world. If he ended, so did much of the traditions that they knew about the Archers. She forced the thoughts from her mind, tail thumping happily as he kissed her cheek.

He said that her being a scout was wonderful and she felt happiness swelling in her chest to have the approval of her father. It meant a lot to her to hear what he said. She didn’t crave it, per say, as Addy was far too independent for that but he was still her dad and she loved him a lot. He started to mention her mother, auds perking before flickering back as he moved into a violent fit of coughs. She extended her head to press her nose against him in comfort as they wracked his body, holding back the whine that threatened to surface. She winced, feeling the shakes. He was so weak…

Thanks, daddy. I hope so, she said with a smaller smile. The absence of her mother was still a hard subject, but she was glad they could talk about her. It helped. When she comes back I’m gonna be sure to tell her allll about everything she said, trying to be positive because she still held onto the hope that the piebald woman would arrive at their borders at some point.

She knew that her father was in plenty of pain, so she didn’t hold it against him when it seemed that his attention kept shifting in and out. It was something she’d started getting used to, this cycle. She was honestly surprised he was even awake, as normally when she ventured for a visit he was sleeping. Still, it was good to talk to him. To feel his warmth and presence next to her. Though he wasn’t in the best shape he was still her father. He was still the man that let her commit all kinds of mischief. That had first instilled her pride of being an Archer. He was her one and only Daddy.

Maybe, when you’re feeling better, you me and Rom can go out and do something together. Just the three of us, she offered with a hopeful wag of her tail. Because he would get better. He had to. She didn’t know what she would do without him.