Mount Hollow live like animals

@“Cyril”

Cyril always became uncomfortable when talking about himself, a fact that hadn’t gone unnoticed by her. And, now that she’d lost her father, she could understand why. In a way she was doing the same thing that he’d been doing all along; deflecting the subject away from her to avoid talking about it. It was unhealthy, but ignoring the pain was so much better than facing it head on.

He pulled away from her to lay down at her side, cheek pressing against hers. If anyone came plodding along it was likely the two near-yearlings would look like they were having a romantic cuddle session, but the truth of the matter was that they were just trying to hold each other together.

She took note of the name. Clearwater Tarn. It was beautiful, the perfect name for the place they had chosen. Adeltra had gotten a little taste of it when she’d gone up to visit her dark friend and it was truly beautiful. Maybe not as great as the Willows, but a close second. Though, the Kael-Santoro boy didn’t quite seem pleased with it. In fact, he seemed distinctly displeased. Of course, she supposed she could see why with his next reveal. It seemed he would be getting more siblings in the spring. Her heart gave a little squeeze in her chest, but she reminded herself that she, too, would basically be getting new siblings in the coming month. They would be her cousins, but from what Ravenna and Leotie had said they would be as good as siblings.

He stuttered out an apology, nosing at the base of her ear which she leaned into. Boy that felt good. You’re fine, Cy. Don’t be sorry. I’m happy for you and Piety. You’re gonna be a great big brother, she said with a small, tired smile. The girl meant her words, truly. But there was another question she had to ask. You don’t seem excited, though. Do you...not like the guy?” she questioned. It would make sense, she supposed. After all, the man was not Cyril’s father but he’d be essentially stepping into the place of it. If anyone tried to take the place of Nicolo she’d be downright aggravated too.

Turning the attention away from themselves seemed to be a common trend with the duo. They wanted to know what was going on each other’s lives without having to talk about their own, which seemed impossible. It was an endless circle between the two, but Cyril wouldn’t have it any other way. Fortunately, for him, Adeltra usually didn’t mind talking about herself or what was going on in the willows. Except for today, of course, and for good reason.

But it made the boy uncomfortable, talking about himself while she was dealing with the death of her father. He had been in the same situation months ago—hell, he was still in the same situation, as he wasn’t having the easiest time with the grieving process. Maybe he needed to go north, to the lowlands. Face his grief head on.

He nearly shuddered at the thought.

As expected, she quickly dismissed his stuttered apology. She seemed almost happy to hear that his mother was expecting another litter; however, it made sense. Cyril knew how much the ebony Archer respected his mother. They had spent weeks living together, after all. The pale Santoro had acted like a mother to the girl when she had needed one. As much as Cyril wanted to be happy for his mother, and be supportive, the thought of her shacking up with another so soon after his father’s death… it made the back of his throat taste like bile. He gave a soft shake of his head at her question, his shoulders rolling gently to show his indifference. Dono yet, he grumbled, his toes curling into the dirt as a frown creased his dark maw, I just… I want her to be happy, y’know? Hell, she deserves it. He sighed as his ears drooped to the side. I just feel like he’s been forgotten. He as in his father. The father he had killed, indirectly. The father that had once been a loving husband and was now being replaced.

His frown deepened.

Her dark friend definitely didn’t seem happy about it, despite saying he wasn’t sure how he felt about the man yet. The growing frown seemed to prove her point and she listened quietly, moving her head to preen his chest fur with her eye teeth in a comforting manor. She paused as he mentioned that he felt like his father had been forgotten, lifting her head to rub her snout along his chin. She pondered on how she should respond, finding herself at a loss for words. What was she supposed to say to something like that? She couldn’t tell him his worries weren’t warranted. After all, it had been less than half a year since the death of the Kael boy’s father and yet Piety was pregnant with another man’s pups already. It did seem to be in poor taste. “Maybe you could talk to your mom about it,” she suggested, knowing that her words were easier said than done. After all, how was someone supposed to say “Hey, I know you’re trying to move on and be happy and all but I just feel like you’re forgetting everything from before.”

fade with yours? or here? <3 @Adeltra

Everything always required talking—something that the sullen boy wasn’t particularly fond of. He figured his brooding and gloomy demeanour was enough to show his mother that he was displeased by her recent choices, but he knew, deep down, that the tawny male made her happy. Ish. Maybe it was the sense of security. Or maybe she was lonely. Didn’t know how to cope. Whatever. It didn’t matter. No matter how he felt about the situation Cyril knew he couldn’t change it. Not if it meant sacrificing his mother’s happiness. She was moving on—maybe a little too soon—but she was dealing with her own grief; recovering. Cyril, on the other paw, was still dwelling on the path.

Maybe he always would.

He shrugged in response to his friend, his expression still grim. Yeah, he started, his tail twitching uncomfortably behind him, maybe. Not likely. He was better at keeping things to himself, and bottling up his feelings, than expelling his thoughts through words.

He nudged his friend’s shoulder, his features softening slightly. C’mon, he hummed as he encouraged her to follow him away from the hole in the rock, let’s take a walk. Do somethin’. Show me some more of your spots? He suggested with a warm smile finally breaking his stoic features. They both needed to keep themselves occupied before more word vomit tumbled off their tongues. 

(This post was last modified: May 11, 2018, 04:17 AM by Cyril.)