Willow Ridge Always

For daddy @Nicolò  c: Light snow, -18C -1F backdated to 1/23

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.

(This post was last modified: Feb 13, 2018, 01:24 AM by Adeltra.)

Every breath hurt. Nicolo did what he could to recover, but he was coming to accept that this illness was not just stemming from the loss of his mate and lack of care for himself, but from old age. More often than not, he felt himself going in and out of a haze. It was the worst feeling in the world because when he finally did have a grip on himself again, he had no recollection of what time passed. The only thing that provided him any sense of relief was shutting his eyes against the world. It wasn't as if the former patriarch had given up, it was just that he found it harder and harder each day to actually get up on his feet and travel outside of the den, harder for his lungs to expand. A voice interrupted his silence. A lazy smile tugged on his lips, as they searched and settled unfocused on a dark figure. He swallowed, voice rasky when she spoke, "Adele?" But then he frowned, eyebrows creasing down in confusion. No, that couldn't be right. The dark Archer's eyes narrowed, trying to focus in on his visitor. He groaned, he soft sigh escaping his mouth, "Ade...I'm tired." He huffed out and took a few breaths before asking a question of his own, "How are you?"

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Shallow water has trapped several fish in a small pond. Hunt Opportunity

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.

(This post was last modified: Feb 28, 2018, 06:45 PM by Adeltra.)

His daughter...yes, that was who was there. An airy, unfocused smile appeared on the man's face as he took in the grown form of his only daughter. He was so proud of her. She looked so happy, smiling beaming. What was she happy about? The father returned her affections readily, kissing her cheek softly. Her voice thundered in his ears and it took all of his restraint not to wince. Her laugh only caused his head to ring but Nicolo kept the light smile on his face, happy to have some company - especially that of his daughter. The news she brought him only brightened the smile. "A scout...? That's wonderful." He nodded his head, a far-away look in his eye. The dark Archer spoke softly, "Your mother-" he broke off into a fit of coughs and inhaled sharply, clenching his teeth together, before continuing, "-would be so proud of you."

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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.

The aging man did his best to keep his focus on his daughter but it was just so hard when he was in so much pain - physically and mentally. When was the last time he had talked to anyone though? This was a nice change from the usual silence that accompanied him, which was understandable considering that Willow Ridge had plenty of things to attend to. Nicolo offered his daughter a watery smile, a soft sigh escaping his mouth. The mention of his wife brought a deep pain to his heart - despite him being the one that brought it up. He nodding his head in agreement with Adeltra, "Yes, when she comes back..." If she comes back. He had spent weeks looking for her and had come up with nothing, part of what had left him in this sorry state. There was only so much more he could take.

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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.