Dead Empress Backwater i drew a line

Set directly following this thread
For @Eros

It was a pleasant walk, and a quiet one, for the most part, to the communal den. Eros held the bark-pressed leaf ever-so-gently in his maw, and Isidore was surprised by the care with which it was handled - and the fact it had been kept at all. This was the first time something he'd deemed important, but knew was likely insignificant, was treated like it was worth something and not simply brushed aside or mishandled.

How strange. It made Isidore feel as though he were walking on air.

The territory itself was pretty, filled with freshwater and trees, both tall and felled. Once-green leaves touched brown by the autumn that had settled in, decorating the ground and opening the canopy for skylight. Perhaps everything seemed more beautiful because of Isidore's good mood, but he felt very positive about his decision to return.

He kept wandering several wolf-lengths away, sniffing here and there, exploring just a bit on their short journey, but always looping back in to Eros' side once he'd finished. Aside from a comment here and there, Issa was relatively quiet as well - it would be rude to try and start a conversation when his companion had a mouth full of bark.

However, once they reached the den and Eros could put the little trinket down, the talking was fair game once more.

"This is where everyone sleeps?" Isidore asked, ducking beneath a spindly branch and peering around at all the fallen trees, wondering what could've caused such a large part of the forest to collapse upon itself like it had. He'd used to sleep in caves near the ocean, with plenty of family to keep him warm, and found himself smiling at the prospect of having something like that once more.

(This post was last modified: Nov 16, 2024, 04:32 AM by Isidore.)

Eros took the little keepsake to the place in the underground den where he slept each and every day. It was at the sidewall somewhere near the center, and a long time ago he had dug out a little hollow in which to protect his belongings. It wasn't something he dug into often anymore, and as he regard the worn fox fur that covered its opening he realized he couldn't remember the last time he'd disturbed it.

He carefully set the piece of bark down, lifted the pelt away, and then coaxed it into the horde with his nose. When certain it was safe, he put the fur back in its place and rejoined his new pack mate.

"Yeah, most of us. Some prefer their own space, and the infirmary presently has residents, though hopefully not for much longer."

Thankfully Aven was getting better every day, another spot of sunshine.

"What would you like to see or know first?"

Eros dipped down into the den and presumably went to place the pressed leaf down somewhere, but Isidore didn't want to crowd him, so he hung back a bit. The fox fur was an excellent idea to conceal hidden treasures, and Isidore was curious about what else he had in there, but wouldn't pry. Not yet, anyway.

His tail waved at the confirmation. Of course others might not want to cram themselves into a den with a group of other wolves, but for Isidore, it sounded wonderful. Sounded almost like home.

"Hopefully not," he agreed. He didn't know the sick or injured wolves just yet, but maybe they could use a visitor at some point. Isidore wasn't skilled with herbs, but that didn't mean he couldn't help. Making a mental note to ask about what he could do to assist later, Isidore continued, "I'm used to sleeping beside lots of family, so this'll be nice."

His eyes lit up, then, and a smile crossed his maw. "Well, you never did tell me about your favorite places," he reasoned, tipping his head to the side. "I was wondering if it might be easier to show me?"

Favorite places. Eros' ears twitched, and a memory of Achille appeared within his mind's eye. He pushed it back, and tried not to let it color his response. Friends came and went. He was probably better off wherever he'd ended up anyways. Iss would be too, when the Valle storm cloud inevitably got to be too much.

"Um," it wasn't any easier, despite the other wolf's good intentions. Everywhere, especially here, was important because of the wolves he had shared this place with. Wolves that were mostly gone now, and many in ways that he could trace to his own failings. Sometimes he was reaching to do so, but still he saw all of it as immutable truths. If he had done better, been better, his loved ones might still be here instead of pushed away and lost.

Eros' head was nodding, as though his thoughts were not so dismal. As though it really was a simple choice. He moved to lead the way to an undisclosed location, peach eyes watching that Isidore followed.

"Your family's pretty big, then?" he asked, curious what else here might look the same to Iss as where he'd come from. He almost asked too if he missed them, but what other answer could there be to that question but of course? Even if there'd been problems... they were family.