Thicket of Secrets taciturn, reticent

What Vlarindara did next after he had spoken, caught him by surprise. He blinked and watched as she drew near and sat down next to him, additionally nosing his shoulder. She wasn't going anywhere... as long as he was like this, anyway. He let out a winded sigh. "I'm fi-ine... Not weak," he retorted. "Tired... Worn... maybe, but not weak."

She did say that Jayse was already taken care of though, and he simply gave in when she also said that Kauda would finish up her beat about the territory. "Alright then," he stubbornly stated."But... Not. A. Word... to anyone else though... I don't - I don't want them to see me like this. I hadn't expected someone to find me... really... was actually thinking maybe you'd all be hunting or doing something elsewhere - minding Kauda, resting, or listening to that tawny male's sermons or whatever."

Borden Lyall

well, what do you want from me?

Well, what do you want from me?

Listening to his comments made her smile, the white female arching a rather..eloquent look his way before she chuckled, returning to watching around them. "See you what way? As far as I'm concerned.. I'm out hunting..I haven't seen you since you left." Vlarindara yawned, but remained vigilant next to his side - remembering how SHE felt after her frequent trips that ended with her moving day in and day out.. A good sleep would do him wonders.. a good uninterrupted sleep that is. Amber eyes cast about once more before she settled in next to her alpha, leaving her paws uncrossed once again, but offering him the scent of pack, the companionship with another wolf..Safety while he slept. Vlarindara couldn't be certain that the Older Lyall felt the same way she did about having contact with other wolves - but simply knowing that someone had her back while she caught even a few hours of sleep made it that much more valuable.

Her thoughts turned to the first time she'd stayed with him...laying against his side and sleeping..Had it been because she'd liked him at the time? Or simply because the only 'strong' contact with another wolf she'd had was with Raigo.. and that time was usually spent guarding him rather than the other way around. In her short weeks with the pack, the ivory female had come to treasure the subtle contact with other wolves.. be it the simple greeting to her alphas, or the warm fur brushing against hers when she curled up against Jaysyek or one of the others in the den. Granted.. she might not...exactly get along with the other wolves - more or less she was socially inept when it came to such a thing... but in the dark of the den.. one warm pelt was the same as the next. Despite her thoughts of...such off things, the large head hadn't strayed, hadn't lowered to rest upon slightly dirtied paws. It was always up, moving... her eyes and ears watching.

<blockquote>Her question made him smile, even chuckle a little bit. <i>"See you what way?"</i> Clever... She laid down next to him, wafting the scent of his pack his direction. He laid his head down between his paws just as she redirected her gaze to the forest. It felt somewhat strange, being in a situation that was quite the opposite. The last time they had been in such a circumstance, Borden had been the one to watch over her, as well as Raigo. Raigo was off on his own now, however.

He closed one pale golden eye, still letting the other watch her. When that eye grew tired, he let its eyelid fall over its weary iris and pupil then opened his other eye. It wasn't long though until both of his eyes fluttered shut. Once he had gotten just enough sleep to gather energy to make it to the den, he decided he'd look for Jayse.

Evening descended upon Relic Lore, but Borden had yet to stir from his rest. By the time early morning came, he jolted himself awake. Hysterically, he looked around, thinking he had blacked out somewhere or was still in the midst of traveling. He remained still for several minutes, remembering after a while that in the darkness, the one he should be looking for was Vlar...</blockquote>

Well, what do you want from me?

It had been the early hours of the morning that the white wolf had left his side, padding off into the forest to relieve herself before he woke - by the time she had returned, she found the male awake, aware and looking around. A soft chuckle escaped her muzzle as her form separated itself from the soft fog that had settled over their forest this early in the morning. "Hope I didn't startle you.." Vlarindara's amber eyes seemed to glow when the sun hit her pelt, causing a half growl, half groan to escape the white female as she shook herself vigorously from nose to tail. "Stupid sun.. The curse was a light hearted one, however and she returned to sitting next to him, her ears sliding forward to watch the older male curiously. She needed to go hunt.. but would do so once she was sure he had made it back to the den safely. Or to Jaysyek..whichever came first.

She wondered if the pack worried over her absence or not...doubtful.. as she had spent many - a - night away from the pack den...just..not while Borden had been away. The beta stretched, her front legs shifting in front of her, toes parting as her back arched inwards. Plumed tail curled tightly as first one hind leg, then the next stretched in turn, followed by another shake from nose to tail. That being done, the ivory wolf looked as if she could keep going for however long she needed...though it was no doubt that she *hadn't* slept like Borden had. Instead of speaking, the wolf remained silent.. letting him choose what to say or not to say.. she'd follow him and do as he asked. unless it was to leave him be to travel the rest of his way alone. HE might not be weak but he WAS Their alpha.. and deserved a courtesy escort at the very least.

Just as he had thought of her, the white lady appeared, bathed in the sunlight that was starting to filter through the forest. Borden shook his head... he had startled himself, actually, but the feeling passed over him once she had come into view. A yawn parted his jowls and he gingerly rose to his feet when she sat down beside him. The pain was still there in his elbows and back but, still, he mimicked her, stretching his body out in hopes it would ease his tired muscles.

Standing back up he paced over to a nearby tree to relieve himself. On his way back to where his pack's Second quietly sat, he nearly stumbled after stepping into a shallow depression in the ground. "I'm alright," he stated, seemingly saying the sentence more to himself rather than Vlar. "I'm alright..." His unkempt figure lowered back into the spot he had rested in; his eyes narrowed sleepily as he set his head back down.

For five minutes, he waited for Vlar to speak or do something or for the perfect words to say to her. The icebreaker, though, came from neither of them; instead, a howl sounded through the forest. His ears perked forward and his head shot up. Jayse... his mind chimed. As quickly as he could, he got to his feet and lurched in the direction of her call. He was about to trot away but he instantly stopped glanced behind him, knowing all too well Vlarindara would be trailing right behind him. A warm smile lifted his features; if she wanted to escort him, he had no problem with it... She was just doing her job after all, looking after her fellow pack members and making sure everyone was alright. If she decided to go about her now usual routine, that was also fine, but he wouldn't step forward unless she caught up or went on her own way.

Borden Lyall

well, what do you want from me?

Well, what do you want from me?

OOC: *Fades back into mist like some kinda legend* wmahaha

She had taken a step forward when he stumbled and fell in the indentation, but hadn't made a move after that initial step - he had his pride and she knew it. Had she done the same thing, she would have been FURIOUS if someone commented on it. Instead, the white female yawned again, turning to the side and chewing at an itch on her haunches as if nothing was going on... The howl sounded, whipping her head, ears and nose up almost fast enough to give her whiplash. That single call had the beta's form locked in position as her ears decoded the message...and when it was a message for Borden..though not urgent, she relaxed and trotted behind him. She'd make sure he got to his mate safe and sound... if she left his side now and something happened to him on the way.. she'd never forgive herself.

When he stopped to glance back at her, the white female lowered her head in a sort of bow before moving a few yards off - placing herself between him and their borders and then waiting for him to go. After he began to move, the silent brute paced beside him, her form slipping between the trees as quietly as possible.. The trip was relatively short... her eyes glancing constantly around them, then back to the tired and worn alpha to see that he didn't come to harm. When they got close enough to see the grey dusted pelt of his mate, Vlarindara peeled away from the parallel path to Borden and silently disappeared back into the trees towards their den. She'd return if they hadn't come back after a few hours.. to see to their safety...but it might be best for both of the alphas if they could pretend and not know, respectively.. that she wasn't there.

Borden led the way, trusting his instincts would guide him to the soul who cried out to him. Once he had spotted Jaysyek through the trees, he turned around to find nothing more than mist at his back. Vlarindara had disappeared. He stared at the morning fog, squinting briefly when he eyed the parts of the woods where the sunlight had yet to hit, the bluish-gray shadows where the trees successfully blocked out the luminous golden rays. The white lady never reappeared; the alpha smiled, silently thanking her for her aid.

Steadily turning about, he stepped forth from behind the large pine tree that kept him from view. Here he was... The other part to her half to a missing piece, ready to close the space between, the distance that had kept him apart from his significant other...

{Presto.}

Borden Lyall

well, what do you want from me?

Well, what do you want from me?