Heiress Loch nine in the afternoon

 

"That's why I never say anything to anyone 'sides you...." she said, and his topaz gaze flicked sideways towards her. Only to him? This information…shocked him. Hal always seemed surrounded by so many wolves, always the center of attention and always so well taken to. Though they were what he would classify, in his own opinion, as ‘best friends’ he didn’t think that he would be the only one she confided to. A small smile crawled onto the corners of his maw, a warm feeling spreading through his chest and up to his ears. How was it that only she could make him feel like this? Needed, trusted, light? Of course, what else could he expect of her.

Kino would have pointed out the fact that it was, perhaps, reasonable for her father to be a little down in the dumps. He knew how hard it was to lose someone, and the difference was that he knew his parents were dead. But, Triell never got to know what happened to his mate, never got that closure. Surely that would be a hard pill to swallow. And, he was the leader of a rather large pack. That couldn’t be easy either, to know that all these lives rested on your shoulders. He worried for Hal with her dream, her need to lead those around her. He didn’t want the weight to be too heavy for her in the end, didn’t want to see her oh-so-bright spark putter out. But, he had to have faith in her. And, with her final comment it seemed that she was getting on the right track. She couldn’t worry about everyone so whole-heartedly. It was okay to be concerned, but you couldn’t fix everyone and everything.

A smile finally curled onto her face, and his tail gave a small wag. Ah, there she was, the Hal he knew. But, her next words made his freeze. He was…good helping her? He never would have thought that, in a million years he never would have guessed that it was something he was good at doing. He’d only ever been told he was selfish, only ever told that he only thought about himself, never that he was helpful. Never that who he was would be something that was a good thing. Then, she asked him to be her advisor when they got older. He had to look away, had to squint and take deep breaths as an emotion threatened to consume his whole. A tall looking animal was walking across the water, its head bouncing and its beak long. It’s feathers were a glistening blue, plumage piled on top of its head. It opened its mouth and that familiar croaking sound came forth, and he could have laughed. Of course, Sahalie would have been right about it being a bird. Maybe she was right about him, too…he fought back tears.

Clearing his throat, he nodded. “I…I would like that. I would be honored, Hal, really. There’s nothing else I’d rather do.” She wanted him around, for a long time it seemed. Oh, what was she doing to him?

@Kino feel free to reply if you want to? or just archive it

Sahalie feared that something was deeply wrong the second her friend's tail ceased to wag and he just stood there. Staring at her. As she continued his emotional response became more visceral, and fearfully she leaned towards him, trying to catch the expression on the turning face. A great pain threatened to consume her small body as she listened to him approach hyperventilation without knowing what to do "N-no, it's okay don--" She'd take it back, take it all back. How did she make Alastor feel better? The girl had no idea. Alastor just seemed to like being around her and that was all there was to it.

What was he staring at? She crouched down to peer through his legs--a better view than trying to see around his massive frame--and saw only a bird. It was strange, how long it's neck was and how blue it's feathers were. But it was just a bird, and Sahalie wished Alastor would just focus so that she could help him. When suddenly the bird made the noise that had been echoing in their minds for the duration of their stay her eyebrows only raised. "Well how 'bout that," she was, not even remembering their disagreement about a bird or a frog. She was content to revel in the discovery.

An ugly throaty noise drew her attention. He hadn't turned back to look at her. As he hestitantly spoke the girl wanted to interrupt, to tell him it was fine: he could do whatever he wanted if he was so upset about the whole thing. He could be anything he wanted as long as he would stay in Oak Tree Bend. But Alastor lifted the crushing weight off her chest with a simple "honored." Really? She couldn't help but giggle quietly, "Aww is that what's got you so choked up?" she gave him a hearty thump on the shoulder with her tiny paw, "You're such a softy sometimes, Al. It's cute." Inwardly, though, she longed to know why why why her words had caught him so off guard and got him so wrapped up in... something. 

"Come on, let's head home. Can't advise me of anything with that dang bird croaking it's head off."