The cold stung her ears, like winter was nipping at their heels, turning the thicket brown and bare. But Aideen was not disgruntled by winter, she'd grown up surrounded by snow for the majority of the year, and while she loved her Woodland home, the naked landscape was a welcome throwback to her childhood. She'd walk the borders, and even the periphery of the Thicket itself, gathering the last fall herbs and taking note of the spots where she should be looking for new shoots, come spring. But her eyes would draw to the open fields, reminiscent of snow-covered tundra, the black berry bushes, even in their autumn state, sending the ghost of sweet perfume through her nose. Over the past months, she had missed her home much more than in the previous years. And she suspected it was because of the finality of it all; More than any time before, she was bound to Secret Woodlands and Relic Lore. She was a pack leader, she had children that her parents would never see, that tiny possibility of turning back, of returning to her old home, was undeniably gone now. She'd be separated from her relatives for good.
She couldn't escape the melancholia and it made her a little ashamed. She had a great life here, she had love and family and a home that was arguably even better than what she left up north. It felt like a betrayal to her mate and children, to long for the past. Even to Nina who had given her a home and a craft, who'd possibly been more of a mother to her than her own ever had. In the midst of her self-deprecation, the alphess came across a fresh trail, pausing her almost mechanical forwards motion. The familiar scent filled her flaring nostrils, connecting with her brain like a drug, soothing her compunction a bit as she turned to follow the tracks. Her brows furrowed a bit as she trotted to catch up with her husband, it was unusual to find him outside the borders, especially when she too was away; While they trusted the rest of the pack completely, their pups were a rambunctious bunch that needed close attention to keep out of trouble.
So when she cleared the trunks and bramble at the edge of the glade, she would pause for a moment to study her Dark Knight in silence, sitting crouched among the drying flowers, a faint slouch to his turned back. A tiny smile curled one corner of her mouth, head tilting ever so slightly as she watched the rise and fall of his shoulders with every breath. It was rare to see him at rest like this, her king he seemed to thrive being busy; Though everyone can use a break… She knew that better than most, always on the lookout for signs of stress. "My love," she called to him softly, stepping clear of the last branches and crossing the short distance between them with slow steps. There was no denying, it was awfully nice to have him alone for once.
Word count: 516
Thoughts ”Speech”
Sex: Male
