Lavender Ethos i will make you believe you are lovely

In. Out. She focused on her breathing, keeping herself calm to avoid making things worse. The snow was cold, and it sent a shiver down her spine. Her teeth chattered slightly before she closed her eyes. It was just to help her. She reminded herself that she had been bleeding and that if not tended to, there was a risk of infection. She’d be fine, and a little cold never hurt anyone… at least, not when monitored by a healer… right? Her nose twitched slightly in his response to her comment, a soft smile finding her features. The way he cared was definitely one of the reasons she’d been so drawn to him, from the moment they first met, when he made a bold offer to a complete stranger who’d admitted to having homicidal maniacs following her around trying to kill her.

“He said I shouldn’tve been out thar alone… said y’all were stupid fer lettin’ me outta yer sights.” She explained softly when he insisted he should have been out there with her, feeling a little guilty and highly uncomfortable with the way the Whitestone wolf had been looking at her. It could have been much worse, she knew that. She was pissed, but she was trying to refrain from showing it. It would get dealt with, but Lilya really preferred to avoid war. She’d been in one of those once, and no matter the slight she’d never wish for one again.

The sooner her wounds were clean the sooner he could get her back to his infirmary and treat her further. Give her some proper medicine that would numb the pain better than the snow. Once the last of the snow melted into her wound, cleansing it of debris and old blood, Lachesis pressed his tongue to her cheek before scooting closer to share his warmth with her. Even when they had known nothing but each other’s names, XIX had always cared about her. The closer the two became, the more he cared. Now, he couldn’t imagine his life without her—even if she made him worry far more than usual.

His upper lip curled as she spoke. Perhaps he was stupid for letting her wander too far, but he could not stop her from venturing outside of Hearthwood. He would be stupid to try and suffocate her a second time with his presence. The last thing Lachesis wanted to do was push her away.

“He is the stupid one for attacking you without reason,” he retorted, his tail lashing behind in annoyance. His brows fell into a soft line as he studied her, the scent radiating off her still leaving the ghost feeling baffled. “We’ll deal with this,” he assured her, his tone much softer this time. Whitestone had some explaining to do—they weren’t going to get off easy for the unprovoked attack on a river wolf. Was this Craw’s way of showing Hearthwood he wanted to sever their alliance, or did they have a rogue in their ranks?

As he buried his nose into her ruff XIX began to realize why her scent, both comforting and alluring, was so familiar. Last spring Naia had carried the same aroma, and Kisla the two prior. His features smoothed as he drew back from the blue-eyed sparrow, a shy smile stumbling onto his liquorice lips. “Are you sure you’re feeling alright, Val?” He repeated coyly, a single brow raised as peridot met sapphire.

He knew, but did she?

stick with those who stick with you

Lilya knew she shouldn’t be trying to vindicate her attacker, but that didn’t stop her from racking her brain to try and figure out if maybe she had done something without her knowledge to set him off. Knowing her, it’d be something she would do. Lach insisted it would be dealt with, and she trusted him to pull through on that promise. “We should tell Kisla as soon as possible n’ get ‘er opinion.” Her earthy voice threw out the suggestion in a soft manner. As much as the older woman’s behavior had freaked Lilya out a little bit, and made her hesitant, this was something she needed to know about.

Are you sure you’re feeling alright, Val? There was that question again just moments after his face met her fur, a curious and concerned look on her features as she peered back. “Ah mean… m’little tired but Ah’ve ‘aven’t fought like that in ferever.” She explained softly, a frown on her features. Why? Was something wrong? She was new to the whole idea of heat and everything. She’d never been around others who’ve been pregnant before – nursing, sure, but it was one of those things she’d missed out on. Their eyes met and she was trying to read his.

“Why? Is somethan wrong?” She asked with concern and hints of worry flickering about in her eyes. Did the demon hit anything important? Was she going to die?

Filling in the agouti queen was the right course of action, despite Lachesis wanting to seek out the Whitestone wolves immediately. They could not leave his co-lead in the dark about a situation as serious as this one. The ghost knew that Kisla would be furious if he went to speak to the monadnock wolves without her. He frowned, forehead creased. “So you’re saying I can’t rip his face off first?” Lachesis wanted to do a lot more than rip the white wolf’s face off, but that would have to wait. He did not want to get ahead of himself if this was the act of a rogue. There could still be an alliance left to salvage and despite the anger that burned within his chest, XIX was willing to talk things over with the silver spider. “But you’re right, we’ll call for Kisla as soon as I get some herbs for you,” he added, his nose briefly pressing against hers as he offered her a gentle smile.

Of course she didn’t know.

The blue-eyed sparrow never had a litter of her own; never been around female’s with swollen sides. Peridot’s glistened with amusement as he watched concern flicker across her features. She gave a quick response, explaining that she felt a little tired as a result of the fight, which was to be expected. Nineteen nodded softly, his gaze never wavering from her face. Is something wrong? He could practically taste the worry radiating off of her. “No, nothing’s wrong,” he started quietly, a corner of his mouth lifting, “I, uh… you’re… um.” His brows tightened, head tipping slightly to the side. “You’re, um, you know.” Why was this so difficult? He nudged her side gently, hoping that she would get the hint without him actually having to say anything. He was bubbling with joy on the inside, but he feared that the sparrow wouldn’t share the same excitement. Because his worry always trumped his happiness. 

stick with those who stick with you

A frown hinted at her features when he spoke next. No, he couldn’t. She’d sit on him if she had to. “Ah’d like ta think that this wolf is ta the Monadnock like th’dragon was ta us… a rouge…” The idea either of the leaders had condoned such actions against a pack they were aligned with was not something she’d soon forget, but if there was any chance they weren’t involved, and had no idea what kind of trouble their subordinate had gotten into, then ripping his face off on their borders didn’t look the best for the river wolves either, the sparrow figured. She was assured when he said that she was right, and that they’d notify Kisla as soon as they made sure she didn’t die of anything related to the attack itself.

Of course, that expression might be a little melodramatic.

He was quick to insist that nothing was wrong, seemed happy even and it had Lilya even more confused. You know. No, she really didn’t know. Had he hit his head? Was he well enough to be treating her with the precision she knew him to have right now? “Ah ‘ave no idea what yer talkin’ ‘bout.” She responded, still evidently confused, even with him nudging her side. It was safe to say she’d never had the birds and the bees talk from her parents and since then there had been no one to really give it to her.

posting from phone pls excuse any errors cuz i suck

The ghost nodded in agreement to her words, expression growing grim. Hearthwood had a delayed response in dealing with their own outlier; he did not want the same thing to happen to their neighbours. There was no reason for Whitestone to issue an attack on a river wolf—they had done nothing wrong. As far as XIX was concerned the two packs had been getting along swimmingly, unless something happened that he was not aware of. Which he intended to get to the bottom of, quickly. "I feel the same," he agreed with a frown, ears twitching. "There has been no tension between our packs, I don't see a reason for them to attack us." He did not want to lose such a valuable ally so easily, no matter how badly he wanted to tear the white wolf's face off.

Dumbfounded, he stared at the blue-eyed sparrow, a single brow resided. How did she not know what he meant? If she had never been around other females in late spring, or had a litter herself, she would not know the smell or what it felt like. Lachesis had been familiar with it ever since following Maksim to Cut Rock, for he and Kisla had several litters before his untimely passing. But Lilya… she was a war veteran, nowhere near the nursing dens. After a brief pause the corners of his lips lifted, his chartreuse gaze softening as he studied her confused expression. "You're uh… we're gonna have our paws full soon," he started with a sheepish expression, his head tilting slightly to the right. "Guess we found a way to increase Hearthwood numbers…" he added as an afterthought, amused by his own discovery. It was why he and Naia had had a litter the previous spring—out of necessity for the pack. This, however, had been unplanned and was a result of underlying emotions between the two wolves. "Sorry?" He offered hesitantly while waiting to see if she finally understood what he had been trying to spit out.

stick with those who stick with you

He agreed with her, bringing a soft smile to the sparrow’s features for the similar insight. It felt nice to have some backup and reassurance that she wasn’t just being lenient and forgiving. “Ah know what war is like… wouldn’t wish it on any wolf because o’me...” She wanted to avoid it at all cost. Then came his seemingly shocked expression that she still had no idea what he was talking about… and then his explanation spilled out and she couldn’t believe it, her head drawing back as her head tilted to the side.

She waited for him to say just kidding… but it never came and the reaction he had to telling her, apologizing for it… he genuinely believed it… and he was a healer so he knew what he was talking about, right? Her eyes widened at the realization, hints of panic starting to fester in her, and along with it pangs of excitement. She was, really… but there were a million and one doubts in her mind, starting with the obvious. “Kisla is gonna kill us.” She was fretting, but at the same time she couldn’t honestly fight the soft (even if it was worried) smile on her features at the prospect. Then the fight… “Ah… he didn’t hurt them or nothin’ did ‘e?” Had getting into a fight hurt the life that was now growing inside her at all? She didn’t know but she prayed to the gods, if they might be up there of which she was not certain, that he hadn’t otherwise there would be a reckoning.

“There won’t be a war,” he assured the blue-eyed sparrow, his lips dipping into a frown. Unless there was a sliver of a chance that the Hearthwood wolves would end up on top, XIX did not want to start a war they could not finish. He was angry, and he knew that Kisla would be too, but he wanted to give their neighbours the benefit of the doubt. Just this once. No matter how badly he wanted to react with teeth and claws. Either the monadnock wolves had severed their alliance with a fight, or they had a rogue making reckless decisions.

Decisions that could hurt the northern pack significantly. Lachesis had grown to like their neighbours, but he did not know if he could trust them any longer.

Especially with puppies on the way.

The ghost watched as her expression changed, his own growing somber as he waited for her to say something—anything. Worry consumed him as the silence thickened between them. What if this wasn’t what the sparrow wanted… what if she did not intend on a future with XIX. Doubt began to make itself present; choking him, devouring him.

Until she spoke.

He couldn’t stop the laugh from tumbling off his cherry tongue, a lop-sided smirk tugging at his lips. It was true—not only was the agouti queen going to be angry about the attack, but she also was not going to be pleased at discovering that Lilya was pregnant. It was not something the ghost had intended to happen. He wasn’t even sure if he was ready for a second litter, especially since he had failed the first one. His son had gone in search of the dragon and his fabled tales, while his daughter had gone to bring her brother home. Their absences lengthened and he worried that he would never see them again. He could not go through that again.

“No, no, he would not have hurt them,” the ghost answered quickly as he pressed his nose to her cheek. It was too soon to do any damage to the life inside of her. Had it been any later, Lilya and their children might not have been so fortunate. Which only angered the ghost even more. Had the rogue known of her condition? Was that why he had attacked her without warning? He dismissed the thoughts as soon as they entered his mind, his peridot’s focused on the sparrow. “I, uh… sorry,” he apologized again, not knowing what else to say. Now he was worried about what Kisla would say.

stick with those who stick with you

@Lachesis -screams-

He tried to assure her but she wasn’t convinced, her form shrinking slightly as she tried to pull her body closer to herself. While she wanted to believe that Lachesis was right, and there wouldn’t be, doubt shimmered on the surface of her eyes and the way she seemed edgy in that moment implied that she was not as convinced as the emerald-eyed ghost was. He took her next concern with a laugh, a frown finding her features along with the company of a soft glare. She was being serious. She actually loved Hearthwood River and she’d prefer to be able to stay rather than chased out into the wilderness because neither of them could keep it in their pants!

She was assured the children weren’t harmed, that perhaps it was too soon or the injuries were not severe enough, or were in the wrong place. He apologized and now that had her laughing. It wasn’t exactly like it was entirely his fault either, now was it. “Ah think we both got ourselves inta this mess… no need ta say s’rry.” She reminded him – what was that phrase? It took two to tango? She knew it was something like that. “Ah just… m’worried Kisla will chase me out…” She’d spent part of her life in a war, and another part running… she’d finally found a place she could call home only to find she might have to run again.

@Lilya *finger guns*

The corners of his mouth twitched at her comment. She was not wrong—they were both at fault. Truthfully Lachesis would not have it any other way. He had cared about Naia, too, but that was different. Their relationship was completely platonic; they had been packmates since the days of Pitch Pine Trail and held a deep respect for each other. Their puppies had been the result of necessity—to increase the Hearthwood numbers and unite the pack. It had worked until his children decided to leave the Kingswood. One was trying to chase after some dragon fables and the other wanted to bring the first home. When he wasn’t monitoring the borders of Hearthwood or patrolling the lowlands the ghost retreated to the mountains to try and catch wind of his children. Their scents, however, were quickly covered by the persistent snow and it was nearly impossible to follow their trails.

He just hoped they would return to Hearthwood soon.

Her next statement caused his features to darken as his ears collapsed against his skull. “I will not allow that to happen,” he promised as he brushed his nose to her cheek. “You are the one good thing I have left in Hearthwood, Val. If you get chased out then I’m coming with you,” he added with a firm nod. He meant every word. Whatever was going on between the two worry warts was important to him—he could not lose her, too. She meant far too much to him for her to be whisked away. She might not be a leader anymore but he was. While they had been caught up in the moment this was also beneficial to the pack, as he did not know if Kisla was going to be having a litter this year.

Hearthwood needed this.

stick with those who stick with you