Sex: Male It was getting dark, but Miccah needed out. Over the past few months, he had been stricken with a severe case of pneumonia and Aideen had kept him mostly sequestered within the medicinal den under her watchful eye. Over the past several days, Miccah had finally begun to feel a little better and his health began to steadily improve. He had gotten to the point where he had moved back into the communal den, and though it was definitely nice to spend time with his family and his pack mates, Miccah had begun to feel restless. He was a man of action and duty, a habit that had been taken away from him over the past few months due to his illness. He ached to be back to doing what he loved, but he was still recovering. And though he loathed to admit it, he was weak. His age was not helping matters, so the best the dark man could do was be patient and let his body recover at its own pace. However, this did not mean he couldn't take a little walk around what had once been his kingdom. So, slipping out of the communal den the man headed to what had always been his safe haven - the borders. His pace was slow as he continued on his trek, but his paws were steady. Breathing in the scents of his family, of the familiar, the man sat at the edge of the borders and took joy in the silence. "speech" |
She was growing so fast and she almost couldn't believe how much happened in her short life. Between her grandmother dying and father getting sick, she just did not know how much worse it could get. Enia tried to remain positive, though, knowing that her mother was doing everything in her power to help and make him feel better. Wanting her mother to concentrate mostly on her dark father, Enia did her best to help around the pack. She hunted when she could and did border runs more often, but she never strayed far from the borders, not wanting to worry her parents and possibly make her father's condition worse. The dark daughter was making her way towards the communal den, wanting to see how the former alpha of Secret Woodlands was healing. As she neared, her tail wagged casually behind her, hoping that her dad would be just as happy to see her. As Enia neared the den, however, she noticed the dark man's scent leading away from it. Eyebrows creased immediately in concern. Why would he leave? Nostrils flared and the young girl started in the direction of his scent, leading towards the borders. He better not be leaving! Enia would not allow him to jeopardize his health for whatever reason he had in mind. The young girl needed him to be better, the pack needed him to be better, especially since some of them were still recovering from other losses. As she neared the borders, she could make out his dark silhouette from the distance, her light brown eyes narrowing for confirmation. Huffing to herself about his sickness, she neared coming to a stop near his side and sitting down next to him. Concerned brown orbs raised to meet his dark blue ones. “Daddy, I don't think you're suppose t'be out this far. Mom says that it's best for you t'be resting right now.” Enia's thin lips were pursed, not wanting any argument from her father on this matter. |
| It seemed he would not be alone for long, and the man felt a prickle of annoyance. It did not last long though, as for when he tuened around he saw his little girl (though truly she was no longer the tiny pup that he had been deathly afraid wouldn't survive). It seemed like she had grown before he his very eyes, and seeing her now brought pride to his heart. His Enia, who was named after their beloved lost matriarch, had surpassed all odds. However, no matter how much she grew and aged, she would forever be his little girl. Her scolding brought a light chuckle to his lips. Just like her mother... he thought with fondness. "I know Mom worries sweetheart, but I'm fine now." The dark man then bent his head to brush his muzzle lightly against the crown of his daughter's head."Promise," he rumbled in his baritone. The man knew he wasn't completely where he wanted to be, health-wise, but he heeded his wife's instruction to take it easy for a while. As annoying as it was, the former king knew he had to practice patience when it came to his bout with his illness and his continuing recovery. "speech" |
Her brows furrowed at her father's words. Yes, her mother did care, but there were others within Secret Woodlands that cared too! She turned her head, eyes narrowing upon her father to scrutinize him. While she did believe that he was doing his best to take care of himself, she did not want him to fall ill again when it seemed he was just getting to a point of recovery. Her chest rose with a breath before she spoke, “Well, I worry too y'know? I just want you to get better.” The Woodlands needed their alpha back. While Duckweed was kind and funny, Enia still thought he needed time to heal from his mother's death, just like they were all still trying to cope with the lose of Nina. Light brown eyes peered over at the dark man sitting beside her. He acted so strong all the time and it only took this illness to knock him off his feet. It was just a reminder that they were all mortal and that anything could happen. Enia did not want to pester her father with concerns that she was sure he heard constantly though. Instead, she offered him a smile, her tail wagging behind her. Maybe a round of the borders will get his mind off having to lay around all day. Her voice was soft when she spoke, “Do you wanna do a round of the borders with me? Get you back on your feet.” The dark girl she did not want her dad to be sad and she hoped this could at least brighten his day slightly. |
| His daughter's words brought a brief smile to his muzzle and a warmth to his heart. Yes, he knew she worried too. His princess seemed to have a heart of gold...even going as far as breaking up all the fights her older siblings always got in. He hoped that it wouldn't be her downfall in the future. As she invited him to take a walk along the borders with her, it brought him out of his thoughts and he nodded. As he followed his daughter, their only company was the night's silence and the dark king didnt realize how much he had missed that familiar comfort he had always found at his borders. However, thoughts kept popping into his head. Thoughts he hadnt wanted to think about, but new he had to face. "Do you ever think of leaving home, Enia?" he rumbled. It was a question he should ask all his children. They would be reaching adulthood soon, and though he wanted them to stay as long as he was alive and longer, it was ultimately their choice. He needed to respect their wishes, but Miccah wished that at least one of his children would stay and keep the legacy Aideen and him had built in the Woodlands and make it their own when the time came. "speech" |
 The small woman could not help the passing sigh that fell from her lips. It was a comfort to have her burly father along her side when trotting along the borders. He easily execcuted an air of protection about him that would make anyone feel at ease. Except, perhaps those who opposed them. Enia was content to remain in silence with her father, much preferring it to any type of small talk he would a tried to provide. It was why when he spoke, she froze midstep, thrown off by the sound of his voice and the question airred between them. Did I just hear him correctly? Concerned brown eyes peered up at her father, eyebrows crunching together into a line. The petite girl's voice was steady when she finally responded, "No, I could never possibly leave here. Secret Woodlands is my home." Everyone she knew and loved were within the borders of her beloved pack. It had not even crossed her mind that leaving was a possibilty. Sure, exploring was one thing but just to up and leave. No, she would never do that to herself or her family. Her dark lips stretched into a smile, "Besides, you and mom have been here your whole lives. Why wouldn't you expect me t'do the same?" The inquiry was innocent enough. |
| The king's blue gaze warmed as he heard his daughter's words, content that she was planning to stay. She was still young, but would soon be a full fledged adult in the time it took him to blink. He responded with a light rumble of acknowledgment, pleased with her answer. She continued by questioning his statement, and the dark king marveled that if only life could be that simple. Yes, why would he expect anything different? However, age and experience had taught him that youth wandered. He had wandered for love, while his mate had wandered for adventure. As he waded through his thoughts, the man looked down at his daughter. "Because I did not stay in my own home or place of birth," he rumbled. Of course, the first time he had had no choice since he needed to flee his parents murderers, however, the second time the choice was all his own. Miccah just wanted her to understand that although he wished with every fiber in his being that all of his children would remain in the Woodlands, they had their own free will to do whatever they chose and he would respect that. Betrayal was one thing, but a blessing was another. "You...have a choice." As a king, she was his subordinate and he wished for her to remain loyal to her pack...but as a father, she was his daughter and those were the hardest words he had ever had to speak but they were his blessing nevertheless. "speech" |
| It had never occurred to the young girl that, perhaps, her father had not grown up within the safety of the thickets. When his words finally processed in her mind, the princess’s eyebrows drew forward. Her voice was caught in her throat as she speculated over what he said to her. While The Woodlands may not have been her father’s place of birth it was hers and she loved it very dearly. The best of her memories were made there. And while there were certainly some that were not as peachy, the good certainly outweighed the bad. His next words only served to stir more confusion within the yearling. A choice? Light brown eyes looked down towards the earthy ground as they walked, searching for some form of guidance. Her heart beat anxiously in her chest. When she looked up again, a steely determination was set within her gaze. Jaw tense, her lips finally parted, “I don’t think a choice has t’be made. My home is where my family is and my family is within Secret Woodlands.” She had no plans on leaving anytime soon. Now, if they were to relocate, Enia would happily follow her family, to the ends of the lore if need be. But until the time came, she would be content for Secret Woodlands to remain her home. |
| ...Just like her mother. It was uncanny, seeing the similarity between when she was like this. Her gaze showing a stubbon determination, but in this case, Miccah welcomed it. The dark king wanted nothing more in life for his daughter to call the Woodlands home for the rest of her life. He wanted that for all his children. In his heart, her words were the truth he felt. There was no choice for the dark king when he had first arrived. He had committed his loyalty and there was no turning back...and it seemed that it was the same for his daughter. Family and loyalty meant everything to the man - it was one and the same. His muzzle twitched slightly, before it slowly spread into one of his rare smiles. Never had he been more proud of his daughter. "Good," he rumbled. Miccah looked up at the sky then, noticing it was pitch dark. They had been gone long enough, it was time to go back before his mate had a conniption. Chuckling lightly to himself, he wordlessly turned in the direction of the communal den and nodded his head in that direction to his daughter. He had originally wanted to be alone tonight, but his daughter had provided him with pleasant company tonight. "speech" |