The Wildwood A Rose For Everafter

what i really need now is a double shot of crown

Vayko hummed at her suggestion. That was along Viorel’s line of thinking as well it seemed. He offered a nod but no verbal recognition, at least not for a moment. “I think that’s the general idea. Stay in one place… stick together, survive, then try and find our way home once things thaw and prey is plentiful.” He agreed, though truthfully he didn’t have half an idea of what his cousin had planned. He agreed with that. “Anyone who isn’t us is our enemy.” He quoted softly. Perhaps others thought he was overreacting, but he wasn’t. It was important.

Contrary to popular belief, he had logic to back up every sentence that came out of his mouth. There was so much left undisclosed that it was difficult to imagine being able to trust anyone who did not carry the Valle last name. He grinned, his tail wagging softly. Yes, he was her knight in shining armor, wasn’t he? “Maybe, but we have to find them first… if you were dropped here, I like to think they will be here when they arrive as well, but we just don’t know…” He had to wonder if they were going to drop them at all.

He scowled at the words, though it was in a more jovial manner. “I am not that much younger than you, missy.” He teased back. He was certainly a nester and he knew that she loved that about him. He guided her to the creek that hadn’t quite frozen over yet, seeing the fish swimming around inside as he licked his chops. “Well then, no time to waste.” The words were soft as he made his way over to the edge, careful to line himself up so his shadow might fall the opposite direction, watching the pattern of the fish swimming. When it lined up, he quickly scooped his paw inside, batting a fish carefully out into the bank next to it before biting it’s neck to deliver a killing blow. This was familiar to him at least. He offered her the fish with a soft smile. “It’s not a sea fish, but it’s still decent.” God, he missed his fish.

She was a little behind the times it seemed though not surprising. Sharlee had only just been reunited with her brother after all. They had the start of a plan or something that might not be totally thought out. Still it was something. "That sounds like a sound plan. We'll do better together, small prey might get harder to find and we'll all need to work together for bigger stuff," she said thoughtfully.  It was a bold statement Vayko made about anyone who wasn't a Valle. She nodded because he'd been there longer so had probably met more of the others that were there. "Approach with caution then." She didn't completely change her mind though.

There were still so many questions and uncertainties that there wasn't any way of knowing what was next. She hoped that their parents would be brought to join her and her brother but they had no way of knowing just like Vayko said. Then it occurred to her and she didn't want to speak it but she felt it needed to be addressed. "What if they are never brought her and we don't see them again?" What would that mean for them? The thought only caused her chest to tighten and she licked her lips anxiously. It was an upsetting thought. 

Sharlee calmed and even laughed in response to his teasing. "Yeah, by like five seconds," she teased back rolling her eyes. It was all fun and games for the moment and she was glad for it. She didn't want their situation to change things so much that they couldn't go back to normal. She stayed next to Vayko as he led her toward the creek not wanting to let him get too far ahead just then. She was still feeling a little insecure after waking up the way she had. "Indeed, I don't think we should waste anytime at all." It was said more in jest as she watched him prepare to catch a fish. Sharlee wasn't sure she was ready for fishing just yet but she didn't have to worry. Vayko offered the fish he'd caught to her. She returned his smile, "Thank you Vayko," she said before taking the fish. "I think anything will be good right now." She was so hungry, "But it looks like we might have to get used to these at least for now," she added before taking a bite from the fish. 

Fade with your post?

what i really need now is a double shot of crown

He knew he would never take the Estuary for granted again. Perhaps he had before, when it was all he had known. With this experience however? He would never take his home or the sea for granted again. He hummed softly with a light nod at her words. Family was all they could trust. Anyone who wasn’t them, was their enemy. He would operate under that assumption until he learned otherwise. At least his sister seemed to share his and Andrey’s sentiments. He knew Vi was planning something else, but he couldn’t quite figure out what the other boy was up to. It was frustrating, but he would figure it out in time no doubt, probably from some random outburst.

He nodded at her words. He had been scared when he had woken up too, even if he would never dare to utter those words aloud like his sister had. He gave her a grin, proud to play the role as her knight in shining armor when he could. He was his sister’s keeper, even if he tended to be chaotic at times. It was as he had stated multiple times: family was everything to him. “Maybe, and hopefully soon.” He longed for his family to be whole once more.

He rolled his eyes with a soft snort. Of course she would say that. What was a matter of minutes when you were still older by those minutes? He huffed lightly, though a wry smile slid across his features, watching as she started to eat. “Yes, more time for business later.” She had her fish, and he had caught one for himself as well though he had devoured it in a couple of bites. “Come on, let’s get you to our little base so you can rest.” He cooed with a motion of his head in the general direction they were heading.

For Sharlee having her brother show up shortly after she awoke was just more proof that family stuck together. Despite what they had gone through or what the two-legged creatures did Vayko was still there for her. Some might say it was by chance or luck but she thought it was supposed to be that way. That he just somehow knew she needed him. 

Thinking about her family Sharlee had to wonder what they though about her and Vayko's disappearance. That is if they were still in the Estuary. The way they had been taken there really wasn't anyway to know where anyone was or if they'd ever see them again. As much as she hated the idea she would have to wait and see if any of them appeared. She missed her mom though. 

She did like teasing her brother and for those few moments it helped to ease the shock of the situation. It didn't matter if he was born a few minutes after her. He was there looking out for her and that was what mattered most. She nodded when he spoke of talking about business later. "Plenty of time later," she agreed. It didn't take her very long to finish off the fish he'd caught for her. Vayko also caught himself a fish which he finished quickly too. She licked her lips and paws clean before rising to follow him. "Rest sounds nice right now," she admitted. After all the emotional stress and the bite she felt she really needed it. 

~Fade