Despite the ample amount of swelling Reek's foray with the bee hive had caused, the days following saw little inturruption to the general routine. The swelling had gone down and Reek regained the ability to speak without sounding like an idiot. His puffyness had fully abated, and now, the only lingering effects were a deep soreness in Reek's muscles, nagging itch around where he had been stung, and a new respect for beekind's personal space.
Other than stopping to scratch himself periodically as he walked, Reek's morning went about as usual despite the ultimatum to leave that had been set. He set out from the den with the sunrise, hunted for Saena and presented breakfast in bed, much to her protest, then set out for his typical and last morning patrol around the territory.
About an hour into his patrol (and after 13th scratch break), Reek began to crave something sweet. He cut his patrol short and retreated back into the treeline. Picking the thickest maple tree Reek could find, he stretched his forepaws outward on it's bark and began to scrape his teeth againt it in the hopes some of it's sweet sap would rise to the surface.
sorry if this isn't who you wanted to reply, thought I'd get her more involved.
Lunar was patrolling the borders as well but not in the same spot. She had found no sign of anyone nearby that hadn't already made themselves known to other members a few days prior. As she walked she soon found herself smelling another member near by.
From the smell of it she could tell it was Reek, whom she wasn't very close with. Still she decided to follow it which led her to her Alpha male. He looked rather swollen, if she had to guess it was some sort of insect sting.
He was currently scraping his teeth against a maple tree which perplexed her. Maple trees didn't grow to the north and no one had ever explained to her that there was edible syrup in the trees.
She stopped a couple of feet away and sat silently. She didn't realize that she might startle him with her sudden appearance as her curiosity got the better of her. "Whatcha doing?"
Thanks for hopping in!
As the bark scraped and peeled away to reveal the underbelly of the maple tree, a sweet, sticky substance seeped forth. Reek lapped it up with fervor, enjoying what little excuse for happiness he had left. With the secret he had intended to take to his grave exposed - his family broken - Reek had to rely on these little pleasures to get him through the day, but even then, it was difficult.
He heard a voice. Reek turned his head toward the sound and allowed his paws to drop from the tree, nails lightly scraping the bark as they slid down. His jaws, caked with sticky sappy syrup smacked as he opened his mouth to speak. "
I need a pick-me-up," he answered, trying to bury the inner turmoil beneath his voice. "
Go on, try it." He took a few steps away and motioned to where he had scored the bark away, allowing Lunar to take her place.
She watched him closely after he mentioned a pick me up. What was he sad about? She was never one to pry though, a part of her upbringing. So she only nodded, stance respectful as she approached the tree.
She had never tried syrup but it smelled good. She was short, very much so, and couldn't quite reach the scrapes. She strained on her back legs and managed to catch some of the sticky sap as it trickled down the bark.
Lunar lapped it off her lips as she dropped down and face him. "It's tasty." She shuffled on her paws apprehensively. She had always been intimidated by Reek especially after his volatile behaviour when he accepted her into the pack.
Reek watched on, expression wistful as she lapped at the sap and enjoyed something that he had just experienced for the last time. The wood he once called home was no longer his, and he looked to Lunar no longer as her leader but as her friend. Despite being unsure of her preformance upon entry to the pack, Reek was now sure she was a valuable asset. She had done him proud.
"Good," he replied, hoping she savored every bit of sap she could collect. Expelling a slow breath, Reek paused. "I have to leave today," he finally said after a beat. His voice hitched in his throat and with pained inflection Reek said, "The Maplewood is no longer mine."
Lunar was shocked, what had happened? She and Reek had never been close but she knew what being a rogue felt like. It was no walk in the park for anyone. Once he was gone who would lead them?
Her face crumpled in confusion and surprisingly sadness. She didn't think she knew him well enough to be sad but he was her Alpha after all, well maybe not anymore. It felt odd, she still saw him as her Alpha in a way. "I don't understand. Is Saena going too? Why are you leaving?"
He noted her confusion, in fact, Reek expected it. It was strange for a leader to up and go, stranger still to be kicked out. Had it been Reek's choice, things would have been different. He would remain with his pack, his family, and strive to prove that he was beyond his mistakes (despite being far behind them), but now he had no such opportunity. It was saddening, but he had not other choice than leave the wolves he cared so deeply about behind.
"No, she'll stay," he answered, head hanging low. "I made a mistake—" Of course, the mistake was getting caught in the act, "and I can't live here anymore." Though he could still visit his children, he wouldn't be able to raise them. Watching them grow up would be like staring at a slideshow instead of a motionpicture. This, is what he had wagered and lost.
"Please Luna, when my children are born... Let them know they have a father who loves them dearly— who would live every day for them if given the chance." If she could promise this, perhaps he would have some comfort before he finally left. "I can visit, but it won't be enough."
Lunar wasn't too sure Saena would like her doing that, it wasn't hard to see that something had come between them and resulted in him being thrown out. Saena was the only one with that power. She didn't think she would even allow Lunar near her pups as she was low ranking unless she was watching them.
She wasn't about to dash the poor man's hopes though. Perhaps when they were older she could tell them, when they understood better. She nodded solemnly at her former Alpha. "I'll tell them." She only hoped it wouldn't get her in trouble with Saena.
A lump formed in Reek's throat in the wake of Lunar's response. Her promise to tell his children brought Reek a bit of closure and comfort, but at the same time, it nearly broke him. The realization that he would not be around finally hit him. He would not hear his son's first words— see his daughters first steps. Though he could visit, he could never be there dad. Despite not even being a part of the world, Reek had already become a dissapointment to his pups.
"Thank you" he said, voice hitching in his throat as he began to choke up with silent sobs. The time to leave was fast approaching, but Reek felt compelled to stay for as long as he could. His final patrol however, had come to a sad end. "I'll miss you all... even Esaro." his time in the Maplewood was one he would never forget— not until the day he died.
She nodded, unable to respond for the painful knot in her throat. He hadn't been her favorite wolf but she had been his loyal subordinate, she had been prepared to fight for him and his family. To see him reduced to this struck something in her. They had come a long way from her fearing him to her respecting him and unbeknownst to her, him valueing her.
She rubbed her head against his shoulder, the symbol from her homeland. It was sign of goodbye, of camaraderie. May we meet again was its translation and she had never felt the sign more appropriate than that moment. Then she turned and left with a soft goodbye before she did something stupid like crying.
Reek was not one for tearful goodbyes. Usually, he opted for a simple; see you later, but he knew this would not suffice. He would return, but not for the subordinates he was leaving behind, but only for his children— and the woman he would always love despite leaving her scorned and broken.
Lunar pressed in close at Reek's shoulder. She would soon find her motion reciprocated as he said his final goodbyes. There were things Reek felt still remained unsaid, but he couldn't find himself to muster the words. He wished to tell Lunar to tell Saena that he still loved her and always would, but the breath hitched in Reek's throat, stopping Reek's voice dead.
In the wake of his silence, Lunar pulled away and was gone. Reek choked back a tear and tore away from the Maplewood, to only return when he was called.