Steady stalked up the mountain, his muscles twitching and bunching under the strain of climbing. Part of him didn't want to believe what Grayday had told him, but the other part knew him not to be a liar. But, he still struggled, both emotionally and physically as he finally reached the flat rock he liked to perch on. It had been a while since he had come here. There were fond memories with Odette here.
He growled as he thought of her. He had never expected things to turn out like they did. But, he knew he would have to change with the times. It was obvious that Odette didn't consider them family anymore, and so Steady would have to let go of the hope he once had that she would ever return here. He no longer care for, nor wanted, her forgiveness, as he would no longer beat himself up about what he did. He had not been wrong, and he would not let this consume him for one more moment.
His muzzle rose in a strong howl, calling out to his family, sending his strength to them all. In this moment, he knew their bonds needed to be strengthened, especially with the coming move. Steady wanted that now more than ever, and it no longer only meant just getting away from the neighboring packs. It was starting over. He was leaving the past behind him, and only looking forward to the future. Adeline was no longer his niece. She was his daughter.
And Odette Silvertip was dead to him.
oh my 0.0
Niita had not thought of the missing pups or the mother in quite some time. Perhaps that was something to be ashamed of but she knew that they must be somewhere in the world. The dead and the missing could not hear her cries. There was no sense in crying for them.
It hadn't been a shining moment in her life, leading children to their dead mother's corpse and standing aside as her Alpha asked them to eat her. Survival was not easy. Niita hadn't expected Steady to automatically get over it, and she wasn't entirely sure he ever would.
When her mate called for her, she answered. She climbed up the mountain, unsure if he was only calling herself and Adeline or the whole pack. It didn't matter, she was the first to arrive and so moved forward to rub herself against him.
"Hello love," she greeted, feeling a small pang of satisfaction that he would now smell like her, as she moved back.
It wasn't long before Niita showed. While his mind was in turmoil, his heart swelled with love upon seeing her. He allowed her to rub against him, getting drunk on her scent, as he usually did. He took a few steps forward as she retreated, not wanting the space between them. My love, he greeted softly.
As much as he wanted to ignore the turmoil, and focus solely on her, he knew ignoring the situation wouldn't help. She needed to know the decision he had made. I sent Grayday to Broken Antler Fen, to make sure a new family member who had left there had left on good terms. I didn't... I didn't want to break the alliance we had with them by allowing someone in that they were enemies with, he explained. He came back, and said that they told him to leave, that no Silvertip wolf was welcome on their borders. His jaw clenched before he continued. So, I've severed our alliance. They will no longer be met with friendliness if any of them come here. He paused, before adding. Including Odette.
He looked to her, his mate, to see her reaction. Before he could really read it, he went on. I'm tired of what I did being hung over my head by someone who isn't even here. I did my best to keep my family alive, and I refuse to feel any more guilt for that. He needed her support now more than ever. While he stuck with his decision, he did feel as though he he was losing Odette all over again. Only, this time, there was no hope for a future reconciliation. He would not waste any more of his time wondering if she would come back.
Niita smiled as Steady followed after her as she moved back, though it soon faded at the obvious worry on his face and in his voice.
The white femme listened silently, brows raising in surprise. What had they done to Broken Antler to warrant such aggression? Grayday was polite man, at least to Niita. She doubted he would have done anything to anger Sebastian.
"I'm sorry. I know how hard that must be for you," Niita empathized, thinking heavily of the pup who loved the stars. They never had gotten to go stargazing with Phocion, had they?
"You know I'll stand by you, no matter what," she nodded, knowing that she would follow him anywhere. If they would move location, Niita would follow. If his family was no longer such, she would move on. If Adeline was his daughter then Niita too would try to be a parental figure to her.
They were her family and she would do anything for them.
He looked up to the sky. The sun had begun to set, but there were no stars out yet. No stars. No Odette. He sighed, looking back to his mate. You don't know how much that means to me, he said softly. What had he ever done without her? Her support seemed never-ending, and there were times, like now, that he leaned on it the most. It gave him strength to make the hard decisions he knew he must.
He turned to her, nuzzled her neck, as he was so fond of doing. Her smell would never get old to him. He pulled back a little, and sat back on his haunches. We're going to leave soon. Valette and Ezekiel are out scouting a new territory now. If they find one, I think we should go as soon as they are rested from their trip. He knew word was out of their move, as he hadn't tried to hide it. But, the decision was set in stone, and so now was a moving date. He expected them to return any day now, which would put the move not far behind that. I think Adeline is healed enough, he said, but it was just a guess. Part of him worried the move would be hard on her. But, they needed to go before winter set in, and fall was already here.