Dante's mind had been in a constant state of restlessness since Lumiya had left on some sort of Alpha business. Though she'd only been gone a few nights, the time had felt like it stretched on endlessly, nerves coiling within Dante more and more with each second that had ticked by. He knew the trip was something essential for the young woman to make due to one political reason or another, but nonetheless he felt uncomfortable not having had been by her side for the journey. She was intelligent and dilligent and more than capable of making the trip on her own, and yet Dante's stomach still curdled with a dreadful apprehension; with an active aggravator and perhaps enemy of Seelie court not far, his mind had worked it's way into a terrible hole of awful things, miserable happenings that could occur to his...to Lumiya and it just...it had been a lot.
The chill down his spine had come even before the boy had been able to process the scent that had danced to him on the wind, like a sixth sense telling him that his other half had returned. It was without a single thought that the boy had taken off in the direction the breeze had come, his heart lurching wildly in his chest as he neared the source of the scent. It was only as he grew closer that his mind finally began to race. Was she okay? Had harm come to the nymph? Had she been able to reach their allies? What was-
A lithe body cloaked in silvers caught his eye his head cleared once again, the only thing running through it being Lumiya, Lumiya, Lumiya. A quiet whine from high in his throat escaped the young wolf as he barreled in her direction, skidding to a stuttering stop only when he was in pawsteps from her, and immediately nudging his face into the fur of her throat- the presence of the fire-fae completely unnoticed. Hey, hey, love- how is- are you alright?
Pulling back slightly from the girl, he clocked the other- Orlaith- in the corner of his eye, completely disregarding her as he visually assesed Lumiya's physical state. She didn't seem to sport any wounds, but he could see the exhaustion in her eyes, in the way she carried herself, her usual glow of energy still present but dimmed. She needed rest. You need rest,
he spoke on an exhale, breathy and soft, but determined and direct nonetheless. His eyes searched her face with concern- Lumiya was among the most resilient of characters Dante had met in his short life, but she wasn't invincible, nor was she exempt from Dante's motherly worries. You...you've been traveling, you must be dehyrdrated...need- um, you need water. Let's get you some water and a kip, yeah?
His tone was slightly frantic but quietly so, his words tentative but not condescending as he spoke. He shot a hard glance at Orlaith, pelt prickling with a slightly irrational agitation triggered by his own nurturing instincts; surely they should adress her wellbeing before the business side of things, right?
'You challenging me lover boy?' Orlaith had a pretty neutral stance on Dante, he wasn't a warrior she wished to have, but he was like the light a fairy required. He was alright, she thought, until he glared. The fire fae narrowed her own olives back at the boy, as she tensed up and rose her head further upwards, in domination. A snarl was slowly crossing her muzzle, but she only eased up when Lumiya gave a look of apology. Her stance of towering sovereign, remained.
The flaming wolf looked at him once more, before turning to the Queen, "A Saint member entered our land and marked- we drove him out with severe injuries. Encountered two, in one day." Surprisingly though, Orlaith had little to no injuries. The first was a near-loss that turned to word exchange, but the second was a simple barrage of the Court coming onwards to the intruder, "they're getting cocky." She snorted out in disdain.
Ah, but couldn't forget what happened after. "Eleuthera is off to warn the Empire about them."
The fretting boy was hardly interested by the pompous posturing of Orlaith, responding to her- surely hollow- threats with an unimpressed glance before throwing his attention back to his partner. His brow furrowed slightly at her words but he nodded nonetheless. Though Dante was glad to hear she was okay- the dismissal of the extent of her exhaustion wasn't doing much to ease his fears. He made firm eye contact with her for a moment, cocking his brow slightly, but he couldn't prevent the beginnings of a fond smile from alighting on his features. He turned so he was facing the fire faerie again, his body lined up with Lumiya's and close against her side, should she be willing to lean against him and relieve her surely sore legs of some work.
He listened intently to the exchange between the two women, a his eyes widening and jaw tightening at the mention of intruders. The court had never been anything but peaceful as far as the young man knew, thus the injustice inflicted upon them was even more infuriating. He huffed a sigh and shook his head; Innisfree had had rivalries in the past, but Dante had been young enough then that he hadn't known the inner workings of it all. Even now he wasn't truly informed of all that had occurred- he couldn't imagine the stress it had put on the silver wisp beside him. The thought ignited worry in Dante further as he shifted his gaze to Lumiya.
The young man's shoulders tensed visibly as the nymph beside him seemed to slump momentarily. She needed rest, and wouldn't be able to complete her leadership duties if she didn't take care of herself sooner rather than later.
He was pulled from his stewing on the situation at Lumiya's address, her voice commanding and calm- the alpha voice they had discussed the first time the two met. It was centering for the young man, almost, to hear her so clear and certain, his body language shifting to something more attentive and focused as he listened. Furthermore, the boy had been entrusted with a duty for the well-being of his pack, and he swore in that moment a sense of pride swelled in him like it'd never before.
He was nodding before the woman had even finished speaking, maw poised to respond when the sylph cut in with a meeker tone. He smiled at Lumiya reassuringly for a moment, before answering with a straightforward, Yes. Absolutely. Where am I headed? Oh, and, what am I to deliver?
The conversation soley reflected to the two, and with Dante's glaring earlier, she had no real desire to talk to him anymore. It felt like a challenge that Orlaith wished to continue, but knew Lumiya would disapprove. Especially so now, the other was given a mission. She didn't know there was a land beyond with a pack, but even so, she couldn't do anything.
Her duty was to currently stay and guard.
"Well, i'm out. Call me if you need anything." The fire fae was getting tired of watching the hearts bounce off of these two. Christ.
Dante nodded along to each of Lumiya's notes, heeding each instruction with care. East. Dante could find his way, he was sure he'd seen the hints of a stony moraine during his exploration of the plains that laid not far from it. His stomach curled slightly at Lumiya's words. He knew the situation was incredibly urgent, and having accompanied Lumiya in the meeting of the perpetrator, Donovan, he understood the threat they were facing, but still to hear the words she spoke made the young man's heart beat a little faster.
Got it,
He was already repeating the instructions in his mind, making sure no bit of info would slip away from him before he began his trek. The other woman was forgotten as Dante's gaze swept Lumiya's face, indulgin himself in a long look at her; it was nearly unbearable for him to leave her once again, having only gotten to be graced by her presence momentarily and with the state she was in, but Dante knew it was what would likely be best for everyone.
Please take care of yourself, alright? Just- rest, okay? It'll ease my poor heart a bit,
he said with a sad chuckle. After waiting for any last words Lumiya might have for him, he stepped forward to embrace her briefly before pulling away and turning on his heel. Sparing her one last look over his shoulder, the boy was off at a brisk pace, eager to deliver the message before any more havoc could be wreaked by the cult.