i always have time! <3
though wintersbane desires to keep moving; on patrols, watching the herds that call the neighboring territories home, working on caches or fumbling hunts because of his healing leg ...he also knows that his body requires rest. perhaps that's why, instead of rising before the dawning of the new day he allowed his eyes, heavy; to close and the world of dreams to lure him back into slumber. greyfall caverns provided ample shelter, though the smell of algae and damp earth and rock had taken some time to get used to, wintersbane found himself rapidly growing desensitized to it.
face buried in the soft fur of the lynx pelt he took off of a corpse he found ( died of natural causes, wintersbane assumed for he'd smelled no sickness upon it nor no wounds as he sectioned off the meat to the food caches ). it would make good bedding for cubs — if he should find himself fortunate enough to sire them this year — but for now he secreted it for himself.
he stirs at the sound of approach; stretches carefully as not to disturb the mending flesh of his leg and yawns before rising to his paws and moving from the cavern he's claimed as his den to greet iana with a low chuff in the dark.
She was secretly pleased to find him on bed rest in his own den. Iana did not have the energetic streak in her to be such a worry wart all the time, but she did still feel it. The worry. The what-ifs of him straining his leg further. Such thoughts could be tucked away in her rabbit heart for now.
Wintersbane,
She murmured softly in return to his chuff, with a tiny swish to her tail that laid limply by her ankles. I was...wondering if you had a moment. I have things I'd like to discuss.
No note of anything negative in her voice. In fact, it remained soft and calm. If not also a hint of bubbling curiosity.
though surely she does not mean for them to do so, her words of 'having things to discuss' fill him with a brewing storm of apprehension. from personal experience those words are hardly ever a good thing; but he is the alpha of this fledgling pack and these conversations were apart of the job. so, he invites her in so she is not dwelling in the tunnels and settles slowly, with some effort upon his haunches; offering her his rapt attention. he keeps his face pragmatic, none of the anxiety her illusive words leave him with.
please,
he begins. tell me what's on your mind.
when she begins, wintersbane is apprehensive — from recent past experience — but nevertheless contemplative. he considers her words carefully. in all fairness, none of them had been apart of it long ( even himself ) and he does not factor that in the equation — at least, not now. while he is recovering he assumes his wound would not leave him disabled ( rather, he hopes ) and while the pack still remains small it is nonetheless manageable for him despite his healing injury.
it is something i will definitely consider,
wintersbane offers; the best he can do at the moment. after all, there was no guarantee that the glacier would ever come to full fruition — this pessimism is borne of his past failings.
still, he holds onto the hope that this time would be different from the others.
and now that i know you're interested i know who to start with.
he offers her a small smile.
for now, we are small and having two leaders strikes me as a bit excessive.
but it would seem she understands based upon what she said to him.
sorry if this sucks; work post!
There is no disappointment or upset at his words. In fact, it sparked a bit of hope. The fact that he would even consider. Iana knew she was not much compared to some, but she did wish to strive for more. Offer more.
Of course.
Her voice is lulled with its usual softness, but she gave a warm smile back in return. Thank you.
A respectful dip of her head. However with more business based discussion out of the way, she felt inclined to slip into a casual supportive visit instead.
How are you fairing?
Emotionally, physically. Intentionally open ended.
though wintersbane was a man who stood by his decisions — regardless of what path they may take him down — there is a small tic of awkwardness that lingers in the uncertainty of his answer. it hadn't been a no but it hadn't been a yes, either; and he did not admit that he was gunshy at sharing his presumed role with another. especially after the last time he had; how the foundations of ironclan had wound up altered to fit her wants. of course, it had been expected: his trip had been long. but even so...
he tucks those thoughts away; packing them neatly away so they do not sneak out to bother him and cloud his choice the next time he was facing this particular conversation.
well,
wintersbane responds; wishing his response didn't sound so ...plain. my leg feels like it's mending.
soon, he thinks ( hopes! ), it would be yet another scar to add to his ever growing collection.