Reverie was asleep when the call drifted over the border and gripped her in a cold panic. She remembered the woman and her mismatched eyes and the way they'd held her like a spell. A dark creature, dark and underfoot like
small gods —
youwillburnwithme— no! No! Reverie stood abruptly and began to pace, mindful of Blossom's tiny sleeping form. After a few moments it became more than she could bear alone. She wished Lestan was here. But he was not. So she called desperately for @Arric, hoping he would not mind the late hour. Surely he had heard the woman's call too, and would know that Reverie needed him right now.

Arric heard both howls and though he'd have liked to answer 5he one instead he went towards reverie. The panic in her voice pushing him forward. Had somwthing happened to the baby?

At the sight of him she pressed forward and sought to bury herself in his chest fur, trembling. Arric! That - that woman - you have to keep her away from me! Reverie was stammering, barely coherent. She wants her, she wants my daughter. None of this would have happened, she thought, if only Lestan hadn't left her.
And so she blamed him for the fear she felt now. She blamed him for the fact that she needed to turn to Arric, to Moss; it was left to them to keep the promises Lestan had made. Reverie only hoped they would understand what she needed right now.

Suddenly Reverie was in his chest and in his space and he didn't know what to do. He stared down at her, eyes searching the darkness for the little one, she seemed okay. Curled up and safe. But then why. Then the words started spilling from her lips and he twitched an ear trying to listen, but she was barely making sense.

"What do you mean? She's threatened you? Then we should take care of her now, @Akavir and me."

Reverie started to calm when it became clear that Arric was taking this threat seriously, but as the fear faded she started to feel — something else! Her hackles began to rise and she stepped away from him, a little stiff now and slightly alarmed with herself. She was changing. This was not like her. She wants Blossom, Her voice came stronger and clearer now. When I left - when Moss found me, she was there too. She offered to help. Moss didn't trust her, so she left. But she must have - followed us here! Reverie turned abruptly and started to pace again.
I - A small sound of frustration in her throat. I wish Lestan was here! But why? So he could panic, worry, fret, make a mess out of the mess they already had to deal with and then withdraw from her? Lestan was rarely helpful in situations which required a level head — and neither was Reverie, but the combination was often unbearable. Why, then, did she wish for his presence so fiercely? What was he to her?
Soulmate —
No; if that were true, he would have come back to her.

It was immediately a visceral reaction. She was scared then she was almost threatening and Arric narrowed his eyes, watching closely now. It could be blamed on the shock, but a small part of him nagged. He was no longer sure.

what the fuck, reverie! Did you offer her Blossom? Like what. How do you know she wants her.

Arric took a deep breath and another. Never mind. I'm gonna go talk to @Moss then @Akavir. he turned to leave.

Arric turned back around and stay here. No running and that is a direct order from one of your leaders cause now its dangerous and theres too much at stake. I'll send moss to sit with you after I talk to her.

Reverie flinched when he cursed at her, and some of the trust she'd felt for him started to crumble. Hadn't he heard the call? The woman had been calling for her, for Blossom —
She settled down a little numbly as Arric left, and curled around Blossom. There would be no sleep for her tonight. Suddenly Reverie felt very alone, all over again. Arric did not seem to trust her. Moss... what would Moss do, what would she say? Reverie shivered as she watched the den entrance.
She had been foolish to ever think that things would be okay.

He saw the flinch and sighed. I'm sorry Rev. I'm worried.

It was not an issue of trust at all. It was the simple fact that someone was threatening a baby and it absolutely infuriated him. And he didn't handle fury and worry well. He knew he'd have some apologies to make eventually, but at the moment he was more concerned with the safety of the pack and reverie and Blossom. Reverie sometimes seemed to forgot he was responsible for the entire pack.

Reverie closed her eyes to hold back the tears that threatened to drown her. It's fine, Arric, She lied, because she did not know what else to do. Her tears weren't really because of him, anyway. Arric's only true fault here was that he was not Lestan, that he did not say the things Lestan might have said.
I just wish - That Lestan was here. But she'd already said that, thought it, so very many times — and it changed nothing. Oh, it doesn't matter. She tucked her face alongside Blossom. Nothing mattered at all, except for her.

Arric saw the look and he sighed. He really had to go, but he offered her one small branch. Once we get this she wolf figured out and new patrols figured out. I'll send someone or go myself in search of Lestan, okay?

What he didn't add was that he would probably kick his ass for leaving, but that wasn't something that needed said. 

I'll be back Rev.

Then with finality he left. There was things that needed done.

Reverie hated herself for the way her whole world seemed a little brighter at Arric's words. Just a little, just the barest shifting of light over what seemed like endless night since Lestan left. She was not certain anymore that she truly wanted him to come back. As often as she wished for his presence, it was always in the context of Lestan never leaving her in the first place.
Now that he had left, she didn't know if she could accept him back. She didn't know if she would ever be able to look at him without recalling that feeling, that sinking spiraling feeling of sitting alone and being alone with a burden that was far beyond her. If it took the orders of his leader to bring him back, if that was the only thing that brought Lestan to her again in the end... she wasn't sure how she would feel.
If she was honest with herself, the thought of it made her skin crawl in a way that alarmed her. So she focused on the small brightness that was the thought of seeing him again, and lifted her head to offer a tentative but grateful smile through her tears as Arric left. She tried not to think of Lestan when she settled again... but he occupied her thoughts for the remainder of the night.