Wolf RPG

She parted wordlessly from @Equinox to track and kill a weasel, and brought it back to him. It was time to discuss Kvarsheim. Elphie dropped the weasel and settled amongst the ferns to tear it in half. Heads or tails? She tossed whichever piece he chose to him.

What'd you think? Kind of defensive, huh? Lots of kids, too, Elphie chewed her piece of the weasel thoughtfully, and added with her mouth still half-full, I know that's what you wanted and all, but kids are work. Feeding kids is work. They'll expect me to hunt for 'em all. And did she really have that much investment in someone else's snot-nosed anklebiters? Maybe that was unkind. But children were not inherently endearing to Elphie, at least not from what little she'd seen.

Maybe she would feel differently once she'd had more exposure to them. Or maybe not, and then she'd resent her role in the pack. Elphie frowned, but waited for Nox to chime in.

Equinox and Elphaba had much to think about once they departed Kvarsheim. They traveled in silence together, then traveled in silence apart; Nox found somewhere comfortable for them to rest while Elphaba sourced their next meal.

Tails, he claimed upon her return.

Defensive they were; it seemed as though the Kvarsheim trio had somehow caught on to their considerations, and Nox was not entirely sure he had succeeded in smoothing things over. He hummed in agreement, but didn't provide an answer.

They said they had some of everything. Hunters, healers, scouts. he reflected. Do you think that's true? He knew at very least they lacked an ambassador, and it seemed as if they sorely needed one if they were going to glower and mean-mug at anyone who happened to pass by.

But they had made their decision on Kvarsheim; if they were to move forward, they had to think about how to position themselves to the next group. He was maybe a little lost in thought if she replied to his earlier question now that he understood there was no point in asking.

He finally answers her question.

We can pivot, he said. find somewhere that isn't overrun with children. Then, he paused thoughtfully. I thought at first that I wouldn't enjoy it, but I know that I could sell myself as an ambassador. It was all he had done for his entire life, but it also meant that he was skilled in the arts of "playing nice" and "keeping up appearances" — and as an added bonus, it would earn him a level of respect no matter where they went.

Gunnar and Tauris mentioned some places nearby.

The weasel's skull crunched satisfyingly between her teeth. Her gaze lingered on Nox as he spoke, half-listening and half-distracted by the way his lips moved, the set of his shoulders and how it reminded her what it felt like to be held by him. She tried to focus on his words, but a familiar distraction was coming over her, a pleasant but ill-timed haze of what-if. What if I kiss him now? What if I tell him I don't want to talk about Kvarsheim? What if I let him touch me?

They'd spoken about it before. But she hadn't been ready, and truthfully still felt unprepared. Yet the want was there, fiercely so, and when she realized he'd stopped talking and was waiting for her to speak, Elphie promptly started to choke on what she quickly identified as one of the weasel's eyeballs. Only for a moment.

Then she coughed and spat it into the ferns, and stammered, Ah, got d-distracted, what's up? She knew he would see right through it, but could never keep herself from trying to save face.

He felt a gnawing vine of displeasure barb its thorns up his chest but trimmed it back swiftly before it could knot up his throat. He wanted his words to matter, but would not allow himself to fault her for this, because he too was prone to fits of fancy and far more often than she. One ash-tipped ear flicked as he watched her with resigned intensity, wishing once again he could tear her asunder only to understand what was going on inside her head.

Dashed was that thought when she began to choke, and as he rose to her aid the situation righted itself. He pretended none of it happened, for both their sake.

He would not mention Kvarsheim. It didn't warrant any further discussion.

I think we should scope out Riverclan and Swiftcurrent Creek, he said, less roundabout this time. From what Tauris said, they're both nearby.

She sensed his displeasure with her, but what could she say? Sorry babe, I was thinking about that thing I don't want to do with you yet! Elphie decided she didn't have much of an appetite anymore. She picked out a few wide leaves of ferns to wrap up the remnants of her meal.

Right. I'll try Swiftcurrent Creek, She busied herself with the leaves rather than looking at Nox. Meet you back here in a few days? Maybe that was what she needed; a few days away from him, to clear her head and regain her focus. They'd spent so much time exclusively with one another, she sometimes feared she might lose herself the way her husband sometimes did — and then who would keep them both grounded?

He is annoyed with no one but himself now. He hadn't intended to make her feel badly for escaping into her head, and the more time she spent there the more likely it was that she'd feed him a morsel of what she experienced while she was gone. He softened, moving to stand next to her and pulling the remainder of his meal along with him. They worked together to build this makeshift cache, not looking at one another, and once they finished he touched her cheek with his nose.

Yes, he confirms, It is likely that I'll be waiting for you. Tauris had explained that Riverclan was only half a day's journey from Kvarsheim, but it sounded that Swiftcurrent Creek lay further to the north. I'll have it ready for us. Like having the light turned on outside the front door, he would make this feel like home so long as they stayed there.

His closeness settled her as they worked together, but Elphie didn't reach out, and she tensed a little when he did. Don't forget to eat, okay? And sleep before the sun starts to rise, She offered a smile to soften the fact that she was pulling away from him. Elphie was certain now that what she needed was some time on her own, before her conflicting desires truly created conflict between them.

Ironically she found it easier to keep herself in the present when Nox was away; easier to focus on the sensations of her own existence, here and now. But she could never tell him that. Instead, she said, Might head into the mountains too, see what's around, See if I can get my shit together. I won't go too far.

She was shutting him out. It stung and he didn't let it show, but when he pulled away he wasn't inclined to reach out again. Okay, he replied with a wan, uninspired, but unaccusing smile. And he meant it, he would. He was more conscious of his needs when she wasn't around because he had to be.

I know you're capable, but just — be safe. He rarely worried for her safety when she had taken excursions back home where they had came from, but he had known that area. He wasn't so sure what this one had in store. Just in case, he said, I love you, before each of them set out upon their respective tasks.