Blue eyes in obsidian face. Red tint as summer turned to fall more prominent.

The giant of a man walked from the den he made by the riverside and found himself chasing shadows. 

The early morning light leaving streaks of dusky bright on his pelt. Sniffing the air a leg lifted against tree. Always watching.

He was heading to Arric’s den, and while he moved with a pace and grace that reflected certainty and confidence, every so often his pale eyes would drift to the foliage of the creek and it’s smallest nooks, almost expecting @Eshe to come out and shoo him away from her patient.

He was pleasantly surprised when he found Arric out—his eyes studying the man with quiet contemplation. “How are you feeling?” He hadn’t seen his comrade in awhile—too long. So much had gone down…

… And he felt his head give a small shake with a sharp exhale. Autumn was almost here.

The two had been one another’s rock for almost a year now.

Arric hadn't seen Akavir. The bastard hadn't even visited him. Granted he didn't know Eshe had banned visitors. But it sort of rankled and hurt a little. But perhaps Akavir didn't need him as much after all he had Eshe and His brother.

A voice and he lifted his head blue eyed gaze on him, he blinked. Unsure for a moment if he wanted to talk to him, and realizing that was a dick move.

Heya dick fuck. Well I'm not dead.

“You’re always such a glass half full guy,” he crooned in return—the banter welcome, and yet a flash in the other’s blue eyes seemed off—but he wasn’t a mind reader. “I can’t speak for the others, pack of assholes and all, but I’d prefer to keep you on the ‘not dead’ side of things,” he returned, a faint smirk before he settled back, a nod given to the den the man had emerged from. “New digs?”

He grinned. well of course. Why be anything but.

Arric wasn't sure where they stood and that was the hardest part. He had no idea what had gone on while he was ill. And even before. There were so many questions and wonderings and yet. Part of him wondered if it even mattered.


I die I'm haunting your stupid ass.

Arric tilted his head and looked towards the den.

Yea i prefer an open air convenience and some new moss and pelt doctored it up a bit. Your woman tried to help me find some wood chips but the beavers moved on.

He snorted—a certain amusement filtering over him. Arric in so many ways was like him—and in so many ways, so very different. “I think you complete me,” he mused, humor licking his words, and yet a thread of affection finding its way in his voice. He missed his Beta—and another glance over him was given as he tried to assure himself Arric was back on his feet and good once more.

Eshe was good at what she did.

“You die first I expect you to,” he offered. Then—a glint in his eyes. “If I go first, I’ll return the favor, yeah?”

Brothers forever—at least in his mind.

“My woman? Not sure I get to call her that,” he offered, but he stood, peering past Arric and toward the den that was likely far homier than the one he was trying to rear his kids in.

Or what was left of them, anyhow… The ones that hadn’t dispersed.

Arric chuckled. Blue eyes devilish.

Aww sweetie. Make me blush.

He raised a paw and waved it downward. save it for the wedding day handsome. Gosh.

Arric shook hia head. Seriously though i got you. You got me
 We're good.


I don't want no  piss poor scaring. I want to shit myself because I'm so scared. Understand?

Arric chuckled. Maybe you don't think so but its gonna happen.

“I’ll try my best,” he offered in faux solemness—in brotherhood, we stan.

“It’s gonna happen, huh?” He hoped so—Eshe was the light at the end of a very dark tunnel—but it would be a lie to say he wasn’t struggling following that one tunnel and not being detoured…

“What about you, handsome? Am I sharing you anytime soon?”

Arric chuckled and shook his head. He'd be lying if he said it didn't feel good to laugh with this chap ass again.

Arric nodded. She's determined and you need some steady and happy. Just do me a favor and fucking listen or pay attention. Sometimes i love you man, but you get tunnel vision. So just make sure to give her your time okay. Even if you're busy.

Arric laughed. Oh you're a funny guy. I'm not the stay with type. I'm good for a tumble and some companionship, but that's it.

This was a truth that Arric felt more resolutely lately. He was the short term type. The give me what i ask for, and then leave because i don't want or need you.

Arric spoke his mind—not that the man ever held back, for which Akavir appreciated. And, as always, he would draw the focus from himself when questioned—playing as if none of his own feelings or merit mattered.

It was almost cute how the large guy with an equally large heart, loyalty and wisdom tried to spout off how he was the kind to only get some physical satisfaction and then bounce —

— he might have laughed had he not recalled how messed up Arric’s situation with the siren wolf had been earlier in the spring. Clearly, she’d done a number on him. "If you say so," he murmured, allowing the topic to drop entirely.


There had been something to discuss lately: "I've been meaning to ask... Wren mentioned to me she's interested in leadership. I always assumed Moss would be Beta, with you, but..."

Life, it seemed, hadn't agreed with that plan.

Arric felt no need to be dishonest. If people couldn't hqndle the truth then they shouldn't ask questions. It was that simple.

Arric lifted an ear upwards. It was true and it hadn't been her as much as her family. Getting attacked everytime you saw one of them did a number on your psyche. But no woman had been interested in him since for more than a no strings attached affair.

Arric liked Wren well enough, but he hadn't seen her really do much. She was good and she was kind. And she'd been there awhile.

He nodded. Yea she told me. I told her that was up to you, big boy.

“Well, she did almost get herself killed trying to keep Mae and Eshe safe…” And, of course, Moss’s baby.

Did it warrant a rank such as Beta? Arric, he believed was there, as the man had built the creek from the ground with him. He trusted no one else as much as he trusted the man in front of him.

“Don’t try that shit,” he began, a shift of his weight and a narrow of his eyes, albeit friendly. “This pack is yours, too.”

A soft chuckle. There is that. Its like a right of passage for leadership at this point.

Arric was thinking. Wren did well she was good. She had won that fight it had seemed and she was loyal. But she also was frequently gone.

He nodded. I'm good with it.

“A pack of warriors and some healers, it seems,” he offered, considering. He had always hoped to introduce his children to a variety of trades and skills—but they seemed to lack that here… and two of three had already decided to leave, it seemed.

“Nicodem and Jakub are gone,” he offered, features becoming more solemn. “I didn’t see any hint of foul play or anything… I just assume… they wanted to find somewhere they could be happy.”

He had no business being a father next year—surely, Eshe would see that, sooner than later?

Arric chuckled. I hunt thank you very much. I am also a licensed bullshitter. It was good to have skills, but fighting and healing were very important.

i know. Ears tight to head. A brief show of emotion. I didn't watch em well enough for you im sorry.

They were happy Akavir, but they missed their mom. It's got nothing to do with you or anything like that. Even her disappearance doesn't. Stop beating yourself up for it. Let yourself be happy. And don't tell me you weren't thinking it, cause i call bull shit.

“Stop. Don’t do that—don’t try to shoulder any of that blame… It was never on you.” They had been safe because of Arric—and the sharpness in his gaze was something he hoped he could convey to the larger man, who seemed to fall back to his own inner demons as consistently as he did his own.

They made quite the pair.

“D’you think they even remember Jakoul? I mean… they were so young when she left.”

Arric chuckled dryly. I can do what i please. But fine. I'll try not too.

Arric had done his best, really. He had made sure they were safe, he taught them all to fish and hunt a little. So had their dad. They'd done what they could.

Arric frowned and nodded. Yea and they'll never forget her. I know that from experience. But i also know they'll be okay eventually.

The lingering hope of his own wishes for his kids was left unsaid—he knew for Arric it didn’t need to be spoken out loud to be valid. Instead, he allowed his eyes to slide over his friend, a brow arching, and a need for the subject to shift to something more, now. “And what about you? What do you need to be okay?” He paused—a serious look given to the behemoth of a man. “You can’t run yourself down… you need time for yourself? A trip or something?”

Arric tilted an ear forward. He was okay for the modt part. At least he felt okay. He was tired he supposed. But not so much so that he couldn't function like before.

A snort of derision. Both trips i went on didn't end well so no thank you.

He thought of the sea queen and nile rose in his throat with regret so tangible he could taste it and it didn't taste good. She had ensnared him,  used him and then her family had treated him like yesterdays trash. And part of that he had agreed too. He had not agreed to being treated lesser than for his gender.


and besides no time. We have caches to fill, borders to keep up.