It was not Alarian that stumbled upon Steele, but Lily, admiring the way the midsummer flowers bloomed around Broken Boulder. The contemplative look on his face took her aback, and she tilted her head as she approached, wondering what was the matter. Words still escaped her, but she made it very clear that she was inquiring, not demanding.

Steele had been a welcome presence at the Sanctuary, though she hadn't had the chance to speak to him much, being wrapped up with her own injuries and setbacks. She hoped he was recovering well from his own crisis; it made her sad to think the bear haunted his nightmares just as the river haunted hers. She stood, tail waving slightly to and fro, waiting for him to speak.

She wagged her tail in response, a smile of greeting gracing her maw as she dipped her head. Eyes calm, she waited for him to speak. All the while, she tried to pick up little details here and there, clues that might lead her to answers before the words came. . .if the words came. Her greatest strength was speech; she was Samson without his hair, at this point.

She had tried, though. And there had been moments where the words seemed just about to come, but fell flat at the last second, escaping her tongue as a whimper or a groan. Lily didn't know what it would take for her to speak again. Perhaps she never would, and that was a thought that scared her more than anything else in the world. Death would be better than being mute, especially if she was blessed with a particularly long life.

She cocked her head, confused, then slightly perturbed. For a moment, she viewed his resistance to packs altogether as an affront toward their hospitality, and the tiniest of growls bubbled in her throat--but his next words made her soften, though the attitude change came not without pain. He was being sincere, she thought. . .but why? What had changed his mind?

Lily nodded at his apology, giving him a cheeky smile. She wished more than anyone that her voice would come back, though she was sure the Bracken wolves had enjoyed the respite from her chattering. Alarian, especially. Her ears flattened as she thought of the Governor, and her gaze wandered toward the Broken Boulder. Where was he? She wondered if he knew about Steele's internal conflict.

She felt bad, for letting her discontent show. She saw it on his face, and winced, but was glad that her smile was able to alleviate some of the hurt he felt in the moment. Lily ducked her head coyly at his compliment, smiling again. She hadn't ever thought of herself as a generous wolf, but she wouldn't fight him on the description.

Then Steele offered an explanation, and she seized the chance with alacrity, nodding. After Ioa had died, the reasons why each wolf came and went plagued her. If this man left without ever telling her why he chose to do so, she would never be able to live with it. She needed the truth from him, no matter how raw, how hurtful it could be.

She shook her head in answer. Not to be rude. . .but in illustration of her utter lack of comprehension. A higher power? Was he talking about fate? Lily hadn't the faintest idea how that was connected to anything, least of all his stay at the Sanctuary, but she kept the smile on her face, hoping not to make him feel bad by her emphatic disagreement.

Moving forward, she pressed her muzzle to his shoulder in a comforting gesture, if he'd allow. Steele had been through a lot, and he deserved to be happy--even if that happiness depleted Bracken's ranks by one. He was a good man. He didn't deserve any of what life had thrown at him, these past several moons.

There was a croon in her throat as she pulled away, blinking softly at him. Take care of yourself, her eyes suggested.

A good man, a sweet man. His words were more than she deserved, overly-flattering. Her own words caught in her throat--she closed her eyes and grinned, hoping Steele could feel the strength of sentiment behind the expression. It had been a hard moon for her. This helped.

She wished he didn't have to leave, but you had to find your own way, eventually. Lily knew exactly where he stood. She sighed, rolling her shoulders. She did not do goodbyes easily. If he would just separate from her, not look back. . . She'd see him to the border and then depart, not satisfied--but, at least, with hope in her heart that he would find something better out there. Something better than bears and fear.