she doesn't mind when furi falls back into her habit of going out -- it's actually almost reassuring, like things are the same as they used to be. despite this, a nagging fear pushes blixen to keep a closer eye on the border than usual. she trusts furi to come back, of course she does, but..

blix has more of an issue with abandonment than she cares to admit.

it isn't patrol that brings her to the border after nightfall, though. since bat's disappearance the commander hasn't been sleeping too well. not so severely as to warrant attention, as far as she's concerned. given everything that's happened if she wants to take some late night walks, she's entitled, by god. aimlessly she drifts toward the border through the trees, a wine-colored shape under the deep blanket of night. 

she smells furi before she sees her -- and she smells blood, chilling her. alarmed, the redhead picks up her pace, finding her friend passed out -- not unconscious, she doesn't think, but sleeping..? sleeping and bloodied, smelling of unfamiliar things. for a split second she hesitates, afraid of disturbing her -- but let's be real, when has that ever stopped blixen? urgently she presses her nose against furi's face, licking her cheek as she whispers "furi, wake up."

every second furi doesn't stir drags by, making blix's heart race, until finally at last she speaks. her unenthusiam goes unnoticed -- the commander is just relieved she's awake, even as she seems to struggle to unfurl. 

feeling not even slightly apologetic for disturbing her, the redhead shoves her nose against furi's cheek and demands, "what happened to you? who did this?" after all injuries like this don't just happen on their own -- someone must have -- or she got in a fight, or something. something blix is not happy about, feeling anger settle in her belly at the thought of someone hurting her furi (oh).

don't yell is all furi says at first and blixen's ears lay flat against her skull, an unhappy frown tugging her face. her injured friends reassurances are not reassuring in the least -- the mention of rose brings a flicker of something in her she doesn't want to deal with right now. now that furi is awake she pulls back a little bit, keeping her voice quieter when she says "some idiot on the ridge?" 

well some idiot on the ridge is going to get his ass kicked as far as blix is concerned. "you're hurt," she says stupidly, trying to contest her i'm fines, because it isn't fine. in fact, "tell me what the idiot looked like so i can go kick his ass," she demands, one hundred percent totally ready to pull rank if she has to in the name of getting furi to stop underplaying how badly she's hurt. someone needs to bleed for this.

there is a zero percent change that blix is gonna let this go, but she has the sense to drop it for now, a worried frown twisting her mouth. for whatever reason mallaidh is resistant to expanding on who, which makes her suspicious -- if it really were just some random stranger, why refuse to give her a description? after all, she's not the only drageda wolf to go beyond the borders. but from experience she also knows that pushing at mallaidh to elaborate will just drive her away and undo the fragile healing that's happened between them already.

"okay," blix says, doubtfully. she lowers her head to examine the injured shoulder furi presents her. it looks -- well, she's seen worse, but still. principle of the thing. "you should at least sleep in the den," she fusses, voice softer. if she can't go off and murder mallaidh's attacker the least she can do is corral her into a proper place to rest.

her pulling back is rewarded -- even if it isn't as satisfying, mallaidh's smile melts her resistance. fine, fine, she can let things go sometimes maybe. at least for now -- there's no stopping her from stomping around about it once her [friend?] is on the mend. she's just gotta get better at playing the long game.

furi rises to her feet at least, making blix cluck her tongue with her words. "that is weird," she agrees, "i've seen you fight, you're more than capable." she doesn't say better than me (objectively it's true, but let's be real, that's one thing she won't concede). that fu-- that mallaidh could not land a hit on the stranger who assaulted her is ... troubling, if only because it paints the picture of some absurdly good fighter. nah, nah. "something else holding you back?" she asks, not really expecting an answer so much as offering an explanation as she nudges the injured gona toward the dens, her tail swishing behind her.

blixen runs her tongue along her lips and nods, accepting furi's explanation. something still doesn't sit right with her but all she can do is let it go and if mallaidh wants to open up to her at some point, she'll be available. 

a shame, though, because she definitely still wants to go enact bloody vengeance.

for a moment she is irritated by her friend's refusal to follow her -- until furi speaks, making her hesitate. it's not like she has anywhere better to be, so, "what place?" blix asks, abandoning the notion of the dens. "can i see?" she adds, a little awkwardly -- not wanting to assume she's welcome to go with her anywhere anymore, even if naturally, she wants to.

quiet for once, blix follows easily, her eyes trained on furi as she leads. if she were to try and find this place again on her own she probably couldn't, too enraptured by how her friend looks in the moonlight, too distracted by that troubling limp even if she knows it will likely heal on its own. it's only when mallaidh begins to speak that the commander finally notices where they are, her gaze breaking to look around them. "i've never seen this," she admits, following her invitation inside the makeshift den space. it's different from the caverns, not less comfortable, just different, and she spends a few minutes shifting until she finds a nice way to curl up, pressed close to her friend but still able to watch her, as much of her as she can make out in the dark. "how often do you come out here?" blix asks, curious if this is where furi and rose shacked up after her and blix's first falling out -- wondering why she doesn't feel the same pang of jealousy she usually does when thinking about them together.

mallaidh's explanation makes sense and blix accepts it without much thought. she tilts her head a little, scooting closer (stealing as much closeness as she can, really, under the guise of being in close quarters to begin with). "how often is that?" the commander asks softly, with a hint of concern -- though it's probably none of her business, furi's sleeping habits. 
the adrenaline of finding her bruised and bloody has worn down, leaving blix feeling a little tender, a little vulnerable. there's a flicker of anger of course but it's easier to compartmentalize -- mallaidh's injuries are bad but not life threatening, and she wants to respect her wishes. it's been... "a while since we were close like this, huh," she mumbles, not realizing the thought comes out aloud 'til the end. coloring under her fur she ducks her head, hoping furi won't catch her silly sentimental thoughts -- no need to ruin whatever awkward, fragile thing has settled between them.

her question lingers in the air unanswered. an impatient flicker in blixen nearly prompts her to repeat it, but after all this time she has learned at least a little, and anyway, her embarrassment overrides her need to be bossy, tucking her head against her own arm shyly. a hundred things pass through her mind, each inadequant, each in danger of upsetting the peace that has descended upon them. so blixen, for once, holds her tongue, offering furi a slow smile instead, her eyes glittering under the darkness of the sky. as long as her friend will let her, she'll stay like this, pressed close, close enough their fur can twist together and merge them into one as they should be.