whatever had gone down with queenie had delayed his trip, but ariel eventually makes his way to lost creek hollow, thankful it is not too far away from elysium. how does she always manage to reappear at exactly the right moment to release chaos back into his peaceful little life? well--but it's a different situation now. he'll figure it out later, depending on how that thread ends up going.

gently he lays down his bundle and calls for @Rannoch -- or whoever is around, really, his voice friendly. it is nice to be coming with gifts instead of bad news for once, and despite whatever went down with seabreeze, he still thinks fondly of the lost hollow wolves and their original alliance with tindómë. he hopes they can catch up a little bit too.

rannoch arrives, quelling the slight swell of anxiety in his belly, for now. ariel grins and ducks his head. he doesn't bother to correct the man on his name--he doesn't see him often enough that it matters--and explaining the situation just feels.. complicated and tense. instead he'd rather do what he's here to do.

"it's good to see you too," he agrees, "i come with a gift from elysium." bending slightly, ariel picks up the bundle and lays it at rannoch's paws, opening it so that the carefully stowed herbs inside are visible. "we thought it'd be a nice idea to bring some gifts for the expectant, or new, mothers in each pack." he explains briefly what the herbs are like olive explained to him, and sits back, speaking a touch shyly. "i hope everything has been good here--it's been a long time.

pleased that rannoch seems happy with the gift, ariel smiles and hums before answering his returned question. "things are good," he says, though the image of queenie, rail thin, pushing him away, bubbles to the surface of his thoughts. it strikes him, in this moment, as a poor omen, with olive's litter nearly here--his wife's superstitious nature has certainly encouraged his own--but whatever comes, they can tackle it together. running his tongue against his lips, he puts it out of his mind, and says "olive is expecting our litter soon, and lily and khali's came recently, as well. all healthy, all happy." 

rannoch's offer is generous, though ariel hesitates for a moment, thinking of olive due soon--but the hollow isn't so far he won't be back soon, and in any case, his bones could use a rest. "oh, that's kind," he murmurs, "thank you--yes, i could use a short rest, i think." as he moves to walk with rannoch, a thought strikes him, and he says, "ibis came to stay with you a little bit ago, right? how is she? i'd love to bring seabreeze news of her."

 

he smiles, nodding to accept rannoch's congratulations, and follows him. a quick rest sounds lovely and then he'll be back to his heavily pregnant wife's side (unaware, as he is, that olive is more or less giving birth as he speaks). 

"that's nice to hear," ariel says in regards to ibis; it doesn't surprise him. elysium tends to attract and imprint care work, and those who enjoy care work, more than it does those who have physical pursuits like fighting. (something queenie was not thrilled with, he thinks with a guilty twinge). he lapses into a comfortable silence as they walk - he'll relay more to rannoch if he asks, but otherwise is content for the companionship and the respite, before he makes his way back home with a quick farewell to his host.