he would tend her in the moments blue willow was not there, and was unsurprised by the worry that rose to choke him when he gazed at her beaten frame. fool, fool, little fool; he cursed her gently in his mind for her stupidity, though he was quite interested in knowing what it was that had driven her behavior.

taltos lay peering into the darkness of the den where finley slept, wondering if she would awake and speak a few words, or if whatever blue willow had given her for pain would keep her in slumber's recesses a while longer.

lasher chuffed lightly at their charge. no need to move; lie still, he murmured to her, granting her a soft glance that spared her of any irritation he might have felt toward her madness regarding the bear. instead, his eyes cleared and he looked pointedly at finley, moving closer until his muzzle was near her own.

why did you do it? the earthen gamma asked softly, voice filled with affectionate worry. as he had told blue willow, only those who no longer wished to be alive sought deaths. finley was a vivacious, humourous creature — what hurt had she experienced, that she wished to be free of their mortal coil?

he gave a small frown, but it was tempered with a mild affection and relief that she seemed to be recouping her normal attitude. extending a paw, he prodded her gently, a more serious expression settling upon his face. did some form of sorrow befall you, finley? the man inquired gently.

he did not need to know the details; he needed only to know that the redhawk female was now stable, and would not attempt to pursue her death again. truly, he was loathe to let her return home even when her body had mended without extracting such a promise.

he did not believe her, but would not press her — verbally. lasher withdrew, though the expression upon his face did not lose its warmth, and lay his muzzle across his forelegs. his eyes trained themselves upon her face, and he breathed in the scent of the redhawk girl mingled with the fragrance of the herbs that blue willow had used to treat her wounds.

and he waited.

the man had heard of no such thing, but he understood immediately what the metaphor behind the saying meant. he wondered what sort of forest in which finley had found herself, and why she had settled for a corporeal bear rather than one of spirit and mind.

he gave a low chuff, intending it to be a rejoinder to her, that he listened; and presently he lifted chin from foreleg and favored her with a warm look. the bear could have killed you, he pointed out with a direct glance to her healing wounds, her prone, weakened form.

when intending to slay a bear, it is typical to ask for help from one's companions, taltos added softly, seeking finley's eyes with his own.

he had gathered that finley was undergoing some great pain, so majestic in its torture that it had compelled her to seek out grave injury, or even death. his heart ached for the blackthorn — those he loved he would not see suffer — and he wished to tell her this, but the girl had maintained an attitude of vagueness thus far, and with this he would continue.

perhaps one should know that there is no empty solitude among companions; perhaps one should be told that there are forever ears that will listen, and hearts that will understand.

he saw her tears, heard the tremour of her voice. his more affectionate side wished to sweep her into his embrace, as he did with his companions — he was a physical beast — but he refrained. i shall find you something to eat, finley, taltos murmured gently, pushing himself to his paws.

giving her a gentle smile, the gamma departed, to do as he had spoken and to let finley have the space of time she needed for composure.