Lion Head Mesa And I miss you in the June gloom, too

@Defne <3

Two days. One night, bleeding now into the second night as the lone ruddy figure picked a careful path toward the mesa. Sunset on the horizon, and Panacea finally halted to survey his destination from afar. It didn't look like much.

But he'd promised to scout the place out, no matter how much his shoulder ached. He lowered his head and started forward after a moment. Two days and two nights. He hadn't wanted to be alone. That was why he'd joined a pack at all.

Not much longer, he told himself, but it tasted like a lie.

Defne had remained in the mesa, despite her wish for company. Every few days she would call out, but a response rarely came.

But she couldn't complain, because it had given her time to plan. It was solid now, and she knew that she would not waver. Despite her confidence, she was surprised when a strange scent passed with the wind.

She came to search for it slowly, on legs that wobbled and shook. Yavru coiled around a back leg in silent support. Defne took the appearance of a confused woman, tired and sickly, yet she would not reek of illness. In fact, besides signs of hunger she was completely healthy.

Eyeing the red-coated wolf ahead of her, Defne took a moment to inspect their scent once more. There was something she recognised here. She could have jumped for joy.

Kemal..? Her voice was weak, sad and drawn out. Spoken as though she were begging.

She knew it was not him, but they didn't need to know that.

His ears pulled forward at the sound of footsteps, bright blue eyes landing on the figure seconds before she called out. Kemal...? Panacea tensed, ears slicking back against his skull as he regarded the stranger. Older; female; alone except for a snake coiled round her leg.

He wasn't reassured.

Not exactly, he called back, then lapsed into silence again, eyeing her warily. He remembered starkly what Kemal had required of him, the sole promise he'd made in exchange for sanctuary. Secrecy. He hadn't expected it to be tested so soon.

At his response she seemed to fall to the ground in an instant, sobs erupting from her like a woman in mourning.

I can't find them, you have to help me! She looked to the stranger once more, trembling. My sons are gone, they won't survive without me.

She couldn't know why they had come here, she was no mind reader, but Defne was willing to take her chances. She knew what she wanted, and the beginnings of it had been presented to her on a silver platter.

A frown knit his delicate features, thin shoulders hunching almost defensively. His sense of dread was growing with each passing moment. Panacea remained still, though. Only studying her.

And what makes you think that? He asked quietly, bright eyes oddly subdued. If Kemal was one of the sons she spoke of, then she could only be lying. Lying, or losing her mind. Panacea wasn't sure which one would be worse.

They're only young boys, they still need their annecik. She seemed to be pleading, hunched on the ground as though she had been threatened. I don't know how I got here, I need to go back to them.

Back to where her sons were hiding, so they would care for her like loyal children should. She knew Kemal, that he had only grown so large to hold his aching heart. He wouldn't turn her away.

Looking up to meet gold eyes to blue, Defne spoke once more. Do you have children, canim? You can understand my distress?

A lesser woman would have demanded they lead her back to where paths with Kemal were crossed, but Defne was smarter. Aggression rarely led to results of any worth.

He shook his head instantly, throat tightening until he could scarcely speak. No, I - The lie spilled from him almost desperately, as if trying to convince himself of its truth. No. I don't have children. And I haven't seen any, either.

Panacea took a step back, gilded hackles bristling just a little. The more he spoke to this woman, the less comfortable he felt with her. Maybe she really did know Kemal — but even then, something was terribly wrong here. He didn't know what — but neither did he particularly want to stick around to find out.

I should be on my way, he mumbled, taking another step back. His eyes never left the dark-furred woman.

Defne could see the discomfort she caused, the hackles she had raised. She held no caution despite this, but Yavru lifted his scaly head to watch the stranger.

You can't leave me! She cried, crawling forward to grovel as close to their paws as she would be allowed. I can smell my baby on you, why are you lying to me?

She wouldn't let her dramatics fail her, even if it meant she would be bit. Maybe then the scent of her blood would be carried back to her manda. Please, I'm not usually like this. You must understand.

Another step back. Then another. Panacea set his jaw, willing himself to stillness; he wouldn't let her see him tremble. Fuck all this, he mumbled, ears still pasted to his head, and took a few more unsteady steps backward.

Whatever she knew, whoever she was, Panacea wouldn't break his vow for her. Not like this. So he turned tail and ran, leaving the mesa abandoned for now. He needed to find Kemal.