Hushed Willows maybe it's time, maybe today

Although the pace was mindful, what with him favoring that damned sore ankle and @Lily forgiving enough as she guided the route, his heart was racing well ahead anyway. Qilaq is here still ran on repeat in his head, and thanks to this, his hunger, his fatigue, and all of his chronic worries were, for once, for the first time in weeks, not the loudest voice in his ears.

By the time a new treeline appeared on the horizon, one tucked neatly in the crook of the mountains, he was all too eager to overlook any vague pings of familiarity he might have had towards this place he had once left behind many moons ago. Instead, he was zeroing in on what may await, and what may be a happier future for him--and @Qilaq too, hopefully.

Finally, after many, many miles, any ounce of hope was better than the darkness he had wandered in for so long.  His nose quivered at the scents of wolf traffic, all similar to what Lily wore but very new to him. Some unease began to catch up to him then at this realization, and the implications that came with actual community again, and Silas looked to her with ears splaying. He hurried to steel himself as soon as the thought occurred, however, though he did not want to overstep any bounds already.

He was thinner than he had ever been, and more tired than he had once thought possible, but as he peered up at the willows dressed in snow, maybe it was all just meant to be.

no rush on any of this bc absences and all but it was high time i get to something ♥♥♥

Silas glanced at her as they reached the willows, and Lily gave him a gentle smile in return, trying to soothe any anxieties he may have. We're here, she murmured. Come on, follow me. I'll take you to where Qilaq normally stays. She didn't want to shake the girl out of her comfort zone by calling for her here and now.

With a quick shake of her tail, she carried on into the forest, picking up the pace once she was confident Silas was with her. They weaved through the narrow, cozy trails of Elysium, Lily's eyes peeled in case the shy girl had decided to wander again. Once they came close to her normal haunts, the blackbird pulled to a graceful stop, ears shoved forward atop her head, listening.

@Qilaq, she called out, her voice soft but insistent. Darling, there's someone here to see you. A man named Silas.

If he was lying--if he had brought strife to the girl in any way--she would have words with him, and wouldn't spare him the sting of her teeth, either. Yet she couldn't imagine this gentle soul purposefully dealing pain. Lily stood, waiting, wary but hopeful.

take your time w/ this mica!! no rush at all and if we have to PP her here, we can as well <3

The days are cold and though her fur has started to return, the plush undercoat struggles to grow back. Steady meals and comforting sleep have been a big help but something else is missing. She’s attempted to put herself out there and meet some of the others but there is little that comes of it and Seabreeze hasn’t come by too much (unaware something unfortunate has happened).
 
She is a little hungry as she lays beneath the willow tucked into the base and avoiding the wind that whips through the low point of the mountain.
 
Qilaq, she hears. Her ears twitch and she snaps to attention, clearing her mind of sleep. Her heart jumps in her throat at the surprise but several seconds and she feels herself calm down. There’s someone here to see you. Okay, maybe not. Who could come to see her? Who but those that would track her down? Her hears flatten against her head and she stiffens, uncertain if she should try to squirm away or face it. Lily promised.
 
She promised.
 
Silas.
 
She blinks several times, chokes back a breath caught in the back of her mouth, and she stumbles finally out of her nook. “S-Silas?” she calls. It is the first time she remembers saying his name. It doesn’t fit in her mouth anymore. She closes her eyes and shakes her head, looking up to see more than her leader, another wolf she knows by face, a wolf she knows is supposed to be Silas, but something doesn’t quite connect. It’s him. It is. It has to be. 
 
Her mouth opens to speak but not a word comes out, instead opting to slowly stumble her way into her mate’s chest, her tail picking up in speed. A crescendo of a whine slips through her muzzle and she can’t help the leak from between her legs as everything starts to clicking into place.

His nod to Lily only came half-formed, though he followed her past the threshold of the forest's edge, and deeper still into the cover of the willows. Instead of trying to familiarize himself with any of it, he could only feel his heart racing, and distraction was ruling him as his eyes darted this way, and that, although his guide carried them on a direct path. Soon enough his nose was wiggling and desperately, he was clambering for anything familiar.

Memories of it all seemed so fuzzy and faraway. He hung back behind Lily still when they reached a stopping point. Standing delicately on his three better legs, the fourth resting just gently on the ground, he watched with short, uneasy breaths as Lily called for her by name. What else was there to do, else the anticipation choke him out and leave him entirely?

When she showed herself, he perked up, ears tall and eyes as big as he could make them. Some shade of panic rippled through him, determined not to be disappointed--but there was no need, not now, as he took in sight of her in full with a soundless gasp. This time, his jaw went slack and he only picked it up again so he could whine that he was definitely not able to make into any coherent words; it was her, she was here, and finally, so was he. Qilaq is here. Qilaq is here!

Silas fumbled forward in a jerking, awkward motion with him forgetting all about his entire self other than all to do with helping the distance between them erase faster. Nothing else mattered suddenly, it couldn't, and the sudden warmth of her body heat against his chest was so tangible he thought he could scream if only he had the energy to; it was all he had wanted for moons now. He didn't even register much else than that, and though she smelled different, it's her, it's familiar, and it's all coming back to him in a rush that he wasn't prepared for, despite dreaming of it for so very long.

For the moment, Lily fell away from focus, and he can't even embrace her as much as he wished he could, not confined to this mortal body. He does his best to find his voice, though, and do more with it than whimper pitifully. You're really here, he sobs into her dark fur, his tail wagging too, and his knees feeling weak. I missed you so much, he whined, head spinning, and before it could get worse, he squeezed his eyes shut and went on with: I'm so sorry, that he couldn't do better, find her sooner, prevent whatever it was that had separated them and spanned the time apart. He had taken far too long and suffered for it, so he scarcely wanted to imagine what she had been through to. It was all a lot to bear.. but, breathing deep, and feeling through her coat with his muzzle, he hoped to heal with this turn of a new page.

The tension was thick enough in the air to swallow; Lily gulped, waiting for Qilaq to emerge. When she finally did, things seemed to move in slow motion. Like two stars destined to collide, they hurtled toward each other, embracing finally with emotion that transcended words.

It was real, for them. This was no accident, no mistake.

The blackbird blinked back tears as Silas spoke quiet words to her, tail swishing happily behind her. For now, she let herself fade into the background, letting them take care of unfinished business with some privacy. If they needed her again, she would step back up--but this was no longer her place.

Her entire world suddenly becomes Silas. However long Lily stands there, Qilaq does not even notice, and she buries herself as much as she can into her mate’s chest. Soft whines and yips still fight out of her throat and she worries this isn’t real, that he is going to disappear despite the warmth coming from him. He’s thinner and tired but Qilaq can’t see that.
 
“I’m s-s-so sorry,” she cries, over and over. She does not hear the words he gives her, does not register them, for how could this be his fault?
 
Her rump hits the ground as she leans into him, struggling to keep quiet. She wants to tell him everything and nothing all at once and her words disappear entirely. “I-I-I didn’t mean—” she starts and closes her eyes, taking a long breath to steady herself but doesn’t have the means to continue.

What else is there to say? Even breathing deep her scent, tangible and real, he cannot get all the words to come. Even his apologies are never going to be enough he knows, even if he could say them all in full. Yet when she turned the the sorry back onto him, he pulled his head back only enough to shake it tiredly. No..no, don't be, I.. not, he struggled for even that. He didn't mean it to happen like that, either.. but that was only the beginning.

He did want to know, maybe one day--some hour at some time but it wasn't now, he could barely stand as it was already. There's.. not right now. It's okay, he exhaled a great sigh, though his voice was still shaky and he half said it for himself to hear too. Over and over again he had to keep telling himself that now, that wasn't a lie anymore. He was okay, she was okay, and they could begin to move on past this strife for once in their lives together. Please. I'm so glad, he squeezed shut his eyes again, and it was difficult to open them up again. He felt the strain and the ache but for now, it didn't even bother him.

His sights lifted just enough to see Lily fade into the periphery, and more relief was finally starting to set in for good. He was in her debt, and his gratitude for what she had here in the willows was immense, but that was another matter for later. Silas was free to focus on Qilaq again. Can you show me where you stay..? Has it been good here? he asked quietly, tail still wagging and everything so much suddenly.

She trusted Silas, now more than ever. Upon seeing the way he spoke to her, the way she clung to him, she knew that there would be no problems here. When their eyes met, she gave him a nod, and then turned away, padding deeper into the willows. Lily would come check up on them later, but for now. . .

They needed time to themselves. To reconnect. The best thing she could do for them now was that.