Otter Creek Pour another drink 'til there's nothing left

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i feel this title is oddly fitting bahah @Fennec

Reyson had left before the dawn had played peek a boo with the sky. He had pressed forward over mountains and through fields and forests until his paws were bloody and his body tired. But he had no idea what else to do. He wasn't even sure fully what was wrong with him. He was just pissed, and irritated and sad and ashamed and everything inbetween and he absolutely fucking hated it.

He took a deep breath and another as he slowed. As the sun pressed upon him. He stopped for a drink. Large scarred head down towards the frosted lime of cold current. Tattered ears twitching and moving as he was overly vigilant. But pushing it aside or trying.

After her encounter with Aquillus, Fennec decided to call her visit in Akashingo early. Maybe alone time was what she needed more after all.

She didn’t want to linger closer to Brecheliant than necessary, so instead she remained on the opposite side of the Mesa, ready to rejoin Killdeer when he’d finished up there. She’d circle Akashingo’s territory after a while if he didn’t come and call.

She’d intended to be done being angry. It annoyed her that all it took was Germanicus’ son for her to be right back in that place again. Neither of them deserved the energy.

She was lying down when she heard someone approach nearby at a speed, breathing heavily. They apparently were stopping for a drink but Fennec still approached cautiously, tensed for the chance they would attack. She couldn’t tell unless she got closer who it was, with them downwind, but they’d likely notice her.

Reyson knew well tha absolute shit that teenagers could pull intimately now. It left a sour taste in his mouth. Arsenio hated him or at least strongly disliked him. He no longer felt comfortable around Tamar. The children were afraid of him.

Slowly his breathing went back to normal. He no longer sounded like a bellows. But his chest still hurt a little. He was about to settle in for a rest when a noise caused him to lift his head and loose a low growl. Though as his vision found the intruder he relaxed surprised and confused.

Lady Fennec?

Again!? “Lady Fennec”.

Fennec relaxed, but a little reluctantly. It seemed like reminders were coming out of the woodwork today. Granted, it had only been a few short weeks; maybe that was natural. It didn’t mean she had to enjoy it.

Killdeer had told her about their meeting, though. And Fennec was a little intrigued to find how Reyson was taking everything, seeing as… well. Germanicus had told her everything. Had Meadow told him?

Reyson. I’d say it’s a pleasure, but I guess I’m not sure yet. Still, she sat down on the bank, an indication she wasn’t against a short conversation. She was still resting before she began to move on towards the place where she’d meet up with her son.

It had not been his intention to find Lady fennec here. He was sure that he was a giant reminder of bull shit and he felt imensely bad for being there now.

He shifted and moved forward settling near her. He didn't quite brush her, but she could feel his presence close enough. Then he chuckled darkly.

It's a pleasure to see you always Lady Fennec. Though I am probably not pleasurable company. What brings you the whole way up here?

Not much is lately. She said flatly, though she didn’t ask him to leave. If he wanted to talk she didn’t really care, though his question wasn’t exactly one she had an answer to.

Killing time. I have to meet Killdeer soon. He didn’t need a rundown of the many disasters her marriages were, so best to keep it simple. She didn’t return the question; it would be the polite thing to do but politeness wasn’t something she was beholden to anymore.

Reyson wasn’t someone she had any reason to be upset with. She was just tired of trying at all anymore.

Reyson realized the damage was too great and a wave of dislike rolled from him at Germanicus and even Meadow. Because she had a small part to play in this. She had hurt Fennec as well as him. It was hard to align the love he held for her with also the great anger he also felt. He could forgive her, for what she had done to him, so easily. So why couldn't he forgive what she had done to Fennec. That was where he found a disconnect and he was unsure what to do with it.

Reyson slowly stood and looked her over. I'll let you be Lady Fennec. I told Killdeer and I'll tell you if he didn't. You deserve the world and I hope you find someone to give it to you. I'll leave you to your peace.

Then with eyes ahead and head held high. He headed back the way he came. He wouldn't force his presence on anyone, especially not someone who didn't want it. And he knew she didn't mean it to him. She had just been hurt one to many times. He hoped she could find happiness with every small fiber. And he wished with a small part of himself he could even give it to her, because it was what she deserved, but he knew he couldn't and he wouldn't. There was only friendship there and that wasn't fair to her or to him.

He left abruptly. Her ears went back at his final words, but otherwise she just listened as he disappeared and didn’t try to stop him. It was an empty statement. She didn’t believe a bit of it.

He didn’t care any more than anyone else who said they did had. He’d go home and forget she existed.

The silent stretched longer after he was gone and after a few moments she got up and left as well, continuing on her way to see Killdeer with tired finality. This was why she had no place trying to form a pack. She had no hope she could hold onto anything meaningful anymore. There wasn’t a single person outside Killdeer who wanted anything to do with her - and she really couldn’t blame them.