The Sunspire Keep your head up

brudder @Jace !! :D
@Mallaidh do you mind if I assume she was around and helped out? If not I can edit (and if you need another healer thread at any point let me know ^^)

This was what she got for counting her ducks a little too soon. Apparently she'd jinxed herself right well. Her left side and neck were healing fine so far, but the past day she'd felt decidedly worse, and when she woke that morning a few of the slashes on her right burned like fire. She knew enough not to delay in summoning a healer and Mallaidh had been obliging. Hopefully the cleansing and herbs would kill the infection before it got bad, but Vienna still felt awful. She'd already rid her stomach of whatever it may have contained, so at least she didn't have to worry about puking right now.

She'd already given up on sleep and was instead willing someone to walk through the den entrance to offer a bit of distraction. And a little warmth. Despite her slight fever she couldn't stop shaking and it was getting rather irritating. She needed a cuddle buddy something fierce.

Jace carried a hare from the cache tight in his jaws as he made it towards his sister's temporary den. The poor girl was sick and tired and sore. He felt awful and he had as of yet not been able to find the god forsaken creature that had done it to her. But when he did it would rue the day, there was months of fury lashed and leashed tightly in his chest and that creature had done the worst thing it could ever do to Jace. It hurt his sister and now it would pay and it would pay good.

He stuck his head in the den mouth ot make sure she was awake and dropped the hare to the ground. Hey big sister. What are you doin?

Vienna's desire for company wasn't long in being answered, and as her brother appeared she gave happy grin despite her current discomfort. "Jace!" His question of what she was doing brought some amusement also. "Contemplating how one can be burning and freezing at the same time," she responded lightly, but she looked at him with a bit of pleading in her eyes. "Be my heater? If you aren't to busy?" A sly part of her wondered if this wasn't a situation she could take advantage of the next time a certain someone else came by to visit, but for now her brother was perfect company. The thought of the hare set her stomach turning, so with a gentle motion she pushed it to the side for a later attempt.

"I've mostly been sky watching, since that's about as much as I can. It's interesting, but i think I prefer night to day." The stars had always been one of her favorite things. "Enough of me though, my life is boring. I wanna know how you are." She was more and more concerned for him as time went on. He seemed tired, if amicable enough, but she hadn't forgotten their previous conversations. She doubted his troubles had lessened since then. Besides, she had nothing but four walls, and the idea of all she was likely missing was enough to drive her batty. Even with frequent visits. "How's the pack?"

Jace gave her a lopsided grin, while at the same time wondered how she would take his decision to step down. After all it had taken some thought and it had been a hard decision, but one he felt was needed. Jace obliged her, her request and stepping his large body through the den mouth he settled beside her. Shifting so he was against her, he gently preened at her shoulders and fur, mostly for something to do while she leaned on him or got how ever she wanted to be.

He chuckled well dad always called mom Starshine, cause she loved stars. Maybe he should have called you something like that too. He laid his ears to his skull at her next question and looked at her. I'm alright Vienna. Listen what would you say if I was to tell you I was thinking of stepping down from Beta for a little while.

As he shifted to lie down beside him she snuggled happily, carefully as she could, against him. The trembling died down as warmth flooded her side and she laid her head contentedly across his paws. It felt natural, and she couldn't imagine not having the close relationship that they had. Imagine those who were estranged from their siblings... how awful that must be.

Closing her eyes, she listened as he spoke, smiling when he mentioned their mother. It was from she that she got her love of them, Vienna had no doubts. "I dunno, I like Songbird." His next words though caused her eyes to open, narrowing with concern. "Step down? I suppose my first question would be why?" She responded, surprised. She had never been much interested in ranks but he had seemed rightfully proud of his. She would not see him as any less if this was truly what he wanted but she needed to be sure.

Jace didn't move other than to continue to pull at the tufts of hair and dust that lay across her shoulders. He did his best to avoid her claw marks, those would scar for sure, and she was such a light color, they would probably be visible even long after they were healed.

I like Songbird too. Dad told me as soon as you were born you were musical. He remembered his father telling him that one day. If you have pups some day far...far...far in the future are you going to do what mom and dad did? Name the girls with a last name but not the boys? He shifted once, but not to move her just to gather some more of her fur.

Jace sighed at her question. A few reasons. For one i want to take care of you and I can't while doing that? I also want to find that stupid cougar. And I don't know I'm just sort of adrift lately. I don't feel like a very good leader. I mean I'm barely talking to any of the new members half of them I don't even know. I fight with Sumayl everytime I try and talk to him. I'm just not a very conversational or friendly wolf Songbird.

His grooming was relaxing, but his initial words caused her some discomfort. She would never ask him to give up his position in order to care for her. That was why they had a pack, to support one another and pick up when others could not.

"Probably," she responded to his initial question, though the tone was distracted. His continuation on the reasons beyond her own care put her mind a bit at ease, but she still didn't like it. "You know I can't agree with you on that. I think your pretty great, and I'm sure most others agree. Sumayl... well, I'm sure he'll come around." She distinctly hoped so. While neither was completely to blame on that, she wasn't about to let Jace take all the blame. "But I am not going to argue with you if this is what you really want. You know I support you in anything. Even if I think you're a fine leader." She paused. "Ame is okay with it?"

Though Jace was in a sense giving up his role for his sister. He was also doing it for himself, for him to find a reason to be there. To make sure he was a good beat, because at the moment he felt less than mediocre.

He heard the distraction in her voice and hoped he hadn't upset her. She didn't need that while she was healing. Well you have to like me I'm your little brother. he teased her gently only by 40 minutes sure, but it was still 40 minutes she breathed life before he did. He shifted uncomfortably I haven't talked ot her yet. wanted to form my thoughts before I did.

Vienna laughed softly at his response. "Believe me little brother, that by no means says I have to like you," she teased. "And you know I don't mind calling you out when I think you are wrong. But if you think this is for the best then I am good with it. I just want you to be happy." She did wonder how Amekaze would take the news though. Running a pack seemed a hard task and to have to do so solo was no small job. The alpha seemed up to the task but Vienna hoped she would find another to back her up if Jace no longer could. No one needed to bear that sort of responsibility alone.

"If you were to pass the job along, any ideas on who you'd like to see?" She asked out of curiosity. She wouldn't be surprised if he hadn't given it much thought, it was more Ame's choice in the end, but she'd like to see what he thought of their fellows and who he saw potential in.

Jace chuckled at her words, he nipped gently at her ear playfully without wrestling or running. he did not in anyway wish to ascerbate her wounds even more than they already were. Jace shrugged his shoulders and looked at his sister for a moment. Honestly Vienna I don't know if I've every been truly happy. Too much darkness hangs over my head, but i've been content.

He sighed and laughed hollowly, Plenty but they all end up disappointing me. I thought perhaps Summer, but he had a herb problem I found him taking them to feel good. That just won't work, he had to get through that first. Sumayl if he wasn't such a cocky son of....if he wasn't so cocky and rash. Perhaps cuan? I would have to get to know him better though. How about you any ideas?

Content was something, though she would have rather heard him happy. She wished there was something she could do, but there was only so much, especially now. Perhaps this change in rank would be the shift he needed in order to lose some of the dark clouds hanging over him. She could see them as clearly as he could probably feel them.

She was surprised to hear of Summer's issues and thought back to his visit to her. Nothing much had seemed off then, he had seemed her normal friend. Had she missed something she shouldn't have? Or perhaps he had shaken whatever effects might have come about since her brother had obviously confronted him about it. What else had she missed?

Her brother stopped himself before he could say more but she knew where it was headed. She had to hide a grin at that... yep, him to a tee. But what her brother saw as a negative was actually one of the things she liked most about him. She could see where it could also make him less of a likely leadership candidate. That didn't bother Vienna any and she wondered briefly if he had any aspirations towards it. Perhaps she'd ask next time they talked.

"None. Normally leadership potential isn't something I look for in friends," she said with a smile. "That's more your area of expertise." It was her opinion that everyone deserved a chance at whatever they desired, so if she was in charge of such decisions doubtless everything would dissolve into chaos in minutes. "I've met Cuan and he seems nice enough." He'd met with her only a short time ago.

Jace thought back too all his life. He was happy with his parents and Vienna until he had hurt her. He supposed he was almost happy at the creek until that went down the drain in a shit storm. He had been happy when he was with Leaf, but then that too disappeared as she had disappeared. And Bazi Bazi had made him happy, but she was long gone now too, or at least making her own life.

Jace had been watching Summer as closely as he could. Trying to see if he would go after those herbs again. He hoped not for both the pack and Summer's sake. It would end badly if he was allowed to continue, his personal destruction.

Jace supposed the cocky bastard Sumayl would have his sister a little heated. After all it was what most of the girls wanted wasn't it that big bad wolf appeal. He himself had it in a strange way. He imagined it was what had first drawn Leaf to him, that and the fact the he had fought tooth and nail to save her.

Jace cracked a smile, I don't have many friends Vienna. I prefer my own company.Jace nodded thoughtful, Yes he does seem nice.

Vienna knew he was more a solitary soul than she, less open to new friends and unknown beings. This would worry her, but the friends he had here seemed true. Amekaze, Summer, herself... They were a small number but they would be there through thick and thin. Maybe someday (soon) she'd get Sumayl added to that number. She liked the challenge of it.

"Well, you'll always have me." Stating the obvious but there you go. If he had any friends outside the pack she was unaware, but she hoped he had found or would find a couple. Honestly her wishes were same as any other older sister... See him find an awesome girl, raise tons of little pups for her to spoil, and lose any sorrow he might be carrying. But she also loved him just the way he was, so however things ended up, she knew he would be fine, as would she.

Jace could not remember if he had ever told his sister of his best friend Bazi. He didn't even know if she counted herself his friend any longer. Jace did not hold a positive thought for a blooming friendship between himself and Sumayl, the cocky SOB did not get on well with him. He who could also be a cocky SOB he supposed, not to say his mother was such a thing, because she wasn't.

Jace cracked a grin and nudged his sister under the chin. And for that I am eternally grateful to whatever gods are out there. Jace had thought he found an awesome girl, had thought she would love him, would stay, but she had left. Far too afraid of him or herself he wasn't sure, but she was gone. So tell me Vienna Songbird, what man has your fancy is it sumayl?

Vienna's ear twitched when Jace brought up relationships, his question amazingly straightforward. She supposed she had sought out his company more than most, and been rather adamant in her opinion that he join the pack. For a moment she thought about denying it, and a month ago she might have. These past weeks had given her plenty of time for introspection though.

She probably could have presented her answer better, but she was tired and not feeling the greatest. So she stated it as simply as he had asked. "Yes." Her tone held a note of defensive edge, for she knew how he felt about him. He'd shown that clearly so far. But she was still convinced they would make do in time. Even if her feelings never came to anything. Then she sighed. "I do. But I guess we will have to see. What about you Jace? Any lucky ladies?" She returned in kind. She didn't put forth any names, but she noticed that he and their alpha seemed close friends. She'd approve wholeheartedly of that were the case. She liked Ame quite a bit.

Jace was anything but a beat around the bush guy. He got straight to the point with all things and did his best to ask the same of others. Jace just really wanted to know if he needed to mind his manners more around the guy or if he could just take a chunk of his hide and shove it so far down Sumayl's throat that he coughed up fur for weeks.

Jace stared at her for a beat of a minute No need to get defensive Vienna I was just asking. You know i'd never sabotage something like that for you. Even if I dislike the smarmy...yea. And I did try to talk to him in my defense, but he took my words and twisted them all around, cause you know I'm not very good with others...my communication skills are sorely lacking. I prefer knowledge anyway. He looked away grumbling under his breath. It was true, he should have been a little clearer with his words and maybe there wouldn't have been a misunderstanding. Hell he should have just not even said anything to the bastard the first day other than what the hell do you want at my borders.

At her next question his breath caught and his ears hit the back of his skull as quickly as he could make them. He hadn't been ready for that question and the thought of leaf was like a sucker punch to the gut. Just rip his heart out and feed it to him, cause she sure did. There was one, her name was Leaf and she left. So no Vienna no lucky ladies and I don't think there will be, i'm too damaged. But anyway. How are you feeling? Can I get you anything? Anything at all? I'll even get Sumayl if you want as much as I don't want too.

The instant the words had left her mouth she'd felt badly about them. She knew she wasn't really in the mindset to be talking about that particular subject though, and a small sigh of allowance escaped. "I know, I'm sorry." She could make an excuse of how she was feeling at the moment, but she knew she didn't have to. Just as he didn't have to explain himself to her... They understood. She knew he was just looking out for her and she loved him for it. And he would hopefully know that she didn't mean the edge behind her words, her frustration and bad mood not directed at him.

If she surprised him by getting a little surly, he got her back with his reaction to her question. She had thought it a teasing, innocent request but his withdrawal and physical reaction immediately clued her in that this wasn't the case. From her current position she couldn't see his face, but she could tell he wasn't smiling when he spoke.

"I'm sorry," she said again, heartfelt. She didn't know who this Leaf was, but she didn't have a brain if she'd walk away from a wolf like her brother. She didn't say so, but she imagined Jace could do better. The thought wasn't kind, and she knew once again it was born of the sourness pervading her demeanor. Not completely though. She didn't like the thought of anyone breaking her little brother's heart.

"You are not damaged." She sat up slowly, looking at him. "A little bent, maybe, but I'm not worried. You'll get through this." He was a Wildsinger, same as she, and they didn't take life lying down. She shook her head gently, lying back down with her head resting on his forepaws and closing her eyes. "Just stay a while?" He had better things to do, she was sure, but she would fall asleep better with another's company. He'd likely slip away then.

Jace gave her a crooked smile, even though he didn't feel much like smiling. it's okay Songbird. Jace never had to explain himself to his sister, she was one who understood, sure she probably questioned some of the stuff he did, just as he did with her, but they accepted it. They did not hash it out or argue about it, it was nothing but acceptance and then if it fell through. Well they would be there to catch the other's falling pieces. Though in the case of Leaf no one had been there to catch Jace when he fell and he had never really been fitted back right.

Jace shrugged Don't be. I scared her among other things and she wanted something from me but for the life of me I have no clue what. She'd fight with me in one breath and tell me how gentlemanly and kind I was in the next. I just don't know what she wanted. She would try and get me to ask her to stay here, but then when I did she always left. I just don't know and part of the failing lies with me, I'm terrible with emotions, just bloody awful. She left her marks there though, I won't be forgetting her anytime soon. He grew quiet, it was more than he wanted to say, but she deserved to know. For now the conversation was closed she could revisit it another day if she wanted, but today he was done.

Jace nodded Sure. then with a small sigh of contentment he curled around her and laid his head across her back. Closing his blue eyes he simply let sleep overtake him. He would deal with his failings and all the problems later, right now it was time for his sister and a little tlc for both of them.

As she felt her brother settle in, she thought on his words. He must have fallen hard for this girl. She wanted him to be happy, but knew such things did take time to get over. He was always blaming himself, but she felt as though any girl who was really interested (and suited) for her brother would know him well enough to see when he plainly wished to be with them. It wasn't his fault if they didn't have the sense to stick around, and blaming himself would do him no good. Still, that was who he was. He had always preferred taking the fall to seeing the failings of others. Vienna might have been an optimist when it came to others, but not so far as to get herself down for things she had no control over.

It was to thoughts on how she could perhaps help the situation that she drifted off, falling deeply asleep for the first time since her mild infection had brought the fever with it. Jace's steady presence was a huge help to calming her disquieted mind and allowing for some real healing rest.