Ravensblood Forest love & regret

Hex was more than disturbed by goings-on lately. He'd provided a fair amount of food to the captives, and comfort in words where he could, but it was not enough. He needed to provide what he'd promised Chani—and he had fallen short on that vow.

He padded toward @Nox's quarters with purpose, chin lifted with intent. He hoped that his new leader could see the merit in keeping their captives comfortable.

Captain, Hex called out, tail flagging, then tucking down in deference. Can I speak to you?

God, I hope this works.

He should have split a squirrel to see the guts, to know what blood and spirit had to say on this matter.

The Captain was in a rare good mood when Hex came knocking.

He gnawed a hunk of seal, the last of their lavish stockpile of stolen bounty as his gaze fell upon the approaching shadow. "Are ye not already speakin'?" his lip curled in unabashed humour, though his posture remained nonchalant, an invitation for the man to join him in feast if he wished.

What was on his mind?

He ducked his head in greeting. Captain, he said again. I wanted to talk to you about the captives—their living quarters. I want them to be more comfortable. They're women and pregnant.

His head remained bowed.

We should treat them well, he spoke to the earth. His gaze flitted briefly upward, meeting Nox's for a brief second, before lowering. If we don't, we'll be enemies of everyone.

Including himself. 

Every inch, every muscle of his being yearned to fight back against this tyranny—and yet here he remained, holding up the status quo. In the shadow of his cowardice, he could only beg for the women; he had no other strength beyond that.

And almost immediately after Hex again opened his mouth did Nox feel his mood sour. "Murkwood's given 'em enough. They've got shelter, food - and now ye say they're complainin'?" While that was not in fact what the crow had said, that was certainly what it sounded like to the Captain who rose stiffly to his paws.

He should've known better than to take in a landlubber. "Ye'v gone soft, Hex." Or perhaps he had been since he'd arrived. As far as Nox was aware, no one had come for the women and no one would. And though he had not been vigilant in tying up any loose ends following the raid, he was fairly confident the cliffside children would be too fearful to even approach their neck of the woods.

You've gone soft.

His jaw firmed at that, shoulders going stiff. The captain had no idea. 'Soft' was far from what Hex thought of himself—except, of course, if their definitions of the word differed, which was possible.

My mother left me and my siblings, early on, Hex explained, feeling a muscle jump in his cheek for biting his tongue. I dunno why—maybe she wasn't happy, or maybe she wasn't there by choice. It fucked me up, though.

And there was the rub. Perhaps, if his mother had found it worthwhile to stay, her children would have as well. Then he'd be a loyal Swiftcurrent wolf, and—

Every pup born here in comfort will be more loyal to you, he went on. They'll owe you their life—and if you treat the mothers with respect and comfort, they'll feel the same way—at least for their children.

He was talking out of his ass at this point. But there was a nugget of truth to it, a realization he hadn't found before.

The idea of an absent mother was not so foreign to the Captain as Hex might have thought. "That so," he mused, shoulders rolling slightly. "Me own Ma left us to the care o' the wenches. She ain't had time for kids, though she had many of us. S'pose there were more excitin' things to do." 

But the man was not here for idle chit-chat and he considered the words carefully this time. Perhaps it was time to ditch the caves, and Nox was a fool not to do anything that would put him in the good books of his captives. Loyalty went two ways, and maybe this act of kindness would see the women do the same to him someday.

"Alright, alright. We'll move 'em," he came to slink past Hex towards the exit, eyes narrowing on the cave entrance. "What kinda place did'ya have in mind?"

So you know, Hex replied, nodding. Perhaps. There didn't seem to be so much hurt in Nox's voice as he'd anticipated—

But perhaps it didn't matter.

Move them to the rendezvous, he told his captain with a shrug. We'll have a better eye on them, and they'll have better quarters. Win-win, right?

He nodded firmly. Build up the bedding, make sure they're comfortable. Tend to them. They'll be thankful.

Get them out of the caves, at least. He had no idea whether Chani wanted more. Well, obviously she wanted to be gone from this place.

But the next best thing. . .