The Sunspire Every road they led you down felt so wrong

aw just in case you don't have time!

With word of the move, and everything else, Maia had been busy. Relatively, for her, at least. She wanted to check in on @Terance though, because she felt like she was constantly hangin out with Wraen and with everything that had happened, well... he probably could use some awesome sister time, yeah?

And this was gonna be awesome indeed, not because she had anything particular in mind, but mostly because it was her and surely she could cheer him up. She started off by looking around the borders - his usual haunt. If he wasn't there, she'd check near where Rannoch and Liffey stayed.

of course terance was patrolling. 

he spotted maia from a distance and barked when he saw she was coming towards him, his tail waving to show that, yeah, sure, he was down for some conversation. it helped-- or at least terance liked to think that it helped.

"hey, maia," he greeted his little sister, dipping his nose to nudge her cheek, "what are you doing over here?" like the question even begged to be asked-- terance knew that, nowadays, everyone just seemed to want to talk to him about his feelings. but he was fine-- or at least had convinced himself he was fine. the stinging pain he felt originally lingered, as all heartaches did, but he'd committed to himself now-- and he wouldn't let this effect his daily life. not this time.

He was happy to see her (of course!) which warmed her right up.  "Uh, comin to see you, duh," she responded playfully, nudging him back a little more roughly.  "I got bored tryin to catch fish so I figured I'd visit my favorite brother and see what he was doin!"  Sorry Cori.  Terance was cooler than you.

She fell in step next to him, bouncing a little with each step.  "Wraen asked me to go explorin with her, isn't that awesome? I mean, I like it here, but it's cool other places too."  And it still held, what she thought at the meeting; as long as she stuck with her family, she didn't really care where she ended up.

"ooh," terance purled, a soft chuckle rumbling in his throat, "glad i'm a good replacement for fishing." and, hell yeah, the coolest brother. terance's smile faltered at the thought of cori-- who terance last seen when the litter was no bigger than a little fluffy bean. okeanos and ibis had grown so much... and he wouldn't be around to see them grow up either. he just prayed when he visited... maybe they would remember him...

he was pulled back to reality when maia started talking about wraen. "oh yeah?" he chimed in, "you think you're into scouting?" a good question for a young wolf who had yet to truly begin pursuing any trades. terance would be more than happy to assist her in that.

"I don't know! I mean, I'm pretty great at it!  Except, sometimes directions are a little tricky."  She was reluctant to admit the last part, though if she couldn't admit to her big bro, who could she?  Maia loved Wraen a lot, and felt like she could tell her sister most anything... but there was something more about Terance that made it seem like he could listen to the less good things and still be ok with it.

She didn't notice the reaction her previous words had brought, or she might've felt a little bad, or asked.  Typical style, instead she trucked on.  "I also kinda wanna learn how to fight better.  Which, if you wanted sometime.... when you aren't busy."  She didn't know if she wanted a lesson right now, but it'd be cool if her brother could show her a trick or two since they were at least similar in  size and build.

ah! interesting. his ears pricked at her comment, momentarily dragging him away from his intrusive thoughts. "oh really?" terance questioned her with a small smile, "i think i could help with that." 

ah, but, then again...

"my shoulder's been stiff this week, though, it might have to wait a little bit," he said apologetically, nudging his sister gently, "but @Treason and @Cassiopeia are great fighters, i bet they've got some talent to share with you."

She brightened when he agreed, but it dampened some when he almost immediately backed it off.  She had brought it up more as a way to spend more time together, but she supposed she couldn't blame him for not having the time to spare.  She was just his kid sister who followed after him and didn't really do much important yet, not like he and Wraen did.  Why would he?

"Oh, okay. Yeah, I'll ask one of them."  She would, at some point.   For now, she slid into an awkward sort of silence before moving on and asking the question she had wanted to anyway.  "You okay?". He could think she was talking about the shoulder, but she wasn't... especially because she figured that was more of an excuse anyway.

he noticed maia's slight disappointment, even though she said she'd ask treason or cass. and so, like the good brother he was, terance nudged her cheek softly. "and i'll come find ya as soon as i'm feeling less stiff-- give you a good riling up," he promised, shooting her a smile. 

and then, oof. terance knew what she was talking about, he didn't want to beat around the bush. "yeah," terance breathed softly, nodding, "kinda sucks, kinda loved her, kinda wanted to spend the rest of my life with my kids." morbid, terance. "but," he continued with a shrug, "there's nothing i could do. i wouldn't leave you or wraen or rannoch or any of the other wolves here. it's an adult decision i had to make. and it sucks." terance wanted to say the word sucks again, cause it fucking sucked. but he didn't, not again. he'd try to be a little more positive for maia's sake. "but i stand by it."

Terance was completely genuine in the next statement, but now that the doubt was in her head, Maia had moved past the point of accepting them at face value.  Her "awesome!" was chipper enough, but there was still that lingering doubt.  He's just trying to make you feel better, he doesn't actually have time to hang with you.  Why would he when he not only had pack duties, but kids way off somewhere too?

The nice part about that that thought was it brought her straight out of spiral mode and into sister mode just as he answered her question.

"You shoulda kept them.  Well.  She shoulda let you.  It was her dumb choice to leave," she answered darkly, then realized who she was talking to.  Umm. Well, y'know, better to be honest.  "It was a lousy move, I kinda hate her for doin it to you."  And her.  She had loved her nieces and nephews something fierce, but now she probably wouldn't see them again.

"Though y'know.  If you ever changed your mind... I'd get it."  She smiled, trying to lighten the mood a bit.  "I know I'm super cool and all and great to hang out with, but, y'know."  He knew, right?  She didn't want him to go (no frickin way) but if he did she wasn't about to be mad at him over it.