The Tangle it is what it is til it ain't anymore

@Essie
Dated for the night of June 13.

Saoirse-hime, he speaks softly, gently nudging his brown nose to the princess' scruff. Around them, night begins to fall. A peppering of stars glitters across the changing sky. Colors of orange, red and purple mix above them. Night is coming. It is important that they move. The area they settled for sleeping is not one that Shigetoshi trusts. Yet they could go no further earlier that morning, for the sun crested the sky and with it, the wolfdog found himself unable to navigate the rough terrain.

He lifts his head, stepping back from the sleeping royal when he notices her stirring.

Saoirse slept fitfully, easily woken by the slightest shift in movement or sound. She still felt exhausted and worn down when Shige's cool touch registered, pale eyes blinking open past gummy lids. She looked to the sky, rolling slightly onto her side in an age-old battle with the will to rise as she stared upward, ears laid back. She sighed. Then we must go on. Thank you, Shige.

It was still another moment before she rolled fully to her feet, giving a luxurious stretch and shaking herself off. Her expression remained solemn, and she had a hard time looking at her companion still. They had come this far; she was still waiting for the ambusher.

Time is of the essence. Yet moments such as this remind him when life was easier. For while it has been an uphill battle from the beginning, Shigetoshi wishes they could return to the time when they were children, and slipping away from their shackles to play in secret.

Now that they have fled, they can never stop running.

His blue eyes take to observing their surroundings, ever alert of dangers. He is not brawn Tushar is, and while the henchman taught him techniques fit for his build, the piebald needs to stay with the princess.

Shigetoshi nods, wanting to give the princess more time for it is obvious the both of them are exhausted. Her cream coat has not shimmered like it usually does. We will find a better place for a longer rest, and food.

Typically the steward would not be so blunt to choose the plans for her, but at this point, it is obvious the rock covered terrain filled with ledges is not safe... and it is his duty to protect her.

Shall I lead?

Even as a princess her life wasn't necessarily easy, but there had been more security than they faced now. Saoirse knew that she should pay more attention, be more concerned with their plan for now, but she felt...empty. They had left behind everything they'd ever known, and she couldn't regret it--not really. Not when the alternative was a life of pain cut short far too soon. She knew it wasn't regret that she felt.

Except, perhaps it was. Saoirse couldn't think on their situation for long before her mind turned to her mother, to her sisters, all of whom were destined for a similar fate. None of them had run--her sisters likely wouldn't be allowed to follow her example, later, and her mother...well.

Saoirse couldn't think about it without wanting to turn back, and so she didn't. She firmly ignored the niggling doubts in the back of her mind, but she couldn't focus enough on the here and now to plan any further. If it weren't for Shige, she would never have gotten this far.

She's relieved when he takes charge, giving him a nod and swaying somewhat into his space before she moved away again--a hug, or the closest she had ever gotten in front of her parents. It was hard to remember she didn't have to worry about that anymore. Ah, that sounds good. It's probably a bad idea to hunt in this...place.

She looks up to the sky again, at the quickly fading colors of day, and tries to pick out any sign of impending storm. The last thing they need is for the land to become more treacherous. Probably for the best, yes. I'll follow your steps.

Saoirse has a tendency to hide behind a mask; one that she has mended to her face ever since she was forced into the whims of royalty and her parents bidding. Shigetoshi is not too different, for the journey he was forced to follow forbid the male from being the happy-go-lucky prankster of his youth. Destined to be a failure, a disappointment. Both of them agreed to such a fate, but neither wished to doom Saoirse to an early grave.

Shigetoshi worries that is what they have done. Here in these Wilds that are unfamiliar. The constant dusting of snow from their home left behind long ago, and it is as if the seasons began changing the further they ventured. Winter mending into Spring, and finally into the heat of Summer... wearing on the northerners. He is grateful the night brings them relief. It will take hours for the coolness to settle, but soon enough.

He will remain strong, for this is the only option they have left.

As you wish. Shigetoshi bows his head. The path he has been eyeing takes them further west, but he is uncertain how safe this area is for passing through. The rocks are loose here, please mind your step. Already, just the few feet he has traveled, Shigetoshi grimaces at the shifting of his weight and how unstable it is. The sharpness of the rocks, too, pricks at his pawpads.

Saoirse follows the moment he moves, head automatically lifting and her weight shifting so that she can step as lightly as possible. It's particularly helpful here, amid the sharp stones and shifting earth. She takes care to place her paws where Shigetoshi has already been, trusting in the other to guide her path as she always has. She doesn't speak for a while, content to move and gain confidence in her steps.

These lands appear utterly inhospitable. There is no shade to hide from the sun, no shelter from the wind when it grows biting. Fortunate it is that they've been moving south for so long, but moreso that they travel at night, when the land begins to cool. The earth remains scalding beneath her paws, and will for some time--but between that and the pinpricks of the rocks, she can barely feel the pain in her feet.

Which is, of course, why she slips--a bit of rock crumbling away unexpectedly as they pass close to a ledge and Saoirse barely registering the slip before she pitches sideways with a short yelp.

Each step taken with concentration for he knows that the cream princess shall follow him with exact precision. Silence befalls them, and it is not a rare occurrence. Simply a common routine for them to relax into. Their travels have been spent attempting to survive the unknown obstacles that constantly pop up, and Shigetoshi knows it has been difficult. It is hard to miss how Saoirse grows depressed with every night that passes.

The shifting of rocks behind him is enough to alert the stumbling grip of dainty paws. Essie! Immediately, he turns. Instinct and expert reflexes allowing the piebald steward to react in such short notice. Jaws agape close upon the soft scruff of Saoirse's neck, catching her weight just before she slides off the ledge for good. Her hindquarters dangle, forearms spread in attempts to catch herself on the edge. Shigetoshi struggles, pulling his weight into his own slipping hindlegs as he tries to pull her to safety.

There is a part of her that resigns itself to death almost immediately. The drop is high, and she has already spent a night picking her careful way after Shigetoshi through the difficult terrain. It is a difficult part of her to contend with, like someone whispering don't be afraid, reaching inside of her to relax her muscles, telling her to let herself fall. It almost works--she almost ignores every instinct she has, and she feels no fear for it. Then she hears Shige's shout.

She will not leave Shige alone, and she will not drag him down with her.

Teeth catch in her scruff as her legs splay wide, claws digging into soft earth. Muscles bunch beneath her thick fur, a soft grunt escaping as she finds a grip. Saoirse is grateful for the counter balance as she throws her weight forward, scrabbling for purchase to finish heaving herself up. Finally she catches just enough of a foothold to boost herself, letting out a sharp whine of relief as Shige drags her fully onto...mostly solid ground.

Shige...

Teeth clatter, muscles straining against gravity. You cannot have her. It is as if angry hands curl in her dulling coat, trying as they might to pull her off the edge into the abyss. Shigetoshi demands resistance. He digs his paws down, slipping through small rocks and unstable earth to keep a grasp of her. His teeth refusing to budge a hair, even as his jaw aches near immediately from the tension.

It breaks. Footholds gathered and Saoirse is able to push herself up while the piebald steward keeps her from tumbling the opposite direction. It is only once he is certain, and they are away from the edge that he releases the death grip on her scruff.

You idiot! He snaps. Every contour of his face stresses with anger, and beyond it, fear. I told you to be careful!

They tumble away from the ledge, and she does not allow her legs to collapse. Though she trembles with a belated rush of adrenaline, she remains standing, shaking off the dark cloud that nearly dragged her toward the very fate she meant to escape. If she wouldn't let him destroy her for the good of her family, she would not give up at a cliff's edge.

Shige's snap startles her. Saoirse looks at him with surprise, and her conviction wavers. Suddenly all she can see is her best friend, dragged from his comfortable home and everything familiar to him, and she knows with a deep certainty he resents her for it. Why shouldn't he? After all, he's now risking his own life to save her skin when for several heartbeats, the space of a single breath, she hadn't wanted to be saved.

She deserves his anger. Saoirse looks away, ears flattened, and braces herself against it, bowing her head contritely but expecting that he would continue to take his temper out on her. In a way, it is familiar; she has always been a failure.

Bristling fur lays, anger steaming out akin to a deflating balloon. It pains him that he reacts to fear in this manner, especially to someone who does not deserve to be at the end of it. His own ears flatten backwards, heart pulsing loud enough that he hears every thump and quiver. A shaky exhale is taken. Essie acts like teeth and hurtful words are necessary.

He hates himself for becoming his father, for becoming her father, in that moment.

Essie. 'I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I was just scared. I don't want to lose you.' His jaws hang open, words on the tip of his tongue refusing to become vocalized. He clicks his mouth back together.

She waits, but more vitriol does not come. Instead Shige seems to calm himself, and he says her name. Pale eyes flash up to meet his own sweet blue, then down again. She struggles to find words, herself, to properly apologize for what she's done--the way she's put him in danger, over and over. In the end, Saoirse says nothing--he will call it his duty, and she can't hear that right now.

When it becomes apparent he doesn't plan to continue his thought, Essie shakes herself and moves closer. She hesitates before stretching to put her head against his shoulder, the closest she can get right now to expressing how sorry she is. We should keep going. The sooner we're out of this place...

She can't continue, doesn't have the rest of the thought--just nebulous fear and anger hanging over her head. Saoirse thinks she hates it here.

His frustration flares.

Sweet Saoirse approaches him, offers the comfort that Shigetoshi is unable to give. It should be him, making certain she is alright. Anchoring himself to the ground, the piebald steward resists moving away from her touch. He swallows thickly, choosing to ignore the cowardly approach in return for giving her a silent apology. He brushes his cheek briefly to the side of her neck.

A mute response as a nod is all the male can offer. For they both can definitely agree that this place is terrible, dangerous, and sticking around will do them no good. He pulls away from her then, and this time, he waits for Saoirse to take the lead. This way, he can help her before such a near miss occurs.