Noctisardor Bypass 15 Step

In spite of having found her way to Sleepy Fox Hollow, Suzu found herself in unfamiliar territory while hunting- and beneath a downpour of freezing rain, she had sought shelter just in time to escape the path of a mudslide. 

She sought shelter once the rumbling had ceased, and when she emerged the pattering of rain had stopped, but it had left her return route covered in scree. She tried to make the scramble, but failed. It seemed- much to her chagrin- that she would have to go the long way around to find the hollow again.

By the time she did, her brother and Anselm had departed. The discovery left her flustered; immediately, she blamed Anselm. Surely he must have driven her brother away to some other hiding place so that he could keep Etienne all to himself. He didn’t seem the sort to want to share. 

Like a hound she scoured the valley for their scent- but it took a great deal of canvassing before she found any semblance of something familiar in a land seemingly inhabited by several other packs as well. She avoided them- and after catching a whiff of Heda’s scent on the breeze, she set out to hunt the kindly woman down, knowing at least she would have someone who might also agonize with her about the cranky German boy. 

Interestingly, she found all three scents mingled here, on the North edge of the valley. She huffed; had Anselm lied to her about hating Heda? Had this been his plan all along- steal Etienne away and go live where his family would not likely find him?

Suzu felt proud of herself for tracking them down- now, however, she had to sort out what was going on. 

She howled, knowing her voice would be recognizable to at least three of the wolves present in the pack- and should another come to meet her first, she might get a new perspective on what the situation was.

A voice broke through the ruinwood, distinctly female. Anselm happened to have it on authority that all the women of this pack were currently bed-ridden, meaning whoever this was, she was a visitor.

He made for the borders, lips twitching in a wry snort of amusement as he saw Suzu. She looked a little less fat -- while he wasn't going to compliment her on this, the slow measure of his gaze showed he was unabashedly assessing her.

You smell only a little less unpleasant today, Suzu. Anselm greeted, a cant of his tail to one side. Are you here for Etienne?

His observations- both of her scent and of her weight loss- were correct. Unable to scavenge as she did in Sapphique, she’d been forced to hunt, and had come to realize how much she truly depended on the low tide and the fishing net that was likely being dismantled wave by wave. 

She felt his gaze as if it could burn; her pelt wasn’t as plush as it should have been, and she knew how dirty her paws were. He looked suspiciously satisfied to see her and she was so tired and hangry that she couldn’t fight back the spite that caused her to purse her lips and fume. 

”Noooooo, I came for you, obviously,” She hurled the words at him with a roll of her eyes. He had a penchant for asking rhetorical questions, didn’t he? She huffed again.  ”Where is he? Why did you leave?” She asked, not bothering to hide the betrayal she felt.

If things were different, Anselm might have enjoyed the surge of spite he'd antagonized in Suzu. But the last few weeks had been trying, in more ways than one. Much like Suzu's fishing net, Anselm felt battered.

And the waves were not going away.

He is here, helping Druid. Anselm was not sure that Suzu knew the woman. He sighed, struggling to break his normally brusque mien for something softer. Your brother -- he exhaled again -- will never not help people. Ve left the hollow, because there was no reason to stay any longer. Druid has four children and Heda will give birth soon. His lips twitched again. He would do anything to have in Emmerich what Etienne and Suzu had: how she checked in on him often, distrusted those in his circles, and always wanted what was best for her brother. It would have been cute, if it didn't cause him so much homesickness for a home he never had and never would.

In her frazzled state, she expected a coy rebuttal from him. If he chose to joust, she knew she would be too tired to be witty- it was the perfect opportunity for him to jab at a knight without a shield. And yet- he did not take it. 

It felt like the ground had been pulled out beneath her. She had built him up to be a tormenter, and yet he replied without making a jab. She felt robbed- and confused as to whether she should be snobbish in her reply. 

Now, it would only feel wrong. 

Did that make her a bully? 

The name Druid meant nothing to her, and it showed in the blank expression on her face. Her features softened slightly at the mention of Heda’s name, though she couldn’t help but squint slightly. He didn’t spit her name the way he had before, but the faint lift of his whiskers showed that some resentment lingered still. 

She sighed softly. ”I know dis,” Her brother would never turn down the opportunity to help someone. She regarded him for a moment, and found the corner of her lip quirking. ”’E came to ‘elp dem, dat be very Eti for sure. You, though,” she said. Some of her tiredness lifted when she considered for perhaps the first time that Anselm might actually have a redeeming quality. ”You are loyal, to go wid ‘im when you do not seem to like Heda at all,” She said casually, as if only a passing observation. 

Suzy liked fishing; it was one of the things that she did exceptionally well.

Etienne heard his sister and something more broke inside him. He warred with himself. He wasn't going to see her. Anselm would meet her he would explain. And still he found his paws moving of their own accord first a walk, then a jog. There they both were. The man he loved, but was furious with for putting himself in danger. And his best friend and sister.

He stopped beside Anselm at first brushed his side against the mountain man. Almost a lean, but he would right himself quick enough. The one comfort he had here even in silence

Upon seeing his sister his eyes burned and he moved towards her as fast as he could. Though his body still hurt, and his heart felt broken.

Dipping his head deep onto her fur. A soft sob. He grabbed her tight to him. He hadn't meant to come. He didn't want her to see him like this, but Suzu loved him. Someone who loved him was here for him. Anselm had come as well. But the mountain boy would not hold him as Suzu would. He would not understand the way Etienne spoke in their mother's tongue when he was deeply deeply broken.

crashing :) have a heartsick Eti and drama. And Jess i can edit the part of him grabbing her out if you'd like. I realize thats a slight Power play

Judging by Suzu’s reaction, Anselm hadn’t said the right thing — or maybe, it wasn’t what she was expecting. 

He was too tired to run diagnostics. 

Anselm thumbed at the fresh cut on his lips with his tongue, surprised by the twist in direction Suzu took. He agreed, it was very Eti of Etienne to be helpful. Ever the heart of their dynamic, while Anselm often felt he played the part of callous necessary evil.  

Anselm didn’t believe Suzu was complimenting him. He missed that she was outright digging. Mmm. I don’t like anyvonne. He reiterated, getting ready to call for Etienne when he saw him arrive out of his peripherals. 

Something was very wrong. Anselm thought going to Rivenwood might make things easier, but since their arrival, things only got more complicated. He’d noticed Etienne was stormy as of late —troubled, even — but how could Anselm address that?

He startled, realizing that Etienne had leaned against him and he had — mindlessly — instinctively leaned back, seeking the comforting warmth of Etienne’s touch besides him. This realization caused his spine to stiffen, but he did not move away. 

Etienne left a well of cold as he left Anselm’s side, reaching for Suzu with a sob. This blindsided Anselm, who could only look on with mounting bewilderment , and the sharp, horrible knife of guilt that he had somehow made Etienne’s life worse for being part of it.

She tilted her head up- naturally, she didn’t believe him. His actions seemed to speak for him, she thought. Whether he was in denial or just trying to maintain an air was something she had yet to figure out. 

She glanced past him when she saw movement and in an instant, her expression changed. Etienne’s paws had been injured the last time she had seen him but now he sported fresh wounds, concerning ones. 

For a moment, he brushed against the sour boy, and in that moment, the lad leaned back- a gesture deft but gentle too. When he came toward her it was in a rush and she braced herself so that she could clasp him against her, carefully softening her limbs so she might not press in any place that was sore. 

Over Etienne’s shoulder she mouthed a single, silent word to Anselm as a reply to his earlier statement. 

”Bullshit.”

In her eyes was no trace of judgement, but the hope that he might at least start admitting to himself that he did care, at least for one wolf. 

”Oh my Eti!” She breathed softly, pulling back and looking with newfound horror at his injuries. Strangely enough, they didn’t look accidental- those were cuts, punctures…But Étienne was not the type to fight with anyone. ”What ‘appened?” She asked, her gaze flickering momentarily to Anselm and burning for a moment- not in accusation, but because he’d not said anything about Etienne being injured! 

She gently pressed her forehead against Etienne’s for a moment- wishing he could read the apologies and questions directly from her mind.

Etienne held her tighter. His sobs growing. His breathing wasxstuttered and he couldn't even form the words. Each try had him gasping anew. He shuddered against her. Knowing hia sister would expect more. And this was the worse she would have ever seen him.

Etienne didn't know how to form the words at first. And so he dipped deep into the language that so readily came to him as if late.

His crying slowed. He kept his head against her side. Eyes staring at the ground.

Mwen te pral jwenn remèd fèy pou ede Heda ak Drwid.

He took another breath.

Glaukos mesye yo te panse mwen t ap kite nèt ale. Li te pè pou yo. Se konsa, li atake m 'pou fè m' rete.

Anselm te vin sove m, men nou te rete. Paske Druid nan move sante epi Heda te sipliye.

Anselm’s cheeks flared as Suzu met his gaze and mouthed a single, knowing word. He looked away quickly thereafter.

A string of words Anselm did not understand flowed from Etienne in the trademark lyrical language that Anselm wished he knew. He began to study the ground, aware that Etienne was now firmly buried in the embrace of his sister.

A few times, Anselm recognized his own name and Glaukos’ in the mix. He tried to parse from their facial expression if these were positive mentions, but Etienne was facing away from him and he could not bring himself to look at Suzu.

Meanwhile, the skin across his face singed with growing emotion.

He spoke in their tongue- perhaps as a means of excluding Anselm from the conversation and for a moment she prepared herself to launch at the mop-faced funsuck if Etienne admitted that the wounds had come from him.

What he confessed made her much, much angrier. 

She fumed and bristled; she did her best to keep calm, knowing that Etienne would likely sense the hammering of her heartbeat. Only for him could she suppress such strong emotions- but on the inside, Suzu was screaming.

Anselm watched carefully; while she gritted her teeth together, she gave him a barely perceptible nod. He’d saved Etienne, it seemed. But it was difficult to be grateful when it seemed there was another adversary- one that summoned a great rage within her. 

”’E mutilated you so you would stay and tend to ‘is wife?” She asked, a quiet tremor in her voice. She glanced to Anselm. ”I want to speak wid ‘im.” She said firmly. Such an act was a crime- and he would learn that all children of Sapphique were protected, no matter where they roamed.

It was not in an effort to hide anything from Anselm. More it was a means to place a shield about him in an effort to keep himself safe. The way he had wanted to rage at Glaukos now, would not gurantee his safety but more so Anselm's. He would not have the man he loved harmed because of himself further.

His sister's heartbeat drummed against him. And he knew suzu would be furious. As he should be. But Suzu always wore her emotions out there. Loudly, boldly. Unlike him.

Etienne nodded. 'e was scared i wouldn't be 'ere.

Eti was worried. Suzu! W'at if 'e 'urts you?

Dread gripped Anselm, restoring his flush to its former pallor; for several terrifying seconds, he thought Suzu was referring to him. He was about to lodge protest as her furious gaze swept over him, but he connected the dots — albeit belatedly — that Etienne had told Suzu about Glaukos’ grave mistreatment. 

Anselm settled, though his fur remained bladed. He wouldn’t mind giving Glaukos some what’s-for — but the man had nearly trounced him like he was an inexperienced yearling. 

He vill kill you. Anselm interjected sourly — equally embittered that they lived under this man’s thumb. But he had other people to consider; Druid and Heda needed the man. If ve move against him, it vill cost Druid and Heda. If nothing else, the great bear was a formidable protector — it just so happened he and Etienne were on the wrong side.

Worry spilled across Etienne’s features: he feared the man who had hurt him. She knew Etienne well enough to know that he would not willingly turn his back on those in need- the man, Glaukos, had acted needlessly. She took his caution, and glanced to Anselm. 

Her eyebrow raised, but she did not lose her cool. 

”’E will not kill me. I will be civil wid ‘I’m; I will talk to dem as our Mot’ers would.” She would draw upon every bit of wile, tact and strength that she could. In a land of men and brute strength, she would show what feminine power truly was. 

Or she might completely lose her cool and scream at him once Etienne was out of earshot- she hadn’t decided. The woodland man would feel the rage of the wild coast and its women.

Etienne didn't fear the man so much for himself. But for Anselm, for Suzu he feared that he would hurt them. Etienne knew at just mere months old that his life would be forfeit for those he loved so truthfully he didn't fear death or pain as others did. As long as it was him suffering.

At the mention of mothers amd how she would approach Glaukos. Eti made a soft noise.

'eaven 'elp 'im in dat case.

Etienne's mother and grandmothers would have made even the male Glaukos shudder in their fury. He even wondered briefly what would happen if Suzu ever told their mother of this. Or worse yet their auntie. Glaukos would then have a marker on his head. A bounty of grand proportions.

Etienne stayed against Suzu drawing comfort from her. But he did shift to peek at Anselm from his spot.

There's an idea. Talk to the big scary man, and expect him to have the braincells to talk back. Anselm withheld this biting commentary; bless your soul, he wanted to say.

He was not sure that would accomplish anything. Moreover, if Suzu was anything like Etienne, there was probably a stubborn streak to her six oceans wide. Anselm imagined that if she got mad enough, things could get risky.

He caught Etienne's brief gaze, noticing the dark streaks that stained his cheek. A small part of Anselm wished he could be a safe enough place for Etienne to share that side of him; but he knew it had to be Suzu.

Heaven help him in that case. Etienne had a way with words. Anselm remembered what he'd shared of his mothers -- and how utterly unsupportive Anselm had been. I vill come vith you. Anselm declared after a pause to Suzu, tone brooking no quarter.

She smiled gently; Etienne understood. She hoped that he knew as well that he would always be a part of Sapphique- that their love for him knew no bounds. She felt in her bones that all the mothers of Sapphique, past and present, would want him to be taken care of. 

She wanted to brush Anselm off but something in his tone dissuaded her. Perhaps she might need his protection, if this man was as brutish as she was led to believe. She nodded quietly, and turned to her brother. 

She kissed his cheek. ”Rest, brot’er.” She said, and she gave him another soft but affectionate hug. She squeezed her eyes shut; she fought back the rage that simmered within her, gritting her teeth together so hard that she felt a buzzing in her skull. She drew back, smoothing her expression. A calm smile was all that she would show him. ”I be takin’ care of you, now,” She said with a faint laugh.

Eti knew well the wrath of women. He often felt as if he were born with this knowledge. That his family birthed it into their youmg. So many strong women.

Etienne was upset that both his sister and Anselm would go. But he felt in the tone of Anselm that the male needed to face this with Suzu. So he sighed, but nodded.

A nudge to her cheek. A soft kiss to her forehead. Okay, Suzu.

He chuckled. I still always take care of you first, Suzu. he teased her gently.

Anselm would have much preferred they not confront Glaukos -- but his fragile manhood forbade the notion of allowing Suzu to go alone.

His gaze danced over Etienne as he and Suzu shared a heartfelt moment. It was hard to witness -- not because it was so saccharine it could melt his teeth off, but because it reminded Anselm of everything he did not have.

Including Etienne.

He looked away, swallowing the mounting bolus that pricked his throat. Ve vill likely find him at the den. More for Suzu than Etienne, who by now likely knew the mountain-man's habits.

He waited for Suzu to be ready, breath quivering as nervous apprehension gradually settled under his skin.