Noctisardor Bypass EAT ONLY NETTLES FOR ONE YEAR.

04.14
Tealwater Creek

The cold crept further in with the passing hours, bone-deep by the time Goldfinch came to the creek. She was exhausted. The sound had stopped and started again several times; she'd lost her way more than once. It was strong and clear now — just ahead, she thought.

Just a few more steps.

But she was far too tired for that. Goldfinch buckled where she stood, curling up beside the water as she finally gave in to her exhaustion. Somewhere above, the sound drew closer. She scarcely heard it by now.

Whether it was @Druid who found her or another, they would find her asleep under the dawn's first rays of warmth. A little yellow bird flitted and hopped around her as she slept. Her namesake. A skittish thing; it wouldn't allow another wolf near it, but it would remain as close as it could to Goldfinch.

Though Etienne didn't necessarily want anything to do with the babes. He did however keep an eye. And when one of the little ones wondered from the den in the nights shining hour. He followed.

Never so close that he would keep her from exploring, but close enough to keep her safe.

She would find him beside her sitting quietly while she slept. Golden eyes on the horizon. Quiet. Introspective. Lost.

One of the puppies had gone missing. It was implausible to Anselm -- he bit back criticism as one of the women informed him. It was a puppy. Hardly a month old. How fast could it walk?

He followed his nose up and down Rivenwood, growing more panicked as the hours set in. Night fell over the unsettled copse, bringing a new sense of urgency with it.

He'd found her scent somewhere in the moss, but the odor was impermanent and soon faded away. By early morning the stars had faded from a persimmon colored sky and Anselm was exhausted. He followed the sound of water, drinking from the icewater to steady his growing panic.

It was then he heard birdsong and a flutter of wings. A golden creature caught his attention, settling an a soft mound that looked suspiciously like --

Anselm rose with a grunt, striding towards the child with a snarl meant to warn the bird away. Please be alive -- please be breathing.

It was then he saw Etienne curled up not so far from the child, watchful and patiently waiting for her to rise.

The gays?? In MY thread???? I've been blessed

Etienne's was a gentle presence, a warmth scarcely distinguishable from the sunrise. The child slept; the finch took up its song again, undisturbed. The morning might have passed altogether in this peaceful silence.

But where the healer was spring-kissed and pensive, Anselm was winterforged and grasping. The air chilled with arctic shards of his panic, his anger, and sent the finch fluttering away.

Goldfinch woke with a gasp and a startled wail. She quieted for a moment, looking around. Then she looked directly at Anselm, took a deep breath, and started to scream-cry. The kind with snot and everything.

haha <3

Anselm woke the girl and Entienne made a soft click in his throat and an icy glare. He held up a paw and shook it.

Gentle.


Etienne gave a soft chh chh shushing noise gentle in his throat. A soft note of a french lullaby jumping unbidden to his tongue as he approached her quietly.

His voice a gentle croon. 'ush 'ush little one.

pa kriye ti tifi

The bird flounced off. Anselm tracked its trajectory with a scowl, turning back to seize the girl -- only for her to start making noise.

Oh, god. A snotbubble burst in the corner of her nostrils as she sucked in another gasp, sporting an impressive set of pipes for something so small. Euuuuuwwwww. Anselm's ears pinned and he looked to Etienne, begging: please make it stop --

The healer raised a paw and shushed him. Anselm felt his racing heart was steadying, despite the baby-screams lighting up the place. Etenne's crooning joined the noise. Anselm tried to recover his shaky nerves.

They'd found her. Everything was going to be okay.

Except his ears, maybe.