Moonspear Wind Blows Hard, but it doesn't matter

Alaric shifted along the borders. Ears tweaked forward. A growing despair. They were doing the best they could, but. Pie was quiet and tired. She wasn't speaking as much. He did not know how to fix any of this. He didn't trust Pala. But her children needed a home.

A shift in his movements and he lifted a leg along the borders. Green gaze on the horizon.

She spent a day or two on the mountaintop. When Tiuttuk descended, she felt like a different wolf. She headed quietly to her ulaq, not bothering to check on Pala and the boys despite passing very close to their own den. She spent one last night there among all her mother’s things, then woke up at the break of dawn to fill in the doorway with dirt. In this way, Treepie buried both her mother and grandmother.

She didn’t know where she would stay now, though perhaps she would build her own. Or perhaps Tiki might want to share. Pie put it out of her mind for now as she headed further down the mountain, falling into the familiar rhythms of a morning patrol. So much had changed in her life, yet the mountain and its village were still here, and Pie was determined to honor and protect them.

She hoped to find Tikaani eventually—did her sister know about Kukutux and Aiolos?—and Treepie pondered that potential conversation as she slowly roamed along the foot of the mountain, checking here and marking there. She passed the spot where Glaukos had fought some mysterious entity, glancing at it only briefly before moving onward.

When she saw Alaric ahead, Pie hesitated for only half a second. She hastened her step to catch up to him, greeting the Sovereign by bumping her head against his shoulder, then sidling forward to touch her nose to his chin. Her paws never stopped moving, carrying onward with their patrol in companionable, mutual silence.

After a few moments, she broke it to ask, apropos of nothing, Alaric, are we related by blood?

Alaric knew that Tiuttuk wasn't far, she never was. But her absence from borders and the center of the packlands was telling and it made him slightly ill.

There wasn't much left of the former mountain home. And even less in the lower mountains. He wondered briefly if the moon packs would make it.

He was surprised from his reverie by a touch to his shoulder and then chin. He made a soft sound of greeting. But let Tiuttuk set the pace for their conversation. He didn't wish to upset her. Allow her thoughts time to form.

A soft noise. That was not what he expected. He shook his head. Unfortunately not. I came to the teekon was not born here. And your Ana and I were always just friends.

He used to the word “unfortunately,” though that wasn’t how Treepie felt after her long think on the mountaintop. She gave no indication of this, simply flicked her ears as Alaric told her he’d always been friends with her anaa. In fact, he used the words “just friends,” which was another pleasing bit of information she tucked into her proverbial back pocket.

Just because we’re not related by blood doesn’t mean we’re not, Pie said, nearly saying “family” before thinking to say instead, close.

She’d always viewed him as an uncle, though recent events had her wanting to push him—not away, just away from that specific role. Pie was a grown woman now and wanted Alaric to view her as one. She was pretty sure he already did, considering how easily he’d vetted her for leadership, but she had other reasons she diddn’t necessarily want him thinking of her as his niece these days.

You’re the only one who’s stayed, she pointed out quietly, aside from Tiki. I think you and her are the only ones left I really trust. Everyone else has gone away. She exhaled, then said a little shakily, You’re very important, Alaric. To me, I mean, but also just in general.

Alaric had no idea why this sudden questioning was happening. He wasn't adverse to it. He just was unsure what the end game was. Which was fine. He respected Pie, cared about her. She was growing up into a very caring and conscientious young woman. He was proud of her.

He nodded his head. I consider most of the wolves rested to the moon family and close. Specifically those here in the spear.

Pie was as old as his daughter. He had always viewed her as an extension of the spear. A child to be looked after and cared for like the others.

Alaric blinked surprised and then nodded. I know the feeling. It sucks when they leave you behind. He thought of Sialuk, of Elentari, of countless others who had left.

A smile. Thanks Tiuttuk. You are very important too. Don't forget it.The spear would be a colder place.

Did he know about her grandparents? His words made her wonder how Alaric would take (or had taken) the news of their passing. And not for the first time, she wondered what sort of shape Moonglow was in at present. Although she dreaded talking about it, she recognized an opportunity to pivot to another of many questions that had been on her mind these past several days.

It does, she agreed when he said, “It sucks when they leave you behind.” I know grandmother and grandfather didn’t mean to leave, she continued, unaware of the details of their deaths, and I know anaa and taataa only left to find happiness. I try not to hold it against them but it’s hard.

Her lips twitched into a faint smile when he returned her praise. Her yellow eyes lifted to look him in the face for a few beats, trying to view him not as her beloved uncle but as a man. It felt a little weird but Pie could recognize that he was handsome. There was something appealing about a larger male, one capable of being a stolid guardian and protector.

Clearing her throat and moving her eyes away, Treepie stared ahead as she said, Did you know? About their passing? I can’t bring myself to go to Moonglow, though I wonder how they’re doing over there.

He knew enough to know they weren't with them anymore. He had heard the howls. But he had not left the spear eother and probably wouldn't.  Did it hurt. Would he miss kukutux yes. She was like one of those ladies who was everyone's mom you couldn't help but care about her.

Alaric nodded his head. I understand to a point. When you have that wanderlust, sometimes it is hard to stay. I traveled for quite a while before I settled down. But I never stayed more than a few days in a pack.

I heard the howls. But I don't know the details and I haven't gone down. But I have faith in Arrluk and Ajei they did well when they were on the spear for a time.

She felt a twinge of relief when he said he already knew. Treepie sucked in a big breath, though she didn’t trust her voice for a moment. They moved in silent tandem, Pie deep in thought for a moment. She had nothing to say on the topic of wanderlust—we don’t know her—but she had a lot of thoughts about the Moon villages.

Maybe the packs should come together, she posited slowly. I don’t just mean to commemorate them. I mean… She paused, as if considering something, and decided to speak as plainly and precisely as she could. The packs should merge. They should come here and live on the mountain with us, get a fresh start.

It was just a thought—well, more of an opinion—but she looked to Alaric again, searching his face. Was it a propesterous notion? Trying to decide on leadership might cause issues, though Tiuttuk liked to think they could all come to an agreement. Alaric could become Regent alongside her, if Arrluk and Ajei wanted to rule. The thought actually pleased her, though she had no idea what he might think.

Alaric moved with her in silence. He did not push nor pry. This was a silent grief. And this was Treepie's grief. He did not feel the sharp as pain as she did, he didn't imagine. But Alaric had learned sometime ago, that he was built a little different than most. To him it was painful, but he also knew life happened, but so did death. 

Alaric stopped moving and he looked at Pie. A gentle look on his face, but one that spoke of knowledge. Treepie, you can ask them if you want too. But you have to bear in mind that much like you don't want to leave the spear, they don't want to leave moonglow. You also have to be open minded if you want a merger to relocate yourself. When you mediate something, or you offer something there often has to be compromise. It can't be one way. You also have to know that some may want to lead, adn you would have to share. And someone may be displaced whether it be me or one of them?.

he dipped his head. I think the idea has merit and I have no qualms against it. But being that you thought of it. You must ask them if it is truly what you want. Iwill support you in whichever you decide to do.

He halted and Treepie feared she’d said something to rub him the wrong way. She didn’t think Alaric would lash out the way he had at Chaudry and his mother, though she stopped and braced herself. The tension slowly left her as he spoke, urging her to consider all the logistics of such a merger. She listened carefully to every word, one particular sentence weighing more heavily than the others.

I’ll think about it more before I do anything, she said, feeling her brethren in Moonglow deserved time to mourn properly. Are you sure they wouldn’t want to leave? Pie queried, though of course neither one of them could possibly know for certain. Maybe they’ll be relieved to move somewhere without all sorts of painful memories, she posited with a thoughtful frown.

Or maybe they were like her: loyal to a fault. Tiuttuk would never leave this mountain. If she did approach Moonglow’s leadership and everyone mutually decided they would relocate there, she would refuse to go with them. That was her first thought, anyway, though her own words rattled around in her brain. There were a lot of hard memories in this village too…

Stashing all those thoughts for careful consideration later, Treepie said, Your support means a lot, Alaric. She looked him in the eye, only deepest respect reflected in her own yellow gaze. It means everything, really.

Alaric gave a soft sad smile. Treepie was trying, but she was also very young. And rather set in her ways. She had not yet learned how to compromise or allow wiggle room. It was her way or the highway at times because of the lilt of youth. This would come in time.

Treepie. Again there must be compromise. I do not know if they will or won't and I refuse to speak on someone else's mind when I don't know it. You cannot expect them to simply drop their home because you don't want to drop yours. It isn't fair. And you must remwmber just as many good memories probably reside there.

A soft laugh
 Thank you.

Her brow knit a little as she replied, No, I get that. I would never ask it like that. Pie paused, fighting a frown. And like I said, I’ll think long and hard about how to approach it—or if I even should. Promise I won’t take it lightly.

The Regent lapsed into silence then, thoughts churning, though they did not break her stride. Patrolling wasn’t her forte but she never minded guarding her village. And even in the companionable silence that stretched between them, Tiuttuk found Alaric to be great company.

He knew his words were heavy. Could be bruising to her ego. However, as a leader compromise was an art she must learn. And half the time. There wasn't an easy way to do it and someone was still often unsatisfied, but it could be done. A subtle art.

A nod. He was satisfied he got his point across and Pie understood.