Northstar Vale Kissing other people until I forget, that I

I swear he didn't kiss anyone else lmao it's just the next lyrics in the song i've chosen for him right now lmao so this thread was written on the 3rd so I'm going on about 2 days after that he departed.

For @Meadow for now, but I can open this up if you'd like me too or you don't have time to answer just shoot me a pm or message me on discord.

Reyson had been gone for his three days. But all it had done was depress him as he realized. He could probably never fully integrate into Epoch. It was clear that neither Tamar or Arsenio were fond of him, and if they couldn't find Antigone, he was certain he would get the blame for that. Even if they didn't outright blame him. They would see him and be reminded that he was essentially the reason their son wasn't there, even if it wasn't his fault entirely. And he no longer trusted Arsenio, or Tamar so he would stay within the confines of his soldier persona around them at least and it was distinctly what they didn't want, but. He honestly wasn't sure if he could ever trust them.

But he would endure, because Meadow loved it here so. She loved the family and the Vale and he refused to take that from her.

So it was with trepidation he arrived near the borders. Unsure if he was allowed to cross without permission again? That hadn't been clear. Tamar had said he could come back, but some small part of him wondered if he shouldn't be polite and ask again? So he stood there on the cusp, indecision warring between do he or don't he cross that invisible piss line.

Reyson had been asked to leave temporarily and after finding Antigone and digesting h8is venomous words, she had come and gone. Her injuries had been re-opened slightly—and re-adjusted. She walked slowly, primarily to keep from inflicting more damage to herself, and partly because she saw no point to rush about in these hours.

Once, the vale had been cast in a warm glow under the endless sky that held a certain promise. Now, it was tainted, and her honeyed eyes viewed it as if opened anew—before falling upon Reyson. Her breath hitched at the sight of him, and she quickened her pace, feeling a light sob press at the back of her throat, though she would not release it.

She buried her nose to his chest, inhaling his scent—knowing now, after all of this, that it was not the vale that was home, but him.

“We will stay until Tamar is safe from delivery of her pups… and then we can decide what to do?”

Because could this truly ever be home to him, if he had been punished for the words and lies of a boy she had once trusted?

The small healer was upon the vale and then at him in a flurry of movement and hushed breath before he could digest she was there. She smelled like the hot taint of iron so he tried to look her over while she adjusted and pressed into him. Long fore limb curled around her as gently as he could.

He listened to her words knotched ears moving to better hear. His chest tightened and he didn't know what to say at first. But he did know he wouldn't ask her such a thing.

We don't need to decide anything. You are happy here. I won't uproot you, because someone else finds me distasteful.

He brushed his muzzle along her head, burying his snout hard into her ruff and pressing in a show of harder affection than he usually did. She said she wasn't breakable and he said he'd try to remember that.

Then he continued. If you truly want to leave, that's fine. But we won't make such decisions when we all are so raw with emotion. And if you don't I'll just try harder to prove him wrong.

“Reyson,” she began, but he held her closer—tighter. This large behemoth of a man had returned for her. Time and again. And she held him fiercely now—as if Antigone’s wish for her soldier to perish could come true at any moment—and with rising anger that others she loved had not and seemingly would not give him the chance he deserved.

And for what? Reyson had done nothing—she had first met him when he had brought the gift of food to their doorstep, for birth of Tamar’s children… an act of good will.

She quieted when he said they could decide later—when some time had passed, and emotions were no longer raw. She could not envision a time they would not be raw—these weren’t actions and words that would heal over in time.

“I love you. You are home,” she spoke, her eyes lifting to seek his, willing him to know this without any doubt. "You are my home."

A soft churr of a chuckle as she began to give him the devil, but quieted. He knew it was unfair to laugh at such moments or in this case almost laugh. But he'd be lying if he said she wasn't cute as hell when her ire was up.

Reyson didn't fully understand why Arsenio and Tamar didn't like him. Granted he had yelled at their child, but that was all he had done. And he could see why they'd be upset, but they refused to listen.
That was the real rub. And Antigone was a hateful child, even a boy in love with someone didn't act that cruelly.

Emotions were raw now, and Reyson knew well that Meadow would hold these injustices and this pain tightly as she did with all, but. He also knew she loved Tamar fiercely, the girls, and even Antigone and he couldn't in good consciousness make her give that up and Maxim and Towhee were here two wolves he respected and cared for in his own way.

He blinked blue eyes at her and smiled fully, not as his usual half smirk. But full bodied and sharp toothed. The cracked incisor on display.

I love you too. And you are home too.

He squeezed tighter then, mindful of her injuries, but wanting to show the full extent of his care. He was more a physical embodiment of love than verbal.

He held her, and she allowed herself to still—to completely quiet in his embrace. Not just physically, but the welling of emotions and hurt—she would quiet them, with him, for him.

And so she buried her nose closer to him. He had begun them a home— a den, in a peace full part of the vale. She blinked up at him then, searching him. “Can we go sleep under the trees near home, tonight?”

For now, she would give the time he requested.

But already, her heart felt shattered, and her mind sundered. What future could they have here, together, when he hadn’t even been given a chance?

She stilled and he felt it a small victory even if just for a moment he managed to quiet that mind of hers. He shifted and looked down as she searched his gaze.

Course we can. Deep rumble of agreement. He saw no reason why they couldn't or shouldn't. They'd chosen each other hadn't they and Tamar was willing to give second chances. Arsenio he wasn't sure.

Reyson was used to having his back against the wall. This was simply another battle he needed to figure his way through. Despite that it had a heavier toll than ones before.