Redtail Rise A hard rains gonna fall

In the past week, Reek's comfortable and stable world had been flipped on it's axis.  He hadn't slept for days, instead he patrolled the territory in long shifts only to collapse into the dirt periodically when his body begged for sleep, or when Arion relieved him of his duty.  Whatever was out there was not going to get in.  The raggedy man had painstakingly made sure of it at the expense of his health.  He worried now more than ever, but most importantly, he worried about the safety his mate.

However, in his diligence to protect her from the threat of the outside world... Reek had forgotten how to be a proper husband, and a proper friend.  He spent little time in the interior of the pack lands ever since Saena had put him and Arion in charge of the pack in her absence.  Instead, his obsessive patrols around the territory kept him glued to the fringes.  His mind had settled into autopilot, tunneling him in to one single goal... keeping stability.   

Wynter's howl from the peak of the Rise snapped back into reality with a hard jerk.  Reek could feel his face flush with blood as he realized what he had done, or really what he hadn't.  He pulled himself from his work at the border and began to scale the rise to the source of his mate's calls.

He traveled quickly to her summons.  Upon reaching the den, Reek's tired and empty eyes locked with his mate's.  In the moment, words couldn't properly express the exhaustion that the raggedy wolf felt.  Stress was eating Reek alive, and Wyn didn't have the slightest clue.  "I'm so sorry," he said, nestling her face gently with his.  "I love you, and I'm here.  Always."