Phoenix Maplewood Bad news, good news

Mason waited hopefully, his tail twitching softly behind him as it lay low in respect for this girl who was at the borders of her very home, willing to speak to them. To say Mason was desperate to further his career was an understatement. He was a boy on a mission, and now he was a man. He knew that some puppies managed to snag trades but he didn’t know how – he had been trying his very hardest but he didn’t have enough experience yet to even feel like he could approach his dad with his first beginnings. He was a perfectionist in this – he wanted to know his trade through and through before he was declared. He didn’t just want to be a caregiver, or just a healer – he wanted to do both. His Dad had informed him of the name of what this was, when they had discussed what he wanted to be. He wanted to be a nurse.
 
The girl looked disappointed as she gave them her name; a pretty pair of syllables which dripped like honey from her tongue. Desna.

She moved on to explain what had happened to her mother. It appeared Scarlett was doing just what he had been doing – working towards being a caregiver and a healer. Mason’s heartstrings were tugged in earnest at the reason her mother wasn’t here. Not only did he have a desparate urge to help, he also knew how scary it was to meet a cougar, and he had barely sustained a scratch. About to ask whether there was a medic which could help her mother, Desna already added that the alpha was a medic and helping. Good, hopefully she would get better then.

Green-brown eyes were cast directly at him and Mason tried a tremulous smile – obviously he didn’t expect her to apologise for her mum being poorly. He didn’t know how he would cope with his Dad in that situation, but he doubted he would want to stay on the borders long before getting back to him. Did she want to leave?

Mason cast an uneasy glance on Steady, wondering what to say at his Uncle’s clear hurt. Deciding that no words would be good enough, Mason pasted a gentle lick on his Uncle’s ear and moved off a foot, indicating for Desna to follow him a short distance away. Steady looked shell-shocked and he thought the least he could do was give his Uncle a minute. Desna already seemed to have come to terms with her mother’s predicament, though her voice had wavered.

Assuming that she was following him on his short stroll to the left of his Uncle, Mason spoke to Desna. He focused not on her in particular, as he felt it would be rude and intrusive to ask the personal feelings of a girl he had just met. “Is your pack going to be okay? Do you need help with herbs or food or anythin’ Desna?” Even in his distress for her predicament, he enjoyed the feel of her name first-spoken on his tongue. Mason turned his bright orange eyes on her face, testing for the reaction, careful not to overstep any boundaries she may wish upon their meeting. “I can ask my Dad and we can bring down some help. I’m sure he would want to help, especially since Uncle Sted…” Mason trailed off to glance behind him at his poor Uncle, then back at Desna. Fire-eyes rested on the bridge of her delicate, black muzzle. How he wished there was something more he could do.