Ravensblood Forest the swirling stream of what is and what was

How could Arturo not understand? Why was he being so callous? Perhaps she had never been subject of his anger before and it was shocking. In fact, before now life had been pretty good... so Olive hadn’t really understood Arturo’s capacity to be fucking mean. Yes, she did want to be babied and coddled! and could he blame her? Didn't he have feelings? Olive had a million questions and more but the fae pressed her jaws together hotly, determined to keep her mouth quiet. Olive had done nothing but get her family into trouble and she did not deign to gamble her spot amongst Teaghlaigh's family any more than she already had. But this Arturo was new, and Olive didn’t know how to handle new Arturo.

Ceannsach made points as if those every single one of those thoughts hadn’t crossed her mind before. What if she lost a leg or died of infection? Olive wondered that every single day her and Dakarai pulled themselves for miles, often collapsing from exhaustion. She didn’t have much else to think about, after all. If they had died at in the Flatlands, would their love had all been for naught, forgotten and crumbled in the wind, their name to be carried on by no one at all? Maybe that was their punishment for such foolishness. Maybe they would die yet, from their wounds or maybe Ceannsach’s punishment. But whatever the cause may be, she would fight it. They would fight it. Her and Dakarai were a team and now she was scrappy and wondered what other adversities they might be able to overcome together. Bring. It. On.

Thankfully, the queen Lotte came back with a familiar face in tow. Suddenly Olive smiled, having fond memories of the shivering sheepdog [yes, in light of recent horrors the meeting with Doe and Szymon was considered “fond”] and trusted her work as a healer. The smile persisted as she was coaxed into the cool waters of the river and Olive gritted her teeth at the shock — her twisted ankle burned hot and to feel anything else was foreign — but it was still soothing. Olive looked at the dog and nodded in open appreciation and receptivity, letting her know that she would be a willing patient to any procedure she deemed necessary.  Then, she turned back to Ceannasach. Olive had been relatively quiet up until that point, but then her voice came softly, defeatedly. “Arturo,” Olive hung her crown low to the waters, but looked up at him. “I stood shoulder to shoulder with you as you claimed this forest,” he voice trailed off. That seemed like several years ago at this point. After a moments silence came her plea.  “Tell me what to do,” Olive appealed to her leader. She knew the two mates were asking a lot of him — Olive honestly didn’t know if they were being followed, or if Blackfeather Woods would find them, or what savarage she brought upon them— and she knew Ceannsach had every reason to turn them away. He wasn't, and now Olive wanted to serve him.