Altar of Twilight standing in the ashes at the end of the world

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There is nothing in Declan that is overly thrilled to have to play babysitter to Teaghlaigh’s banished. The truth was: it was a ballsy move. To entrust that task with the feral Commander when the gruff and savage Comhlach had done nothing to hide his thoughts on the banished — then disgraced pair. The Teaghlaigh that Declan had known had been much harsher with their punishments. Perhaps Ceannasach was truly getting soft in his old age, or perhaps he was just losing his touch. Or his mind. Or both. The itch seethes just beneath his skin, his mood entirely worse with Conan missing in action and that truly was unfortunate as Conan was his only buffer between instinct and society. He has half the mind to drop the banished pair off and just keep going; but it is thoughts of his little mouse that still those thoughts. It does not occur to Declan that she will survive just fine without him because he is dominate and he takes care of her …in his gruff, twisted way. She acts as his tether in his brother’s absence and it is enough to stay him.

He knows the first thing he is doing upon his return to Teaghlaigh: he is going to demand a promotion from associate. He finds the duty of sitter to be degrading to his particular talents and he does not try to decipher what intentions Ceannasach might have held for sending him. Such things fail to register in his mind. Instead, he focuses singularly upon his purpose, keeping an eye cast over his shoulder to ensure the banished still follow. The chuff by the grey sprite stops him in his tracks and the feral beast turns to her with a burn of his gaze. He forgets that the babes need to stop and feed often despite that their trip has been little more than arduous and slow thus far. In truth: he doesn’t care. He would force them to keep walking until they collapsed of exhaustion or died and would not lose sleep over it. Yet, his instructions were clear: see them safely out of the Hinterlands. A warning wrapped up in a last (if not ironic) gift of kindness from Teaghlaigh. Ironic because out of all of the Queen (and Ceannasach’s) wolves Declan was the one to be chosen for the job.

Thus, it is his duty to oblige them when they need to rest, eat, sleep, allow the babes to nurse, et cetera. As much as it may annoy him he is bounded by oath and though he he may be feral and unpredictable he is a man of his word, at least. He gives a low humming grunt of acceptance in response with a lash of his tail against his hocks.

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