Broken Boulder oh, give me a break already

alarian's presence and his words are enough to keep delight grounded, even if it's not the answer he wanted. if there's nothing he can do, there's nothing he can do but hold still and wait, until queenie's voice snaps the last restraint in him. delight looks to alarian, slim slivers of silver around rounded pupils, and takes his advice with a nod, barely registering it as he begins to stumble toward the inside of the den. 

alarian does not come with him. the chancellor pauses and says "ali?" but the governor has already moved toward the wolfdog (who, honestly, delight had forgotten about in the commotion). there's a strange ache in his chest that he can't process, and then he hears baby-squeaks and yips and his attention returns fully to where it should be. three tiny, squirming things, unrecognizable as wolves. there is a fierceness in him he did not think existed when he looks at them. "oh," his voice catches in his throat, "they're perfect."