Blacktail Deer Plateau oh, it's not that you should care; i just wanted you to know

Days pass carrying the crown, a weight Evergreen never expected to feel. It does not sink in at first, until he sees their faces, until he notices how each of them look at him. ‘Is this right,’ his brain supplies, often doubting his own abilities. For he promises much, and part of him fears he will crumble. The mountain he has climbed; is the foundation stable?

These are thoughts the bearish wolf wonders about during his patrol. Each step taken slow, distracted. Interrupted only when he spots a familiar form rushing before him. At first, he thinks maybe the silver male had seen him, and was coming towards the Count. “Winte—” He cuts off, furrowing eyebrows. Fur bristles atop his spine. Something felt wrong.

Winterbourne does not notice him, thundering off away from Kaistleoki’s hold almost frantically. As if the territory itself is suffocating. Evergreen’s mind roars. Thump. Thump. Thump. He goes after. Winterbourne’s speed puts a distance between them, but he follows his trail without hesitation. Round ears twitch, swerving forward at the sound of something collapsing ahead.

By the time he arrives, the air is thick with a metallic scent he knows too familiar.

Blood. Mangled. Death. Failure.

Who? In that moment, he is back to seeing a monster looming over Thistle’s body torn asunder. He does not realize how close he comes to Winterbourne, how he’s crying, or pushing his head into the silver male’s shoulder in a feeble attempt to make him stop.