Swiftcurrent Creek Narrow streets of Cobblestone

Arric didn’t judge or push him away. At first Ashlar tried to hold back, but when he realized this, the sensitive wolf finally let loose on months of built up emotional stress. The children he didn’t know how to be there for. Avicus and his complex feelings of inadequacy. The future he couldn’t see ever becoming something he could be proud of. The wolves he’d met and couldn’t help, and the horror of one dying right before his eyes.

He cried himself out against Arric, then stayed there a bit longer, exhausted by it. He didn’t deserve this patience from a stranger but for some reason it was a gift he’d been given.

Thanks. he finally said, quietly, his voice still a little hoarse from crying. He swallowed, then finally drew back, brushing his face against his foreleg to try and take care of some of the resulting mess his fur was. You’re… you just… you didn’t have to.

Ashlar took a breath, trying to calm his racing heart. His ears were still tilted back, somewhat ashamed, but his eyes displayed a golden warmth as he finally looked at Arric again. I’ll try. I think… I just need to go forward. He’d dwelt in his mistakes too long. Chacal was happy - his children were happy. Avicus and Prophet were happy. He should look to be happy too, and the only one keeping him from it was his own self.

He needed to keep learning.

Do… d’you know anyone who knows how to heal? He asked quietly, hoping the answer was yes. He’d like a reason to see the man again.