Hushed Willows [m] ☀

He was never far from Reverie; he filled the empty spaces Boone had left, in the ways appropriate for a brother. Everett had been a quiet presence while Reverie had discovered the stillbirth of her son. He had allowed her space to bury the child with Kukutux by her side; a moment only for women's eyes - but he had never been far.

Now, from within the den, Reverie cried -

but he did not enter until Nasamiituuq emerged with his name on her lips. Only then did Everett slip into the shadows, quick on golden paws, like the sunrise rushing to break the night.

Blood and sweat stained the air, sweet and warm and sickly so, but his eyes were for Reverie and he would fall in alongside her to support her as he could. Casting a thankful glance to Reina, and to Kukutux, who had been with her all the way. Whispering soft songs to her in those spaces he felt her courage slip. Offering his shoulder, his touch, in the silence of those moments in between. What she needed, he would become; what she needed, he already became.