and if there's life after that, i'll love you then

He thanked her, maintaining formality by calling her by her full moniker rather than her nick-name. Paarthurnax regarded her former lover quietly, her ears tipped back and her eyes clouded with pity. Pity for Shadow, who would be the one to suffer most of all from her choices. She very much doubted that Scimitar would take kindly to the idea of his rival lurking around Swiftcurrent borders in the hope that he might gain access to his offspring.

She would have loved for them to grow up in Noctisardor Bypass, with their parents united and their family a strong unit. But the Roman life had been unkind to her, just as Samarkand had been when her own mother and father departed. Sahrotaar's rule had been harsh and unforgiving, just as Shadow's had proven to be. And like before, when her brother saw fit to spirit her away to a nieghbouring harem like some common concubine, she fled.

Her guilt was immeasurable, and would continue to be for a very long time. But she could learn to love her life again, just as she was sure Shadow would. Turning away from him, Paar jogged in the direction of where she knew a fresh supply of rose hip to grow. When she found the source she plucked several of the berries, collecting them in a small pile which she gathered in her mouth and carried to the place she'd told Shadow to wait for her.

He was there, his features sodden from the cold water, and Paar moved in close to tend to his wound. She presented to him a portion of the rose hip, "eat these, to boost your immune system and prevent infection," while she set about chewing the others into a fine paste. Tentatively she smeared it across his open wounds, careful not to apply too much pressure that might cause pain.

"Find somewhere to rest. Clean the cuts again tomorrow, but be careful not to lift the scabbing," she told him, and let silence fall between them. Paarthurnax blinked up at the wolf who'd been her beloved, her copper eyes sad and her expression equally solemn, before she turned and promptly made her way home to her den.