Swiftcurrent Creek When it's all said and done

@Tuwawi !! Figure I can start this since the timeline kinda naturally flows for it. Setting this the afternoon/evening after this

Danica's mind was a constant whirlwind, her mood going from pissed to sad to fear in a mad cycle. In whatever short amount of time it took Tuwawi and Njal to leave, she would no longer be a member of Swiftcurrent Creek. The life she had been building here had been shattered, just like that. Now her only choice was to either hope that Tuwawi and Njal would take her in or leave, become a lone wolf once more until she could find a pack that would.

She would have liked nothing more than to go for a run, far beyond the boundaries of the Creek, but she couldn't even do that with her damn shoulder screwed up. She needed to let it heal, for if it wasn't by the time the journey happened, she would have no choice but to go it on her own. The prospect of doing so in less than perfect physical condition was a daunting one.

As it was, she needed to find Tuwawi and talk with her. She knew Bazi had done so earlier but the golden wolf wasn't about to let that stand as her entry plea. From now on she was going to be outright from the start. No more getting her heart tied up in a place only to be torn away.

With her turmoil forming a clench in her gut, she approached the family's den, walking by her sleeping spot in the process. This morning seemed like eons ago, so much had happened since then.

Tuwawi had been a busy bee following their announcement at the pack meeting. There was much to be done and she flitted around Swiftcurrent's territory like a swift hummingbird who dashed from flower to flower. At first, her solemn thoughts had taken the Sveijarn mother to the outskirts of Wapun Meadow and Duck Lake, to repose and reflect on the impact of this decision; but soon enough she was busy filling caches and feeding the children nearly double their normal intake. They would need energy stores for the long haul. Even though her first trip North had been quick, Tuwawi had not been encumbered by a slow caravan of wolves. She couldn't anticipate exactly how long this move would take.

The morning had been spent collecting a few herbs from the meadow before the saffron she-wolf retired to her den for the afternoon. However, her rest was interrupted when a familiar perfume wafted into the den. It was distinctly Danica, but why was she here? Were they being evicted before their grace period was over? Tentatively, she exited her den to see the golden warrior before her. She was a strong and able wolf, but a shaken air and halfhearted expression worried Tuwawi. "...Danica?" she called to her comrade with a low croon. What was going on?

I feel like, after this, Danica's new introduction when meeting new people is going to be something like 'Hi, I'm Danica, and I'm gay for the ladies. You are?"

She heard her name uttered with a soft voice and turned to see Tuwawi approaching, looking concerned. Apparently her state of mind was written on her expression. She couldn't care about that right now, though... the prospect of this new conversation looming before her now. She should have spoken with Tuwawi before Bazi - before she was so rattled.

"Tuwawi.." she greeted her in return, and it came out a bit stilted. She closed her eyes, going over once more the words she wanted to say, before opening them again to look at the fiery mother. "I am not sure if Bazi has spoken to you yet, but she assigned me to help you with the journey. And she has asked that I not come back." Her voice wavered a bit on that.

"I know that you have no obligations to me, but I would ask for a place within your pack, if you will have me. Before you decide, though, I would have you know the circumstances that caused Bazi to come to her conclusion. I am a woman who prefers the company of other women."

She wasn't about to beg... nothing short of life or death could force her to do that, but she inwardly pleaded that Tuwawi wouldn't let that get in the way of allowing Danica to join their fledgeling pack.

Tuwawi stepped further from her den as Danica began to speak with labored sentences. So many things could have been wrong... but the ember was unprepared for exactly what troubled her normally stoic friend. Slowly, she disclosed that Bazi had instructed the warden to accompany the Sveijarns to their new home. And not return. Her jaw fell agape and her dotted brows furrowed in concern and worry. Danica's composure faltered, and Tuwawi closed the gap between the women with a few urgent strides. Her umber colored muzzle gingerly tapped Danica's cheek as her lips parted, prepared to ask why this had come to pass. However, the newly elected council member had already begun to explain.

Her expression softened as ash-colored eyes traced Danica's rattled visage. Bazi had given her loyal subordinate the boot on account of who she preferred to bed with at night. It did... and it didn't make sense to Tuwawi. Apparently, the use your head advice she had given the yearling had gone into one ear and right out the other. Logic always had a hard time when it came to trumping emotions, but Tuwawi had never pegged Bazi to be such a myopic woman. A new, but unflattering, light dawned upon Swiftcurrent's successor, and it spurred the ember's mouth to twist into a deep frown.

Danica issued a request to stay with the fledgling family once things settled down. Already the to-be alpha's mind had doubts. Tuwawi and Njal intended to stay on good terms with Bazi, as they couldn't risk their relationship going sour. However, Danica was a strong and able wolf who could help plant their roots upon the glacial peaks. Tuwawi wished to speak to Njal and Bazi about the situation... but there was little time and she doubted the cloud-colored alpha would deign to listen.

"Danica..." she started slowly, half wanting to console her and half wanting to remain impartial. However, compassion won out. Tuwawi's narrow face slipped across Danica's whither to be pulled into a woflish embrace. "You will always have a home with us," she told her friend, stepping back. "But you know our situation. I do not wish for any bad blood between us and Swiftcurrent..." her voice trailed. Perhaps it was already too late. "Why did this happen so abruptly? I did not imagine Bazi to be so willing to see you go." After all, she had just been nominated as a council member just a few evenings prior.

Tuwawi's touch was comforting, and when she embraced her, Danica leaned into it gratefully. It seemed she might not have to worry about a home after all. She did not want to bring ire between the two packs either, though. "Nor do I. If necessary, I can always move on." The words burned in her maw, for she knew that to do so yet again would be awful, but she kept her tone neutral. She would rather leave than have Tuwawi and Njal resent her presence and the trouble she might bring down on their new family.

She wanted to know how it happened so quickly. "I also told her of my feelings for her. It may have been unwise, but I couldn't keep lying to her." Some might not see omission as a lie, but in Danica's mind, they were one in the same. Some lies she was okay with, but when it came to who she was and what she wanted, she refused.

"It's better that we know where we stand, now. And I doubt there will be trouble so long as I stay away from the Creek. After all, it is on her orders that I go with you." She was surprised Bazi didn't want her to stay as far from the pups as possible. Wouldn't want her infecting them with her gay, would we? The thought was uncharitable, but emotions were high right now.

Danica was graciously logical... almost too compromising. It worried Tuwawi to see her be so appeasing. Danica was leaving Swiftcurrent on demand and would leave the Sveijarns, too, if they asked it. It was as if all the fight, all the wind and gusto the brave she-wolf possessed, had been knocked out in a single and violent punch. And Danica, too loyal and kind, hardly put up a fight.

Tuwawi frowned, feeling her comrade's weight before parting. "No, no," the ember interrupted, not wanting Danica to misunderstand. "I don't want that. I don't want you to move on," she affirmed, hating Danica's flat tone and the emotional suppression it represented. Didn't she want to yell? Scream? Cry? Why did she accept this as fact? As her only recourse? Did she love Bazi that much? That she would leave without question, without keeping her nerve? Her spine?

"It was not unwise," Tuwawi told her. "Matters of the heart are better off with honesty. If Bazi cannot accept it, then she is not worthy of your companionship." It was Bazi who was unwise, the ember thought to herself; but Swiftcurrent's loss was the Sveijarn's gain. Her frown turned grim. "I worry for you, friend. You sound so distant... so objective." Tuwawi's low voice lingered pensively, "...so numb."

Danica had rarely spoken to Tuwawi, not nearly enough to know how to predict her reactions, so fully expected to be judged for steamrolling Bazi the way she had. She knew her actions to be right, but for Tuwawi to agree as well was a truly happy surprise. Likewise to hear that she would compromise their packs' relations for her. "Thank you," she responded, and it was heartfelt.

The mother's next words made her smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Trust me, I'm not. I want nothing more than to scream, cry, and go running from the Creek somewhere so far I can forget this ever happened. I'm upset, tired, angry," with the last word, her eyes flashed, and a soft growl entered her tone. Then she sighed. "But I learned long ago that none of those things help. Believe me, I've tried them all." The first time she had left some marks of her own on the girl who had denied her, the one who had, quite literally, thrown her to the wolves. They had parted life long enemies. She did not want that here.

She was resigned to the idea that she was a singularity, the only lesbian wolf in the wilds. As a pack creature, being unique was in no way a good thing. "Besides, I screwed up. I broke the rule - never fall for a straight girl." No, she didn't love Bazi. But the attraction couldn't be denied, and she was glad it was done before it got to that point. That... That would have been worse.

"You are the better wolf than I," the ember murmured with with a wry smile, admiring Danica's restraint. Tuwawi doubted that if the roles were reversed she would be able to temper her flame. Even during the announcement at the pack meeting she had a difficult time keeping her words from sounding too brash, though some interpreted the northern's wife to be audacious, regardless.

Tuwawi loosed a small sigh to decompress the heightened emotional state Danica had thrust her into, followed by a flat chuckle. Never fall for the straight girl? Yeah, things wouldn't work out. But usually that straight girl didn't kick you out of the pack at will. "I guess," Tuwawi said with a shrug, trying to remain impartial. Though she empathized with Danica's plight, Tuwawi wasn't ready to burn to bridge with Swiftcurrent just yet. That bridge was the only reason they were getting an escort in the first place.

"It will be good to have you with us," she told Danica. A familiar face was a valuable asset. "But if you feel like our home is not for you, I want you to know to have the freedom to leave if you wish." It would be unfair to ask loyalty from Danica when she was left with little recourse. Where else could she go? The lone wolf life was difficult and filled with risks.

Danica took Tuwawi's words without argument... it wasn't in her nature to turn aside a compliment when given. She didn't see her current reactions as being all that strange, simply the ones that made the most sense. She wouldn't dwell. What was done was done. There weren't many things in this world more useless than regret.

She appreciated Tuwawi's offer, also, of allowing her to leave if she so chose. She trusted Njal, and this conversation was quickly building her repotoire with his red mate, but there was no guarantee that she would be happier there than she was here. With the acceptance it was a high likelihood, but nothing was ever 100% known when it lay in the future.

"It will be good to be with you. But I thank you for that." The life of a loner didn't hold much appeal for the girl but she hadn't hated it either. If it was a choice between a life of unhappiness and taking her chances alone, she would choose the latter every time.

Last post for me :)

Danica softly agreed, understanding she had the option to part from the Sveijarns should she choose. However, the tone of her voice implied that wouldn't be the case... but perhaps that was Tuwawi just being an optimist. The ember gave a small nod, "of course," she said in a hushed tone, concern still rippling for Danica in the shadows of her subconscious. Yet, perhaps if her honeyed friend had moved on, it would be best not to dwell on Bazi's harsh decision. Moving on might be for the best.

"We will be leaving tomorrow at dawn," she told Danica, "so I guess... I will see you there." Just then, small cries whimpered from the burrow. It would be the family's last night there... "Ah, the children..." she said, glancing towards the den before regarding her new comrade once again, "we will talk more, I am sure." With one last friendly nudge offered for support, the mother retreated back into her home.

I'll go ahead and close it! Thanks <33

Tomorrow at dawn? It was so soon. Danica had been expecting it to be at least days, if not weeks, before the family was ready to pick up and move. Apparently preparations had been going on for longer than she thought. She couldn't say she was sorry for that, as it would remove her from the awkwardness far sooner than she guessed, but it took her a bit by surprise.

"I will see you then," she confirmed, emotions unreadable even to herself right now. There was one overwhelming feeling, though - gratitude. Thus, she too returned one last nuzzle, one of friendship and thanks. Tuwawi truly couldn't imagine what it meant to her to have the woman's approval and acceptance. Danica wasn't one to let the rejection of others knock her down for too long, but it sure felt good to know she wouldn't be cast out once more.

As Tuwawi went to tend her children, Danica cast one last glance back at the family's den before heading out. Where she was going, she wasn't sure, but there was no way she would be sleeping anytime soon. Perhaps she'd go stretch herself before the journey, take a quick jaunt beyond the borders. She was restless and needed to let off some steam.