Whitefish River And I see fire, hollowing souls,

dated for the 11-10-2020
@Riley
friendship

Body was definitely still bashed up. She limped slightly, and while not horribly, it was a noticeable sight. Though she was getting treated by Speedy, that didn't mean she.. Well, stopped doing her duties. Even with some worries, she more or less did it when the medic wasn't looking, and assumed others just wouldn't really care. 

Thankfully for Orlaith, not too many visit Kaistleoki, so she could patrol with ease and mark the borders.

Riley hadn't been earning his keep lately. He patrolled rarely, which made him feel guilty -- and then made him feel useless. Susceptible to feelings of helplessness, it only drove Riley deeper into long bouts of isolation.

Today he managed to drag himself from deep within the glen, and was following Orlaith absentmindedly. Soon she would become aware of him, but for now he meandered after her scent at a slow gait that sped up only when he realized his friend was limping.

"Hey there sour-puss, you missed some eventful shit." If wolves could finger-gun, surely Orlaith would be. Instead just but a laughter with a wiggle of her brows as she joked so. Painful, yes, but even so she started to move toward Riley as soon as she had caught his scent.

She knew he wouldn't snitch on her.

Riley slowed as Orlaith spotted him, her brow canted in an unmistakable expression of amusement. He listened, bewildered by her laugh, as she greeted him.

True to Riley fashion, the speed-dial was not set to SPEEDY; it took several seconds for him to press impatiently: "Missed what? Who? Why are you limping?"

"I, being the best Knight Commander, of course had to save but a damsel in distress!" Surely the wind hit just at the perfect angle that Orlaith's fur swayed in the right way as a paw was upon her chest, and head held high in pride. Though story exaggerated, for in truth she only stumbled upon the past disaster that was the bear, and Saraneth being but a victim in the whole situation. Though, it felt best to spin the tale in her own favor.

"And I got thrased too," and that part was added but a pure laughter, following alongside in his pathway, while occasionally, and purposely, bumping into him so.

Wind picked up along them, ruffling Orlaith's fur to the side. Riley studied that picturesque scene, perplexed. All the questions he wished to ask seemed carried off in the squall that beat between them.

He walked alongside her in silence for a bit, finding strange comfort in the way she occasionally buffeted him every other step. "Who?" Riley repeated futiley, hoping they were near so he could set his teeth in them. He was surprised by the protectiveness he felt for Orlaith -- when had that happened?

"A bear, not something we can really take on again." As a wolf, she held pride in her strength and size against others, and as a warrior, she felt limited to the factor there was a few she could never take on. Orlaith knew her limits in life, she may be able to fight any wolf regardless of the win, but when it came to a bear of sheer force, a cougars sly tactics, she could not face them well.

As a group they would have a better chance, but even then there would be some casulities in the mixture. Already injured there was not much she could do, except for forcing herself onto Riley's shoulder as a 'walking stick' of sorts. She would never admit to the pains that came with the battle, but nonthless it did affect her so. 

"If you see a a gray and brown lady, her name is Saraneth, maybe you can gain an actual friend." The knight said with a malicious chuckle.

Bear wasn't exactly on Riley's list of things to meet - and for that matter, neither was friend. Riley's ears pinned defensively, and he briefly (rudely) shoved Orlaith's weight off of his shoulders.

"What makes you think I need a friend?" Riley countered, feeling a pulse of cornered defensiveness tic through his skin. He'd never wanted friends - did she think there was something wrong with him because of that?

"Well, why don't you want friends?" She brushed off his rude shoving and asked so. Orlaith at the moment only really counted him as a friend and thought Ira was getting closer, but because of their role-gap, she truly felt they would never become true friends. She thought it was simply boring without having others to talk and play with- isn't that what friends are for?

Friends required work. It was maintenance to keep up a friendship. To make sure their needs were met. Eventually, all friendships collected hurt -- and Riley did his best to keep hurt at bay.

He shrugged his shoulders roughly. "I don't know." A sour answer, for a sour boy. After some consideration, he spoke again. "Do I need a friend?"

"Am I your friend?" And a grin upon her face as she nudged the boy with sparkling eyes 'surely I am, right?' Inwardly it was perhaps a rather desperate to wonder if she even had friends.. No one came to search for her, and the one that did knew her, Finley, was long gone. Only she truly had Riley connected to whatever was a past, to where.. No one seemed to care for her.

Riley had never really had a friend. He'd had his siblings, who he had learned to resent. He'd had his mother, who he had learned to fear. He'd had his aunt, who he had learned to hate.

And he had  Esme.. who he had learned was no good for him, anyway.

Orlaith's nudge brought him back to the real world. To her.

He blinked carefully, detesting the vulnerability that was creeping up into his throat. Don't do it, don't say it. Don't admit it.

"Yes." Riley finally admitted, studying his coarse paws with a frown. He was only in Kaistleoki because of her. If he said he wasn't her friend, he was lying to himself and worse, was lying to her.

The pair spent some time together well into the burnish of the evening sun. Riley retired to his den, his steps just slightly lighter.