Broken Antler Fen every little lie gives me butterflies

AW. Tags for reference.

The destination they had come to was met with certain relief from the swarthy man. Having found a decent rest place for his family, Akavir took no time to wait in beginning to scout their new home, at times accompanied by either @Lilitu and @Arielle—sometimes even @Ibis.

His desire and goal was simple—find a home for his family in which they were safe. Wraen had appeared in a rather impertinent moment in the lives of the Mayfair-Frostfur’s, and while he found it harder to trust those he didn’t know after the Empire, Akavir was hopeful.

The bite in the air was also quick to settle his mind. They could not travel as well in the winter, and so the dark beast worked to continually work at their claim. Markings the borders, a certain brush of the bitter cold swept past him, stirring up a flurry of snow in its wake and causing the male to chuff softly.

In no time at all the little family had come upon the fen which Wraen had claimed for the winter. The two adults had taken turns in carrying either child when the travel got difficult but it did not end up being necessary for the bulk of it, as Lilitu was exceptionally eager to investigate their path and Arielle took to chasing after her sister; it was like the past few months had not even happened. Ibis was glad when they crossed in to the territory and relieved to find familiar scents there: mostly Wraen's, a few fading other scents she assumed were her aunt's allies.

Ibis set to work finding something to eat for the girls while Akavir plunged in to the wilderness to do his own thing; she sussed out a nice little hideaway for them to rest and made sure to tell them, Make sure you are within eye-sight of one another, and do not go too far from our new den, okay girls? If I call and you can't hear me, you're too far. Whether they listened or not, Ibis was happy enough to give them their space.

So it was that Ibis found herself alone, listening to the chattering of her girls wherever they headed, and waited for her husband to return from his patrol.

They were well on their way. In fact, Lilitu was about to ask "Are we there yet?" for the fiftieth time when they seemed to. . .be. . .there. Here. She watched her father set off and then turned to Ibis as she spoke, cocking her head. Everything had all happened so fast.

It was so exciting.

Race you to that tree! she challenged Arielle, nodding at a nearby bare-limbed specimen before taking off toward it. Soon, the exhaustion of the trip would send her tumbling headlong into a deep, dreamless sleep. For now, she was too amped up to rest. The change of scenery had already done her good.

The wind whipped past her cheeks, billowing through her pelt, which had grown thick and full as the weather grew frigid. She lengthened her stride, feeling free as a bird—as if she could take off and just fly.

The cold would be relentless for the months to come. The dark wolf was still amongst the falling snow for a stolen moment, the brows on his broad features pulled down in a contemplative frown. Wraen was kind--the girls were content once more, and most importantly the family was reunited. 

Shaking his thick pelt of snowflakes, the Mayfair turned back now, content at another round of their desired borders and seeking the smal area the family had claimed for themselves. Champagne eyes considered the racing forms of both girls, his tail giving a swing of contentment through the air at the sight of their excitement. His eyes then found Ibis, his features softening before he approached, crooning a low growl and greeting her with a kiss to her slender jawline. I could get used to this sight every morning.

She nodded obediently as her mother instructed them not to wander too far. She wouldn't anyway; she was much too worried about losing her family again. In fact, since being reunited, there had never been a moment that she wasn't near her parents. If she wanted to explore, she explored around their new den. If she wanted to play, she played with mom, dad, or sister, but never ran off far enough that she couldn't see the den or the other members of her family. Some uncomfortable feeling from deep inside always made her feel like something bad would happen if she got separated from them. 

With anyone outside the family, she was shy and said nothing, but she was exactly the opposite with her parents and Lilitu; with all of them, she was happy and asked questions about the world, and seemed genuinely curious. So when her sister asked her to race her to the tree nearby, she grinned and replied: Okay!

She burst forward, the tree in her sights and the world blurring around her as she tried to win.

Both girls were in high spirits despite the great distance traveled, which boosted Ibis' own morale. When they bolted off in conjunction to play in their new home, Ibis called after them: Remember to stay close! Be careful! Don't-- but they were already quite far and Ibis sighed, knowing she was wasting breath. The last thing she wanted was to lose her family; they were still so new to everything.

Akavir crooned to her. She wondered if the over-protective habits would ease as the girls grew up; she also wondered if her loving husband would put up with it for much longer. Ibis smiled to him with the half worried, half loving expression often found on motherly faces. Can we please never move again?

Clods of earth, kicked up by eager paws, scattered in her wake. The boggy ground was a little more difficult footing on which to gain traction, but she adjusted soon enough (though not without some slips that might well give the advantage to Arielle). Breathing fast, she launched herself toward the tree, leaped forward, and smacked the bark with her paws.

HA! Did it! she prematurely claimed victory, not even looking to see whether Arielle was already there or not. She was too focused on fun, and did laps around the trunk, giggling between gasping inhales.

God, things had been so not fun! She was ready to have fun again, here with her parents and sister and Wraen and her friends. If this place brought adventure, and wonder, and mystery, and excitement. . .well, lofty expectations, to be sure, but she craved it.

Anything had to be better than that stop-gap boring plateau, right?

His eyes swept from the rambunctious pups who paid no heed to their mothers worried call to study Ibis, grunting a quiet agreement. A moment passed, his thoughts clouded before he realized she was likely seeking a more interactive communication than his guttural noises.

Deal, he gave her, his champagne eyes squinting as they followed the girls with a certain unease, knowing that if things didn't work here, with Wraen, the father would hold no qualms about moving his family to safety once more. 

He chuffed softly, trying to ease the frown that clouded his features and swept his muzzle to her own. This is probably the safest they've been in a long time, he rumbled to her, trying to ease her concern. He still felt unsettled from their time at the Empire, and the events that had tainted what was once likely a happy home for his wife.

She leaned against him. Sometimes Ibis wondered what would become of them if Akavir had not been such a patient and loving creature; what if he had left, just like everyone else? What if she had told him the truth about the girls — that they didn't share fathers, that they weren't even his own — and he had abandoned them? There was still time. The girls were young and Ibis could not fathom telling anyone the truth of it yet; but she thought about how that might change the dynamic of the happy little family. Akavir could still change his mind about them at any point and flee for the hills.

This is probably the safest they've been in a long time, her husband expressed, doing his best to support her. Maybe he could see the distracted look that slid across her face, or the worry. So many worries. Yes, she acquiesced. This is the best we can do for them right now, at any rate... They couldn't move anywhere else now that winter was on its way. Still, Ibis was full of thoughts. Doubts.

She nosed through his dark furs in quiet contemplation. If this place proves to be... good, for us, all of us... What do you think about... adding to the family? Ibis stumbled over her proposition and felt herself blush; she offered this to more firmly root Akavir to the family, although he was already very devoted. He was a good man and Ibis hoped that by giving him true children, he would never leave. Little brothers and sisters for the girls.

A selfish thought borne of worry.