Firefly Glen [PHE] The course that you have set for me

He didn't have much time. So he moved boldly through the glen. Golden gaze on the faces that surrounded him intent to make it to @Chani or @Chacal, even @Anselm someone who could get a message to his mother and a goodbye. Or even the moonwoman she would deliver his request

He didn't know what was coming on front of him. But he was going to do his very best to heal those that needed it. Toula had been kind for royalty and Etienne would return this favor. How ever painful it maybe.

He hummed snatches of his mother's lullaby to him as a child. Anxious to keep himself calm and not thinking if unknowns.

Tags for reference, but this is to let his family and friends know where he's going. If anyone would like. Or someone willing to run a message to them

Anselm lingered. He knew why he did so, but refused to acknowledge it. It the truth remained buried, it had no power. 

He was trying — and failing — to hunt a sleepy eyed grouse when Etienne’s soft voice flooded the glade. Lifting his gaze up as the grouse flew loudly away, Anselm huffed in Etienne’s direction — but said nothing scolding. 

The truth that his heart buried was he’d rather have Etienne in hand than the bird.

Etienne had wrongly assumed that Anselm would find Heda now Skaigona, their child and leave. Taking them with him. And he had made his peace with that. No matter how much he hated Heda, or more so her actions. He could not find it in himself to condemn her children to the same dark thoughts he harbored for her. It was an unkindness.

A chuff in his general direction and Etienne stopped for a moment. Head lifted turning. Bodies on all sides. A man in the midst of movement. A turn of his head a tilt of his ear and then golden eyes fell on Anselm. A small smile. He powered his way through towards him.

I tot you be gone back wit' Ezra and 'eda so dey could see Gideon. But I am 'appy to see you 'ere.

A sobering moment as he thought about what to say. Anselm. Can you do me a favor? My manman, umm my mudder. She be the prettiest wolf 'ere. Dark with golden wings on 'er back. She 'ums like me, does not speak anymore. I.

Etienne took a breath. Dere be a wolf attacking young ones. And my village is goin' to 'elp dey wolves of Akas'ingo to c'ase dem out. I be goin' too. Can you tell my mudder dis for me? And dat I will return when I can to see 'er?

"i can tell maman, eti." chani's voice was smaller than it had been as she inched toward her brother and regarded the man to which he was speaking with a long look.
but then, her attention belonged to etienne again. "you be leavin'? wid t'ose — de ones who left?" she'd heard that swiftcurrent was going, but her brother didn't need to fight someone else's battles. worried and confused, chani stared at him, ears cupped for his response.

Anselm anticipated Etienne might barely spare him a glance. Not because he was cruel, but because Anselm was finally coming to understand the reason Etienne truly walked away. He was facing that own challenge with Heda. What would he say to her?

Could he say anything at all?

Now it was his turn to return a favor. His eyes widened as Etienne relayed his intentions to — what? Fight? He bit back a scoff. 

Then he remembered Etienne’s skills were worth more than any foot soldier. A healer. 

But before he could answer or contemplate repaying the enormous debt he owed the man, a smaller she-wolf appeared, her voice quiet and custom indicating familiarity. She’d indirectly robbed Anselm of absolution, and he could barely contain the flicker of his guard hairs — but she was clearly family. 

Anselm resolved to tell Etienne’s mother himself, anyway. He shared a similar long look with Chani, reading she housed similar thoughts if only because it was evident in her very stare. Vhat vould — What, compel him to do such a thing? Anselm stopped mid sentence because he knew exactly what would make Etienne do such a thing. It was the very same trait in Etienne he valued above all else. I suppose there is no talking you out of it. Resigned, Anselm felt he was unfurling himself bit by ugly bit.

Etienne turned at his sister's small voice, his face lighting up with a gentle smile. 'ello C'ani! He motioned at Anselm.

Dis be Anselm. Anselm dis be my little sister C'ani.

Etienne nodded at her, a sad look in his eyes. I am a 'ealer. I can 'elp.

Etienne offered a small chuckle, a bit watery around the edges and nodded. You cannot talk me out of it, non.

There was much that Etienne had done, and there were things he regretted. But not many. But one above all else was giving poison to Druid. Perhaps he could absolve himself a bit with this.

A tilt of his ear. I cannot not 'elp. I feel I must.

he was so gentle, her brother. etienne gave of himself endlessly and chani knew this even though it had been a long while since he lived among the seacliffs. it appeared his companion also did not want the saltwolf to go, and this strengthened her own stance.
anger rose to cut through the unsurety of her mind, but its target was not her brother. instead it was a misplaced thing, lightning leaping into her heart. she shut her teeth around its glow.
this was how he was made. to rail at him would only harm them both; it would not stop the healer from seeking his spirit-craft in the wartime land.
her arm was around his slender shoulder before either of them knew it; she held him close, swelling with a breath as her eyes locked to his own. "tounen, frè," the beryl murmured firmly, scintillated with anguish and love. "manman pap konprann si li pa janm wè w ankò."
she kissed his cheek and let him go, gaze still attached to him, to etienne.

It was as Anselm feared; Etienne said as much. He found the tension in his shoulders unwinding.

He did not want Etienne to go.

For a split second he considered entreating Chani, after she had been introduced to him and it was confirmed — at least visually — that her opinion aligned with his. He thought he saw something else knife in her, anger maybe — but the moment was fleeting and Anselm’s mental energy was quickly shored elsewhere.

Chani reached for Etienne and hugged him close. Words Anselm did not understand were exchanged, though he understood ‘maman’ by the many times Etienne had spoken of his own mother.

Silent, and feeling he had no good thing to contribute, Anselm exhaled a long and defeated sigh between them.

A soft breath and then she was in his space and squeezing. How wonderful it was to be loved and hugged by those you loved. He squeezed her back. Thin legs snaking around her, holding her tightly.

Mwen pral tounen, ti sè

Etienne looked at her then. Held her gaze and swung his gaze back to Anselm. Without a thought he pressed forward and pressed his nose to the other man's shoulder. And then retreated. Burning in the wake of the small touch. But he would not let Anselm leave without knowing he meant as much to the healer as his own family did.

Then he dipped his head and swung his tail. I must go meet Akavir.

chani out <3

she would not cry about this. what was decided would be done; chani would stand in solidarity with etienne's choice no matter how much a torment it might be for her.
watching him exchange a soft touch with the unknown man, chani watched for a moment, then exhaled and turned to trot away. she meant to make it for the camp of sapphique, but veered to find sobeille instead.
her cousin would know first, and chani meant to be clear in her support — and her fear.

Anselm had been looking away; he felt a sore intrusion to this tender moment between kin.

He nearly started when Etienne’s nose pressed to his shoulder.

A radial confluence of heat flew up his skin first, the blushing edge of awakening longing.

followed swiftly after by the hammered fist of denial and anger to have such things elicited in him without his explicit permission.

He worked to swallow the sudden sharp-edged bolus in his throat. Take care.

Take care? He could fucking shrivel in on himself for how pathetic and lackluster that sounded.

Thankfully Chani had already stonily turned away, and Etienne was beginning to. Anselm drew in another sigh of resignation before he moved off too. He was sure Chani intended to convey the news to Etienne’s maman herself, but an iron-bound compulsion of duty told Anselm he must do it himself.

His last thought as he exited was how similar the two looked; it was as if Sapphique’s blood was unusually strong.