Ocean's Breath Plateau Holding on to something I can't see so you can comfort me tonight

Their return to Moontide revealed that the missing Morningside men had been returned to them. Joyed as she was to hear the news, Marina couldn't quite stifle her suspicions. They'd disappeared so abruptly — and reappeared just as quickly. The way a spirit might.

Rather than voice these thoughts, she busied herself with tasks about the lodge. There was much to be done, always, but especially after their absence. Marina kept herself occupied with settling the children back into routine, freshening their beds, preparing for the coming winter. The trip inland had revitalized her; she would take advantage of it as long as she could.

shuffling grandaddy in

he couldn't deign to put himself in the woman's paws. she wasn't even his son's proper mate—yet he knew there was an arrangement between dutch, chakliux and their woman that was. . .for one word. . .loose.

and this wolf was part of it.

want some help? aditya offered, tilting his chin a bit upward in query. he was of little use these days past entertaining youth and helping to keep them comfortable. this task fell into the latter, and so he put himself into it with as much enthusiasm as he could spare.

however—

he was curious to speak to the slender gal, one who'd caught dutch's attention. the nature of their relationship? none of his business.

apart from that? he was free to chat.

Though they were not well acquainted, Marina knew Aditya as a man to be trusted, and welcomed him as a friend to the lodge. Her smile for him was warm as she tucked her blackfeathered suk more tightly around herself. Thoughts of Chakliux were never far from her mind when she wore it.

Help is always welcome, She agreed cheerfully, stepping aside slightly to make room for him. Do you have any experience preparing pelts? Marina glanced over the old man briefly, already deciding to give him the easiest tasks no matter how he answered. He wouldn't be expiring on her watch.

i'm sure i can figure it out, he remarked with an answering smile. if you could guide me through the first one, though. . .

pelts and furs and all—such a hallmark of these northern wolves. even in his place among the rugged travelers of morningside, he had not encountered such a proclivity for bedding of this nature. nor had he seen much of the way they wore them around their shoulders.

handsome ornaments, to be sure. aditya wondered what they thought of his strange yoke, forced upon him so long ago under unknown circumstances.

at this point, he was sure he'd be buried in it.

it is so nice to have dutch, valiant and katmai back with us, adi murmured while they worked. all of them looking the worse for wear. . .but home, regardless.

Patiently Marina walked him through the simplest steps, the least demanding tasks. She was content to busy herself with quiet work, ever a reserved woman among unfamiliar company. But it seemed Aditya would not be satisfied with the silence. Dutch's name passed his lips and she fought the urge to tense.

It is so nice, She agreed idly, forcing a casual note to her tone that she did not feel. But what could she say? That she couldn't bring herself to feel the same joy? That, selfishly, she half-wished Dutch had never come home at all?

It was worse somehow to see him returned to the arms of his wife; to watch him heal without her, to watch him love a woman who was not her, raise a family that was not theirs. Yet she could never say it. Not to Chakliux, certainly never to Dutch himself. What would they think of her, so wrapped up in her own selfish wants?

So she kept her silence.

he didn't know marina well. perhaps she was always this short of words. he went on with his busy work, abstracted in the task (and grateful for it). after a while, though, he surfaced from his concentration and glanced at the pale woman.

do you love him? aditya asked, point-blank.

a risk, to be sure. but he was no spring chicken, nor a new recruit. his status as dutch's father had earned him respect beyond what he'd done for moontide, and so he hoped she would find no offense in his words.

Do you love him?

Marina stilled. For a moment she was stunned; she could only wonder if it was so obvious, if the others could tell, too. Or maybe it was only a father's intuition which guided Aditya now. She couldn't be sure.

Does it matter? Her voice was soft, dark blue eyes finding Aditya now. He chose his life - and I chose mine long before we ever met. If you're asking whether I wonder sometimes, when my daughter looks at me with his eyes, if it might have been different - what woman hasn't wondered?

If you're asking whether I regret that Chakliux is my husband - I don't. I would choose him a thousand times.

But yes, I love him. For all the good it does me.