Northstar Vale It's a secret I keep tucked inside my chest

This was her first year raising children without the help of her sister's or mother, and of course, it had been her luck that Chandra was refusing to wean. She hadn't had this issue since Chaudry and Chandon, but even they weren't this persistent.

Her solution today was to simply trot away from Chandra - she felt guilty, sure, but the girl was getting far pudgier than she should be and had gained quite the nasty attitude when it came to meals.. and the teeth, those things hurt.

Releasing a deep sigh, she ignored the incessant calls of "maman" as her daughter followed behind her (she was surprisingly good on her three legs these days), and called for @Noctaryn. Maybe there wasn't anyone in the mountains who could exactly help her with this problem, but he was good conversation nonetheless.

Heeding her call, he limped his way to where he found the Matriarche being trailed by what he could only describe as a teat-seeking missile. He shook his head, despite the ache there, chuckling at the sight. 

Watch out Viskani, she’s getting faster these days. One misstep and she’s got you.

He was highly amused, and glad for it. The recent bout with Chaudry left him feeling a little less than himself. Being in their presence wood surely lift his spirits. At least, it would help him ignore the throbbing headache and stiff hip.

She refuses to eat meat, but her teeth are getting too sharp for me. She offered the explanation with a light chuckle, glancing back at the rather frustrated young girl. She's worse than my second litter was, and I'm pretty sure those three left me with scars.

Looking to Noctaryn, her brow was quick to furrow at his strange gait. What's wrong? You're walking like you have a thorn in your paw. She slowed to further investigate, much to Chandra's pleasure. Viskani was quick to stick out a leg that gently pushed her back.

Noctaryn winced at the idea of scarring from tiny, teat goblins; he was grateful to have been born male if only for that reason alone. That thought was quickly replaced with another, one of his own litter some day—maybe, if luck was on his side. Though it seemed Chaudry’s goal was to take Noctaryn out before he could even have the chance to do so, whether Viskani would be the one to give him that or not.

Speaking of—Your son decided to challenge me to a…to a lutte, he called it. A grunt accompanied his steps as he drew closer, each paw fall jarring to his bruised skull. Gingerly, he settled onto the grass, carefully avoiding too much bending of his bad hip. It smarted, he winced, and he gave up the attempt at being upright, flopping onto his side, gazing up at Viskani with an embarrassed look.

She was quick to quirk a brow at the mention of 'lutte'. Really? Well he should not have been so rough, it is not the spirit of such things. Her eyes following Noctaryn's 'flop' to the ground, she laid next to him and gave a lap to his cheek. What had him thinking to challenge you? She could think of a multitude of reasons, but she was curious nonetheless.

Glancing back to Chandra, the girl seemed to have finally ceased her chase.

Cameo <3

Defeated by something as little as her maman laying on the ground, Chandra could not help but pout.

Grumbling to herself incomprehensibly, she turned to make her way back to the den. She would have to settle for regurgitant today it seemed.

Of course she wouldn’t have an idea as to why her son would challenge him, Noctaryn had done his best to conceal what lied so reverently in his heart: his feelings for the Matriarche. But how could a half breed such as himself think he could court someone like her?

He let loose a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding at her question, the weight of it heavy in his chest.

I, uh…well, because he thought that I was in love with you. If I had won, my prize was to have the ability to court you. He left unsaid the outcome, allowing her a moment to process what had transpired. His gaze left hers, suddenly unable to look her in the eyes, afraid of what he would see there. Instead, he looked to the sky, feigning interest in the clouds as they blew by.

Well, did you win? She asked, almost too eager. She caught herself, clearing her throat. Nonetheless.. that doesn't matter. I am sorry though - the practice was more common in our mother pack, but it only worked because those wolves had a shared respect. You two do not have that. Shaking her head, she could not help but sigh. You have every right to 'court' whoever you please. Don't let him scare you.

Viskani was unsure of what she should think. Recent events had shown that her son was far more complicated than she had once thought - the Matriarche could not be so quick to take him by his word anymore, even when it was second-hand from Noctaryn.

But had Chaudry really observed such a thing?

Viskani spoke and his eyes flicked back to her at the fleeting eagerness in her question. He chuckled softly, uttering a soft no, but it was drowned out as she continued. Not wanting her to take the blame for her son’s actions, he shook his head as she apologized. 

He opened his mouth to tell her so, but no words came out when she spoke of courting whoever he pleased. Did she truly mean that? His jaw clacked shut, uncertainty clawing at him.

Sitting upright now, he turned to her then, vulnerability swimming in the silvered depths as he searched her face, her eyes. His words were whispered, soft with a hint of yearning, If this was your mother pack, and our lutte held more weight than it does here—would you have been happy if I had won?

She barely had to think about her answer. Why wouldn't I be? You are a good man, far better than the others who have tried. And that was the solid truth.

Letting silence settle between them, she searched his eyes, body language, face, for further explanation. That was not the kind of question that someone just.. asks, not in such a shy manner anyways. She could feel a familiar sense of hope swelling in her chest - but why? It had been a long time since she wanted anyone to hold that sort of interest in her, and for a good reason.

Why wouldn’t I be? You are a good man, far better than the others who have tried.

He blushed, shaking his head in disbelief. Accepting compliments, especially from her, proved hard. He wasn’t usually this bashful; yet, he couldn’t help but internally melt at her words. 

Then he wondered—how many others have tried to court her? What were the reasons why she hadn’t chosen one of them? What would make him so special? He had nothing to offer, no standing in this world as a half-breed bastard.

A sigh left him, a paw lifted to drape over hers, warm and heavy. What if I told you that Chaudry’s astute observation was not just a son’s misinterpretation? What if I told you that it was true? What then?

Feeling his paw placed upon hers, she could not help but feel shy for a brief moment.

Searching his face once more, she could not help but be a little uneasy. I suppose.. I would wait. Viskani was never a particularly mushy personality, she was confident in everything except romance.

She had to hope that was the right answer.

For once she looked at him with a head bowed just slightly. What could she do except wait?

He cocked his head, another eyebrow quirked as she searched his face. He was a patient man, he had to be; years and years locked away, biding his time until the right moment.

But, he found the longer their eyes met, the more his restraint waned and his patience became thin. The gold in her eyes glittered, shattering his resolve, and her gravity pulled him in.

He drifted closer until the sun and moon collided. His lips met hers, gentle, as if she were something breakable. But, he knew better—she was strong, resilient.

The once shy man seemed to have a moment of confidence. Lips met, and she found herself remaining in place for a time.

Finally releasing, she could not help but laugh. Who would have thought, a matriarch and a half-breed. Her mother would throw a fit. She could not help but feel like a flustered mess.

Noctaryn.. She trailed off, unsure of what to say.

Maybe it was good that he was different from the men before. Maybe it was good that her mother would not approve. He cared for her and Chandra in a way that was genuine and real; and her own care for him was not out of pure convenience. Did you mean that..? She stared at him now, looking for any sign that his action may not have been out of the love she now craved.

Her laughter was music to his ears, a song he wanted to hear over and over again as if he couldn’t get enough. Then his name came from her lips and he just about came undone to unravel at her feet; outwardly, his eyes softened as he returned her searching gaze, and a paw came to rest on her cheek.

She questioned him and his heart dropped, not out of disappointment that she didn’t believe his actions, but rather because there had been something to cause this uncertainty in the first place. 

I have nothing to give you but words and actions, my Viskani. There is nothing on this earth that I meant more than that kiss and what it meant for me—I love you. I’ve loved you the moment you looked at me with those beautiful eyes made from the sun, those eyes that saw me. 

His words, heartfelt and kind, brought a smile to her face once more. Well then I have to keep you, don't I? She hummed, lapping his cheek once more.

She couldn't help but find it funny; the act made to drive them apart had been the very thing to push them together. She wanted nothing more than to melt into this moment, to remain in it until time forced her to move forwards.

Viskani had always thought herself to be a woman who had everything, but now she saw that it had not been true. She became a woman with everything the moment the two of them locked eyes.

Would you like to fade?