Permafrost Hollows clothed her in leaves and buds of crimson core

maaaybe @Derg ? <3 forward-dated to march 3rd, staying vague

Healing is a slower process than she'd expected — but she's never been injured like this before, so she tries to put less weight on her own expectations. It's been difficult, though. Days have passed, and each morning she wakes up half-expecting that the pain will have magically vanished overnight, that her wounds will suddenly reach a stage of... less ugliness, at least. She's disappointed every time, of course.
This morning is no different. She stirs slowly, opening her eyes and yawning first before she starts to stretch — or, tries. She's stopped by sharp, frustratingly familiar twinge through her scruff and down her spine. A frustrated whine slips from her as she adjusts herself to accommodate the nagging feeling, finding herself distinctly uncomfortable when she finally finds a position that doesn't bother her wounds. She sighs through her nose, closing her eyes again and resigning herself to another day of moping around the same area of the territory — whenever she finds the will to get up.

---

Derg, being the protector he was, lay stationary by Keen day and night. He didn't let her out of sight unless she told him to go, even them he still hung close enough and silently. It was his fault, he felt. He hadn't expressed this to anyone; not yet.

Now, he was outside her den, watching the morning. Some nights, he'd taken to sleeping in the den with her, sometimes close sometimes not. He slept outside last night, letting the chill night keep him from his sorrows.
It was his fault.

At her stirring, he rose, turning to check on the girl. His head tilted, brows furrowing. He knew she was in pain and desperately wants to get something to help ease that pain but all he knew was poppy seeds; those wouldn't do well for her. He doubted he'd find any close by anyway. He silently entered the den, choosing to lay close by. He turned his head to peer at the snippet of sky still visible before looking back to the girl. 
Through his mind ran all the what if's
what if you trained her
what if you were there
what if you didn't go to the festival
what if you never let her come with you
He sighed softly, trying to rid himself of the thoughts. She had to get better first, then he'd wreak havoc on that man's face. Shred his body. Then let him die slowly. Make sure the job was done.
If he wasn't killed first.
Perhaps if they both died it would be fitting. Two monsters destroying each other.

The only thing he knew for certain: those man's days were numbered.

---

289 words​

Derg's constant presence has been both a blessing and a curse, introverted as the girl is, but she's pleased to see him nonetheless when he enters the den. Her tail starts to swish of its own accord, heart thumping a little faster when he settles near her. She offers a shy, tired smile when he looks at her, though the expression fades slightly when she hears his sigh and notices his expression, assuming he must be in a bad mood. Good morning, Derg, She murmurs, shifting a little so she's closer to him and wondering, not for the first time, about the reaction he seems to inspire in her since the night she was attacked. She's not really sure what to do with these foreign feelings: the heat in her face, the fluttering sensation in her stomach when she looks at him or thinks about him. It's a new experience entirely, though not unpleasant by any stretch. It's just... confusing. She's never felt this way before, even about the wolves she loves the most, and more than anything she just wants to know what makes this so different. But she could never ask Derg — and she's not really in the mood to try to explain it to anyone anyway.

---

He didn't realise Keen was fully awake until she spoke, shifting to be closer to him. He grunted softly, barely a chuff. He'd been quieter than usual since the attack, closing up on himself like a winter flower.
"Good morning, Keen." He replied with a soft tone he didn't use with anyone else.
He shifted closer to her, pressing his nose to her forehead. 
"Are you cold?" He asks, concern etching his voice and gaze, pulling back slightly to look at her face. 

She looked harrowed, worn.
He supposed he did too with the little sleep and always being alert. He knew the man hadn't followed them here, yet he wanted Keen to know she was safe. That he was never going to let her be hurt again.
He'd lay down his life to ensure it.
Something about this girl made him strive to protect; even before the attack. He'd never cared much for young wolves, leaving them to find their own ways in the world yet Keen made him feel. 

---

​178 words

It is so strange, accepting the touch of one not of her own blood so frequently — but undeniably enjoyable, too. Her heart clenches and skips at the feeling of his nose against her forehead, and her smile returns a little more brightly this time. I was, She says in response to his question, voice full of the same velvety warmth spreading through her chest. But not anymore. She presses against him as if to emphasize her point.
She's feeling more cheerful today than she has in awhile, eyes bright in a way they haven't been since the attack. Even plagued by the slow healing of her body, her mind is recovering fairly quickly. The security she feels with Derg around has helped, of course. After a few beats, she adds: I wish we could go on another trip. The thought has been occupying her mind for awhile now; she's decided she likes traveling, and no amount of danger can truly dissuade her.

---

He smiled fondly at her, his ears tilting as if to try and hide his embarrassment. He never usually got close to any wolves. Not even his siblings. Either way, he didn't mind this attachment to Keen, especially when he felt she needed looking after. As she got better he would, of course, lay off the protective instinct but, for now, he'd be there every moment she needed him.

"Hold your horses there, Petal."  Yes, he'd adopted a nickname for her. No, he didn't know why it just came to mind on one of his wanderings.
  "Your wounds are still pretty bad, you can't deceive me."  A sigh. He didn't want to crush the girl's dreams now. "But I suppose we can go on a short trip if you feel like you won't overexert yourself, how about that?" He offered her a tight smile, deciding it would probably be a bad idea to let her force herself but he certainly didn't want her getting den depression. He knew what it was like, having to stay in a den and inside the borders for weeks because of an injury. 
​

---

197 words

She's not surprised when he immediately disagrees, but she's distracted from her disappointment by the realization that Derg has given her a nickname. Her cheeks flush with heat and her heart quickens further, and she thinks for a moment that she might burst from all these feelings. It takes some effort to focus on his words as he continues, distracted as she is, but he makes it easy for her a moment later with his offer of a compromise. Her eyes light with excitement at his suggestion, and she nods quickly.
I would love that! I promise I'll be careful, She says, tail swishing more enthusiastically behind her and thumping against the den wall. After a beat, she leans closer, daring a brief kiss to the man's cheek if she's allowed before she pulls away, stomach twisting as her heart stutters and stumbles over itself. Thank you, Derg. She's undeniably eager to get going, but she refrains from hopping up immediately, uncertain of Derg's intentions and admittedly a little unwilling to give up any more cuddle-time than necessary. She really thinks it's too bad they can't do both.

Fade here and start another thread somewhere?

---

He cracks a new jar of grin open to let it plaster onto his face. Yeah, weird analogy I know but Derg saves his real smiles for real feelings. His let his tail softly thump against the floor when she rose and planted a kiss to his cheek.
Well, that was new. He blinked, his tail stilling for a heartbeat before laughing heartily, his tail stirring again, "I'll take that as a sign you're feeling up to it, eh." His eyes sparkled in the dim lighting, his earlier thoughts being pushed aside for now.

"I don't want you being all cooped up now, it's not good for you."  He let a softer smile grow, the air slackening slowly between them. The man stood after a few minutes, letting a soft sigh out as he stretched in the space they had. He leaned down and nudged her softly before exiting the den, inhaling the air. Spring. It was practically here. 
"Lead the way, scout."  He grinned again, inclining his head for her to lead him. Of course, he'd be at her side the whole while and it felt good to be going somewhere.

---

197 words​

alright! <3

She's slow to stand, only starting to rise when Derg nudges her, though her expression is eager; she just finds difficulty, sometimes, in forcing herself to move when she knows the action will hurt. But she rises without complaint, tail swishing as she follows him out of the den. She's a little surprised when he tells her to take the lead — she's not really sure where anything is, or where she would want to go. But she figures it's a good opportunity to learn, so she offers a nod in response, then pauses a beat before picking a direction and setting off. Any uncertainty she might feel about the decision is muted by Derg's presence; even if she loses her way, he always seems to know where they are.