Hushed Willows No I never really panicked

Ephraim wasn't settling in to Elysium as well as he would have liked. He kept to himself, speaking little to the pack's native residents. He spent too much time in his mind, fleeing the ghost voices that still sometimes taunted him. Asleep or awake, he relived those moments at inconvenient times. He couldn't seem to find a break from it all, so he allowed it to affect his social life and physical health as well, and seemed to deteriorate little by little.

That wasn't to say the residents were mistreating or neglecting him; he simply wasn't open to their efforts just yet. Eventually hunger and thirst would reach him and he would have to take care of his needs. He was doing that today, on a warm spring afternoon with only a few clouds in the sky. He slunk through the haven, head bowed lightly in search of water.

For @Ariel

ariel still mostly keeps to the company of his wives, but he does busy himself with going out to gather supplies - herbs olive asks for, trinkets to decorate their den (he recalls with some mourning how desolate queenie's had been), snacks, and so forth. there's new blood all over elysium he can smell, despite the warming weather. it makes him quietly happy to see how well things have gone, how lily's and seabreeze's and olive's efforts have all paid off. it lessens the hurt of his own failings to be able to be here and contribute in his own small ways.

it allows him to feel more open to socializing like he used to, as well -- so when he spots the boy he feels comfortable slipping closer, watching the bend of his back with a knowing sort of empathy. not that he can intuit the particularities of this boy's gloom, but it is a place he himself has been many a time, and he can recognize himself in that particular sullen slink. 

"hey," ariel calls out softly, approaching, "need help finding something?"

When Ariel called out to him, Ephraim was still looking for a source of water. Even a paltry puddle would have sufficed, but little did he know he was in the wrong part of the territory for water. He straightened up, turning slowly until he was facing the slender wolf that approached. Having only fleetingly heard the greeting, Ephraim assumed it was a woman.

She was slight like some of the Dragedan women had been, with a smattering of pale hairs around her mouth and her eyes that seemed to accentuate her raven lips and her silver eyes both. Beyond that he was dark; for some reason Ephraim was reminded of Kiwi and felt his muscles tense involuntarily. It couldn't be her. She wasn't real.

But then Ariel spoke again and his voice was light and airy, dispelling the notion that he was either Kiwi or a woman, though the latter was less absolute. He blinked, hoping he didn't look too dumb in the process, and dryly replied, just water. Know where I can find some? But almost as soon as he asked he spotted a small puddle and slaked his thirst, then walked with Ariel a short ways before heading off on his own as he always did these days.

I'm wrapping up Ephraim and putting him aside for now, sorry for the abrupt ending tacked on here!