Duskfire Glacier fleiva

heda needed someone to speak with.
she was loathe to seek out any of the adults. and she was not sure how to talk to druid now. she divided her time between her sister and her hunting, which lent very little if anything.
in the evening she returned but not to the den. heda shook snow out of her ruff and went to find @Ensio, empty-pawed and dull-eyed from her own exhaustion. how could she have been so cruel?
heda refused to look toward rivenwood as she searched.

OOC: Keeping details vague until the actual thread going to Rivenwood is up. <3

Ensio was found by the caverns on this winters day. The heavy, steel gray clouds that blanketed the sky seemed fitting for the mood that hung over the Glacier, given the recent news. He didn't let the weather get to him, or try to think too much about it.

Still, thoughts snuck into his mind. Heda's sister, Druid was in a bad way. Her pack, Rivenwood, was even worse for wear. Invaded and torn to shreds, by crazed maniacs. He found, as he matured, he was growing more protective of those he considered in his inner circle. That offer he had meant to extend to Druid as well. 

He stretched out, testing and working his muscles and legs by jumping from one low slate colored ledge to the next. The ice storm boy had been at it for a little over an hour. He leapt down, tongue dangling loosely from the side of his mouth. Then a familiar form like snow kissed with fire caught his eye.

<3

heda was not one to weep. but surely ensio could see her chin trembling with the effort. or maybe not, he seemed pretty occupied at the moment. so she wiped her eyes and steeled her expression and approached.
"hey, ensio," she greeted, swinging her tail and smiling wanly at him. "what are you doing?" if anything, her recent sparring had made her want more.
she didn't want to talk about rivenwood. she didn't hardly want to talk about druid, because lately all she could picture when she thought of her sister was how hard heda had made her weep.
her smile dropped and she looked quickly away toward the edge of the glacier.

Readily, on sure footed paws, the young Duskfire trotted up to greet Heda, happily. His rapidly swinging raised tail and erect ears showed his excitement at seeing her again. He had missed her while he was away. Worried how she was holding up, in knowing that her sister, Druid, had gone missing since his return. He had scoured the territory looking for her, but found no signs. He felt there was little more he could do.
 
"Hey Heda. I was stretching my muscles out, getting some exercise in. I want to be fit to travel when it is time to leave." He caught the faltering of her smile. The way her lip quivered slightly and the off look in her eyes. Something was definitely up and he could take a few good guesses as to what. 
 

Sometimes, even when you didn't want to talk about something painful or upsetting, ignoring it was not always the solution. By acknowledging it, peeling back the skin to expose the wound, hurtful though it might be, was just one way in which others showed they cared. Expressed their genuine concern. That's exactly what Ensio did now, when he circled to step in front of her, his masked face filling her line of sight. "Wanna talk about it?" He rasped softly in his low voice, ice chipped eyes soft.

it would be nice to be hugged right about now. heda was not sure how to ask for that or if she even wanted to say those words aloud. but somehow he knew. her eyes tightened with pain and she jerked her gaze away from him, looking anywhere at all.
"uh, there's not — there's really nothing to say. she's — still recovering."
heda wanted to scream. she looked back at his striking face, demanding that the tears stay at bay for now, just for now until she could be alone again.
"can you show me what you were doing? can i join you?" she asked hopefully, tail giving a half-hearted sway.

Inside, he huffed in soft acceptance of her wishes. She didn't want to talk, but he was smart enough to know there was plenty that could be discussed. But, as her friend, the Duskfire child would not push the issue. If Heda did decide she wanted to open up and spill it out, then he was there.

There were other ways to work out your emotions. This he knew well, from when he went through his time of strife. Perhaps the physical activity he had been partaking in would be the perfect solution. "Sure." He rumbled. As he turned back to the rocky formation behind him, he deliberately pressed a pale flank close to hers. A gesture of comfort. "It ain't too hard once you get the hang of it." He began, leaping onto the lowest ledge. It was a short, easy jump. "But you have to watch your footing. It can get slick up here after rain or snow accumulates. Also, the angles get more challenging the further up you get." 

when ensio showed her support in that tiny moment, heda felt like she might truly lose it. her vision blurred but the tears did not fall; bit by bit she blinked them back as she held completely to his every word. she leapt up beside him and pondered the next ledge.
before he could go, heda jumped ahead.
her paws skidded on the edge but she caught herself with a grunt and hauled her body to safety. 
the hawk's eyes were bright when she looked back for ensio.