Wapun Meadow I believed it all, every word you said

Anselm was gone again. Etienne assumed he was looking for his children. And he could not blame him for this. Nor would he treat him worse for wear if he ever made it back to the sea born. Today Etienne found himself in a haze of grief so thick he was certain his heart would break before the end of day. Simply stop beating and give out. But he pushed onward.

A small inkling of purpose wove its way through his innards when he saw the meadow. He had always liked this meadow. The herbs here were wonderful and truly an herbalist dream. And as such he began to peruse what he may find. Perhaps he could make some stores nearby. Honestly, he could see himself settling here. Perhaps start his own little healer's colony. But would it be worth it.

if there was naught but healers, who would hunt, who would guard. He sighed. Perhaps it ws time to return to the sea. But the memories there. Oh, the memories there.

The pair trundled eastward at a very sedate pace, taking things one day at a time. Cambria barely thought about Wyvern as he grew used to Odessia’s companionship instead. She could be odd sometimes, though largely he found himself growing rather fond of her. By their second week together, he could even admit that he had always wanted this—a partner, children—deep down, despite his best efforts to quash his own desires.

But some days, he still struggled with the notion that he had so much to lose now. His preoccupation was interfering with his ability to hunt this morning. With @Odessia comfortably tucked into a thicket in Blackfoot Forest, Cambria embarked north until the trees thinned and a flowery meadow sprawled before him. He knew small game would be plentiful there, though the Dragonling kept catching himself standing still, staring off into space, stressing…

And then a familiar scent threaded into his nose. Cambria’s head whipped around as his jaw went slack. He shouldn’t have been surprised—they weren’t far from Swiftcurrent Creek—but he hadn’t been thinking about anything but Odessia and their offspring. He had been too busy fretting about their future to pay attention to his surroundings much.

The sight of Etienne’s face, even from a distance, wiped all of that from his mind for a blissful moment. But it wasn’t long before guilt began eating at him like acid. He pinned his ears and ducked, sort of hoping he wouldn’t be spotted. But his pale fur would be hard to miss against all the colors of summer. And he realized, with a grimace, that he was upwind.

Etienne was oblivious at first. Caught up in the herbs and scents. But slowly a scent tingled his nose then it got stronger. Mixed with another .

Golden eyes sought out the edges finally landing on the white wolf. At first his heart leaped. Then it settled.

He narrowed them and snorted gently. Se yon derespektan pou kache. Ou ap mache tankou yon fantom.

Cambria I can see you.

When Etienne’s golden gaze inevitably found him, Cambria’s heart did a little leap in his chest. Odessia had begun tearing down the walls he’d built around it, so he shouldn’t have been surprised by the ferocity of his feelings. Yet they stole his breath as he gawked at the man he’d once loved—he wouldn’t even try to deny it—and had now betrayed in the most oblique way possible.

He huffed a sheepish laugh when Etienne spoke, doing his best to ignore the tingle at the base of his spine at the accented words. Mentally rubbing the back of his neck, the Dragonling slowly padded closer to the other man, his thoughts darting and flitting. He had turned his back on him, walled him out, only to let someone else flip his script. Cambria hadn’t done it deliberately, yet all the same…

It didn’t help that he flushed with heat as he came close enough to see the flecks in his former friend’s eyes, pick up all the nuances of the scent that speared through him with yearning. Cambria was still so damn attracted to Etienne, it was stupid. He liked Odessia a lot, though he didn’t feel this way about her, and that realization made him feel even worse. Both Etienne and Odessia deserved so much better than the Dragonling.

I don’t want to bother you, he said softly, denying a dozen impulses to reach out and touch the other male in some way. I should’ve been paying more attention to where I was going. Cambria meant to say something about how he would go back to where he’d come from but instead found himself unable to resist asking, eyes flickering with fondness he couldn’t hide, How have you been, Eti?

Etienne kept his gaze on the young man. Quietly standing and waiting for whatever it was that Cambria decided to do. Flee, stay, converse, cry. Etienne had run thr gambit lately. So he was prepared for anything.

Etienne did not hold it against Cambria exactly. After all. He could not have given him his heart. It already belonged to another. And no matter what Etienne did sunset eyes and mountain bred held fast.

Etienne shook his head and continued his perusal of the herbs here.

You not be bot'erin' me, Cambria.

Etienne lifted his head and gazed at Cambria with barely concealed sadness. Depths of misery he could not fathom. Dey all be gone. Almost everyone in my family all dead or left dey teekon. Dey were kidnapped and peris'ed from deir torture. Suzu is gone. Manman is dead and aunties and cousins. All gone. So not great.

Etienne insisted he wasn’t a bother, which made Cambria’s heart thump a little faster. But, of course, Etienne didn’t know what he’d done. And there was no time to tell him before the cream-colored man relayed all the misfortunes of late.

Cambria hung his head. What the hell could he even say to comfort him after that? He mouthed the word “torture” with twisted lips, then raised his head to look Etienne in the eye. How was he standing here? How did he persevere? He was living the Dragonling’s worst nightmare on repeat.

There were so many reasons he shouldn’t—his own emotional dysfunction being at the top of the list—and yet Cambria couldn’t stop himself from saying, Why don’t you come stay with me and Dess for a little bit, Eti? Oh shit, now he had to explain. She’s… He had vowed never to lie to her, so why not pass that onto Etienne? She’s the woman I knocked up. And now I’m trying to do the right thing.

It was out there and now it was up to Etienne to decide what to do with the information. Cambria braced himself for abject rejection. He sensed he deserved a roundhouse slap, actually, and braced for that too. He deserved whatever Etienne dished out, honestly, and would accept it without complaint.

Etienne did not mind company. It may do him some good. Or maybe twist his heart a little. Who knows. Surprises.

Etienne just pushed onward, because he needed too. Because he loved and lost. And it hurt. Gods in heaven it hurt. But he loved and that was enough.

Etienne listened and blinked. A soft shake of his head, he softly muttered. ak bondye ri

But a soft ningling. Is Dess an nickname? And congratulations.

Etienne didn’t really react at all, beyond a mutter and a soft query. Cambria blinked, eyes shifting to the side as he frowned thoughtfully. He’d really anticipated more emotion, though maybe he was flattering himself. Or, more likely, his friend simply didn’t have the emotional bandwidth after being put through the wringer. The thought made the Dragonling’s heart throb.

Er, yeah. Her name is Odessia. And, Cambria said, meaning to say one thing but once more saying something else, I’m scared shitless, man. She’s cool and I think we’ll be halfway decent parents—at least, I hope we will—but I mean… I definitely wasn’t planning on any of this. I wasn’t lying to you when I told you I couldn’t bear getting close to anyone. Now I have no choice. And I have so fucking much to lose now, Eti.

His pale face was stricken as he beheld Etienne’s, knowing the other man would understand all too well. But unlike Etienne, Cambria didn’t think he would survive it if he lost Odessia or their pups. It would absolutely destroy him, particularly if they lost the children he already loved with his whole heart, despite himself.

I know it’s incredibly selfish to ask, he said a moment later, but we could use a helping hand. And you’re my friend. At least, I hope it’s okay to still call you that after how I’ve behaved, he finished with a bowed head and limp tail.

Etienne didn't know how else to react. Cambria had all but claimed he loved him. Had spent time with him. Then had disappeared and returned only to go after a female in heat. Literally a bit like Anselm, though there had been no declaration of love there. Just hurt.

Eti shook his head. I may cause 'er more stress. Dis be same Odessia Dat lived in dey creek? Anselm kill de wolf in front o'er.

Etienne looked at him. It being scary yes. But it be wort'it. You'll see.

you just be takin' good care of 'er and I be dere if 'er want my 'elp I 'as been around many pup deliveries now.

Etienne nodded. You be askin' dis Odessia first 'er want me around. And yes you can still call me friend.::

Oh shit, that’s right.

He’d been too distracted and transfixed to remember that Etienne and Odessia knew one another. Now Anselm’s name joined the mix and Cambria’s two-toned eyes cut to the other man’s face as his thoughts whirled.

After taking a moment to gather them, he said, I’ll ask her what she thinks. But there’s no reason she wouldn’t want you around, right? You didn’t do any harm…

He abruptly remembered he’d told Odessia about his feelings for Etienne and she hadn’t really reacted to that particular confession. It still struck him as a bit odd. But Odessia was odd. It was even in her name. And Cambria liked her for it, though he wondered if she would get jealous if he brought his former lover around…

…with good reason. It would be one thing if Cambria had put his feelings behind him. But as he regarded Etienne, he knew he hadn’t. He had made no declarations of love or monogamy to Odessia, but he wasn’t stupid. They were companions and coparents now.

The Dragonling’s lips twisted.

Etienne smiled softly. Oh to forget that happened. What a nice dream. But he still did not blame Anselm. If anything he loved the man fiercer. he had stood toe to toe with someone who had gone towards Etienne and one, again. How many times had Anselm saved him now.

Etienne shook his head. I did not. But some wolves don't see it dat way, Cambria. Even if a wolf was in the vicinity, it causes dem great grief and anxiousness when they are reminded of wut be 'appening.

Etienne nodded his head. But you can be askin'

Yeah, she told me about it. I know it hit her hard, Cambria murmured. I’ll talk to her as soon as I see her, promise. Which will be after I find something for her to eat. Would you wanna help me hunt? We can split whatever we nab.

As much as he wanted to take care of Odessia and their unborn offspring, as well as have aforementioned conversation, he was in no hurry. He hoped it took a while for the two of them to fell something, because now that he was giving in to his feelings, Cambria wanted to spend as much time as possible with his former flame.

Maybe current flame, he could admit to himself, even as he wondered whether it was possible to love two people at once. He felt strongly for Etienne, there was no denying it, but he was attached to Odessia too. Which was some kind of crazy overcompensation after refusing to let anyone in for so long…

Etienne did not hold out the hope that the she wolf would want him near. Frankly he'd be surprised if she did. And he couldn't blame her.

Etienne looked around. I am not de best at de 'untin' but I can be tryin'.

He motioned for the other to lead the way. He was not a hunter, but he'd do his best to help.

Acknowledging his feelings toward not one but two wolves overwhelmed him for a moment. His entire body locked up until he shook it off with a long exhale. Cambria needed to set aside his feelings, including for the man beside him, and focus. Odessia and their unborn offspring were counting on him.

Well, he replied to Etienne’s remark, his lips curling into a wan smile, I happen to be extraordinarily adept at procuring small game. It was how he’d survived so long on his own, even as a juvenile. Backup is always nice to have. Our best bet is to find a rodent nest of some sort. You can flush and I’ll chase.

He motioned with his pale snout before striding toward the center of the meadow. The Dragonling sifted through all the summery scents, many of them earthy and floral. Once he lowered his nose toward the ground, he detected a few that belonged to the resident fauna. It would just require some careful combing to locate a burrow, nest or warren.