So this is what he had done in her absence? She couldn't help the small smile that was beginning to form on her lips. Obviously she had made a good choice leaving him to care for her pack in the time she had left. Desiree had already told her of the packs thriving numbers, Orchid telling her of the pups who have been born to different moms. Everything seemed to be falling into place quite nicely. All except the scars. Though Orchid had assured Vi that the wounds on her face were little more then scratches Vi knew that no matter what the wounds to her back would scar heavily. Orchid had put some sort of poultice on them to help them heal but Vi knew there was nothing more they could do. She would have to live like this... Horribly mangled... Eyes would slip closed and a soft sigh would drop from her lips before she tipped her head back and let out an easy howl for Cru. He had done so well, she was so proud of him. Proud to have him as a friend and proud to know that he was happy with his station in life. Her heart still fluttered a little bit in her chest at the memories of their last meeting. He wanted her... She had never been wanted before, never been apple of someone else's eye. It was nice... She understood now how all the people she had fawned and fretted over felt. The smile grew, and she would lower her head, chuckling and trying to banish the feeling. She needed to be at least slight professional about this...

It had seemed like a long time since Vi had left the pack, that an age had passed well he had cared for her pack in her absence. He had been forced to make decisions for the pack without her, and had long since put aside his worry of her judgment. The pack needed space, a new land had to be acquired, and so Fern Gully was now a part of Covari. A delegation had made their way to Covari, and he had promised them friendship for as long as he was alpha ? he could and would not presume to speak for Vi.



So when her howl touched the sky and the familiarity of it all washed over him he was momentarily lost in its sound. He could almost taste her in that voice, could almost see her red shape in his vision and his resolution wavered. He could barely believe he was contemplating leaving her ? but surely she had little sue for him now. She had power over other packs, after giving them all the cure, she had Des to be her second, and? and he could do more for her this way.



The boy took a breath and made his way towards her, when at last he caught sight of her she was a mess. There was the slight scent of blood and herbs about her, fresh cuts across her face and as he came closer he could see also the deep lines against her back. He forgot himself as he stepped so close he was almost touching her, his face creased in worry. ?Vi, are you alright?? he asked, as he very gently bumped his nose against the bound and herbal scented cuts across her back.


"Speech"

Ooc;; playing this as if sib x cru happened the day before the challenge pretty much

He didn't make her wait long he never did. But his approach was cautious, tentative even and for a moment she would turn to stand and study him. Something was wrong? Or was this simply his reaction to her appearance? He moved forward, moving to touch her wounds and she would step forward to attempt to lean into his neck, to run her face along his shoulder and then push her forehead into his chest. Gods she had missed him. What had it been... A week? But still something was off... She barely registered his words, couldn't comprehend what he was saying or asking. No something was off... What? His scent... She knew that smell. It clung to him like a burr. She had never been able to rid herself of it either except for if she soaked in the hot springs. She would remain near his chest for a time, inhaling that smell before finally she would sigh and pull back.

Did she care? Should she care? She couldn't lie to herself and say she didn't as much as she wanted to. Cru was special to her, not too long ago she had gone to Sibelle for advice on how to deal with him. Nothing really had come from it. "Who is she?" For the first time in her life she couldn't force a smile, pretend to be happy or content when rage raced through her. She had pretended to not care with Scorpion and Othello but now she couldn't. She couldn't pretend to be okay with this. She had loved him hadn't she? Was it love? It was different then what she felt for Des or what she had felt for Nnoitra or Morphine. It was all so different. She would stand solidly apart from him, lantern gaze staring straight at him and unwavering despite the almost overwhelming weariness that was weighing down on her shoulders. She had to know...

A week? To Cru in a strange way it felt like years had passed since she had come to him in his den and given him the cure, to that hazy memory where she passed on the pack to him as temporary Alpha and a few soft words had been spoken. It felt like so long ago, perhaps the quality of his memory where the sickness still clung to him that added to the effect of so much time passing. She had not told him that she would be challenging, and the sight of her now, torn up and looking the worse for wear pulled at his heart strings all over again.



She would lean into him and a soft sigh would escape his lips with her touch. In the wake of looking after the pack and other realisations that had over taken him there hadn't been time to realise how much he had missed his red queen. Now that she as here he just wanted to bury his head against her side and hand Covari back to its leader. He would not be the only one to sigh, Vi also would do so and pull back from him. His eyes had slipped closed, but they where open now and he had the decency to look guilty. What had happened between him and Sib.. the scent of her heat and losing their responsibilities for a night.. he hadn't stopped to think of what Vi would take from that. Once she had almost pushed the two together, but that had seemed a long time ago. No, he felt oddly ashamed, as through he had been shirking his responsibilities of Alpha to romp with girls, and that he had betrayed her trust.. somehow.. he couldn't quite put his finger on why, it was something in her eyes that made him feel he had wronged her.



Now there was even more in Vi's eyes and he could no longer meet them. Heat pricked at his ears in a rush and he just couldn't understand the emotions that where in him, and buzzing off Vi. Vi was married, she was beautiful, she had children, she was.. she was so perfect. Why did it seem to matter so much to her what Cru had done? Yet somehow it did, and this simple admission of realising it mattered to made him deflate all that more. Thoughts of telling her about his pack ideas where long gone in the wake of something new. There was a distance between them now, one that had not been there even at the very start, when he had first met her on a volcano, where they had tasted each other and laughed. ?Vi..? he said, but he had no explanation, so he would not try. ?Sib? he said simply.

"Speech"

She had to harden herself, had to keep the hurt from her gaze as she stared at him unwavering. She would hold herself as squarely as possible without putting any weight on her left leg, it wasn't well enough to hold her weight yet. Maybe it never would... Vi really only trusted Zara's opinion on that, the woman knew her shit and though Vi trusted Orchid there were some news that should be broken by family. But for now she would attempt to work her way through it, and honestly probably damage it more. She didn't want him to know she was that hurt though, and other then a slight the slight lean she rocked to keep her left paw on the ground but without any pressure. That was why she had moved minimally to lean him to him and then to lean back. There was almost no space between them, no room for him to escape her hardened gaze. And he wouldn't. He would sigh and close his eyes before opening them and meeting her gaze.

There was guilt there...

She would say nothing, no accusations as she simply awaited his reply. He would start with her name and then allow another to drop from his lips. Sibelle. The muscles in her chest contract, torn shoulder and chest causing pain to arch through her body. How dare he touch her sweet Sibelle. Now a different rage arched though her, though she would remain as calm and possible. He was hers. Sibelle was hers. How dare they think the could fool around without her permission. She had brought them all together, scattered them about like the pawns they were but still they were her pawns and how dare they act out of order!

"I see..." Words held no emotion as they dropped like stones from her tongue. What did she say now? What could she say? She was angry but why? She had no reason to be angry after all. But still her anger at her stomach like acid, threatening to explode outwards. It was the same anger that had driven her to throw down with Erani and attempt to exact her vengeance. Had her leg not been maimed she felt like the urge to rip his eyes from his skull might have swept over her in an overwhelming tidal wave. But she couldn't fight as much as she wanted to. She wanted him to feel her rage and pain and betrayal. She wanted so badly to carve those feelings into his flesh so he would be forever reminded of them. But she couldn't... Not yet. "Why these lands?" Her tone remained cold, impartial, forcing herself to change the subject before she hurt herself further by starting something she couldn't even think of finishing.

Cru felt more tired in that moment then perhaps he ever had before, even during the sickness. He was tired of being buffed between wolves. First with Othello, with her insecurity that in the end had lead each meeting to fights. Then.. then she had gone with Scorpion and not once did he ever hear her temper rise with Scorpion as it had with Cru, like that boy perhaps mattered to her more then Cru had. Then, despite it all she still had the gull to admit feelings for him, like throwing around his emotions was a past time.



Then there was Sib, whos nature and body had definitely appealed to him, and well they had almost done the deed, images of Vi had someone brought him to a halt, had dashed away the heat. Now, now he stood before that very woman and could feel the accusation in her body like a slap. For her he had not done it, but none of that mattered, because, because why? Why would it matter so much to either himself or Vi if Cru had slept with Sib? God, he felt so tired, so sick of love and woman.



The emotion seemed to drain from Vi now as well, but rather then tired ad Cru had become, she seemed instead to turn to stone. Somehow this was even worse, and the boys tail would curl about his legs in weary agitation. She would change the subject, but he could not yet, he could not let it simply go like that. In his weariness, he found his vocals parting more words then he otherwise would have let him say. ?Yes, Sib.. but we didn't get that far. We didn't because all I could see was you.? he threw back his shoulders in agitation. ?And I dont even know why. God, Vi, I dont even know why? was that tears prickling at the back of his mind? He scrunched up his eyes for a moment until the feeling past. Another sigh would escape him, he wanted to lay down hiss body and let the world pass him by. He had felt that way when Othello had confronted him with her anger, something about love, and the pain of it was more then he could deal with ? maybe he needed to stay as far from love as possible... maybe Scorpion had it right.



?Because... because these lands where vast, and flush with prey, and I thought they would do good to support you pack, the wolves needed it, our numbers where growing to vast? his voice was soft now, burning with self regret.

She didn't want to hear it, didn't want to talk about it and yet her demanded it. She would look away from him, falling back on her haunches lazily and allowing her gaze to wander the lands as he seemed to sort through his thoughts. In the distance she could see Mount Volkan and a small smile would touch her lips at the sight despite the fact that Crucifix seemed to be having a meltdown before her. When he spoke again a hardened gaze would turn back to him despite the fact that she forced a small smile. "Stop Cru? I hate you for it but we're going to bury this in the forest. Just? Not with Sib? Please. She is my best friend?" Her chin would tip down as she looked at him before sighing. Why Sibelle? Her dear sweet Sibelle. She had told Sibelle that she would hurt anyone who tried to take her from Vi and though she had said it half jokingly she had been serious. Sibelle was hers just as Crucifix was hers. They were the first to begin her pack, the ones to hold rank before the pack was even made.

When he spoke of the reason that he had chosen this place she would look away from him and nod slowly as she continued to gaze around. "I had thought of whispering woods but this is nice. Thank you? That mountain there was my home for the majority of my life here?" She said easily, motioning towards Mount Volakn that could be seen looming in the distance. It was her first home in these lands. It had been the place she had hung onto for so long, remaining loyal to the land but not to the leader. She had stuck around throughout many leaders, had plotted the demise of many, had followed a few loyally. Such memories were there. Would she expand to there eventually? Or should she go elsewhere?

Her words would suprise him and his chest would tigehten with the pain of it. She was pushing it all behind her, and it was clear to him now that she ws saying she would never be his, but he had never expected it any other way. She was not upset with him because he had slept with another, but because he had slept with her best friend, it had... it had nothing to do with him, or feelings for him, but rather what she held for Sib. He would lower his eyes, he was getting the message loud and clear now. He didn't even know why he had felt that spark of home, she had given him no reason to harbour it. He swollowed, forcing himself to push it behind him, to enclose his heart in steal once more to push out thought of Othello and Vi and Sib. He was to spend his days alone, he could understand that now. ?Ahh, yes, Weeping woods is nice too? he commented dully, barely even considering the words that left his maw. ?So your back now, my queen, I assume this means you will return to your station?' she was queen by all rights, he had never considered her as anything less then the brillient Queen of Covari. He had simply been looking after the pack, doing anything she needed of him, as he realised he always would. He was a slave to an emotion he must bury, he cherished her for a reason he could never say again, and perhaps one day would follow her to the grave, never again uttering the words in his heart. "Speech"

Would he ever understand it? Would he ever understand that it hurt her to most because he had not only been with her best friend but he had seemed to actually care for her? Sibelle was a strong, independent, amazing woman. Anything that anyone could ever want and honestly Vi was curious why the woman was still single. Crucifix could have easily transferred all that love and adoration he felt towards her to Sibelle, he could have packed up and left for her. But no. He had stopped because of her. Her chest tightened at that thought. Desiree knew after all, she wasn't an idiot, she could sense it. It pained her but she had to seperate herself from this man at least for the time being. They couldn't have the relationship they once had, no. Vi had to focus on her wife and family for now, he was too young to understand. At least until they abandoned her, as the goddess's loved ones had abandoned her. Vi knew her future, knew what lurked in the dark confines of her mind. She had seen it before, had embraced it, when her mind had sent her following Morphine before her demise. But then there was Desiree... The purple nymph who had somehow gently pushed that darkness to the back and sealed it behind lock and key. Would it one day burst forth?

Who would stand by a mad woman then?

No one... She didn't deserve to have anyone stand by her when that darkness finally burst forth. Her mind was refocused as he spoke again and lazy gaze would drift towards him as dead tones reached her ears. She had hurt him... Something in her mind didn't click, remorse or sorrow not kicking in like it would with any normal being. She didn't respond to his words at first, not the first comment at least and the second she would mearly sigh, tensing muscles of her left shoulder and allowing the now familiar pain to arc through her body. Should she take it back? Desiree had not seemed pleased with her decision to put Crucifix in charge. Maybe she should appoint another... "I will return to my position for now. I may have to appoint another though, should someone come for my crown I'm not exactly well enough to fend them off... Will you be returning to your old rank?" Did she expect him to? She wasn't sure how she felt anymore, not sure how she should feel. Should she ask him to leave despite wanting him so deapratly to stay?

There was a lot going on in his head, clouding his thought and pulsing pain from his heart to his limbs. No, he did not understand, did not understand that she might want anything more in life then all she already had. He was far too busy with own selfish desires and pain, attempting to lock it all away in the far recesses of his mind so that he might try to go on with his life after realising that he must give up all harboured desires for he dame before him.



She made no more comment of the woods or fields he had acquired for the pack. She would answer his question about her position, but the words would confuse him, yes she would take it back from him but no she could not keep it. He could not have it, but nor could she. He would peer at her more closely, wondering what in his blind emotions he might have missed, he saw the wince of pain and found himself wondering how badly she was injured, she had seen Orchid already had she not? ?I.. that?s up to you, if you will have me.. in that position I would take it gladly? he said, lowering his head and knowing more than ever now that he had failed her. He would not keep his position, but it was not for the rightful queen he would be giving it up.


"Speech"