Basilisk returned to the den to find it empty. The scent of Ignita as old as when he had left her. She hadn’t returned. Had she taken the opportunity of his absence to sneak away, safe from his grasp for the night? His heart felt to empty and hollow for the grief of that to do anything but chip away at him a little more.

He lay down on the stone cold floor, and curled up as tightly as the giant wolf could. Resting his head against his rump and closing his eyes. He didn’t know if he would manage sleep. But he would try. Alone, in the empty den… perhaps a sign of what every night to come would now be.

"Speech"

Her face was pressed into the cool stone wall, her legs submerged in the hot spring. She found the spot where the lava must be just below the spring. It was deep, and it was so hot it felt like it could almost burn her fur off. She didn't know how much time had gone since she walked away from him to place the medical kit away and wait for him to break the saddest news of the Col to Spider. She wanted to sit with both Spider and Bas. That might help keep his paws to himself actually... That might not be a bad idea!

She drew in her breath, dove under the water for a moment, and then swam to the edge. She pulled herself up from the water and shook her fur thoroughly. Nice and clean. Her white fur and golden markings back to a pristine shine. Let's see if she could catch them at the end of their meeting and meet them both... She got to the doorway and saw Bas slip back into the den alone, oops. The time must have slipped away from her and she couldn't see Spider anywhere.

The cold winter wind bit at her freshly bathed fur. He'd be mad if she made him wait much longer. With an inward breath, she skittered to the den and quietly entered.

Seeing him lay there curled into the tightest ball pulled the strings of her heart toward him. She pressed her forehead against the arc of his neck, letting him know she was here.

"Ignita"

Basilisk may enter her threads without warning.

Perhaps he shouldn’t have doubted her. A cold nose pressed against his neck, and he lifted his head enough to look bleary at the golden wolf. His eyes were red and raw, causing her form to blur before him. He reached out a paw and moved to tug her gently towards him. Not using enough force to make it a command. Just a nudge, a hint. But she was malleable in his arms, and came with him.

He tucked her between his paws and curled his body around her. She was damp, and cold. But he didn’t care. He pressed his head into her chest and closed his eyes. He didn’t bother with words, there was nothing he could say. She had returned to him and that was all that mattered. With his head buried in her plush coat, he let his heart break at last. The tears fell silently against her as he mourned the loss of his childhood best friend.


"Speech"

His eyes... raw and red. His grief... palpable and all-consuming. He lifted a paw and she let him gather her into him. She was placed snugly between his mighty arms, her chilled damp fur warming against his. His head pressed into her chest, she ran her golden paws over his head, and through his fur. Stroking each ear as he cried. His wet tears soaked into her coat.

She was here, she had nowhere else to be. Though... There was a tug to check in on Spider... but she didn't know how much they knew, maybe seeing her was the last thing Spider wanted. She sighed, trying to ease her own heart from breaking, rending into a million pieces, he needed her here, whole, comforting. The future was going to be... the future. Suddenly the future wasn't as bleak and mysterious and terrifying for her. Trying to balance serving him and keeping other needs at bay from them both was an act poised to fail sooner or later. She knew that. Now that this had happened... They can work on whatever came next... later.

"Ignita"

Basilisk may enter her threads without warning.

He wasn’t sure how long he lay curled around Ignita, her softness and scent surrounding him. Keeping that cloud of loneliness at bay. The day crept into that little painting den. The early creeping reach of the morning. Reminding him that his duties didn't stop, life didn’t come grinding to a halt just because his heart was broken. He had to remind himself that he had done this. This was the choice he had made. He stretched slowly, looking down at Ignita who had remained in his arms the entire night.

He had wanted this for so long, the freedom to hold her from dusk till dawn. The price was a heavy thing. He pressed a kiss between her eyes and carefully disengaged himself from her arms as carefully as he could. He hesitated just as he pulled away. Tempted to curl back up with her, to hold her in his arms. To cherish this moment that had to mean something. But he turned away instead, barking a soft order to his reindeer before he left to start his first round of morning jobs. Wondering if she would still be asleep when he returned to her. Meanwhile, his reindeer would return to the den and lay a soft pelt across her body.


"Speech"

The morning arrived, a mix between soft warmth and cool cavern floor. Her mind was already roving before she opened her golden eyes. A pelt laid over her and Oso was nearby. Had they slept all night curled together? He let her sleep in... No doubt he was out doing his rounds, no doubt she had hers to do as well. He had to take on Hazel's duties now as well as his own.

She sat up, and looked around the den. She felt alone. Still on the verge of her own heartbreak, even though things had become somewhat uncomplicated, she felt ties wrapped around her heart, hung up on an idea she couldn't quite grasp. Turn away from it now, Ignita. No sense in getting hung up on something that could never be yours. Be grateful for what you have now. Like chores.

Her damp fur from last night had dried all askew. First things first... a quick dip to fix her fur, then off to storage duties. She had a delivery to make sure was properly put away. Otherwise, they would just dump the damn things wherever and bury the most used items. She stretched with a sigh. Not quite sure what the day would bring.

"Speech"

Basilisk finished his patrols and made his way back to his den, grimacing before he stepped inside. There was an air of emptiness in the den that had never been there before. The first night he had ever stayed away from his parents' den had been with Hazel. In the less-constructed tree house, lying under the stars and drinking booze they had swiped from Halo. Every night after, they had shared a den. They had been together, Together. Always. His heart ached as he made his way into their little supply den, with the maps along one wall. Here was a list of their patrols, and which ones Hazel had been running. He ran a paw across the markings she had made and let out a slow breath. One day a time. That was the way he had to survive this. One day at a time.

He shuffled around a few names, wiping eyes that were oddly damp until he was finished. Right, he still had things to do. He grabbed a bite to eat for himself and for Ignita and trotted back to the painting den. He caught her as she was leaving the den, and wordlessly handed her her share of the bounty as he walked quietly alongside her, letting her choose the destination. He wasn’t surprised when she started to turn into the supply den. “Ignita… Enjoy your day. I’ll find you in the afternoon.” He told her

- Potential time skip?-


"Speech"

She was on her way out when Bas met her at the doorway. She was a bit surprised as he handed her a bite to eat and smiled warmly up at him. Her eyes crinkled in half moons as thanks. A new steady warmth filled her chest as he walked beside her and they enjoyed their meals. This was new. She went to bow her head to him as she entered the supply dens but tilted her head at him instead as he bid her enjoy her day. She blinked at him as she paused. Her absent smile while they ate broadened as she adjusted to an interesting... change.

"You... Too. Thank you." She nodded, a glimmer in her eye as she ducked into the den, barely able to see the world in front of her. Ah, yes, she was late for the delivery. They dumped it all in the center of the den, at least where she could organize it easily. She found herself smiling randomly throughout her work. In the markets, in the storerooms, in the smithy, in her painting den. Her emotions mixed and roller-coastered throughout her work.

By the time afternoon came around a part of her cheek was sore. She sighed though and shook her head. Things would change, but she knew better than to believe how much or far or fast they would change. But she couldn't help there feeling a lightness within her.

He would eventually find her in the painting den practicing her lettering to start labeling the caverns and such.

"Speech"

Basilisk did not know how to do what he wished to. So he would skirt carefully around it. Trying to build something that would last longer than… their carnal desires. The attraction that was becoming so familiar to them. He spent the day in contemplation, giving his tasks the barest concentration they needed to get them done. Training, patrols, and chasing out a nest of coyotes. 


At last, the afternoon came and his companion told him where to find the little slave. He trotted into the painting den and found her there, practicing letters. He didn't interrupt, instead he took a seat a few paces behind her. Watching her work in silence. The light stroke of the letters gentle in her little golden paw.