Was it possible to be ill during spring? She wasn't a healer, how was she supposed to know? Ghh. No, she knew the answer to that stupid question. Anyone would. She was just really upset about it. For the past week or two she had been quite weak and awful-feeling. The small girl was unable to get around without totally passing out, panting like she had run six miles nonstop. And she was always tired. Her legs screeched curses at her when she got up from a six hour nap as if they were trying to force her back down. Her eyes itched, her stomach was often pretty upset...she didn't know what was wrong.

It definitely wasn't normal. When she was awake she had tried to think of things she may have eaten or done to get herself sick, but nothing foreign had struck her. So she just sat in her den, wishing Amalia or any of the other healers had telepathy so she didn't need to get up and find them herself.

But today she was out and about. Why? Because she had some apologizing to do. To Leo in particular, as she had totally skipped out on a mandatory meeting and was demoted for it. She didn't mind the demoting part--- she deserved it, really. What she was really worried about was how Leo thought about her now. She considered him a friend...would he push her away because she failed to attend an important meeting? She could name a few wolves that would. But Leo was different. Right? Arivae felt her knees grow weaker at the thought of losing a friend. Unable to walk much more, she sat down and called out for her alpha, her tail curling close to her hips as she heaved out a few long breathes. She hoped he wasn't too busy with his children and wife and...pack. Gah. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea...

Leo couldn't help but smile as he watched his children play and explore. He loved taking a moment to be with his little family and enjoy seeing them grow. But, of course, there was always some kind of duty to be done as King and now was not any exception. He heard Arivae's howl and his ears perked at the sound. He hadn't seen much of her recently- most notably when she hadn't arrived to the meeting. She hadn't been the only one, but he had to stick to his own rule and he had to demote her and his own mother. Curious, he gave Svetlana a little kiss on the cheek and hopped up to go see what it was Arivae was calling him for. It didn't take him long to find her, easily spotting her mostly dark form among the mangrove trees. He smiled when he saw her with his tail wagging slowly behind him. He thought of everyone in the pack like his family weather they were related or not, so he hadn't been mad over her absence. Only disappointed and worried. "Arivae! I'm glad to see you! How are you feeling?" he asked as he settled onto his haunches in front of her, his gaze curious and the slightest bit concerned. He waited for her response while he glanced over her, noticing the obvious worry on her features. He smiled, hoping that she saw that he wasn't mad at her in any way. "Talk" "You" Think

When he came trotting into view Arivae's heart thumped wildly in her chest. Leo was a sweet guy, but a very responsible alpha. She trusted he wouldn't thwack her jaw like some jerk of an alpha would even if she deserved it. She was just afraid to be yelled at, or to completely lose his trust...she needed friends right now more than ever. Being trapped alone in a den for hours on end without someone to talk to really messed up your mental state. It was like being stuck in a cage...but a little more comfortable. At least when your stomach wasn't turned against you.

To her relief she could spot a smile forming its way onto his lips. But it was only when his tail began to waver that she relaxed completely. Ah. He wasn't angry...maybe disappointed in her, but not angry. That was good. And he could still smile at her! Arivae tipped her head and smiled right back at him, her icy blue gaze lighting up. Leo! It's so good to see you! She replied with a slow wiggle of her tail. Now that she knew he wasn't totally mad at her, she had so many questions! Like, how Svetlana was or how his daughters were faring. How the new ranks were holding up...things like that. But first she had to answer his question. And apologize. Arivae huffed and smiled weakly.

I'd be lying if I said I was well. Lately I've been feeling pretty ill...but I shouldn't have skipped the meeting. I could have warned you I'd miss it...or I could have sucked it up and went. I'm really sorry. She turned her eyes to the ground. Or to her paws...the limbs that she was so familiar with because she stared at them so often. Leo really didn't have time for tiny slackers like her. He had pups, a wife, and an entire pack to look after. She couldn't waste his time like this.

He'd listen while Arivae apologized for her absence as well as explaining how she had been ill. He had kind of assumed as much, but she had disappeared for a time once before so it was good to hear that wasn't the case this time around. "It's okay, Arivae. I understand. Things do happen sometimes and I'm glad you came to me to explain." He smiled reassuringly and his tail brushed against the ground behind him. His expression grew a tad more serious for a moment as he added, "I do have to stick to your punishment for now though. I can't make exceptions. Even my mother was demoted for not attending the meeting. However, since you came to me and explained what happened at the beginning of Summer I'll consider your punishment over and you'll be in the Scholar rank once again." He smiled again with a soft chuckle. "I'm not too soft of a King am I?" "Talk" "You" Think

She totally understood why he had to keep her a commoner for the time being. She wasn't going to complain, she wasn't even going to ask why. She understood completely. The girl was just overjoyed to know he wasn't totally infuriated with her. He was still her good friend...thank goodness. Of course she was concerned for her rank! She wanted to be a scholar more than anything! But right now she was silently celebrating that Leo was still her friend, her buddy. The big orange goof ball that she could count on and look to for advice. Her tail patted at the ground softly. Thank you so much, Leo. She grinned, her blue gaze bright despite her body begging for sleep. What Leo said though...it made her giggle. He was good to his pack. He made exceptions, he was as sweet as ever. She couldn't ask for a better alpha. But soft? She knew he would get serious if need be. Arivae stuck her tongue out playfully. You're generous, not soft. She giggled. There was a difference.

He grinned and chuckled at her assurance that he was indeed generous but not soft as he had jokingly feared. Generous was an adjective that he would proudly accept. He liked to think that he was fair in his rules and judgement, but sometimes it felt like he wasn't tough enough. It seemed like he wasn't tough enough to keep wolves from wandering off or to get everyone to be involved. Though he wondered if being tougher would really help that or if it would just drive wolves away. "I'm glad you think I'm generous," he'd reply with a smile. "I think you're a good judge of character so I take that compliment very highly." He'd rise to his paws then and add, "I'll let you get back to your den now. I can tell you're tired. So don't worry any more about silly things like ranks and get some rest. I hope you feel better soon." With that, unless Arivae had something else to talk to him about, he'd turn and head back to spend some more time with his wife and children. "Talk" "You" Think