nobody knows how the story ends
He smiled as thoughts of his growing children played in his mind as his icy paws carried him over the borders of Abaven. Patrolling was a good way to keep his mind from the dark corners he so regularly sought.
Shaye had sought him out the other day, and found him at Darilnor’s grave. The conversation had not been as productive as Shaye had thought it would be, but they’d aired out more than one concern. They still weren’t back to the way things had been, but they were back on course at least.
Rhyme paused to mark the border and Solitude landed on his shoulders with a flurry of wings and a gentle alert that they had company.
Acere
Master Fighter (275)
Master Intellectual (245)
Knight
13+ Years
Male
131
Dragon Mod
He had been distancing himself from Abaven. A decision that weighed heavily on his mind and heart. He couldn't deny that he would miss the pack. Miss Shaye and the friendship that they had started to forge. But he knew he couldn't stay. His ideals and hers clashed too much, and he wasn't one to stay under those who wished to control him and berate him for every decision he made. He had decided he wouldn't be one of those wolves anymore...not after what had happened in his birth pack. Granted, Abaven was far from that sort of thing, but he simply just couldn't remain somewhere feeling like he'd be walking on eggshells. His dispute with his nephew was his alone, not Shaye's. He, of course, didn't like the fact that she stepped in and took control of the whole thing. He had a plan that he had set into motion, and she had come and ruined it. Hell, she hadn't even asked him what his plan was. And that alone was enough to make him believe that her words she said the day he had become emotionally vulnerable were just meant to try and make him feel better.
Now though, he didn't feel like there was any truth to them.
Acere returned after several days of scouting Northern lands. He shook off any lingering snow or debris from his coat as he approached Abaven borders. He stopped before them for a moment, suddenly feeling like he was a stranger that didn't belong. He toed the line, and with a heavy sigh, he just stood there for a long moment. He wasn't so sure that he wanted to return. But he wouldn't abandon Abaven the way his brother had abandoned Ruina. So instead, took off to find some water and hoped that a few more minutes would calm his thoughts.
As he returned to the border again, he spotted Rhyme marking them. Crimson gaze watched the man, remembering that he had also been a victim of Shaye's shaming and embarrassment that day. He, of course, hadn't told anyone else what had gone through his mind that day. And considering Rhyme and Shaye's affairs...he could only guess that the alpha pair had worked it out. They were mates, after all. Or so he still assumed. They had tried to keep the whole thing a secret, but keeping secrets never worked very well. Especially in such a large pack. And especially when those secrets were shared. Still, he would keep quiet about it. What Abaven did wouldn't be any of his concern for much longer, anyway. The alabaster titan approached the border, acting like he hadn't just been standing there moments ago and drew closer to Rhyme with a polite dip of his head. "Rhyme. How are you?"
They were still pack mates for now. Rhyme was still his alpha. So he would continue to be polite and respectful while maintaining his distance and decided it would be best for him to speak to them as if they were acquaintances, and nothing more.
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With Solitude’s warning Rhyme knew someone was out there watching, and by the raven’s tone also knew the presence was a friendly. The Slate alpha wasn’t one to go rooting around in the member’s business and continued on about his own tasks until the wolf wished to make their presence known. Or not.
In all honesty he hadn’t thought much about what the wolves of Abaven thought of him now that they knew the parentage of his two daughters. He was a novice healer, he knew the dangers of continued inbreeding. At the same time he couldn’t have been more proud of the little accidents he’d made with Shaye that day. Though he had felt embarrassed at being called out on multiple fronts in front of every wolf in Boreas and Auster he couldn’t deny how real his feelings for Shaye had been. Now though, with everything that had happened it hurt to much to acknowledge it. They weren’t together, their small stint of bliss had been cut short and Rhyme felt better pretending it had never happened. Except for Motif and Poem.
Those two and their siblings were what kept him going, they were the only reason he was still in an alpha position today. Rhyme had been forced to forget his shortcoming and focus on being better. He worked harder and expected more out of himself than the day before.
He pulled his head up from the greening ground at the sound of approaching footsteps. He’d lost himself in thought, but at least he had pushed his sorrow of Darilnor to the side. The man tried to keep himself immersed in raising his offspring and continuing to better his pack. Otherwise he tended to lose sight of what was really important.
Acere greeted him politely, his head dipping as he offered a simple greeting. Shaye had mentioned the pale warrior’s upcoming plans, and Rhyme wondered how long he might be subject to Abaven’s rule. ”Hello, Acere.” He offered in polite if not somber vocals. ”Better than I deserve.” Rhyme added in answer to the question that had followed. ”I hear you have ambitious plans ahead of you and your charges.” He mentioned, implying both the young foxes and his niece and nephew. Losing his apprentice would be the hardest of it all. The boy held huge amounts of potential and Acere was lucky to have him.
Acere
Master Fighter (275)
Master Intellectual (245)
Knight
13+ Years
Male
131
Dragon Mod