M;; For the potty mouths of Bells and Ears.

The days in Winterfell came and went as Bellamy waited for her leg to heal back to proper strength. Days that, for the most part, she chose to hide away, save for the company of her companions, as she attempted to watch what was considered normal pack life here. If she was being honest she wasn’t quite sure what to make of them yet… these pack wolves. The level of care they seemed to have among their own groups… it reminded her of how she was with Ears and Whiskers.  The badger and devil were her family, or at least the only family she had now…

Being in a pack had stirred something in Bellamy. Parts of her long buried, bits of her past she tried to spress, would flash into her mind when she tried to rest. It made her sleeping sporadic at best as time went on. Whiskers, who already worried for the young wolf, grew more concerned. Even as her leg healed it seemed she was more troubled than before… she was quiet… and when Bells was quiet there was something truly bothering her.

Ears picked up on it too. His snarky comments had died down and he spent most of his time practically glued to Bellamy’s hip. She found herself more grateful for their presence than ever, especially when she woke up, never really sure if from just a memory or a nightmare in sweats and needing to be close to them.

She was remembering her parents…

...the littermates she should have had…

...and their deaths.

She couldn’t remember their names, not yet at least, but every time their faces flicked into her memory, even for a second, it made Bellamy feel cold as a sickness settled in her gut. The Kedieo Empire… Lyenne… wolves and a land damned three times over. It was their fault that her family had been stolen from her… and for what cause? A couple additional luxuries for a spoiled empress and her kin for the blood spilt? Hardly an even exchange.

She had slipped out of the den though not unnoticed for long. Ears was at her side within a few pawsteps away from it. He didn’t say anything but Bells could feel his smaller form quiver as he brushed against her foreleg.

“I’m fine…” Her words were weary though she tried to reassure him.

She hadn’t slept well the night prior.

“...maybe a nap though?” His words were quiet as she met his gaze.

Bellamy’s expression softened slightly and she gave him a light bap on the head. “No chance, asshole. Come on, you’re babysitting me today.” The she wolf turned from the den and began to pad through Winterfell lands.

“...and if Whiskers asks this was your idea.” Despite her being tired there was that certain tease to her tone that was familiar. A tone that let Ears know she was feeling like herself.

“Oh yeah? Fuck that! I’m not getting in trouble cause you’re being irresponsible!” A short pause. “. . . where we going anyway?”

---

Before too long both wolf and devil found themselves where the S.S. Antiox had run aground so long ago. Bellamy stood, frozen, in awe of the vessel. The exterior reminded her of some of the things found deep in the mines near where she had been born. She furrowed her brow, flicked her ears back against her skull, and glared at the thing for a moment before she shifted uneasily. She didn’t like what she was feeling… as if another of those memories was trying to claw to the surface…

“We should go.” There was a hardness in her tone… yet Bells couldn’t seem to break her gaze from the vessel. She didn’t want to remember…

...and yet she craved to know what really happened…

...her family…

...why she was alone…

She knew the soldiers had killed her parents… but… what of her sisters?

She... she remembered faces now... flashes of smile... feelings of warmth...

...why weren't they here?

He'd been coming back from seal hunting, the youth grinning as he carried a young adult harp seal in his mouth. His patience in waiting for it to come up from the sea had paid off, and the moment its head had come up, he managed to grab it by the nose and suffocate it. Heading back to the ship, the fiery youth wanted to take it to his den and use the fur as a crafting piece, though...he still wasn't sure what he wanted to make with it. Perhaps he'd seek the help and advice of his uncle since he knew his uncle was pretty good at crafting and of course, he was old. So who better to get advice from?

As he approached the ship, he spotted Bellamy staring up at it. His pace slowed, ears falling back as he eventually stopped. Well shit...should he avoid her? Go around her? Pretend he hadn't seen her? He didn't think any of those were good options. He did feel bad for piercing her leg with his antlers...he had apologized for that after his uncle had gotten involved. Since then, he had steered clear in case she was still pissed at him. But then again, he was just doing what he was supposed to! It wasn't his fault she had trespassed! Fixing his grip on the seal, he got an idea. Maybe she'd like some lunch? After all, he didn't intend on really eating that much. Most of the carcass was gonna be left for someone else to eat if they were hungry. But since they were both here, might as well right? Sharing was caring and all that.

He decided to approach, his steps loud enough in the snow so that she'd know he was coming. And even if she looked his direction at some point, he was really hard to miss with his bright coat. When he got close enough, he dropped the seal and wiped the blood from his mouth. "Hi Bellamy...um...I'm sorry again about your leg...I didn't mean to hurt you that bad," He cleared his throat and glanced down at his kill. "I uh...I have this seal I just caught. Are you hungry?"

The female was quiet, hardly noticing the arrival of Incendio. Ears noticed though, gaze turning to the male… but upon realizing Bells didn’t respond to his presence at all the devil frowned.

“Yo, Bells. You in there?” He asked, glancing between the she-wolf and the male.

Bellamy was standing there… but her mind was elsewhere.

---Flashback Start---

“I’m sorry about your leg…” The high-pitched, squeaky voice of the other female was not that of an adult, no, but a child. A younger Bellamy backed away from another dark pup, ears flat against her skull, as she realized the damage she had done.

“I-It’s okay…” The other she-pup gave a small, pained smile. “It d-doesn’t hurt… really!” She was lying, and Bells knew it.

“But it’s bleeding… we should take you to see mom and dad…”

“N-no! I’m fine!” The other pup took a step and winced. She gritted her teeth through the pain and spoke again. “Dad will be mad if he finds out you were too rough again…”

“I know… but…” Bellamy whined again.

“A-and we’re in his workshop… we’re not supposed to play here…”

“I know! I know…” The female shuffled on her paws.

“But it’s not worth it… what if your leg ge--” A rumble from the earth cut Bellamy off.

Then the world began shaking violently. Her sister fell to the Earth and Bellamy was barely able to keep her balance as the world angrily seemed to go against her decision.

“Cammie!” Bells screamed her sister’s nickname as a large rock fell near her sister. Mint green eyes widened with horror as another rock fell between them, Bells barely getting missed. Her view of her sister was cut off immediately… but she heard Camilla scream back at her.

“Run Belle!”

“I can’t leave you!” She tried to get around the large rock but more stones were falling around her. Her path was quickly blocked as more began piling up.

“Cammie! CAMMIE!!!”

---Flashback End---

Bellamy yelped as Ears bit into her paw and spun towards him with a snarl. Tears had started to form in her eyes during the memory… and now they stung as she glared down at the devil.

“What’s wrong with you? You’re being weird.” Ears was frowning deeply, looking at her uneasily. “You’re crying again…”

Bells drew back, attempting to turn away when she laid eyes on Incendio. Oh shit… How long had he been there?

“Oh…” Her ears flicked back with uncertainty and Bellamy glanced at Ears questioningly.

“He apologized about your leg… is offering you some food… Do you need to see Drifa again or something?”

“No.” She countered that quickly. No more healers.

Her gaze returned to Incendio and she cleared her throat.

“Just uhm… don’t worry about it. Stuff… it happens.” Bellamy averted her gaze.

Her sister… why did she remember that now…?

“I’m not really hungry right now…”

The rumble from her stomach said otherwise though.