Mortis was trying so hard, but his efforts were more than underappreciated. Siren wouldn’t be easily appeased, her tears still sliding down her cheek as the yearling boy tried to convince her that he would provide her with whatever she needed, but her strife was still too much for him to understand. Siren opened her eyes as he talked through the days events as he knew them. ”You don’t know.” She returned as he asked why she would want to return. ”I was fine.” She was stubborn too, and wouldn’t give up her cover up. She would never mention her brother. ”I don’t need to be safe, I just need to be back where i was.” Siren cried softly as he gave her no other choices. He said please but she had to go with him.

She whined softly to herself as she shook her head in defeat. The tiny princess pulled herself to her paws with effort. She was too tired to fight him, and there was no place to return to in Ashen. She inhaled sharply as she tried to catch her breath, dual toned gaze flicking to Mortis. What had she done?

The exasperation was real, and he knew he wasn’t handling this right. A part of him wanted to cyr. Here he was, making his first big stand, doing what he thought was right, and the very victim he was protecting seemed to hate him for it.

He shook his head, clearing it, and his eyes, and took a deep breath. He needed help. He needed advice. But first, he needed to get Siren settled safely into her den.
“Did you… did you want a ride?” he asked softly, lowering his butt, just in case she did. When she had been even younger, she had really enjoyed galloping about on his back. Would that small memory of joy help?

Chimera had her conditioned much too well for Mort’s huge efforts to reach the poor child he was trying to save. In her mind she had to think of Chimera first, she had to think two steps ahead or more so she didnt miss anything or make him upset. Not that she would admit that task was impossible for any wolf. Siren wanted to make her brother happy, not just because of the consequences otherwise.

The boy had been at her for a long time, even in the days that Mortis used to take her for piggy back rides. He hadn’t forgotten, and neither did she though the memory wasn’t quite so clear anymore. Siren eyed the big yearling for a moment as she wobbled on her feet. She wasn’t going to make it to his den, so slowly the girl would approach him. Carefully Siren made her way onto his back, he was still big enough and she still small enough that she could lay on him comfortably. He wouldn’t have to go far before she fell asleep on his back.

He made sure he was down as low as he could, and made it easy for Siren to climb onto his back. He rose slowly, keeping his wings up on either side. Making a soft cushioned wall either side of him so she wouldn’t fall off. He barely made it a few steps before that Siren had fallen asleep. He walked very, very carefully after that. Trying not to jostle her, and feeling awfully rotten inside. He knew he had put her through misery trying to save her, but he didn’t see what else he could have done… He arrived at his new den, and awkwardly leaned against the wall, and then slid carefully down. Holding himself awkwardly upright so that Siren wasn’t jostled or moved. He wrapped the wing not against the wall up and over her like a blanket. It was hardly comforting, and he already felt stiff, but he ignored it all. Closing his eyes, he tried to get some shut-eye himself. Knowing he wasn’t going to move an inch well Siren slept so gently upon him. "Mortis""Siren"

Little Siren was exhausted, running here after being bitten by Chimera, only to be confronted with the biggest change of her tiny life. She was fast asleep as soon as Mortis took his first few steps. The young once princess wasn’t disturbed a bit by their trip but as he slowed and stopped in the den the lack of his rhythmic step brought her to half wakefulness. For a moment she was filled with avision, imaginging Chimera was the one who’s back she’d fallen asleep on. To her dismay she realized as she slid off his back, that it was Mortis who held her.

She sighed heavily as her tiny form curled against the groove of his neck and chest as she made herself comfortable again. She didn’t realize it now but he was the best thing to happen to her. All she knew was the fear of what her brother might do, but at the moment her sleepiness fed into the safe feeling that Mortis brought. No matter how much she resisted the change deep down the girl knew she could sleep soundly for the first time in a long time. She sighed heavily as she relaxed fully against him, snuggling up under his chin as she found sleep once more and peace for the very first time.

He was stiff and sleepy, so he was glad when Siren slid gently off him. She curved against his neck, her tiny frame fitting well there. He brought a wing around to gently envelope her. Offering protection, warmth, and comfort with the touch. He did not want her to be afraid. He wished he knew the right words to comfort her, to prove to her that this was a good thing.

Instead, he found himself drifting off to sleep, almost against his will. Exhausted himself after the mental struggles of dealing with her pain. With one last, deep sigh, the young winged wolf was gone. Drifting off to sleep with the gentle warmth of Siren against the crook of his neck, and fading dreams of building into his den everything she might ever want for.

-the next.. morning? evening? idk after they sleep-

She was warm when she woke up, that was the first thought that took her when she started to blink back sleepy eyes. The second thought was how relaxed, she couldn’t remember the last time she hadn’t woken with a start in the morning. The den was quiet and dark, being curled up beside Mort was almost pleasant for all of a second before she remembered what happened.

Siren was held tightly by Chimera mentally, and though they’d been apart for half a day now she was still terrified of his reaction. Mortis was huge, but she’d never felt his power. She knew Chimera all too well. The tiny princess shuddered lightly and sank back into Mortis’s fur. At least the sleep had brought more clarity to her mind. While she didn’t like where Mort had put her, the feeling of being safe was addicting.