Every part of his body still hurt, but he couldn't vegetate in the den any longer. He knew that he needed to get back to work and finish setting up the bar that sat beneath their den, but the task was daunting alone. He wasn't sure what Malachai was off doing, but figured that he probably wouldn't like Grim doing work down there anyway, so didn't bother telling him that morning. He didn't want to keep it from his love, but he also knew that he wouldn't let him work and would only want him to rest longer. Grim would do the same if the roles were reversed, but that didn't change his opinion on himself. Getting up and moving would be good for him, if nothing else. He would just have to take it easy, though that was something he already struggled with.

Stiffly he moved down the stairs and into the bar. It was dark, but he felt around until he found the tools to light a few of the torches on the walls. Malachai had been doing work down here, but there was still a lot that needed to be done. As he looked around the room he took a deep breath and let it out slowly, wondering where he should begin.

"Speech!"

Code © Skelle 2022 | Art © Kianxiety 2022

The Warlord stopped in often and checked on Grimshaw’s progress. The wolf's tumble had truly highlighted the dangers of the mountain, and the Warlord felt responsible for his current condition. After all, Sirius had taken them all from the familiar beach and dragged them to this once-distant mountain.

When he popped in this time, he found Grimshaw on the downstairs of the bar. The scent of the torches guiding him towards the Howler. “You look like you’ve got something on your mind” The Warlord said lightly as he stopped beside the younger Dire. He had a feeling Grimshaw was getting cabin fever. The Warlord knew how hard it could be to sit still…


"Speech"

He should've known that Sirius would come to the scent of the torches or the sounds of the movement, if not both. In his absence in patrols, he assumed the warlord or someone else had taken his post as marketplace guard so to see the aging man enter wasn't much of a surprise. He was about to greet the man when he spoke, his opened mouth closing into a smile and softly chuckled for a moment. "Where to start, for one," he laughed again as he gestured around the incomplete room. It would certainly take a while for it to be ready, though now that he was able to make decisions it would move along faster. He didn't expect Malachai to complete the bar by any means for him and was almost happy that the man hadn't spent his time stressing over something that could wait.

His mouth turned to frown briefly then and he looked to Sirius. He wasn't sure he'd ever apologized for falling down the mountain. It was irresponsible of him to chase that goat across the scree field but he had done it anyway, perhaps because he was young and in love and anything felt possible. He found out the hard way that it wasn't, though was at least lucky enough to survive. If he had apologized to the warlord, however, he certainly couldn't remember it and certainly didn't want to go on much further without apologizing if he hadn't. Besides, anything he said while he was drugged up and recovering wasn't as meaningful, at least he thought.

"I should've been more careful, I'm sorry Sirius," he said abruptly and looked over at the man. "It was foolish," he started and shook his head as he sighed, though perhaps his mistake could make an example of being irresponsible could look like. He didn't think the other's would be so foolish, but perhaps for the younger generations it would be wise to have some sort of safety course. It hadn't been the first time it crossed his mind, actually, but now seemed like as good of a time as any. "but, what do you think about a safety course? For the dangerous parts of the mountain, I mean.. like the scree field or for hunting up there," Maybe it was a mistake only he would make, but was it worth the risk of finding out the hard way?

"Speech!"

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The Warlord joined in the chuckle, looking about the space. There was much to do. It was Seer’s first impulse to offer helping hands to sort the place out, but he closed his mouth again. Working in here would be better then out in the cold with his healing body, and the work would help to strengthen him and keep him busy. “It’s enough to keep you going for a while” He agreed instead. “Write up a list of anything you need, and it will be brought to you” He promised.

Sirius shook his head at the apology. “It happens to the best of us Grim. I’m just glad that you're okay” at the mention of the mountain parts of the their territory, the Warlord considered it for a moment, and then shook his head. “I don’t want to encourage people up there. I haven’t claimed it as part of our territory, and the woods offer sufficient hunting space” He continued. The mountains were permanently cold, and treacherous. it wasn’t space they needed.


"Speech"

Grimshaw didn't mind working alone. It allowed him time to think and decide on things without outside pressure, but one could argue that it helped even if he didn't think so. He was sure Malachai would help if he asked him later, though asking was part of the problem. Grim wasn't the kind to ask for help, but he was neither the kind to push it away when he needed it.

"I'll make sure to do that," he responded with a nod, not even sure where to begin with such a list. He'd certainly need Malachai's help with that, making sure he wouldn't forget anything. Once the bar was built, it was just a matter of acquiring the alcohol or making it himself. Both options were being considered, however the man didn't have a clue of where to start. A mix of both seemed likely the best, a healthy combination of home brewed something-or-other and something foreign and special.

Grimshaw couldn't agree more with him in one aspect, however in another he saw the risk. While he wanted to prevent encouraging anyone up there, Grim felt that it was dangerous enough to at least warrant some kind of training but he'd push it no further. He didn't need any more work for himself with the bar and his recovery, and once both of those were settled he'd have even more work with his patrols and running the bar. He shrugged in response and looked back to the work. He didn't have much of a plan now, but he could come up with that while he cleaned... probably.

"Speech!"

Code © Skelle 2022 | Art © Kianxiety 2022