I can't destroy what isn't there

The Warlord was constantly pushed from Zee’s side as his wife had visitor after visitor. The teary goodbye and well wishing was almost more than he could bear. Keeping it from the kids was… It tore at him, but he understood. They were so young, and Zee so weak. They would both spare them from it a little longer, and hoped the children forgave them… him.

Heart heavy, the Warlord made his way to the infirmary, peeking in to find Gwyn there. He nodded at the healer, having come to know her these past few days as she saw to his wife constantly. He both appreciated the kindness and help she gave his wife, and hated her for not being able to perform miracles. “Do you have a moment?” he asked, the Warlords tone was normally commanded, but he managed to soften it into a request this time. Through… he barely waited for an answer before leaving, expecting her to follow. Some habits were easy to fall into when you were grieving a wolf who hadn’t yet died. He found Art and Briar next, and nodded his head towards the Alpha. His expression was tight from grief. “Art, Briar?” he said, beckoning the others to join them. Once he had the two leaders and the healer he looked to them. “What I’m about to say stays between us. I know I am not in a position to order any of you, so I ask it of you, from friendship and family.”


"Speech"

Gwynevere lifted her gaze from her work as Sirius approached her, the former Warlord now a familiar face after the last few days of treating his wife as best as she could manage. The passage of life was so strange. She vaguely remembered him from the friendship he had with her mother and now to have him here in this capacity felt like such a shift and a mark of just how much things had changed. She was surprised when he asked her if she had a moment, but she nodded and replied, "Of course," and began to follow him out of the room. She had no idea where he might be taking her, but soon enough she spotted Briar and Art speaking quietly to one another, her brother and sister-in-law both looking up toward them as they approached. She settled in near Art, sitting back on her haunches so that she could see the three of them easily. As Sirius began to speak, saying how what he had to say was to stay between the four of them, her brow furrowed a bit with concern and confusion. With everything that was going on she really wasn't sure where this was going, but after a glance toward her brother she looked back to Sirius with a nod, waiting to see what was going on.

"Gwynevere Carpathius"

Briar stood with Art, whispering back and forth in Carpathian as they began to make plans for how they were going to keep all of the children in the castle entertained and cared for while her parents dealt with her mother's dire condition. She knew the end was coming far faster than any of them could really prepare for and much more suddenly than anyone was ready for, but if she could at least give her siblings and family even a slight feeling of home and comfort through all this then she was desperate to do it. She had taken to talking about these things with Art in his family's language just to make sure a wandering pup didn't accidentally over hear, but she caught a glimpse of her father approaching with Gwynevere and she paused, turning to face them with dread that something else had happened. Instead, as her father got their attention, he said that what he was going to say was to stay between them. Regardless of whether or not he could command them to do so, she had no intentions of speaking on things he didn't want said. She nodded and replied, "Of course, dad. Whatever you need. What is it?"

"Briar Carpathius"

Zee was dying. The news had come as a devastating blow that arrived seemingly out of nowhere. When word had reached him from Gwynevere and Briar, Artorias could scarcely believe it. Zee had seemed fine from what he could tell, but now that it was confirmed that their time with Briar's mother, his mother-in-law, was limited, it felt like he was reliving a piece of terrible history. Artorias had not left Briar's side since finding out about the diagnosis. The couple were talking in hurried whispers to one another in Carpathian as they walked the halls of the castle, trying to keep their conversation about Zee away from prying ears of innocent pups. They didn't need to expose their children to the grim realities of life so soon after meeting their maternal grandmother.

Their pacing and planning was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Sirius and Gwynevere from the other end of the hall. Artorias regarded his father-in-law with empathetic eyes and a dip of his head. He didn't know any words he could offer to comfort the Warlord, but he would do his damnedest to make this process as less burdensome as he could, for him and the entire Fatalis family. At Seer's call, he and Briar diverted course to form a close circle of the four wolves so they could speak discreetly. Sirius began by begging their discretion in the matter, that what they discuss remain between them. It was an easy request to abide. "Of course," Artorias replied. "What can we do for you and Zee?"

"Artorias" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Eira" | "Argent"