-Set before he goes back to Valta-

Emotions were something that Mortis always seemed to struggle with. He got overwhelmed easily, and didn’t seem to know how to deal with them. Losing friends had been hard, losing his mother was nearly catastrophic. He felt lost at sea without an anchor. Being home was both better, and worse. Here he had his family, but also here he had the empty spaces where she used to be.

His tree house was… occupied. He grinned a little at the scent of Hazel and Basilisk in every crack and corner of it. Those two yearlings seemed to be enjoying their freedom as flatmates. He wondered if there was a little something more between them…

He stepped back off the entrance and down to the tree beneath. Here was where Halo lived, and he knocked gently at her door. “Halo, you in?” He asked softly.


"Speech"

Though Halo seems to feel everything with unmatched depth and intensity, she's struggled to have time lately. Between Hanako's recovery, patching up the Armada's fighters from intensive training, and working on the yearlings' skills, it seemed like around every corner there was something that needed her attention. There hadn't been time for the grey to seep in around the edges, something Halo was thankful for. There hadn't been time for the good feelings either. No good, no bad, just Halo putting her head down and focusing on what needed to be done.

Even with her best friend back in the Armada, she hadn't actually gotten to spend time with him. Outside of that awful day with Hana, they'd both been busy doing so many other things... Halo felt guilty about that, too. She'd been so excited that he'd come back, but that excitement was short lived. Maybe the grey was here after all, it had simply evolved. Halo didn't know.

As Halo neared her den with a large basket of freshly picked herbs and vegetables from the gardens, she saw a familiar figure at her doorway. Softly, she smiled. He was knocking at the frame where the door had been over the winter, and now a large piece of deerskin was stretched. "I am now," the small, soft creature called to him. She set the heavy basket down at the doorway, unwinding the piece of rawhide that held the door in place. "Come in, it's good to see you. Tea?" Warmth, familiarity. Halo's den is the same cozy, cluttered affair as always. She tugged aside the door and set about dragging the heavy basket inside.

"Halo"

Mortis startled in surprise as a voice came from behind him. He turned, and there she was. He felt himself smiling at the small white wolf. He stretched out his wings, and nudged her gently with the end of one of them as she came into reach. “So you are.” He agreed, eying her cautiously. She didn’t seem to be upset at him, as so many wolves in the Armada seemed to be as of late.

Perhaps he just struggled with such a strong feeling of displacement, that it was easy to see it in the eyes of those around him. “Please” He said as she offered him tea, and made her way around him to the door. As she messed with the ties to the rawhide, he reached a wing around her back, wrapping it about her in a quick, signature Mort-hug before releasing her. “Here, let me” He said as she tried to drag the heavy basket in. Keeping his paws busy was good.


"Speech"

Halo is happy to melt into the hug, tucking her face softly against Mort's neck. This is safety, this is comfort. Something about him always left her feeling better about... pretty much everything. For someone who struggled with a sense of belonging, she finds that when she's with Mort, she belongs right here. That's comfort. "Thank you," her response to him carrying her basket is sheepish. Halo smiles softly.

She sets about putting water on for tea before turning her attention to her best friend. "How have you been?" The words are soft, her gaze keen on his face. "It's nice to have you home." The words were tender, soft. Halo turns back to pouring water over herbs, and pulling snacks down to set out on the table.

"Halo"

He pushed the busket somewhere out of the way in the small den and found himself a seat. He watched as she poured the water for the tea and he made a small face at her words. “I don’t really want to go back” He said, voice quiet. He knew the admission would be a disappointment to Kotori, but he didn’t feel like he belonged in his brother's pack. He missed it here.

He missed being around Halo, and this tree house. Of inviting wolves into the Armada. It had been so easy when he was a child. He remembered the ease in which he had gotten to know everyone around him. Now… No he felt like he was falling, always. He didn’t know how to save himself. He didn’t know who he was any longer. “I’ve been… I don’t know, getting by, I guess.” He didn’t want to lie to her with false assurances.


"Speech"

To have him back here, handling the heavy things, helping around her den... it was like nothing had changed. It was like nothing had changed and everything had changed all at once, and Halo couldn't help but feel those thoughts as they weighed heavily on her mind. In her chest. Her heart was so heavy with it. Why did she feel this way? You know why. Right. She knows why. Still, Halo won't put those thoughts into words. She can't. She won't. Without really looking at her best friend, the girl set a cup of tea down in front of him. Quickly, she turned to begin rummaging through the basket of vegetables, beginning to sort them. Had to keep her hands busy.

Halo tried to chase the emotion from her voice when she spoke next. "You never told me why you left in the first place," the words are quiet. It's not a judgement, more of a question. Why did her chest ache at the thought of him leaving again? Her best friend the world over, and he'd be leaving her again. The thought of it hurt more than she'd say. She wouldn't hurt Mortis in the process, she couldn't. Still, it was hard to push down the sadness, the lump in her throat.

Getting by, he says. Her ears wilt a bit, though she kept her focus on the dandelions she was sorting. Feeling adequately calm from the previous moment's emotion, the healer lays them carefully on the rough-hewn table, piles of greens, piles of roots and stems, piles of blossoms. The ones to be processed somewhere in the middle, working away at the heap of them. "What's wrong?" Maybe Halo was prying, but she can't help him feel better if he doesn't talk about it. Tone gentle, lavender gaze finally settling softly on his face for just a moment. Trying to get a read on his feelings, searching for them.

"Halo"

Mortis frowned, he didn’t exactly like to speak bad of his father. Perhaps it wouldn’t come across that way, if he could swallow back his resentment. “When Kotori established his pack - Valta - Sirius sent me to help support him. He didn’t give a defined return date, just sent me off, promised me away” Okay, maybe the resentment did bleed through a little.

Halo’s soft eyes were on him. There was no judgement in her words, only fondness. Understanding. Her eyes on her work, when Mortis lifted his gaze from his own tea. “I’m going to ask Kotori if I can come back. His pack is established now, and I can’t let Sirius dictate where I live forever.” He said, though it came out with a sigh. He was feeling restlessness, and struggling to find where he belonged. But despite his feelings for his dad, he had always felt he belonged in the Armada.


"Speech"

Halo’s assessment of the man before her is careful. Very careful. She knows Mortis well, at this point. Their friendship was among her most dear. She’s seen him through turbulence with his father before, and the edge in his tone of voice wasn’t lost on her. She nodded softly as he spoke, considering. Halo suspected she knew the reason that Mortis was the one sent with Kotori, and she couldn’t help but feel guilty over it. Time had slipped through their fingers last year, a chain of events that could disrupt even the best laid plans of mice and men.

The idea of Mort returning home was a promising one. Something about the resolve in his voice, it brings Halo’s gaze to settle on her best friend before her. “Is there anything I can do to help? With Sirius, at least?” Her voice was soft. Halo isn’t entirely sure what she’d do or say, but if it meant Mort would be comfortable and welcome at home again? Hell, she would move mountains.