Emer had kept to herself so far, for starters she was still a little too nervous to introduce herself to the pack, though additionally she had been feeling a little sick. She had hoped that perhaps there could be some other reason behind, a simple illness that would go away soon enough and whilst it had passed now, she could feel that she had gained rather than lost weight during this period, her stomach was growing. There was no denying it, she was pregnant. The realisation certainly hadn't done anything to calm her nerves. This wasn't the way she had planned on starting a family, to have children would certainly be wonderful but with a loving mate not like this. She could still hardly bare to speak of the incident, the trauma hadn't left her and still haunted her dreams, disturbing her sleep. She figured at some point she would need to speak to Erani about her situation, hope that there was room for what she supposed would be her future children though still Emer didn't have the courage to leave the den she had taken residence in, located a little out of the way from most of the pack in Vericona Plains and towards the outer edges of the territory. Sooner or later she was bound to run into someone new from the pack, though for now she just wanted her space to adjust to the new home and her terrifying news.

The coolness of the earth reflected upon the early morning, with the faintest drops of dew still fresh against the grass and the quite of the brutes paws broken against the light crunch that sounded underfoot. It was not enough to disturb the early morning roaming?s of the prey he sought as his steps brought him within sight of the ferret that paused, nose twitching against the wind. Muscles would still, head would lower as he waited for the ferret searching to turn up empty, when at last the creature turned its back on him and sniffed against the undergrowth he would pound forward, paws trampling against fur and jaws snapping quickly about its neck. In moments, the prey would be held limply against his jaws and his steps would start up once more, bringing him in the direction of a den.

He had known there was a newcomer within the pack, which was hardly surprising, considered the influx that had flowed to Valhalla in the rest weeks. It had been on passing however that he had caught her scent and known it immediately for what it was; pregnancy. Alpine always went out of his way to look after the mothers of the pack, and the fact that there was no mate nor brother in the picture to aid her only strengthen his resolve to take her under his wing. He did not even know her name but in the cool breath of morning air he was there anyway, outside the safety of her den and stretching lightly at the surface of the wolf as he ?woofed? a light greeting and put the prey down against the entryway and stood back, his tail wagging lightly behind him as he waited with a tilted head and half a smile to see if she would come out and say hello. If not, he of course leave her both the prey and solitude, but he hoped she would show a little more life than that.

She was thankful at least that the air had begun to cool a little more, Autumn was here and the Summer heat had subsided. There wasn't much good about her situation, though at least she it seemed likely she wouldn't become overheated during her pregnancy. All the same though, Emer didn't stray too far from her den. She'd hunted a little for herself though truth be told her appetite still wasn't quite back to normal despite the fact that deep down she knew she should probably be eating better. Her diet seemed like the least of her worries though. Her days for the most part were relatively peaceful and uneventful, something that she probably needed and deserved given her situation. Only her own thoughts and worries plagued her life these days and she had stirred quite some time ago, unable to find sleep once more. She longed for further rest, though the black male haunted her still and each time she closed her eyes the vision only grew clearer in her mind after such nightmares. Perhaps it was time to give in and rise then, the early hours might mean that prey would be easier to find so she swiftly return to her sanctuary. Of course this morning would apparently be a little different it seemed, just as she had risen to her feet and stretched, she would find herself with company at the entrance of her den. By scent alone she knew that the man was a stranger to her, though there was the scent of food as well. Her stomach probably ought to have growled slightly, eager and ready to eat though instead it twisted slightly, worries still making her a little queasy and the presence of a stranger certainly not helping. She could recall Erani's words though, welcoming her to the family that was the Valhalla. Sooner or later she was going to have to meet some of them and those she'd met from the pack so far had been nothing but nice to her. With a deep breath, she continued her original movements, stopping as she hit the entrance and the male came into view. She stood there silently, not entirely sure she wanted to speak first, though her gaze acknowledged the man with a soft and innocent look behind the tired signs of wear from her traumatic time.

The fae would venture from her den and find him there, and the light wag of his tail would still, although the warmth in his face would not fae. This was his first real look of the stranger he had decided to look out for. He could see it in her eyes, see the similarities to the pain within them that he had scene in Twig and his stomach would drop. He knew Twig had had a hard time with her pregnancy, that it had been drowned with depression and that perhaps that stress had been the caught of her stillborn child. He looked into Emer?s eyes and knew that he would rather die than see this woman suffer as his best friend Twig had, knew that he had failed Twig in being unable to save her from that pain, and knowing he could not and would not allow himself to fail here with Emer, he would do everything he could to relieve her of stress and worry, to make this easy for her.


He moved now to nudge the fresh kill with a paw knowing he had fallen to silence for too long ?This is for you, if you want it. I?m sorry if I intruded, I wanted to introduce myself to you and welcome you to Valhalla, I?m Alpine?
He spoke perhaps in overly cheerful tones to make up for the sadness that seemed to shroud her. His tail would start up again in a light wag behind him as he seated his rump politely against the ground. ?And to offer you my company if you wanted someone to talk to or show you around? he offered forth now.

He simply stood there looking at her for a moment, and the combination of the stare and the silence seemed rather awkward to Emer so much so she almost considered doing one of two things; being the first to speak, or just heading back inside in hopes he'd leave her alone. Truthfully the quiet probably felt like it had dragged on for longer than it actually had though she was grateful when the white man suddenly spoke. ?This is for you, if you want it. I?m sorry if I intruded, I wanted to introduce myself to you and welcome you to Valhalla, I?m Alpine. And to offer you my company if you wanted someone to talk to or show you around? His words actually shocked her a little, certainly not expecting anything of the sort. It was truly a completely kind gesture; bringing a stranger food and welcoming her to the pack when she hadn't made the effort to meet any of them herself. Having her own space now though was certainly rather comforting and the shelter her den offered her was from more than simply the weather. "Thank you." She responded, finding her words again. "I'm Emer." As for the company or the tour, she wasn't really sure she wished for either, though Alpine's caring manner left her feeling somewhat guilty about even thinking about turning down his offer. Somewhat hesitantly she lifted a paw and then took another couple of steps until she was completely out of her den. "I don't really talk much, but you may stay if you like."

Having already broken the silence with words of his own, the fae would now offer forth her own. He listened for traces of sadness within her tones, but she seemed to hold them in a steady gentleness. She had thanked him for his efforts and he would at last learn her name Emer and he we offer forth a gentle smile from his maw. She would move fully from her den now and he would himself take a step back from the den offer her more room. She said nothing about a tour of the terratory but instead ackowledged his offer of company.


He would take a seat again thinking about her words of silence and see that she had little interest in the world for the moment. He wondered again at her story and would hide a sigh, thinking of how he wished that he could have somehow helped this wolf also, before she had become this way, wishing not for intrusion and wanting quite in her words. He didn't really bother with startig a conversation, instead he would look from her to the sky and say in a soft whisper, almost to himself ?looks like it will be a nice day? he would look again at her, and wish that he could tell the same for her future, but know also that it wasn't his place.


Ooc: Super muselss today, dunno why.. sorry! <3

Emer had certainly become far more withdrawn over the past year. Her isolation from not belonging to a pack had definitely driven a wedge between her and her kind and it'd taken a drastic action to scare her into seeking comfort from others. She was still affected by the crime though of course, and with a combination of her reclusive nature and fear of others it'd take a while for her to settle in here. Acts like this, reminders that there were other kindly souls out there could only help, though it'd still be a slow progress in the long run. ?Looks like it will be a nice day? His words were rather quiet, even more so than her own softly spoken responses. Her gaze twisted from him, mimicking his actions as she peered up towards the sky. The hot summer was dying away at last, though the weather seemed that it may be fairly warm today. "Yes, I guess it does." She responded idly. His comment had been so quiet in the first place there almost seemed little point in replying. She had heard his words though, and with it being rude to ignore him, her own quiet tones couldn't help but say something back, even if it did little for any sort of conversation, though she was never the greatest at contributing in the first place.

image by serendipity

His eyes would take in the clear and open sky above them, and the glows from the early morning sun, he could feel himself almost humming with a smile as his thoughts moved about in his head. Lost as he was in the past he almost did not catch the soft words of the other, spoken in reply to his idle observation. He found his eyes darting back to her again, taking in her autumn colours and slowly growing stomach. It would seem that the family that was Valhalla was constantly growing, and it was the least he could do to hunt for the growing mothers any chance he could.


He could sense her need for isolation, catch it in her weary face and in the few words she graced him with. He would bob his head to her again in a polite and friendly gesture. ?Well, Lady Emer I just wanted to welcome you to the pack and let you know I will always answer your call if you need something. If your ever up for exploring this pack, that too I can help you with. In the mean time, i'll leave you to your food and the day? He would say poltily, sensing that his presence was making her uncomfortable and that despite his kind gestures she really did just want to be left alone. So again, wanting nothing more then to make her feel welcome and comfortable he would step back, making to depart but looking towards her one last time to see if there was anything else she might add.

The isolation was simply something that Emer had grown rather used to in her time alone. It probably shouldn't have been quite so difficult to integrate herself back into society but it'd been so long and certainly not an easy life as of late, it ought to be quite understandable that she still wished for space. That being said she did need to make an effort, something she was attempting to do here though she wasn't aware quite how badly she was doing at that until Alpine spoke once more. ?Well, Lady Emer I just wanted to welcome you to the pack and let you know I will always answer your call if you need something. If your ever up for exploring this pack, that too I can help you with. In the mean time, i'll leave you to your food and the day? She'd actually almost forgotten about the food though his mention of it was a reminder that she ought to eat something, especially as he had kindly brought it to her; it really would be a shame to waste it after such a lovely gesture. "Thank you again Alpine." She responded, the words genuine though for his understanding as well as his help. She did hope she hadn't come across as rude, when her confidence increased she would have to make it up to him somehow but for now this was all she could offer.

Eyes would stay upon her form until she found her words, she would thank him then, within her soft tones and he could hear the genuine effect held within them. He felt another wave of sadness for all that might have befallen this wolf, with undertones of sweetness hidden beneath her weariness, her uncertainty with interactions. He would, once again, lower his head to her in that way of his and offer her a light smile that would fall across his lips. His azure eyes would appraise her one more time before he turned with a light wag of his tail and say his last peace. ?You don't have to worry any more Emer, you truly will be fine here? It was a promise as much as it was a reassurance and with that last sentence he would turn and spring away.

- Exit Alpine -

Such horrible fates shouldn't befall any wolf in her mind, it destroyed the good in one way or another or would likely only make the bad worse. She wouldn't pity herself though, there was no space for any such thoughts within her pained mind. Though she probably should have felt anything but at the moment, beyond the fear she simply felt empty. ?You don't have to worry any more Emer, you truly will be fine here? She smiled softly as he spoke and then began to leave. "I hope so" She murmured softly to herself. For so long she had been feeling lost though she had certainly felt even more so as of late. Once more she was grateful Jinxx had found her, certain she probably would have been beyond any hopes of recovery without the care he, Erani and now Alpine had shown her. There was still a long way to go before she was even close to ok but she was certainly taking baby steps in the right direction.