It was reassuring to know she wasn't completely alone in her misery, no matter how unfamiliar it was to her to reach out to another wolf for comfort. And to provide a shoulder to lean on, or simply an ear to listen, was something she was more than grateful to do. She was a healer at heart, accustomed to caring for others and aiding in their ailments.. and she knew not all pains were physical ones that could be cured with herbs and rest. Some ailments never faded at all, not completely, and only time and reflection could lessen their suffering -- she knew these pains all too well.
She found herself nearly smiling at Athena's words. "I could imagine," Ara agreed carefully. Her own parents had been quiet wolves, largely keeping to themselves, though she had heard tales of things her father had done in his younger years. She couldn't imagine being thought of as someone who'd done terrible things, though she thought - and hoped - that her father had changed after so long. Not that it mattered much now. "At least you tried to undo the harm. Hopefully that meant something to the wolves who he did wrong by." Ara offered a slow, uncertain shrug. Did Athena know her father had been held prisoner by Isardis? Luckily for him and his family, though it sounded a bit sad, his usefulness had been deemed low enough that he'd been released. He was not a prisoner that the Kingdom of Seracia would've put much on the line to get back, if anything at all. He'd been old even then, without much to offer to wolves beyond his family.
"Do you remember seeing my father there, when you were young? He wasn't held there for long." She was suddenly curious, nostalgic about her parents, and her eyes gleamed hopefully as she looked sideways at Athena. "His name was Bronze. He was a bit larger than me, with tan fur and a big scar running down his eye." She felt suddenly bad for bringing it up, despite her curiosity; she doubted Athena liked the thought of wolves her father had held as prisoner, but then again it'd been war, and nothing had been off-limits from either side.
She felt her heart lurch at the thought of Athena's family falling apart. "I.. can relate," the woman offered simply, timidly. Though she had noticed that Amalia had been scarce, but she didn't know to what extent. "I suppose it's all part of life, but it doesn't make it hurt any less." Ara leaned to press her nose very briefly to the other woman's shoulder, offering an empathetic smile - though she pulled away just as quickly, unsure if she was overstepping any boundaries. She didn't tend to be a very affectionate wolf, not in that way, but it seemed Athena was hurting and she hoped her company might lessen the burden, even if just slightly.
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