the downward spiral

Valentine studied his mate quietly for several seconds. Had she been able to see his face she would have found his expression unreadable. In all honesty he wasn’t sure how to feel. Mostly he was just tired now. He wanted to be angry with her and to scold her for her reckless behavior that was now preventing him from parenting his young children, but the part of him that recognized she’d led a hard life kept him in check. Though he loved her dearly Valentine couldn’t deny Rhythm’s Destruction blood and the weakening effect it so clearly had on those who possessed it. He couldn’t fault her for her lack of fortitude, but he could love her despite it. Valentine would do what he could to help her. He owed her that much.

It looked like Rhythm was going to try to hobble all the way to the den, but Valentine found the idea of a drunk and blind old lady bumbling through the woods with him at her side repugnant. She was going to have to do all of the hard parts of this process on her own, but here he would help her. He would be remiss if he didn’t. More than anything else he wanted her to know that he did care and he wasn’t helping her sober up out of obligation.

“Look old lady,” he said gently, his brusque words not matching his tone in the slightest. “I appreciate the gumption but you aren’t walking there.” He then strode to her, crouched down and slid under her ribs so that she lay across his back. He then stood and gingerly began to walk to her den under the tree.