Ghosted [Baine]

Her uncertainty in what she would do now settled him into his own certainty. He would simply just have to be by her, to make up for the long years they’d been parted. He listened as she spoke, gentle sympathy in his eyes. He could understand her wanting Nolan to be able to enjoy his life instead of hovering over his mother, watching as she weakened and died. He knew that agony personally.

He knew Aurielle had, for the most part, managed to escape the majority of it. Here duties as Spirit kept her moving and busy, and distracted. She’d been absent when the last breath left Solveiga, though, and he knew she hurt deeply for that.

“If Tornach comes back from his venture, I’m sure you and he have much to talk about— you’re twins, after all. I may be the big brother, but he’s your littermate. If it’s alright with you, I’d like you to meet Faite’s kids too. Torin’s had his first litter—they’re yearlings now, I believe. One of his daughters visited not long ago.”

Her embrace was welcomed, like old times. He tucked her back under his chin and sighed, nodding at her request, but gently tightening his hug as she moved to leave.

“Stay? My furs are thick and comfortable enough, and I don’t think an alcove’s been set up quite yet.”

He released her and stepped away, nodding toward an alcove that wasn’t the one she’d come into the world inside but one over, visibly piled with thick furs, sheepskins and lined further with dried hay and herbs beneath them.