This night ain't for the faint of heart

Ulric smiled softly as Lillith leaned into his shoulder, shifting into her touch as well and enjoying the gentle reassurance and affection they offered one another in the simplest ways. He loved his children dearly, every single one, but Lillith had and always would hold a special place in his heart. Her illness had caused them to spend more time together than he had been able to with his other pups so they had grown close, but even more than that just her sweet temperament and kind heart brought him so much joy. She had become his reason to go on when everything else was dark. He couldn't describe how happy it made him to see her flourishing and growing, building relationships and finding love. It was all he had ever hoped for while she was sick and clinging to life and now he was getting to witness it happening.

He didn't immediately see the expression that went along with her explanation for why she was here alone, his silver gaze fixed on the deer he was busy breaking down, but her words made him stop with a little frown. Her reason mirrored his own too closely to be a coincidence and when he glanced back at her and saw the tears that had gathered in her ruby eyes it made his heart sink into his stomach. He knew there were various forms of the strange illness that had gripped some of their members—everything from the craze and ooze of Eska and Artorias to the mushrooms that crept up Serenity's leg—so he had no idea what had decided to plague Romulus, but Lillith didn't need to tell him for him to know.

He was quiet for a moment, his ears flicking back against his head. "I'll make him some dinner as well," he replied, trying to give her an encouraging smile before he went back to his work. He collected a pile of strips of deer flank into a bowl, enough to feed the two young wolves, before he picked it up and carried it over to Lil, sitting it in front of her. "Please be careful," he reminded her, pressing his nose to the top of her head with a soft sigh. He knew Lillith was smart, but her heart was nearly as soft as his own and both of them had a tendency to do anything for the wolves they cared about. "If it becomes too dangerous to be near him please tell me. I'll help you take care of him."

Ulric Adravendi