Seeking the end

Sakana and Nimbus both had not recommended Gilgamesh go answering any knocks on their territorial door for the time being. It wasn’t that he wasn’t on the mend, no not it at all. Actually, his ribs were healing as they should and the gash on his head was looking alright so far. There would be a scar no doubt from his temple to his jaw just behind his right eye, but hell, wasn’t he already covered in them?

No, their advice to keep him tucked away for now was due to him not quite being him. A paw couldn’t be placed on it. Something was different about Gilgamesh. His eyes didn’t shine like they used to. His wit, his smirk, his typical disgruntled dad facade was now a vacant stare. They were wolves after all and without access to medical books or such information, knowing that he had knocked his personality chip loose would always be a conundrum.

But!

Modesty was pregnant, far too pregnant to be risking the pups for a stranger. She said as much herself and though she had also insisted that Deluge or Scald could have answered the howl summoning her, he felt it wrong. He was still the Raid King, wasn’t he? He wouldn’t deny the brief glimpse of fear in their eyes when he put his paw down and said he would be the one to do it. This was still his pack too and if they could speak to Modesty about something, they could speak to him as well.

Gilgamesh’s walk through the ravine wasn’t hurried. Rather leisurely for anyone spectating. He didn’t mind making them wait. They were the ones who had come here after all so he wasn’t going to rush it. His ribs were still bandaged, making it difficult to move any faster than a brisk walk anyway. Plus with the whole head injury business, he didn’t want to risk tripping and falling either. Fuck, was he getting that old already? But he took his time anyway, quiet as a shadow as he moves until the scent slams into his nose.

Stopping just inside the border where Bellamy can’t quite see him yet, Gilgamesh takes a moment. Why in the world was she here? Had they not done enough? And from what Modesty had regaled him with about the alpha meeting, they no longer were Ethne anymore. Were they not content with allowing sleeping wolves to lie? Gilgamesh takes a moment because he’s stuck on a precipice of what he should do. Chase her off or hear her out. Both options were equally tantalizing, and he comes to the conclusion that hearing the old bat out was safer for now, and he could always chase her off if needed.

Approaching with silent steps, careful and calculated, he keeps his posture relaxed but alert. Stale yellow eyes watch her standing just on the other side of the border. There’s no expression on his face this time, no, he’s different now. Instead, Gilgamesh comes to a stop before Bellamy, toeing the line between territory and not, watching her. He doesn’t speak at first, rather continues to watch her. Allowing a pregnant silence to drag out between them almost as if he were a statue unable to speak at all. Minutes go by until he feels she’s been tortured enough. One last slow blink before he speaks.

“Speak now or return home. I will be the only wolf that appears before you today,” the words are simple, straight forward, and lack any emotion at all. She would say what was on her mind or get lost. There were no other options up for choosing.

The Raid King, Gilgamesh