The past and the future are much the same

He held Hikaru for a time, revealing in the sensation that he had craved all his life. To be loved. He was a wolf who wore his heart in his sleeve, he felt easily and he felt strongly. The pain of each wolf that left him tore through him each time. Lasting pain, until he no longer felt a desire to keep going. He went through the motions for the sake of his kids, but the truth was he had given up a long time ago. Seeing Halo walk out that door had broken something inside of him. She knew how easily he felt, she knew that every wolf he had loved had left him. It was what had driven him to drinking and falling into her paws in the first place, and she had left anywhere. Seasons had changed, their kids were growing and finding their paws, all of it without her.


He buried his head in Hikaru's coat, clinging to the wolf like it was all he knew how to do. The tears still slid free, but after a time Mortis pulled free. Just a little bit, and his wings still encased them. He felt Hikaru's gaunt face, he felt and looked at his shoulders, his side. Looking for each and every new wound, new scar, hint of what the wolf had been through without him. “We need to talk” he said, his voice thick with his tears. “But I don't want to, not yet.” He admitted openly, honestly.