we need to chat

Open honesty was one of the things that Delphi valued most about Ember. About the Hallows, about Artorias. Their way of conversation, of consoling, of just being seemed and felt so regal that Delphi couldn't even be mad. Even when Ember admitted that she didn't know, Delphi only sighed in response, a quiet nod of her muzzle in agreement. Hell, she didn't know either.

Looking up from her place of cowering on the floor, she listens earnestly to Em's words. If Artorias had been capable of taking on the Hallows at such a young age, surely she was too. The thought didn't sit right with her though. She wasn't Artorias. She wasn't Vidarr nor Sirius or Chimera. Great leaders who were all massive men with fantastic fighting ability and adept at politics. Meanwhile she was... puny and though a decent fighter, she was scrappy and ugh, terrible at politics. Well, not terrible, but she didn't enjoy the whole stuffy diplomatic bullshit that came along with being a leader.

Plus her own relationship with Strai had become strained. He was once at the bottom of the pack. A Thrall. And now? He sat at the top where he clearly didn't belong nor was comfortable being. How could she continue to do that to him? To everyone else? Clearly the rest were just as disappointed with the way the pack was going. Their absence spoke far louder than their words.

Hearing Em say it out loud was perhaps what she needed to hear. Looking at the bright blue pools of Em's eyes, Delphi inhales a deep breath and exhales slowly. Another nod of agreement as she has to look away, her mouth feeling drier than ever. "You are not wrong," she begins. "I never wanted this. It was never supposed to be me. It should have been Erik or Vidarr should have held it together for just another year. He should've done more to help Tenshi. They could have," her nose wrinkles, toes tensing as she stops herself from saying anymore.

"I don't wish to bring the pack down anymore, but there needs to be a plan. I can't just send them off into the unknown. Vidarr and Tenshi's brood have just turned one. I would feel terrible if they were left alone in the wilds without protection. Others are older, I don't know how capable they would be. I guess it's the thought of leaving wolves alone to die because I couldn't handle being a leader is what keeps me from making any moves." Closing her eyes for a moment, Delphi lets the pang in her heart wash over her before she looks at Ember again. "I, I need a plan. Or Time. Or both. Maybe a meeting with the pack. See what they want. Where they could go?" She leaves the question hanging in the air.

"Delphi"