we need to chat

Seeing the stresses and burdens of leadership weighing so heavily on Delphi made Ember’s heart ache for the girl so close to her in age. She didn’t relish in seeing anyone struggle, least of all the wolves she considered her friends. Honestly, it worried Ember some. She had known being an alpha was a difficult task, but her father had always made it seem so seamless, like he was born for it. For as long as she could remember, Artorias had imparted on her and her siblings the importance of responsibility, but seeing Delphi like this… the Carpathian girl couldn’t help but wonder if her father felt the same ways. Was leadership a burden to bear; a weight that crushed all who bore it and he was just that good at hiding it? Suddenly the appearance of silver hairs in her sire’s muzzle and coat didn’t seem to be just a sign of aging…

Em listened pensively while Delphi shared her thoughts and feelings. The pack had never been meant to come to her. It had been a consequence of unforeseen changes. Hearing Erik’s name again made the line of Em’s lips draw tighter, trying to avoid showing how much she was hurting over the disappearance of her viking bastard. She couldn’t disagree though; Heidinn should have remained in Vidarr’s line, not been thrust upon her without consideration to how she felt or her desires. Ember didn’t interrupt Delphi as she vented to her. The poor girl needed this. There was a moment of pause, and then a decision was made.

Ember felt her heart sink some as Delphi said she needed time to make her preparations to dissolve Hemlock. Her head dipped some, realizing this meant her mission had ultimately been a failure. But despite being a tactical failure, Em didn’t feel any kind of regret or defeat. She had made new friendships here with Delphi and done her best to help prepare the younger wolves for whatever came next. She would remain to help them with whatever this next transition involved too. Like Delphi said, she could not abandon them to their fates. That wasn’t the Carpathian way. Em didn’t know how much authority she had to make these kinds of split decisions and promises on behalf of her father or the Hallows, but she was the acting representative for her pack at this moment and she would not leave her friends high and dry.

"I think a pack meeting is a good starting point. It’ll soften the blow of shock and give everyone time to make their preparations for whatever happens next, whether you hand Hemlock off to someone else, or dissolve the pack," Ember agreed with the smaller femme. "If any of your wolves need a place to stay for a while as things get sorted, the Hallows is always open to guests. We can house the young and the elderly, we have plenty of supplies to care for them. It’ll give them a safe place to be and decide what they want to do in the aftermath." Offering Delphi a reassuring smile, Em squeezed her friend’s paw in hers again. "Whatever comes next, you’re not alone, Delphi. But you deserve to be happy and not killing yourself over something you never even wanted." Ember’s philosophy was simple and perhaps a little naive still—do what makes you happy in life and damned be the stuff that doesn’t.

"Ember Carpathius" | "Carpathian"