keep me close, keep me warm

At the appearance of Albatross, Altavro felt as if a weight had lifted from his chest. He watched her raced approach, surveying her body to examine her for injuries. He saw nothing physical, but that wasn't a sure promise when it was Albatross. She had likely been suffering while he was half-delirious and crazy and damn did that knowledge feel bad. Altavro should have taken care of himself before he practically went crazy so that she had not been alone. Next time, he would not make that mistake. If there was a next time - he certainly hoped there wouldn't be. Never again would he desire to leave the wolf that he had promised to look after.

They almost fell when she collided with his legs, but Altavro pressed his muzzle against his fur, nuzzling her and sniffling her and occasionally offering her a swift, careful lick. The wolf pressed himself against her, still checking her body for injuries, for any signs of wear that had not been there before. "I'm sorry..." The whispered apology escaped him so quickly that he didn't have time to think. "I was injured and I waited too long to get it taken care of and then I was . . . indisposed. I won't leave you like that again." It was not a promise that he made lightly. Albatross had grown on him so quickly that he wasn't sure what had happened - or why it had happened. But he wasn't grumpy with her. She drew something out in him, a kindness that was rare and unheard of in most cases, but Albatross made him a better wolf. And he cared about her.

It was weird. But he didn't mind. She was one of the first that he had found himself close to since he left the Nomads so long ago.




"Speech"

in just one day