Foundation of the Future

Walk | Talk | Think

He knew he was likely to get in trouble at some point. He had heard the call his father had sent up before he had eventually found them, but rather than answer right away he had investigated, sensing something amiss and trying to do his own part to figure out what. He had, later than the rest, and Eirik knew now that had he simply gone when he had been called he would have found out sooner. But considering the severity of what was happening, that the pack they had all assumed to become their new stable home had fallen completely apart, he had made no argument when his father ordered him to assist his sister. One look at poor Keiki had been enough to show him clearly that she had not yet recovered, but even with as slow on the uptake as he tended to be the boy knew there was nothing to be done for it now. They needed safety before anything first.

They found it too. Warja had marched at the front of their party beside their father, pointing the way toward somewhere she had already been, some plac that she vouched would make a good temporary home for them. Eirik was curious - she did always seem to find such interesting places - and kept on slowly after them with Keiki offered his shoulder and side for support. He spoke to her as they went, soothing and quiet and only for her though he was still unsure if she heard any of it. She never did seem to respond right to words. But the fact that she was still managing to keep up was good enough, and he continued to set an easy pace for her to follow in her present state.

When finally their father instructed them to stop, Eirik did so slowly, glancing at his grey sibling at his side. "How are you doing?" he asked softly, his rosy pink eyes assessing as they skimmed across her weary face, feeling how she leaned against him. "You can rest now." To make is point, he began to crouch down, bringing her slowly with him to guide her to the ground where she might settle and rest. It was probably not the absolute best of places - there might have been a spot somewhere he could tuck her in - but after pressing her this far he hardly wanted to make her move more than was necessary.

The boy's dark ears perked and swiveled in the direction of Warja, speaking both to their sister and their mother about how they fared. Eirik glanced at Keiki again, wondering how and if he could speak on her behalf. But what really would have benefited her the most in that moment? He was still unfamiliar with what ailed her; maybe it was best to leave that question up to Mom.