now the moon hangs in full [mtg!]

Two of his children were sick and there was only so much he could do, he had been spreading himself thin with Alectrona’s sickness and when his son had fallen ill he had stretched himself to his limits trying to both check on them regularly and do his duties as an alpha. It left precious little time for rest and it was no doubt showing. He still groomed himself, refusing to allow his coat to become rumpled but there would be no missing the weariness in his eyes or the slight slouch in his shoulders. His head hung low more often than not and it was not uncommon to see him sitting stock still, easily mistaken for a vigilant guardian if not for the soft snoring.

Still the world roved on and the pack would need to come first, and Natalya’s summons was not unexpected and as he rose from his then sitting position with a groan he knew what would be expected of him. With some conscious effort he marched off to answer his wife’s call, head purposefully held high and tail flagged over his rump. There would be no missing the slight slowness of his step but for all outward appearances he would keep himself as the picture of a ruler.

His tired gaze roved over the small group before him, a slight dip of his head presented to Hani and a tired smile offered to his children. Hercules in particular drew his attention, no doubt it was still too early for the boy to really be out but he admired the child’s determination. No doubt his other daughter and Rurik would be absent from the meeting, his daughter’s impromptu guardian doing Helios proud as he refused to leave the suffering girl’s side.