The Plains were quiet aside from the rustle of the breeze through the long grass. Rain was on its way, but Iolaire didn't care. She didn't care about much today. A small fire had been started in the pit at the center of the common area. Nothing grand. Just enough for her. Flickering firelight danced over her small frame as she lay upon a bed of tamped down grass.

Iolaire had avoided everyone all day. Though she'd made up with Roan, she didn't want to be around him. She didn't want to be around anyone. All day had been spent in her garden and she'd warded everyone else off with a glance. Unless there was an emergency, today wasn't the day. She'd tended to her poisons, cultivating the killing greens with tender care. It was a little difficult with her foot still wrapped, but she had managed.

Thunder rumbled far off and the sky was tinged with purple and grey to the north. A cold rain was in store for them. Periodically, lightning would brighten the sky. They had at least an hour before the rain began and Iolaire intended to take advantage of every second. Once it began to rain, she would be stuck inside with Roan, and she really wasn't the best company right now.

Sirius had gotten caught up after arrival, there had been a small band of coyotes that had been interested in the arriving part, and he spent some time scaring them out and strengthening his border scents. He had also helped Zee - grumpily- settle into their den. He had shown her the start of the the little bridge he was building over the small stream in front of their home. He had hoped to charm her with the homely feel he had tried so hard to put into his work. Never in his life would he have cared about making something homely, until Zee.

He was doing a check over the territory, when he saw the first flashes of lightning in the distance. The angry clouds rolled slowly, inevitably forward. He frowned at them, and tried to think of any last minute arrangements he needed to make. They had already stored their food in the celler, and he could think of nothing left out that would get destroyed by the weather.

He wondered if Deathbelle had settled in well by now, he debated heading over and checking up on her, when he saw the soft, faint flicker of the fire in the pit. Curious at who had lit it, and knowing the rain would kill it soon enough, the Warlord made his way over. The grumpy, sullen form of Io would be there. He winced, doubting his presences would be wanted. Still, the Warlord needed to know what was wrong. It was not like his sensible sister to act as she had, to walk on her injury as she had. She was a healer, after all, and his greatest adviser. He needed her to be sensible. He needed to get the root of what the problem had been, and help her with it. He owed her that.

He sat down in silence across from her, rolling to look up at the darkening sky. He said nothing, giving Io a chance to speak for herself, if she wished it.

Ah, and so her solitude had been invaded at last. She had how's that the night, the journey and the rain would keep everyone at bay, but of course she wasn't that lucky. And, of all people, it was Sirius. Just great. She didn't want to see him, her mother, or anyone else. He settled down across from her though so there was no avoiding it. He didn't know it, but he didn't want to talk to her either.

The giant sat silently as if waiting for her to initiate conversation. Fat chance. She was still angry with him. He'd embarrassed her in front of the pack. How was she supposed to interact with them after being treated like a child for all to see? And then he had called Luce to tend to her as though she couldn't tend to herself. The Ashen healer had tsked as though she was a child which added to the anger bubbling inside Iolaire. She'd almost snapped at Lucretia to get the fuck away from her, but it only would have created more problems. In the end, she'd ignored them all.

What did Sirius really expect from her? Had he asked her rather than demanded of her, the situation might be different. She would eventually have a talk with her mother about the same. Her position demanded respect. If it wasn't given in the eyes of the pack, then she would have to fight them for that respect.

The silence stretched on for a while, and both of them considered the events of the caravan, and likely from very different perspectives. Sirius was still trying to work out why she had acted like a spoiled, angry child. She had acted out, she had hid the injury, walking on it, worsening it to the point where even her own patient couldn’t stand to see it any longer. She couldn’t even tell Roan to keep off her injuries if she refused to do the same.

The rumbling sound of thunder accompanied the quiet pair, and the Warlord sighed softly, and considered it. He hoped she had a good reason for her actions, he could not have an adviser that wouldn’t follow her own rules. At the same time, it felt foolish to linger on this, she had been injured, she hadn’t attended it appropriately, he had ordered otherwise, and moved on. If she was angry at him for it, she would have to learn to live with that. He was Alpha, and it wasn’t his job to be loved. He would see to the safety of his pack, even at the detriment of their affection. Perhaps he had been wrong to grant Io such a high ranking position so early on in knowing her, if she had had a chance to work her way up to it, perhaps she would not have felt so vulnerable as to not show her injury in their long journey to the pack.

There was a chill to the wind that rolled in off the coming storm, it ruffled his coat, and made the warmth of the fire on his other side all that more comforting. He wondered how long they would have before the rain set in. He considered the rain, he considered the silence. He said nothing. He simply let the thoughts roll through his mind across the silence that stretched between them. If she wished to talk about what happened to her brother, she could. If she wished to explain herself to her Alpha, about why a high ranking wolf acted out, this would also be her chance to do so.

Silence stretched on forever. He was no doubt letting his mind wander. The fire had burned low and the fire keeper made no move to add more wood. The rain would soon come and extinguish the blaze anyway. The small flames cast an eerie light upon the pair of silent canines. Thunder rumbled, a little louder as it grew ever nearer. The breeze was chill, but it didn't bother Iolaire.

"Who heals the healer?" Soft tones finally broke the silence. It was a valid question. She kept her own council. She put forth a strong front because she needed to. One couldn't put their trust in some emotional twit, and yet she had been forced into being one. Her foot was nothing. A scratch that would heal. Her mind. Her heart. Those were things that needed the most healing. Since before she'd given up Deathbelle even, there had been a sore wound within the woman's heart. Different events had caused that wound to fester and rot.

Lightning flashed and thunder growled, illuminating the grassland ominously. This was the weather that Iolaire loved. Eyes closing, she raised her muzzle upwards, smelling the sweet smell of incoming rain. She couldn't wait to smell the petrichor after the rain had ceased to fall. Such a pleasant scent. In the meantime, they would continue to deal with the unpleasant situation.

She finally spoke, the words few and far between when it came to Io, it seemed. He picked his head up, turning his ears forward as he offered her a light, half smile. “The pack, one for all, and all for one.” he said softly, and he meant it. No one should have to deal with it themselves if they were injured. He hoped Io could see that.

She had broken the silence, and now he raised his head up a little more, pushing up on his shoulders as he considered his little sister. “When I was injured, I listened to you because you are my sister, my healer, and I respect you. I know I told you you would not have to stand on formality, but I am still your Alpha, Iolaire. Do you respect me? Have I not earned your respect?” That was one thing he would always demands from those he loved and led. They could call him by name, they did not have to snap to attention when he walked past, but by all hells, they would respect him and give their loyalty to this pack. The lightning flashed, the whites of his coat and hers haloed in the sueen onslaught of light. Darkness again, and he blinked spots from his vision.

He loved Io, but still, a part of him wondered if he had been wrong to grant her such a high rank so quickly. He wanted all in his pack to have ambition, something to work towards. The strive to do so would give them loyalty to him and his pack, as they worked hard to earn it, to better themselves. Was there a void where this respect would be, because of his own impatience?

"I loved Deathbelle, you know?" There was no segue. It was straight from one topic to the next. "She was the first person that I loved since the man that gave me up to be raped for being barren. Giving her up took a toll." Yeah, it might be a sore subject, but he was obviously here so she could talk, so she would talk. "I stopped sleeping. I haven't slept well in a while. Traipsing back and forth between territories has taken up a lot of time, but we had to be ready."

The fire was naught but glowing embers now. A sniffle would sound from across the fire. "My mother is back and I've been trying to show her how well I've done for myself." Only to have Resin tear her like a pup. "And then there's Roan. Seeing him lose his sister bright back all of the memories of losing my brothers." Another sniffle. "So I'm sorry if I'm not living up to your expectations, but I've been shouldering a lot, Sirius." And she shouldered or all alone. Because the answer to the the question of 'who heals the healer' was that she heals herself

She ignored his answer of ‘who heals the healer’ and instead moved the topic on. She said nothing about respect for him, as he had asked her, but she did finally share some of her burden. She explained the pain going on in her heart, and he moved a little closer to her. He reached her, and wrapped a paw about her, as though he could hold her heart together with tenacity alone. “ I Heal the healer. The healer talks me through it of course, but I bandage the wound, I hold the splint, I make sure your feed. You tell me when your hurting.” he whispered softly, voice a little raw.

“If you don’t want the pack to see it, I understand but you can not ignore your injury, and hobbling along despite it. You come to me. I will keep it secret, if that’s what you need from me. In return, you talk me through how to put a salve on it, how to bandage it. Okay?” She had to understand that he would never, in a million years, just let her walk away if she was injured. Sure, it might not have been handled well on either side, but he had acted in her best interests.

Then, he frowned, sighed, holding her tight still. “I want you, Io. I will always want you. You are mine, and I am a possessive bastard, but I do not want you in pain. If you love Deathbelle so dearly, know that she loves you too. I can see her giving you a place at her side. If that is what you need. I do not want you to go, but if that is what you need. ” he trailed off, voice going husky, losing some of its strength. It would not be easy to watch Io walk away, by all the gods. He did not want to see it.

All it took was a little bit of sympathy. A little bit of understanding. His loving touch pulling her close tightened the tiny wolf's throat and tears sprang up in an instant. As if she hasn't exhausted her supply of tears earlier... Sirius' words, laced heavily with emotion, broke her. Iolaire cried for the second time today. Not ugly, sobbing cries, but she cried nonetheless. The fae pressed her forehead against her brothers shoulder as she wept, hiding her face from both him and the storm.

Already she felt better. It was as though a weight had been lifted. A small weight, but a weight all the same. Simply sharing this burden that had been gnawing at her like a jackal at a bone... it helped. By sharing, she wasn't alone. "Thank you," She whispered, her voice wavering slightly. "I needed that." A sympathetic ear was an easy thing to gain, but she had needed it from him. Someone that she respected. Someone that she loved.

She could feel the giant tense a bit as she spoke of loving Deathbelle. His next words brought laughter through her tears. "God's, no, Sirius." She shook her head, leaning up to nuzzle his big, silly cheek. "I gave her up for the good of the Empire. Besides, haven't I sworn fealty to you enough?" Io gave him a gentle headbutt. "This is my home. You are my home. Unless you send me away, I'm not going anywhere."

She cried, his little sister. Her personality was stronger than the sun, her warmth a part of its heat. It took a strong wolf to be so determined, so assertive, with such a small stature, but he had seen her manage it. Like anyone in the world, she had her ups and downs, her uncertainties. She held them close to her heart, and he could understand that. She cried, and he held her close, glad that she trusted him enough to open up to him. “You can always come to me, Iolaire. My little Sun. You are my family, and I am yours” he said, pulling back enough to look into the golds of her eyes.

He did let out a sigh of relief when she told him, for what must have been the hundredth time, that she would not leave him for the Empress. “Well.” he said quietly. “Whatever your reasoning, im just glad to have you here. You are mine” he promised her. Fierce, protective, absolute. He pulled her close again, ruffling her coat around her ears.

“The storm is almost upon us, and well I would love to sit her in the rain, my pregnant wife…” he paused, and leaned a little closer to his sister, sharing one of Zee’s secrets. “Is terrified of storms. She will be working herself into a frenzy by now. Will you come with me, mix her a tea, and help me calm her with some snuggles?” he asked of his sister. There was a slight undertone of anxiety in him, the need to go to Zee, but he would never pull away from Io with speed, He had to balance his love for both of them, and the storm was not yet here.

Again, Sirius was relieved at her declaration of loyalty. He really was a silly thing. Didn't he believe her? He was stuck with her until he sent her away. That was just how it was. Loyalty was important and Iolaire was incredibly loyal.

Sirius practically begged her to return to his den so that he might tend to Zee whom she just discovered was terrified of storms. Wrinkling her nose lightly, she gave her sibling a playful smack to his foreleg. "Go on. I'll fetch my things and follow you." If she could help Zee, she would. Especially because Sirius had asked.

Rising from her place, the small fae moved back towards her cottage to fetch get pack. It seemed as though Roan was asleep and so she was as silent as possible. Ratherthanmaking a tea in the den, Iolaire quickly made a tea upon the embers of the fire. The gourd that she'd warmed was hot now, but would cool enough by the time that she arrived. The rain had begun to fall by the time she crossed the territory to the den of Sirius and Zee. Standing in the doorway, the small wolf gave a little shake. Thankfully there had just been a slight bit of sprinkling and so she hadn't gotten very wet at all. "Zee," She greeted with a nod.

Sirius gave her a relieved smile, and a kiss on the cheek. “I love you, sister” he said quietly. He never wanted her to doubt that. He hoped, truly hoped, that she would come to him in the future if she injured herself. He might not know much about healing, and would bumble through it, but at least she would not be alone. She could laugh at his antics, and use him as another set of paws. Anything was better than dealing with pain alone.

“See you soon” he said in parting, and leapt away from the fire pit, and towards their den at a very brisk trot. The storm was almost upon them, and Zee would be anxiously wondering where he was, he had no doubt. He brushed past the makeshift door, tossing the strings to the side that he had built into it for this exact purpose - to tie it down in a storm. No point doing the ties until after Io had arrived.

He shoved further into the den “Zee?” he called as he hurried to find his Wife and scoop her up into his arms, knowing Io wouldn’t be far behind him.

Lately it seemed Zee was spending much more time inside their den then outside it, taking advantage of the time before their pups came where she could be relaxed and lazy and comfortable. Sirius still spent most days busy as always, though he'd always returned home before the dark did and Zee was coming to trust and believe in her husband's word to always be there for her.

When the sky overhead darkened and the rain began to fall, Zee moved to sit just inside the door peering out into the storm. From nearly the moment they'd become friends Sirius had always prioritized her silly fear, and she learned to rely on him for the comfort the titanic direwolf offered her throughout the thunder. It didn't cross her mind that he might not come, and so she remained by the doorway while the storm brewed both fearful and worried.

A dozen strikes of lightning came and went, and eventually she was driven deeper into the den. She nosed her way beneath her ox-hide blanket and hid her face, shuddering harder with each crack of thunder that sounded. Both the wolves footsteps went unnoticed to her, and it wasn't until Sirius' arms scooped her and the blanket up that she poked her muzzle out of the furs. "I thought you forgot." She accused softly, leaning into his chest.

Iolaire's voice sounded from the doorway, and her head shot up worriedly. She looked from Sirius to his sister, ears pulling back in shame. It had been so long that her husband had been handling her fears that she almost forgot how shameful and silly they were. "Hi, Io." Her reply came.

The small wolf offered her behemoth of a brother a grin before moving over and depositing herself beside Zee. The sudden pulling of the ears made Iolaire think that the earthen woman might be a bit embarrassed. Reaching into her pack, Io removed the gourd and a small stone bowl. "Chamomile tea," she explained. "Good for anxiety. Mellows you out." Pouring some of the tea into the bowl, she placed it before the pregnant woman. Io then poured herself a bowl. The tea still steamed but wasn't boiling. It was sippable. She doubted that Sirius would want any, but she corked the gourd and slid it so that he might be able to grab it if he wished.

Io took a sip of her tea and made a small sound of pleasure. She cast a sidelong glance at Zee. "Don't be too mad at him. He didn't forget, he was just being a good brother and dealing with my emotional downpour." Pushing the bowl forward a bit so that she wouldn't spill it, Io nestled against the pregnant woman. "How are you feeling?"

He scooped her up, felt the quick beating of her heart and the warmth of her body as they pushed against him. Sometimes, when she wasn’t staring him down with a gaze of death, he remembered that she was a soft, flimsy feeling creature. The litheness of her body at odds to the fiery strength of her. She felt soft in his grip, limp, and frightened. It set his own heart racing, it made him want to kill whatever frightened her. If there were storm gods in the crashing, thundering world beyond, he would have left the den then and there to battle with them. Futile as that might be.

“I’m here” he whispered, the feeling of regret and remorse hidden in the eyes he buried against her coat. He should have come here faster. His heart fluttered against its rib cage, as he thought of her alone and fearful, waiting for him.

He jumped when Io’s voice sounded behind him. He had almost forgotten his sister, wrapped up as he was in the arms of his wife. He released Zee, turning, and for a moment it might seem that his eyes flashed a warning, before the Titan got to grips with himself. This was not some unknown enemy at the gate, this was Iolaire, his little Sun, with the warmth of her smile and the heat of a calming tea. Sometimes, being in the presence of Zee did things to his head.

Here she was, explaining the delay in his absence, already pouring a tea for his frightened beloved. Not a single word of spite, or judgement in her soft tone. He was suddenly grateful for her calming presence, sometimes Zee and Sirus’s emotions bounced off each other, until it became a torrent. If Io hadn’t entered, Sirius might just have done something stupid, like attack the wind.

Zee felt Sirius' response to his sister's approach and her body tensed as if there might be danger. Too often did her signals match his own, and she needed to tell herself to calm down and that it was only his over-protectiveness showing. Iolaire deposited herself down beside her, and Zee shifted to face her and her gourd of tea. Sirius' sister was a skilled healer whom Zee trusted immensely, surely if she recommended it it'd be safe for an expectant mother. Gingerly she leaned down to lap at the liquid, a quiet murmur of pleasant acknowledgement sounding as the warmth spilled down her throat. "Thank you." She wiggled further out of Sirius' grasp so to better reach it, curling her paw around the bowl and dragging it underneath her muzzle possessively so that it's warm vapors would hug her face.

Iolaire explained where her husband had been, and the queen's teeth pressed upon her lip softly. While the act of comforting his sister was a noble one and Zee herself would have encouraged him to rather then sit with her in a storm, somehow the admittance still brought forth unwanted emotion within her. She blamed it immediately on the hormones, though couldn't help but feel jealous. Between her paws she spun the bowl, staring down at the liquid within it and willing the wafting heat to drive away the tears that threatened to spill. Being pregnant sucked; Zee was not used to such emotions. "It's silly, but he's always been here for me during a storm. Even when I was nothing but a slave. I need him." She smiled up at him faintly, and then turned back to her tea to hide her shame. "Are you okay, Io?" It probably should have been the question that came first when a family member mentioned an emotional downpour, but her own irrational fear and unwarranted jealousy did their best to shove out concern for anyone else. Pregnancy sucked, and she wondered however her sister-in-law ever put up with her nonsense.

The crazy moment that Sirius had wasn't even noticed by his sister. She was too involved in tending to Zee. Having divvied out the tea, Iolaire made herself comfortable beside her sister in law. She listened to Zee's explanation and need of Sirius and nodded. "I understand. I used to be afraid of thunderstorms too." Her mind lapsed into the story that she'd told Roan just a shot while prior. Had he even heard her? He may have already fallen asleep. Oh well.

Zee asked after Io's own well being and the smaller fae smiled. "I'm fine. Just a temporary overload of emotions. Gone now. No need to worry." Io motioned to the tea. "Do you like it? Chamomile soothes and I added some honey to sweeten it a bit." The tiny fae had a sweet tooth and often put honey in her tea. She would have to collect more of the precious substance soon. Perhaps she would take some of the 'healers' of the pack and show them the process worked.

Outside the thunderstorm was already lessening. The rumbles of thunder were becoming quieter as the cloud mass drifted through the sky and away from them. "Looks like you won't have to worry for much longer, Zee."

Io kept them calm during the storm, offering his wife tea, and the Titan took a glance for himself as well. He could acknowledge that seeing his wife upset set him on edge. Io acted normal and calm and steady, and in doing so forced Sirius to release the tension in his muscles, through he still held to his little wife tightly. "I need you, too" he he murmured softly as Zee explained herself to the healer - not that she needed to. He didnt think Io would have thought any less of her if she had kept her reason for her fear to herself.

Time passed as the three of them shared the den together, Siriuss tea was drained, and the storm began to lesson outside. The warmth if the den from the body heat of three wolves kept the place comfortable despite the wind he could hear howling beyond the cover over their den. He imagined Zee must be feeling relief at hearing the storm die down.

Somehow it reassured Zee that she was not the only one afraid of thunderstorms - even if Iolaire claimed that it was a fear of the past for her. She nuzzled in closer to the giant, breathing in his scent to steady himself. Her focus drew more upon the healer, and she looked over at her face as she admitted her overload of emotions. "I'm glad you're okay." It was a sad response, though she didn't wish to pry on a topic that she had no business in. If Iolaire wanted to speak to her about what was bothering her, she would. If not, she could confide in their mutual titan and that didn't bother Zee at all. "The tea is splendid."

The thunder outside dimmed and quieted, and she allowed herself a heavy exhale. "I think it's slowing." Her voice lacked confidence, and she looked back between her husband and his sister for confirmation. "Right?"

Zee's concerned showed and Iolaire shot her a confident grin. "Hey, I'm always okay. I just forget it sometimes." She and Sirius had already touched on the subject, so she didn't need to go through it again. It was done with.

Her tea gone, Io curled down into the furs. She placed her chin upon one curled foreleg and stared at the flap that kept them from the storm. It was illuminated every now and again, but it was slowly becoming few and far between. Zee questioned the storm and Io offered up a nod. "Almost done. Big storms never last for too long." A yawn pulled from the dark fae and she curled her tail tightly against her hip. Once Zee fell asleep, she would leave to go back to her patient. He could barely move and needed the supervision.