Hanako knew where to find him. With the ruckus of the pirate gathering just beyond their borders in the Willows, where else would Azure be? Hanako was quiet as she paced to his side, her shoulder settling against the bulk of his form as she leaned against his frame. It wasn't hard to wonder what they were celebrating, or rather what they wished a night full of revelry could wash away. And the fact they chose a territory right beside the Armada was no mistake, no simply a means of rubbing it in their faces. Like gravel pressing against a cut.

Once again she wasn't really sure what to say, or what to make of Azure's mood. She'd done the right thing in staying, it was for the best, but this whole affair was something she was eager to quickly usher from her mind. It had been a mess, complications and feelings stacked atop one another till Hanako was certain it would fall and crush her beneath the weight of it all. They could move past this, but not when Sparrow was so eager to make a spectacle of it all, as though pointing out what could have been if she'd only said yes. Communication of this nature had never been her forte, it was just so much easier to prance around the topic and give it a wide berth, but even Hanako knew it wasn't an option. Some things couldn't be left to shimmer, lest the water boiled over and burn those who'd strayed too close.

She tilted her head up, hoping to catch his eye before speaking.

"About what she said..." Hanako began, unwilling to say her name aloud. Like it was a curse. "You were right, I think you know me too well for your own good." All her weaknesses and vulnerabilities were plain for him to see, even when she was smiling and bright he knew how to make her tick. How to crack her open, if he wished.

The loss was humiliating all on it's own, and to make matters worse Sparrow had parked her frolicking band of pirates just across the river, far enough off the borders to avoid the Armada's wrath but close enough to be excruciatingly taunting. More than one pack had gathered with Sparrow for her pity party, and Azure knew well enough that to stomp over there and scatter the group would be the opposite of what the Armada wanted to accomplish with diplomacy and allies. They were likely in hot enough water already after their catch-and-release of the Fireside wolf. So Azure sat, watching and listening and glowering across the water out into the weeping woods. He'd already resigned himself to remaining there until the party was done with - and if his father had issue with it, he'd simply explain his vested interest in making sure the cluster of wolves off the border did not come any closer.  

Hana joined him not long into his post, leaning her shoulder against his silently. He could feel the turmoil in her and while this whole mess was sort of her fault, he was trying his best not to blame her for Sparrows appearance. He tilted his head to the side, eyes still upon the distant flicker of flame, and let his cheek rest upon the crown of her head for a brief moment in silent greeting and acknowledgement. He would have been happy to continue in silence - neither wolves were great communicators when they were stressed - but Hana had other ideas. While she sought to find his gaze, he could not pull his from the gathering. "Perhaps." He murmured, sounding unconvinced. There was a time when he thought he knew her better then any wolf in the world, but he'd never have expected that in his 'absence', Hana had gone and slept with half of Boreas. Azure lifted a paw to brush against his scarred eye wearily with a sigh.

A loud bout of laughter rang out from across the river and Azure's ears pulled back against his skull with annoyance. "She's ruining my favorite place." He admitted bitterly. "Those woods are where I go to get away, I doubt I'll be able to look at them the same way anymore." It was in those woods where Az had first met Hana, had multiple conversations with Asla, had learned to hunt as a pup. Those were his woods, and Sparrow was ruining them.


"Speech"

Though Azure accepted her show of affection there was a degree of austerity in his response, as though she was only a side note to be barely acknowledged. That did not sit well with her, how could it? She shifted, the muscles in her shoulders tensing a little as she desperately sought out comfort in his touch. He may have lost the fight, but hadn't he staked his claim on her all the same? For a lack of better words he had won, why was he letting Sparrow's posturing get to him? She thought-rather selfishly- he would be happy and with a little time to heal they'd be able to fall back into the sweet routine they'd set for themselves. Perhaps it would take longer than she'd first thought.

Azure soon admitted the Willows had been spoiled for him. If he could, she knew he would have stomped out there and shooed them off but given the clash at the border the other day the Armada was already treading on thin ice. The pack was not as strong as it used to be; Hanako didn't have to be a diplomat to know there was nothing to be gained from picking fights in early winter. When no doubt the worst of the season was yet to come.

"Thank you for fighting for me." She knew if nothing else a gracious show of gratitude might help smooth things over. "To me...it didn't matter what she said. I'd already chosen you and spiteful words can't change that."

And that's what she was forced to frame them as, pointed jabs foisted over the border with the intention of planting seeds of doubt. She couldn't help but worry they'd take root and do exactly what Sparrow intended. There was truth to them but also lies and embellishments, smearing her name in the mud. She let out a shaky sigh, hurt clawing its way into her voice and forming a lump in the pit of her throat.

"I'm upset." She sniffed, now it was her turn to look away and avoid eye contact. On the verge of tears she continued. "She...said such awful things, but doesn't even know me. I- I just don't understand why she did that."

He could tell Hana was upset as she leaned further into him, though Az was busy warring with his own downfalls. It would have been fine if he'd beaten the pirate and won his koi-wolf's heart, but he'd lost. There would always be that shred of doubt in the back of his mind that he was weaker then the opposition, and who knew whether or not Hana would run to Sparrow if he showed any more? The Fatalis heir sighed, lifting his paw and wrapping it around her to pull her against his side, eyes still upon the faint firelight that flooded through the leaves. "I'll always fight for you." He murmured. "I only wish I'd won." Hana wouldn't - couldn't - understand, she wasn't a fighter. Wasn't a man. This was something men did, it was something Sirius had modeled for him from the day Az was born. When Sirius had a wolf he loved he fought to keep them, and he never lost.

Her sigh pulled his ears against his skull, the hurt in her voice clear. "She was hurting too, that's why she said awful things." Az assured her after a pause. It would do him no good to trash Sparrow now, not when she'd so clearly proven herself worthy of the koi-wolf. Neither wolf knew Hana was nearby listening, and Az couldn't fault Sparrow for her cruel words when Az had also lied and embellished the situation. "I'd offer to punish her for you, but, well.." It was Az's turn to sigh, and his head hung for a brief moment before returning to eye the woods.


"Speech"

Hanako knew he would, felt reassured by his promise as it settled into the depth of her bones. To her, it didn't matter whether he'd won as his point had been proven all the same, that he thought she was worthy of bloodshed and strife. Again and again she wished it hadn't come to this, for all her faults Hanako didn't want to hurt anyone. Not in a way that counted, or left lasting damage. He was right in assuming she couldn't understand, his line of thought slipped through her grip like grains of sand, but she tried all the same. Went quiet and she thought about it, brows furrowed as pulled her into a comforting embrace. Exactly what she needed.

"I couldn't ask anything more of you." She said and wholly meant it in the moment. Of course down the line she'd probably ask for bits and pieces here and there, fanciful things and acts of adoration. But deep down she was pleased with her lot, felt as though she'd made the right choice. "I'm just glad I'm here."

Following his line of sight, she supposed she ought to come clean. Nuzzling the side of her head against his shoulder she swished her tail so it could rest atop of Azure's, if he could will it to remain still.

"I know I shouldn't have but... I overheard what you said to Sparrow. If that's what you want from me... I'm taking birth control at the moment, it's part of your Father's rules and you know I wouldn't do anything to make you look bad."