Ulric breathed a shaky sigh as he walked up from the dungeons again, his ears flicking back as he closed the door behind him. He had done pretty well so far keeping a brave face in front of Eska and doing what he could to cheer her up and keep her mind on more pleasant things... but it was hard. It was so incredibly hard to keep the worry off of his face, the dread that kept him up at night. He had lost so much and endured so much. He really thought that maybe he might be able to finally begin to relax and enjoy some time alone with Eska, take a small vacation with her once summer hit, enjoy his retirement... and now this.

He shook his head as he began to move away from the door that lead down to the dungeon, moving through the castle toward the kitchens so he could prepare some food to take down to Eska. He knew he shouldn't be paying such frequent visits to her when they still weren't certain that whatever caused this wasn't contagious, but he couldn't help it. He had to see her, had to continue to convince himself that everything was okay. He couldn't bear the thought of her going crazy down there on her own. If she was going to suffer he was going to suffer with her. He walked through the feast hall in a worried daze, moving toward the pantry to find something to fix for his mate.

Ulric Adravendi

Lillith didn’t know what to do. Roman was insistent that she be careful around him so she didn’t actually catch the crystal illness that plagued the boy she loved. Lillith knew loss but she didn’t know this. Didn’t know what it was like to see her beloved and wonder how much longer she would have him. Was this how her father had felt when she was ill? Uncertain if she would even see the next morning as he held her through the night. Lil just wished Roman would let her hold him, to see to him, to take care of him. Especially if these were their last days together.

She felt like her heart was clenched all the time, like she could relax. She still hadn’t told anyone, and with everything going on the last thing she wanted was for him to be held in the dungeons. His mind seemed sound minus his paranoia he’d spread them to her.

Lil couldn’t get him off her mind, and she was making her way downstairs to get a little bit of dinner for him. Or at least she thought it was dinner time. Garnet gaze was surprised to see her father there as well. ”Daddy?” She asked after him softly as ivory paws approached worry lacing his name.

Lillith Adravendi

Ulric was staring at the shelves in the pantry, his mind too far away to even make a choice of what to pick up, when he heard Lillith's voice calling to him. He blinked and turned his head to look at her, seeing her worried gaze. He tried to pull a smile onto his lips as he turned to face her, his ears giving a little flick back against his head. "Oh, hi, sweet heart. Sorry, I didn't hear you come in." He settled back on his haunches with a quiet sigh, suddenly incredibly tired. Between the lack of sleep and the energy and effort that was drained from him from having to keep up this front all the time when really all he wanted to do was break down and be angry at the world that kept taking things from him it was simply exhausting. Even still, Lillith was the last wolf he wanted to expose those feelings to. Of everyone in his life she was most certainly one that he wanted to protect from all of this and hide that stress from.

"Are you hungry? Would you like for me to fix something for you?" he asked after a moment, blinking again as he forced himself to focus in his attention on his daughter. He pulled himself back to his paws and started moving toward the store of meats and supplies before she could answer. It would be easy enough to make a double portion of something, some for her and some for Eska. "What has you up and about by yourself?" he asked, casting a quick glance over his shoulder at her before he looked back toward the deer flank he had pulled from the stores as he began to tear and cut it into thinner strips. He was always a little surprised whenever he saw Lillith without Romulus. The pair was always glued at the hip and there had to be some kind of reason for why they weren't together.

Ulric Adravendi

She could tell that even Ulric wasn’t quite right, the way his expression shifted sadly when he looked up at her, the tinge in his voice, the way his head didn’t sit quite as high. Lillith knew this version of her father quite well. The one where he was doing everything possible to stay strong for her. Everything had always been for her though, his life sacrificed while she was sick, his decisions and attitude towards Roman, his efforts as leader of the Hallows.

”It’s okay,” she told him softly, well aware of other things on his mind, and the look of exhaustion written all over him. The girl padded up to him on dainty white toes, and lightly leaned her shoulder against his. She craved the assurance and the physical touch. Something that had changed over the time she was given with Roman. Something that might not last if she lost him.

He offered her a meal and got to work before she could accept, but he already knew the answer. He asked why she was here at this hour after that. For the first time she hesitated in telling her father. Roman wanted his secret kept, and she didn’t want to see him locked away anywhere but his room. Lil looked back towards the larder guiltily before she answered. ”Trying to find Romulus some dinner,” Lilith told him the truth but the sudden tears that leapt to her eyes revealed the true story.

Lillith Adravendi

Ulric smiled softly as Lillith leaned into his shoulder, shifting into her touch as well and enjoying the gentle reassurance and affection they offered one another in the simplest ways. He loved his children dearly, every single one, but Lillith had and always would hold a special place in his heart. Her illness had caused them to spend more time together than he had been able to with his other pups so they had grown close, but even more than that just her sweet temperament and kind heart brought him so much joy. She had become his reason to go on when everything else was dark. He couldn't describe how happy it made him to see her flourishing and growing, building relationships and finding love. It was all he had ever hoped for while she was sick and clinging to life and now he was getting to witness it happening.

He didn't immediately see the expression that went along with her explanation for why she was here alone, his silver gaze fixed on the deer he was busy breaking down, but her words made him stop with a little frown. Her reason mirrored his own too closely to be a coincidence and when he glanced back at her and saw the tears that had gathered in her ruby eyes it made his heart sink into his stomach. He knew there were various forms of the strange illness that had gripped some of their members—everything from the craze and ooze of Eska and Artorias to the mushrooms that crept up Serenity's leg—so he had no idea what had decided to plague Romulus, but Lillith didn't need to tell him for him to know.

He was quiet for a moment, his ears flicking back against his head. "I'll make him some dinner as well," he replied, trying to give her an encouraging smile before he went back to his work. He collected a pile of strips of deer flank into a bowl, enough to feed the two young wolves, before he picked it up and carried it over to Lil, sitting it in front of her. "Please be careful," he reminded her, pressing his nose to the top of her head with a soft sigh. He knew Lillith was smart, but her heart was nearly as soft as his own and both of them had a tendency to do anything for the wolves they cared about. "If it becomes too dangerous to be near him please tell me. I'll help you take care of him."

Ulric Adravendi

Ulric continued to work on the deer and Lillith couldn’t quite look at him as she spoke her answer to the question. Tears were already forming in her eyes and threatening to spill over as she thought about Roman curled up in his room alone, refusing to let her stay with him, barely clinging to life. She was going to lose him and she couldn't even spend his last days with him. Ulric was quiet for a long moment, he knew, it was obvious and she didn’t even have to say the words she hated so much.

”Thank you,” She replied pittifully with a sniffle as her father eventually spoke again, eager to help her in any endeavor. Lil did eventually bring her ruby eyes up to her father’s features as he finished the bowl and actively sought her gaze before he spoke again. Again her emotions were apparent as tears welled and he leaned forward to kiss her forehead. As he offered his help further Lil couldn’t hold it back anymore. All the pain and worry she had for her boy exploseded from her in the form of uncontrollable sobs. Lilith fell against her father’s chest and cried for the reality she found herself. Was this how Ulric felt while she was sick? Helpless as he watched the one he loved wither away?

Lillith Adravendi

Ulric watched Lil begin to crumple as he insisted on her telling him if things got too bad for her to be around him, his ears falling back as she fell into his chest sobbing. His foreleg wrapped around her slim shoulders protectively, seeing her like this shattering his heart. He knew all too well the feeling of seeing someone he loves suffering. His mother, Lillith, now Eska... even his other children and sister to a lesser extent over the years. So much of his life had been spent just trying to hold things together for the wolves he loved and that didn't seem to be changing any time soon, but he had grown used to it. This was a new thing for his sweet daughter and he hated knowing that she was having to experience this kind of helplessness and heartache.

"Everything is going to be okay," he told her, giving her a gentle squeeze as he leaned down to kiss the top of her head again, holding her as long as she needed to cry out the emotions that were overwhelming her. "I know it feels bleak right now, but we'll all make it through this, alright?" It was something he continued to hope would be true the longer this darkness continued and he refused to give up on that hope. If he did it would only mean disaster for himself and those that depended on him. "It's a blessing to have someone you care about so deeply that the thought of losing them tears you up inside," he told her softly after a few moments, giving her another squeeze and giving her a sad smile. "And even though it feels like there's nothing you can do, sometimes just being there for them will make the biggest difference. I promise."

Ulric Adravendi

Lil crumpled into Ulric’s chest and he was quick to wrap his arms around her. Her father always had a talent to make her feel safe, maybe not quite like everything would be okay. There was a lot of uncertainty before them but just his hug helped heal her heart. Ulric did try to convince her that everything was going to be alright. The vision of Roman, barely able to breath as he kept her away terrified her. She felt like he was dying and she didn’t know what she would do without him. Her dad said everything would be okay though, and she wanted desperately to believe him. They were going to make it through. He spoke like he believed his own words, so Lillith would too.

He tried to lift her spirits, he knew she felt helpless as they all did, but he assured her that simply being there for Roman was helpful. Lil didn’t stop the tears as they fell from her eyes. The emotions were there and they would not be quelled, but Ulric’s words did hearten her. ”Thanks, Daddy.” She whispered into his coat as she buried her features into his fur and soaked in his love and strength.

Lillith Adravendi