From the moment he had heard they were moving north, Mortis was worried Hika would catch a chill. He didn't have the same thickness of coat or wings that Mortis did to keep him warm. Not to mention it was a big change, and Mortis sometimes lived on the verge of fear, that one of these days one change too many would drive Hika from him. So in every moment of his down time, he started to craft something. Plucking a few of his own feathers, and hunting down ducks and other such birds with impressive down feathers. Even his Kea gave him a feather for the project. A pretty wee green thing.

The move happened, and the pack found themselves busy as could be. He saw Hika in passing, but Mortis was charged with pulling a cart of supplies and didn't get to spend as much time as he would have liked with his… fiance.

The arrival was a big affair, and it wasn't until the day after that he finally got to sneak Hika away to explore the woods. They left the valley of the mountains together, and moved through the large, stacked forest. The way the trees sloped made it look like a giant playground. He pulled out a package wrapped in oiled cloth to keep it dry, and handed it to Hika when they stopped for lunch under one large tree. "How are you doing, with thr move and all?" He asked a little shyly

Winter was Hikaru’s least favorite season, but at least now he had Mortis to help keep him warm. He would have Mort to keep him warm for the rest of their lives. He gave himself heart, body, and soul to the winged man. They belonged to each other and no matter where they were Martis would be there at his side. Warm or cold.

He didn’t have much time to enjoy in Mort’s arms as the whole pack was up and moved miles and miles northward. Hikaru was as busy as anyone else and despite not having a private moment with his fiance it was nice not having to think about the troubles that they faced ahead in their relationship.

The whole pack was still sharing a mostly communal arrangement when Mortis finally managed to sneak him away from everyone and ushered them into the quiet forest. However cold it was, Hika couldn’t deny the beauty of the silence of snow. They walked together for a while, catching up after some time apart of nothing and everything before they stopped in a little clearing. The sun was warm, but made the snow blinding so he was thankful for the shade of the pine trees.

From nowhere Mortis brought out a wrapped gift. "What’s this?” He asked as Mort asked after him and started to prepare their midday lunch. Carefully he unwrapped it as he thought about the answer to the question. What he found was the most precious garment to ever meet his eyes. A down coat, made of Mort’s own feathers. "Mortis!” He exclaimed, the question almost forgotten as his silvery gaze lifted, full of the deepest love and adoration.

His heart soared and he was nearly lost for words. "I’ve just been missing you, and thinking about how cold it is…” He finally answered as he leaned more heavily into Mort’s side. Wanting nothing more in that moment than to have his wing around his shoulder as he reached up to give his finance a bashful kiss.

"Speech"

At Hikaru’s answer, Mortis' entire expression lit up. He knew he had hit right with this gift. He had known Hika was feeling the cold and as hika leaned into him, Mortis enveloped him in his wing-style hug. Entirely forgetting the half sorted lunch as he pulled Hikaru close. Breathing in the familiar scent of Hika as he rested his head on the other wolf’s shoulder. He held Hika close, not wanting to ever let the other wolf go.

But eventually he remembered the food, and the ideas he wanted to share. So he leaned back, and picked up the gift, settling it gently over Hika’s shoulders. “I was thinking, perhaps we could build something with these leaning trees. Some sort of tree house?” He raised his voice at the end as he looked to Hika for his other half’s opinion.

"Mortis Fatalis"

Hikaru would always love any gift that his fiance gave to him, but this gift was particularly special. While he already had the gift of Mort’s self this was an extension of that. No matter where he was, no matter how far Mortis might be, he always had this part of the man with him. Ready to give him a warm hug. It couldn’t compare to the feeling of Mort’s wings wrapping around him now but it was a good substitute when his to-be husband couldn’t be right there at his side. Mort held him close, wrapped him in his embrace like he would never let go. Hika knew that he wouldn’t.

Of course that was somewhat conditional, they couldn’t continue living their lives wrapped up in each other’s arms so eventually Mortis had to pull away. Hika smiled up at him softly as their eyes met and Mort got on with the other reason he’d met Hikaru here. They needed to figure out their new den, there wouldn’t be any tracking across Boreas to get to their home in the Armada’s old lands.

Mortis suggested the trees here. Hikaru found himself quite liking that idea. When they were brought up here he hadn’t been too thrilled about the close quarters apartments that he felt like the caves were. They were a pack, but he didn’t want to be packed in together like that. There were too many noises that traveled through the echoing caverns and he hadn’t slept well since taking up temporary residence within them.

"I would love that.” He admitted as he reached up to give Mort’s dark chin a lick, right between his long saber like teeth. "In the spring we can create a garden out here, maybe train some hanging mosses or vines…” Already he had a plethora of ideas. Of which was how they would raise their puppies here.

"Speech"

Mortis let out a relieved smile. He had been worried Hika would prefer a warm den closer to the safety of the pack. If that was what Hika had wanted, he would have made it work. Hika was already making compromises for him. But the idea of something up in the trees, where they could see the sunrises, and feel the wind in his wings just by popping his head out the door… of sitting on a little veranda and watching the birds. It sounded perfect.

He gave Hika a huge grin, and found the other wolf leaning towards him. He gave a husky laugh at the kiss “That sounds really nice, too. I like it” he agreed. He was eager to get started right away, but this was a project that would take time. “The way these trees lean against each other should give us a good starting point…” He mused. Already wrapped up in the idea of building his home with Hika.


"Mortis Fatalis"

There wasn’t anything that would keep him from Mort’s side. They were soul mates and nothing could convince him otherwise. He really was going to spend the rest of his life with the one he loved. There were a few stipulations, and perhaps everything wasn’t the way he imagined it, but Hika wouldn’t have changed anything. Even if he had to live in the frozen north he would stay by this amazing man’s side. He’d fallen for his kindness, and his gentle nature. He’d seen his insecurities, Hika knew the low points of Mort’s life, but that was why the two of them were so close. They knew each other, like they were two halves of a whole.

This place would be their home. Wherever Mort was, would be his home, Hika had no doubt. They would have a little place away from the majority of the pack. They would have a picturesque view everyday to wake up to together. He would learn to love their new home, they would be making every memory here together, like a new start for both of them. He could watch in his mind’s eye how the little tree cottage would come together. "I can already see it, our own winter wonderland.” And now that winter would be easier to weather with the down coat he was given.

"Speech"