There was no denying it, Gloom was all better. She could walk and even run about as well as she had before her tumble, but she also frankly wasn't really sure she was happy about that. It was strange, she was among so many strangers and sure she still tended to flinch away and cower away from most wolves who moved in and out of the infirmary but there was something exhilarating about that moment before the door opened and she saw who it was, she was looking forward to someone. But that wasn't enough reason to stay was it? Her family was no doubt worried about her by now it had been quite a while since she'd stayed here but well to be fair they'd been unsure if she'd also been injected with a toxin... But that seemed highly unlikely at this point. The woman sighed, rolling over to look at the door, she supposed she would have to bring it up when Audra inevitably poked her head in to take Gloom on a walk around the pack lands, physical therapy to help her generate strength back into her once injured leg before she'd be left to wander a bit, wasn't good to keep her cooped up in the infirmary all day every day. Not that she tended to go far, preferring to mostly fade into the background if she wasn't able to work up the courage to ask if she could accompany the earthen healer. Still it seemed a shame, even with the more gloomy weather there was something always warm and comforting about being with Audra and she was loathe to ruin that... But well, she couldn't keep just leeching off the wolves here. Action | "Speech." |

Art by Frida-Corvus

There was no hiding the fact that Audra spent most of her time with Gloom lately. The excuse that she needed more physical therapy and a watchful eye in case things went south made it possible for her to stick around. Any time she had to fulfill her other pack duties like patrolling and lesson teaching, she was sad to leave Gloom in the infirmary. On the days Gloom did join her, one could see Audra smile more. Today would hopefully be one of those long days together as she approached the infirmary doors. Sliding it open and poking her head in, she smiled as her golden eye caught sight of Gloom in her bed. Happily making her way to the bed, she paused at her bedside and shifted nervously on her paws. “Ready t-to go f-for a long walk t-today?” Audra asks in a cheery tone and tender smile.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear, not that Audra was anything close to a devil. The woman poked her head in and the smile the spread across her face made Gloom's own stomach begin to tumble. She watched with a small smile of her own as Audra approached her bed and Gloom began to slowly pull herself up and off, her mouth opening uselessly in response to Audra's question. She wanted to simply say it, rip the bandage off but there was a stronger longing, a desire to at least enjoy a final walk with the woman, let her memories be of a good final day. So she snapped her mouth shut and nodded, taking a moment to roll to her feet, shake her pelt out and then gesture for Audra to lead the way. "After you." She said softly, a light teasing tone to her voice. God she really had changed hadn't she? She'd never felt comfortable enough with someone to even lightly joke before, at least no one who wasn't her brothers... But here she was, even if it was only one new wolf her circle was slowly, ever so slowly expanding. Did she really have to give this up? Action | "Speech." |

Art by Frida-Corvus

There was a moment where Audra thought she had seen Gloom hesitate. As if something else were on the woman’s mind. But maybe it was her partial blindness playing tricks on her… Suspicious but unworried, Audra continued to smile at Gloom as she gave her space to roll off the bed and onto her paws. The time they had spent together since meeting had been nice, lovely, and all things good. Gloom was not the only one wishing it didn’t have to end soon. “I w-was thinking we could g-go to the grove and p-pick some winter berries,” Audra offers as she moves alongside Gloom toward the door. She wouldn’t verbalize it, but she had enjoyed watching Gloom blossom from her shell and grow comfortable not only being around her, but being within the castle walls. For some, it could cause claustrophobia, especially if they weren’t used to it. She understood as it was the same feeling she felt when she had first arrived. Now the castle walls were a thing of comfort and safety to her. “Th-the weather is n-nice out today. M-maybe a tad chilly though,” she comments as they move up the stairs and into the foyer of the castle toward the front doors.