The news flowed through the pack. The quarantine was lifted. Not because the pack was well, but because there was no point. Blighted meat had been circulating unchecked through the wolves. They would catch it or not, and no quarantine was going to save them.

She found herself heading to the border of the Col and the Woods. She wondered who would take advantage of the lift and come back to the homes or people they had abandoned to stay in the woods. The wolves had been separated for some time. She hadn’t heard from the one person in this pack she knew (other than Oleander) since she had seen him by chance at the border. She hadn’t heard of any deaths…


"Vesper"

Time had passed since their chance encounter. While he worried for her wellbeing, Wilder also understood that being in Oleander's care, the healer wouldn't allow anything to happen. At least... that's what he told himself. Day in and day out as he tried to recuperate his own symptoms while also helping those who needed it. Gathering wood, hunting fresh animals, attempting to keep the blight to the woods from spreading to neighboring tree systems. If it spread from Mile-high Woods to other territories... More than just the Armada would be in danger.

But he had reconvened with Basilisk and Ignita about the tainted meat they'd all been eating, a relief swept through him. He could go home. To his den. To... Vesper. The idea of being able to see her again did spark something in his chest he wasn't ready to admit. They were friends and he cared for her wellbeing. Didn't want Oleander to abuse her. Didn't want Basilisk to give her back to the slaves that had tortured her.

Once everyone was settled and he had a moment to head back to the Col, Wilder wasted no more time. His symptoms were slowly getting better already after a few weeks of fresh meat and some albeit restless nights, it was still sleep. Large paws drum over the damp ground of the woods as he makes his way to the Col. His den isn't far from the woods since he'd specifically chosen one as close to the wilderness as possible. As he's almost there, a scent catches him and his paws stop in their tracks. Vesper.

Following it, Wilder hurries as much as his still weakened body will allow. Approaching her slowly, he stops a few feet away, his slowly wagging tail giving away how his heart sped up a little bit at the sight of her. "Vesper," Wilder begins, a small smile spreading over his charcoal lips. "How...Are you okay?" He asks, unsure if he could close the gap between them or not.

"Wilder & Vesper"

Vesper watched as a few dejected wolves stumbled through the Col. Released at last from the Woods at the quarantine in light of new discoveries. She kept her vigil, waiting by the Col entrance until a familiar form stepped into view. He still looked sick, but… did he look less so than before? As if he was on the mend? Perhaps she was imagining it.

Her tail gave a couple playful swishes behind her. Not too much, she didn’t want to look too eager to see him. “Well, I guess this sickness has doesn't have refined taste at any rate. Going for you, and that Warlord instead of me.” She raised a brow at him as she let the sarcasm slip out.


"Vesper"

Was she happy to see him? Was her tail actually wagging a few times? Wilder wouldn't bring attention to it. No, he'd let it slide. Not tease her about it this time. Rather, he wanted to relish the feeling in his chest at the sight of her. She wasn't sick, wasn't harmed, was still alive. She looked well considering how many others had gotten sick. Relief. That was what he felt.

Taking another step closer, he can't help but roll his eyes at her sarcastic comment. "Clearly, it favors those who aren't stubborn," Wilder teases back, sticking his tongue out at her for good measure. "So, tell me, what all has happened since I've been in the woods?" He questions, head tilting as he moves to stand beside her at the entrance to the Col. His den wasn't far off and he would much rather catch up with her. Of course, he had already had a full run down by the Warlord and Ignita, but he wanted to hear Vesper's side too.

"Wilder & Vesper"

Ha! She gave a small, amused smile at his tease. “You think you aren’t stubborn? I have met you.” She pointed out. He could be as stubborn as the best of them. That they were both stubborn made their interactions interesting, if sometimes a little tricky.

What had been happening? She’d spent a lot of it isolated in the healers den with Oleander. Who wasn’t great company when he was stressed and under pressure. “It’s been quiet on this side. Oleander’s been cooped up with his herbs for most of it. “ She explained, knowing it wasn’t telling him much. But what else was there to say?

"Vesper"

Wilder chuckles, knowing that she's right. They were both stubborn and they both knew it. That still wouldn't stop him from poking and teasing at her from time to time. She deserved it after all.

Her answer to his question though left his brow furrowing slightly. Oleander finding a "cure" had been the important part in all of this. Did she not realize that? Or maybe something had happened between her and the healer that she didn't wish to talk about. His curiosity would have gotten the better of him if not for the tiny pang of jealousy he felt in his chest now. After being quarantined to the woods, only around other sick wolves and being sick himself, all he had wanted was to see his friend... They were friends, right? But why this feeling? Why be jealous of Oleander?

Did he think the same would happen between them as it had for Bas and Ignita?

"Hm," is his short reply, more thoughtful than anything. His brain still trying to gather together anything to say that wouldn't reveal what he was feeling. "I did hear there was a medicine of some sort that's s'posed to help," Wilder comments, remembering that Vesper wasn't quite the believer of medicine herself. "Would be nice for everything to go back to normal," he tries to smile, but feels the itch of the sickness in his throat. Talking had definitely not been something he'd been doing a lot of lately.

"Wilder & Vesper"