The devious ways of children were... frankly, they're just that. Devious. Dread had been snared into a mind trap by Mercy, something that sounded like a good idea to the pup at the time. It had ended with both of them being washed out to sea. For as fearful as he'd been of the water, dragging his daughter's limp body from the waves had been even worse. The girl had picked up a nasty case of pneumonia after, and it had greatly delayed their return to the Raiders. Not a day passed that Deluge and the rest of the litter weren't on his mind. Being away from them stung, but he wouldn't forgive himself for Mercy seeing further harm in the process.

It's been far longer than he'd like, returning home. Drawing to the edges of the Raider's homeland, and then crossing over. There was no telling how Deluge would react, but Dread needed to get Mercy back to bed. The red bundle of fur was tucked between his shoulderblades, clinging to him still. He had Halo to thank for his early training as a healer, it was enough to keep the girl alive. To keep her stable. She'd bounced back okay, but it would still take some time for her strength to fully recover.

Returning to the treehouse and quickly getting Mercy tucked in, setting about grabbing her a snack, Dread barely had time to think. Finding Deluge and Sakana were high up on his list, but he'd tend to the girl first. It's midday, and things were as busy as they'd ever be. Dread would find who he needed to, once he was certain Mercy was settled and asleep.
"speech"

Deluge wasn't sure the medications Morwenna gave her were helping, but getting back into a routine and being out and about seemed to be helping. Vertebrae still poked out along her spine, the hint of rear ribs still making her fur jut at odd angles, but she was not nearly so skeletal as she had been. Airing out the treehouse had helped some. Her mother, surprisingly, stepping up to help out with Rip and Tempest had been a blessing too, had allowed her to trek to the north in search of her wayward daughter, even though her scent had disappeared into the sea.

Bone weary and ready to collapse for a nap before the other pups returned, she shouldered her way into the treehouse and froze, limbs stiff and eyes wide with disbelief. This had to be some sort of hallucination, surely...

Deluge wasn't ready for the cresting wave of emotion that was about to drag her under. It loomed threateningly behind her as her heart began to pound in her ears, anxiety stealing the use of her other senses as she bit down on her back teeth. Nostrils flared and hackles inched higher. It had to be a cruel trick of the mind, all it would take was a noise to break the spell.

"speech"

Finding a snack was... admittedly, a bit harder than Dread had anticipated. The kids were growing like weeds, for all the evidence strewn around the treehouse. Eating them out of house and home. A rueful smile, a pang of regret, and then the bitter realization that he'd missed so much. All of it aches, and Dread doesn't know how to put things into words. Biting back the emotion as best he can, he's able to find some dried goat stashed away in one of the cabinets, setting the salty meat beside Mercy and sitting beside her while she ate.

Satisfied that she'd eaten, and seemed to be settling alright, Dread pulled a thick blanket over the girl. The chills still overtook her, rolled over her like the waves. It had been too long since she'd been left to sleep on her own, and parts of him still feared that death would take her in her sleep. More stable than she'd been for much of their time away, but still not... not whole. Not by any means. The water that had gotten into the girl's lungs had made a home there, and Dread still had nightmares of her drowning.

Footfalls behind him on the wooden planks, steps he knows all too well. Mercy already snoring on the pallet bed before him, Dread's heart leaps in his chest as he finally pulls his attention from the girl. Stomach in knots, chest soaring, a mixture of regret and apologies... there are too many things to say, and Dread doesn't have the words for all of them. Turning to look Deluge in the face, she looks... rough. Always slight, she verges on sickly. His heart breaking all over again, the man moves to her side. "Fuck, I'm sorry. Deluge I'm so sorry."

Dread reaches for her, gaze pleading. So many emotions he's nearly sick with them, seeing the pain his absence caused written all over her. "I didn't mean to leave, we got swept out to sea." It's the only explanation he can give, the emotion in his voice enough to crack it around the edges. There's no hesitation in the way Dread reaches for Deluge, as he has so many times before.

"speech"

Muffled, like her head was underwater, the pounding only increasing as she held her breath until stars danced across her vision. The words went unheard in her shock, in the panic that crested over her leaving limbs cold, numb and shaking, lungs starved of air. The step forward was met with a stumble backwards, claws scrambling on the floorboards beneath her paws. His mouth was moving but her ears weren't working, eyes blinking rapidly to try and grasp at reality once more. A dream, it was all a dream, wasn't it? Unreachable and intangible.

Lips peeled back from teeth in a threat if he continued his approach, but it was then she spotted movement over on the bed. She swung her body around to position herself between the phantom and the child, instinct overriding reason as her head lowered and ears pinned back alongside her antlers. Feline claws extended and her fur flashed in warning. She growled low and stepped forward, herding him towards the door, out into the light where this vision would dissipate in the wind.

"speech"

She stumbled back, shying from his reach. Dread's chest ached. He wouldn't stop coming, even if it's not in his best interest to push. Even if it's not ideal, right now. Moving closer to Deluge, he can't help himself. Everything about it is unnerving. He's worried. She looks... poorly. Poorly in ways he knows he's responsible for, poorly in ways he longs to fix. Dread remains steadfast, though she tries to herd him toward the door.

Though all of the woman goes rigid, flashes warnings, he can't do it. He can't step back. Not again. "Deluge, please," the words are gentle, reaching once more for her face. Perhaps desperately, reaching out for her. "I know, I'm sorry," Dread's tone is earnest, he doesn't heed the growl. He knows the threat she presents, and he knows he's in the wrong.

But here he is. Dread isn't leaving, not again. Not ever again, and he'll stand his ground here. There's no aggression, only an earnest attempt to reach out, to bridge the gap once more. "Babe, I know you're upset, I'm sorry." The words carry weight, though he doesn't have the right ones. Not right now. All Dread wants to do is take her to his chest, hold tight. Never the eloquent speaker, at the moment, he's just a man. Just a man who's laying his heart bear for his not-wife.

"speech"

I know you're upset... Upset didn't even come close. Eyes flashed and jaws parted, she had become a wild and untethered thing, using her size and her rage to force this fight outside. The stairs disappeared beneath their paws and somehow, they didn't seem to miss a step.

Not pausing to allow him any opportunity to gain space or adjust his stance, her head swung to drive antlers into ribs, feline paws swiping wildly, swinging at legs and dark fur, whatever was in the way. Snarls and snaps filled the air, perhaps even tufts of fur were flying among the saliva, like a feral street cat fight. It was far from precise, and her breath was beginning to come in ragged pants. She was far from peak condition. "You fuckin' left me..." It was almost a sob.

"speech"

coded by NachoMumma