Odette needed company, even if she didn't want to admit it. Her mother had disappeared and that had been about two weeks ago. It broke Odette's heart, but she didn't let anyone else know of her pain. She had stopped training since her mother's vanishing act and her whole schedule was out of whack. Even though she continued to get up early, she didn't follow her recent routines that helped build up her muscles and stamina. She felt out of place and it was killing her.
The Gargoyle mini-me was currently laying in her spacious den, somehow finding herself in the exact center of the floor. She had stretched out all four legs in different directions, resembling a large fur in front of a hearth. Her red and blue eyes were dazed, lacking the sparkle that had been there since she was a pup. Odette couldn't help but let the emotional toll show: she was sad. Hopefully, Baldur's visit would make her feel better. Each time she had been with him, her mood had improved.






"Speech"

There was something he was missing, something he wasn't being told. Anger was burning in his chest after the meeting. He was furious with Erani. As always everyone felt sorry for the poor cripple Tyr? oh the poor baby? they had no idea what the little bastard was capable of and what he'd already done. Baldur hated being branded the bad guy before he'd even done anything. Thor was equally furious if not more so and the pair had come to the decision to leave Valhalla. He knew Tyr had done something positively despicable from the way his older brother had reacted and from his own gut feeling even if he buried the memories far away. He needed someone to talk to. Someone apart from Thor who was currently in a snit and Loki who was? well? Loki. Baldur slowly made his way to Odette's den. His conversations with her always lightened his mood a bit and he was so upset and confused right now. He also didn't want to leave without saying goodbye. Baldur paused at the opening to her den and sat down, calling out gently to her. "Hey Odette? You in there?" "Speech"

The social interactions that she had missed out on were affecting her personality and spirit. Odette, once vividly active in her pack and desires on becoming a warrior, was now low in brilliance and the shimmering persona that she had claimed for herself. Everything seemed gray in color, no longer colorful aspects of the rainbow. She hadn't been visited by anyone since Chrysanthe had disappeared, and now that the plague had hit Valhalla, she hadn't expected anyone to risk their health to check on hers. What a negative outlook the young Gamma had...Good thing that was about to change. The only person she hadn't thought of deserting her appeared at the entrance of her den. His familiar white coat with its black leggings made her heart skip a beat as her eyes clung to his frame. Baldur had lowered himself to the ground, not wanting to enter her personal space without asking. That mere demonstration of being thoughtful brought a soft smile to her face. A hint of sparkle reappeared in her blank gaze as she softly said, "Baldur." His name was like a familiar song in the air and she intended to keep it for as long as she could. "Baldur...Baldur...Baldur!" Happiness slowly seeped through her as she lightly slapped her tail against the ground. "Yes, I am here...Won't you come in?" She made no attempt to move her legs, for she was definitely comfortable. If he tried to lay next to or against her, she would politely shift the legs of either side and comfortably rest her weight against his body. Baldur was one of the only males she would be so lax around...and that was definitely saying something. Once both wolves were comfortable, she would nuzzle his neck before softly picking up the conversation. "I thought I had been forgotten by the whole Valhallan community." It may have sounded like a silly confession, but she didn't care. "I have been lost in my thoughts and no one has been able to help me find my way out..." Her voice faded and she looked up to his face from where her head rested against his shoulder. "What brings you to my neglected abode?" "Speech"

Baldur waited quietly for a response, the muscles around his jaws working to try and pull a smile onto his face but it just wouldn't stay. He just felt so burnt out, like his heart and mind had been run through a blender and yanked out of his throat, leaving nothing but a hollow shell with the scattered remnants of himself still sheltering there. Odette responded and he felt his heart quicken just slightly. She invited him in and this time the smile, while small and soft, managed to find its way onto his maw. It was a bit of a tight fit but the large male squeezed in and laid down beside her. He moved to try and give her space but there was a far chance they would touch. "Nice to see Odette, how have you been?" She spoke of feeling forgotten. "Forgotten? The crocodile kicker? Nonsense? at least t me. I could never forget you Odette." He sighed though at her second comment. "I know the feeling? I've been so numb lately. I came because?" Baldur's voice caught in his throat. Just the thought of saying goodbye was causing his insides to knot violently. "Odette, my brother Thor is leaving Valhalla. I'm sure you saw Erani's response to us in the meeting but Tyr? for all his frailty is not a good wolf. He? he did something very bad? and? oh Odette I can't abandon the family that's stuck by me. I want to go with Thor. I? I plan to leave Valhalla." His voice felt raw like claws had raked it from top to bottom and he waited in blistering silence for her response. "Speech"

After Baldur had made himself comfortable, he began to explain that he had been feeling negative stuff as well. It made Odette's heart slightly hurt, but what made it almost break was the bad news Baldur had to tell. He was planning on leaving Valhalla...and his decision had been made without telling her. Odette shouldn't have really been upset by the news, but with everything else going wrong lately, this made the cake. Her happiness slowly disappeared and her smile went with it. She pulled away from Baldur's side, eyes still burning holes into his face. "You're...leaving?" She asked in a hushed whisper, hurt evidently appearing in her bi-colored optics. Odette's ears lowered themselves to the back of her skull as she cautiously moved a few inches away from where he relaxed. "That's not something I want to hear, Baldur." She looked away from him to the tan paws resting in front of her. "Everyone I care about has left and now you are going, too..." A soft sigh left her lips as she slowly closed her eyes. "What will I do without you around? There is so much promise for you in Valhalla, but if you feel that you must leave, then I won't stop you..." The harsh reality was that she couldn't stop him, despite her wanting him to stay. Odette, with eyes closed, continued to speak with a soft tone. "I just hope that you won't forget me when you leave...I don't know if I meant anything to you or not, but I hope that at least I will be a memory you can hold onto." What else was she supposed to say? That she had hoped of possibly courting the male? Her future hadn't been decided yet, nor did she know what she wanted, but her connection with Baldur had been strong since the beginning...That was something she hadn't ignored since their first meeting. "Talk" "You" Think

She pulled away and Baldur turned away. He knew she'd be upset, especially after her previous confession but there was nothing else he could do. He would not stay and leave Hodr to suffer some horrible fate and he would not keep her hopes up if there was the potential he could die on this mission. And he could not abandon his family. Thor no longer wished to stay and Baldur would not let him wander alone. His heart broke as he watched. He wanted to reach out, to wrap himself around her, to lick her cheek and let her know it'd be ok. He wanted to promise to return to be with her. But promises, in his experience, were evil things and almost impossible to keep. Pretty lies, nothing more. "I am truly sorry Odette? it's complicated. My brother Hodr? my twin, he's back in the place I was born. My uncles are not good wolves. I must try and save him, even if it's foolish. Even if I die." He shook his head suddenly and tried to offer her a reassuring smile. "I could never forget you Odette and you mean, you mean so much to me. You were my first friend in Alacritis. One of the few I have outside of family. But I will not leave my brother to torture and death. If I survive? I hope we can meet again. Goodbye." I love you. He reached out to lick her cheek but fully aware that she might turn away. Getting to his feet he shot her one last smile before slipping out of the den, trying his best not to cry. -exit?- speech