Chord wasn't typically a serious man it was a fact he'd become rather aware of all too quickly. The heavy news he bore did not sit well with him at all, he feared sharing it and at the same time he felt awful keeping it. A part of him certainly wished he'd never gone to Ahlon, Novel and Dutiron would still have their kids here and more importantly they'd be none the wiser about Arelahn. He'd never been overly close to his great aunt but this was the boy's first loss and it still ate away at him, even more so now that he was crossing Threar territory and making his way to his grandparents den.
His expression was grim and steps heavy as he finally arrived at the edge and let out a soft call to his grandfather. "Gramps..." He was technically tresspassing, he hadn't spoken to his aunt Novella yet but truthfully that was the last worry upon his mind right now. "Are you up? Can you come out for a bit?"
Dutiron had been feeling rather weak to be honest, the illness seeping through his body had left him feeling awful and it certainly didn't help that he suspected that Novel too was suffering only because he had passed it to her and in turn the same for Frith. It was rather unfortunate that the only other one in the pack to get ill besides he and his mate was his daughter's mate, the one who he had initially frowned upon. It certainly hadn't been on purpose, the young man had simply tried to be far too helpful and stuck around long enough to catch it as well.
It tortured him that he was missing so much, the growth of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren three generations growing up together was quite an amazing story and here he was missing it all. No one yet had had the heart to inform he and Novel that Sonnet, Envoi and Limerick had gone missing and given that most visits had been banned after Frith had caught the illness they had been able to lie to the pair.
He was moving in and out of consciousness as he heard a voice calling. It took a few moments for him to realise that the call was for him and longer still to place the voice. It was only as shaky paws carried him to the entrance that his gaze settled upon the familiar form. Chord, he had tried to visit at some point before, it could have been yesterday for all Dutiron knew, he'd lost track of the days now. He would sit down once more, mismatched eyes looking towards the young man, he would open his mouth to speak though a sudden cough would grasp him and he'd turn his head away. Fortunately it was over as swiftly as it had arrived and now he would try once more to speak. "You're not supposed to be here Chord." He'd inform him simply, for once his observation skills somewhat lacking and not immediately picking up upon the boy's mood. He would frown though as it occurred to him that something wasn't right. "What's wrong?"
There was no answer right away and Chord was hesitant to call again in case his grandparents were sleeping. To be entirely honest perhaps he simply wanted an excuse to avoid bringing the news to his grandfather and as the silence continued he considered moving. But no sooner had he turned to move did he here stirring from inside the den and green eyes would divert back to the entrance to see Dutiron appearing.
He looked bad. That was putting it somewhat nicely really. He was far thinner than Chord had seen him before, coat quite unkept in comparison to the usually healthy and rather regal look he'd always considered his grandfather to have. Now he really dreaded having to share the news and wondered if perhaps he could only share the better news as he had done with his siblings. Before he could even speak however Dutiron had picked up that something was bothering him and now there was no way to hide.
"I've been back to Ahlon." He began simply. "Sonnet, Envoi and Limerick they went too. They wanted to stay a while, get to know my mum." He could understand now why they had wanted to escape, Chord wanted nothing more than that too. This simply wasn't right, he had always admired his grandfather and this sick look terrified the boy deeply, especially after hearing about Arelahn. "They're ok." He would make sure Dutiron knew that. They were in good hands with Lyric and Darilnor anyway, he and his siblings had turned out alright for the most part after all.
Chord would stand in silence for a moment, words apparently not able to find him. Dutiron knew he felt bad, if he looked even half as bad as that then he was sure it was surprising for the poor boy. Novel too he was aware was hardly at her best right now a fact that depressed him far more than his own state could. Was she still asleep now? He would listen though wouldn't turn to look behind, gaze fixed upon Chord now as he awaited his grandson's explanation for the distress.
The news was certainly not what he had expected to hear and to be honest he was rather hurt that it hadn't been revealed earlier. Although it would have been nice for them to stay here in Threar with Novella, growing up alongside Aslan, Varda and Herne even in his current state Dutiron could understand that the escape from this was probably good right now. He wished the entire pack could escape though sadly this was not the case.
"Your Aunt Novella was very much the same. Set off to find Song all on her own." Dutiron recalled. It was hardly a fond memory in some ways, he had hated seeing his children leaving as they all had though it was wonderful that they had reunited. He had feared he would never see Song again, certainly never expected that she would have forgiven them and the entire family could get along once more. A soft smile would form at the memories and the comparison, if the three of them were anything like their elder siblings they would do wonderfully in life.
"Is everything else ok?" He would question the boy again now, another cough tickled the back of his throat, he controlled it as best as he could a small spluttering sound still sounding before he somewhat regained his breathing again.
Dutiron wouldn't be mad by the news that Chord had taken away the three children without asking, wouldn't be angry that they had decided to stay with Lyric instead of returning home. The reaction, the almost fond tone to his grandfather's voice and soft smile certainly hadn't been expected. It completely shocked Chord for a moment actually, a good cover for his continued silence or at least he had initially thought so anyway. Dutiron on the other hand saw right through it.
"No." He would begin taking a deep breath. He wouldn't try deliver this in any fancy manner, such description wasn't needed at all. A blunt delivery though would certainly hurt was far better than dragging it out and so the story teller's grandson would abandon anything he'd picked up from Dutiron now. "Arelahn... is gone." Perhaps that was putting it a little too simply. Had she left Ahlon? It could maybe be interpreted that way for the optimistic though Chord's hesitant delivery and sad manner surely underlined the truth in a way his words did not.
Though he hadn't been sure what news to expect from Chord one thing was for certain that Dutiron had not expected what Chord now told him. He had spent much of his life worrying over his sister, caring for her and trying to keep her going during times when he had expected her to give up on life. Ilthlarn had killed her spirit, although Satu and Cirala had helped her in ways that Dutiron had never been able to his sister had never been the same wolf she once had in their childhood, optimistically looking forwards to a nice and happy life.
What was there to say now though? One child had been taken from her, an emotionless shell of a man returning and refusing to stay and embrace the love she had to offer. Her other two daughters had fled too and more devastating to Dutiron than either of those things was the fact that he had left her. He had led the happy life she had once been destined for, had a large loving family beyond her and he had left her behind. He should have stayed, made sure she was ok but he had sought his children out instead, unable to let them go in the way that even his sister had managed.
And now she had gone.
It didn't seem real but even so that little revelation was enough to break Dutiron. He had let his sister down and apparently he could not fix that fact. An empty gaze would stare vacantly past Chord now as the news settled and ate at him, the world around him fading away, mind shutting all his senses out as pain and guilt consumed him.
Novel would feel her senses come to her as the name was said, it?s meaning settling deeply within her as wakefulness took hold. Heaving her dwindling weight to stand herself upright she would slowly make her way from the den, wanting to come help support her husband. She had no idea what he would be going through, but he had an idea of what might be going on in his mind. Nuzzling him lovingly her weak form would look back to Chord, he really should not have been there.
Though her form would no longer hold the power she had once commanded she?d still hold an authority over her grandson. Taking in a breath she?d mean to dismiss him, but she?d become afflicted with a rough cough. Shaking her features she?d beat it down, her stare coming to rest on the boy, "You may leave now Chord, thank you for the news." Though she hadn?t heard about their children she would have thanked him for that. Trusting he would show himself off, Novel would lean into Dutiron?s side, hoping she?d be enough comfort to bring him through his grief.
He had expected some sadness but this sight before him now simply made Chord feel even worse. He froze unsure on what to say or do now wanting to escape the sight and moment before him now, feeling awful for having caused it. It wasn't his fault that Arelahn had gone, he certainly hadn't wish for it and right now he'd do anything to bring his great aunt back and make his grandparents better.
No words had been spoken still and now Novel had appeared. She certainly didn't look her best either, though such thoughts were hardly upon Chord's mind right now, still worried for his grandfather. "I... I just thought he should know. He'll be ok right?" He looked towards his grandmother nervously now.
She would tell him to leave and obediently, feeling rather like a child again now, helpless and rather lost, Chord would nod his head and silently obey. He would back away still very pained by the scene, sure that it wouldn't escape his mind even if he could escape it in person now.
Nothing would stir Dutiron from this state until he felt Novel's comforting touch. He would surrender himself partially back to the world for her though the pain and guilt didn't ease even with his mate by his side. It was because of her he had ever neglected Arelahn in anyway, though he certainly wouldn't have traded her love for anything. Arelahn had problems, nothing he did could have repaired that damage caused to her and his suffering wouldn't have helped.
He knew that fact of course, nothing could have helped her regardless really but he still felt bad for not being there and now well she was gone. Signalling his return to the present he would respond to Novel silently, leaning into her touch as the sadness continued to overwhelm him. No gaze was cast to Chord as he retreated or words spoken to either his grandson or Novel. There was nothing that could be said or done.
