Once he could finally pull himself away from the scene he’d witnessed Indigo started running and he didn’t stop. He’d never felt anything like this before, he was so low it seemed like there was no light at the top. Darkness flooded his vision as stray tears leaked from his baby blue eyes. He was sure that his heart had broken and he truly realized what his sister had meant that day they spoke. The words seemed so much different than what he’d seen.

He didn’t want to be stopped by anyone in the pack so as he made his retreat Indy avoided the Armada as best as he could. His mind was reeling and Indy was sure that he didn’t want to think about anything anymore. Everything was becoming so much more clear, and it was mor epainful than he realized. The reality was he could never be with Aslatiel. The closer he was to her the less he could hold himself back. The more he realized he was easily replaced. He didn’t know who had been with her, but he’d seen how close they were. Indigo had never felt jealousy like this before. He’d never felt so helpless before either.

Indy didn’t realize it but he had run straight back to where he’d left Rue. It was a private little place, and it seemed safe enough even if it wasn’t in the pack. The boy slowed as he approached the edge of the gulley. His breathing was ragged and rough, just like his appearance. He didn’t know what to do, he didn’t know what he wanted. Just for this intense pain to go away, but as he saw it that task would forever be impossible. He’d spend the rest of his life wishing for something that could never be.

Feeling his weakness catch up to him Indigo collapsed onto the ground, only barely withholding his rampant emotions.

Rue had been living in the Gulley for a while now. She'd made a den out of a wide, hollow tree not too far from where Indigo had saved her when her head was stuck in the log. She'd made another friend too. Naiche was his name. Naiche and his cute little pangolin. Rue really, really wanted a little friend like that. Someone to spend time with so that she'd never be alone. The girl sighed, daydreaming of friends as she lay half in, half out of her makeshift den. The sound of paws approaching brought the girls head up, ears pricked forward. Her heart sped up. Was it Indy? Was he coming to see her today? Through the foliage, she caught a glimpse of purple fur. Instantly, Rue was on her feet. She shook out her coat and began moving forward. "Oh, Indy... I was hoping you..." She stopped, big blue eyes going wide. He was crying. Rue rushed forward, not hesitating before she wrapped her arms around him to pull him close. "Indy, what's the matter? How can I help?" She didn't like seeing him upset. Indigo was the nicest wolf she'd ever met. There was no reason for anyone to upset him. It made her want to... want to... Well, give someone a stern talking to. The chocolate colored girl continued to hold him to her, her head rested on top of his own. "Speech"

When he realized where he’d wound up Indigo almost picked himself back up and kept running. Rue didn’t deserve to see him like this, the last thing he wanted was to put these emotions on her. She was already dealing with so much. She shouldn’t have to try and wade through his own crazy emotions. He could get through on his own. Maybe.

It was too late when he realized she’d seen him. With no hesitation suddenly Rue was beside him, her soft arms wrapped around his neck and Indy couldn’t help but to lean into her affection. He couldn’t have Aslatiel’s, no matter how much he wanted that. She tried to ask him what was wrong, but could he really tell her? He hadn’t told anyone but Aslatiel, it was better if he kept it to himself. It was better if he bottled it up and just tried to forget he even had a heart.

He shook his head as he wrapped his neck around hers and shifted so that he could hold her close. There was a bit of relief from the awful emotions that filled him, she was like a balm to the searing pain that held him tightly. ”I’m sad.” He confessed, unable to speak the realities of his emotions, unwilling to invoke the cruel scene he had witnessed. Unable to divulge the true pain that laced his heart. He pulled her in closer, squeezing her lightly as he shoved his feelings away and tried to welcome the numbness that was hopefully to follow.

Now, Rue was far from the aggressive sort. She had been known to jump at her own shadow at times. However, knowing that someone had made Indy sad made her livid. "You just tell me who made you sad and I'll..." She'd what? She didn't know how to fight. She couldn't even hunt. "I'll get them." She meant it, despite her lack of skill. She would get whoever did this to him. As Indy wrapped himself around her in return, Rue kissed his cheek, his head, his nose. She remembered that he liked kisses. Gods, she didn't want him to be sad. Seeing him like this broker her heart. "Try not to be sad, Indy. I'm here with you. I'll make everything better if I can. Just tell me how." She had no idea, but if he did, then she wouldn't hesitate to do whatever needed to be done just to see him smile again. "Speech"

She spoke to him softly, promising her revenge if only she knew the culprit of his emotions but Indigo shook his head again. He didn’t want retaliation, he’d agreed to these terms, he just hadn’t realized the weight of them the moment he’d done it. Pain or madness, there wasn’t much choice when it came to his undying love for Aslatiel. ”No…” He trailed off softly as she kissed him innocently. Once, twice, three times. He willed his tears to stop, because just as he feared his distress was leaking into her.

He had to try not to be sad. He had to not be sad for her, but how was that possible? His heart had been ripped from his chest. Indigo was cut from his other half. How could he begin to explain that to Rue? He realized how much she didn’t know about him in that moment, but he felt a flicker of fire reignite within him as he realized how far she was willing to go for a near stranger like him.

”Give me time.” He said softly, his voice oddly emotionless as he felt the numbness begin to seep across his chest. ”Give me patience. Hold me tight.” He told her as he buried his huge head into the soft fur of her neck. He held onto her for dear life, because she was likely all that held him to this plane. He wanted to keep running, but he’d never be able to fully run away from the awful pain. Rue was his balm, but could she be his cure?

Again she cursed whoever had hurt him. Whoever had hurt this sweet, sweet wolf. As he held onto her, Rue stroked the mohawk at the back of his neck. She continued the rhythmic motion, trying to soothe him as best she could. He didn't want her to seek vengeance on the responsible party and she was pretty relieved about that. What could she have done anyway other than give them a stern talking to? Indy's next words had tears filling the girls eyes. Of course she would hold him. "Of course, Indy. Of course. I'll give you whatever you want. Whatever you need." The girl kissed the top of his head, rocking him gently. Or as much as she could, anyway while wrapped up in his big arms. Again she kissed the top of his head, his ears, his brow. "I don't want you to be sad, Indy. You're my best friend. Please try to not be sad." What could she do to help him other than hold him? She was at a loss. "Speech"

He took in a deep breath, glad to have someone to hold right now. He couldn’t run to his mom and dad. That couldn’t happen. He knew he could go to Io or Meadow, but they were authority figures too. He didn’t know how they would react. He knew they wouldn’t make him feel bad, but sitting here with Rue wrapped around and in his arms he was glad he’d come here. For how much he hurt Rue was more appreciated than she realized.

He tried to harden his heart before he bled out, it was just too much all at once. He knew what they’d said, how had he not realized this was what was going to happen. Indigo swallowed hard and let out his breath in a long sigh that filtered through Rue’s thick fur. ”You’re my best friend.” Meadow had gone to the Hallows, Io was trying to make a family and she’d been so sick. He didn’t want to give her anymore grief than she already had to deal with.

Rue kissed him and held onto him tight, willing him not to bed sad. ”I’m trying.” He told her, the desperation in his voice showing how deep the wounds went. ”It just hurts. So bad.” He shook his giant head lightly and curled in on her even tighter as he willed the emotions away.

Rue held on for dear life. He was just so, so sad. She was at a loss. The girl peppered kisses across the top of his head now and again and continued to rock him. She listened to his words and willed his pain away. If she could absorb it into herself, she would. What else could she do to help him? Oh!

A little shy at first, Rue began to hum as she rocked Indigo in her much smaller embrace. It was a little lullaby that her mom used to sing to her when she was sad. The girl closed her eyes and clung tightly, her cheek rested atop Indy's head. The lullaby brought up memories of old times and she had tears in her eyes by the time she was done, but if it would cheer up the big purple boy, then she would gladly suffer.

She soothed him with her kissed and Inigo tried to relax. There wasn’t anything out here in the woods that could tie him to his problems. Just him and Rue in the moss. She rocked him lightly and he tried to focus on her and pulling through his shock. She started to humm lightly, an almost familiar lullaby as she held him. Indy relaxed further against her and started to breath more easily as he felt her tears in his coat. His own eyes were welled with tears that spilled over as she cried with him. Indigo took in another deep breath and relaxed himself as he kind of wished for Iolaire’s advice. She’d be able to tell him how to cure this awful heartache. ”So pretty.” He said softly, slowly gaining control of his emotions. He felt them at the back of his eyes, but they were taming.

Rue curled against Indigo. The song made her feel a little sad and vulnerable. What a mess they were. Two crying babies. As he seemed to calm, she tried to calm herself as well. His words pricked her ears forward and she gave him a squeeze. "My mom used to sing that to me when I was sad. It always made me feel better." She hoped that it made Indy feel better.

Pulling back a bit, she looked down upon the sad, purple boy. Rue kissed the top of his head once more. What could she do to make him happy? "Indy..." a wave of nervousness rose up in her stomach. "If you want me to join your pack, I will. Just don't leave me alone, okay?" Not at first, anyway. She was very skittish. Being around Indigo rather than out on her own would do her well though. If he was with her, she could begin to socialize with others and become more comfortable in a group setting. "I don't know if you have to talk to someone about it first... but I'm willing." Really, she knew nothing at all about packs. Rue had no idea about politics or etiquette.

Indy tensed, but only to hold her tighter to him. He didn’t want to be sad around her, but she was his best friend, she was the one he wanted to run to after he’d seen… what he’d seen. Indy saw the scene replay in his head again and he buried his features into the soft fur of Rue’s neck. ”It makes me feel better.” He admitted to her softly. He wasn’t sure if there was anything that could cure him, but he felt more lucid after the song. Indigo sighed softly, feeling even more uncertain of his future in these moments than ever.

She whispered his name after giving him a kiss on the forehead and bright blue eyes turned upwards toward her face. ”You’d do that for me?” She was so brave for offering but… ”Rue I don’t know what I want anymore.” He couldn’t stay in the Armada, he’d die of heart sickness. ”I do know I don’t want to stop hugging you.” He offered up instead, but also knew when he had to go back to the pack, he wasn’t going to leave her here again. ”Whatever happens, I want my best friend at my side.”

His words met her ears and Rue sighed inwardly. He was so... loving. They had just met and he was so perfect and caring. He was, without a doubt, the sweetest wolf she'd ever met. He seemed surprised at her offer and the girl couldn't help but release a soft laugh. "Of course I'd do that for you. I want you to be okay. To always have a friend." She gave him yet another squeeze.

Indy admitted to not knowing what he wanted, but he didn't want to stop hugging her. "You don't have to stop, Indy. I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you. I promise." She rested her cheek on top of his head. "Whatever you decide, I'll be there, okay? You'll never be alone again if you don't want to be." She would never be alone either. It worked out for both of them.

Her laugh was probably the sweetest sound he’d ever heard and it broke through his foggy have with bright precision. Indigo looked up from his embrace of her with one eye, a glimmer of humor in his eye. Rue could be his lighthouse. He’d look to her to guide him as he navigated this heartbreaking sea of emotion. Indy would always have her as a friend beside him, she promised him and Indigo promised her. Best friends.

”I’ll always be here for you.” He promised her, holding her more tightly as she promised he didn’t have to stop. She’d be right here with him. ”I don’t. I don’t want to be alone again.” He whispered to her, all his heartache obvious in those whispered words. He told Iolaire about his torture, but could he confess to his best friend? Would she understand? Indy kept the secret to himself and squeezed her lightly to his chest.

Indy stated again that he never wanted to be alone. Rue patted one thick shoulder. "You won't be. I'm here for you no matter what you need." Whether he needed an ear, a hug, someone to play with or anything else, she'd be there.

It seemed that the squeezing would never stop and she was fine with that. Rue would let Indy hold her for as long as he needed. "Now what can we do to make you feel better?" The girl asked in her soft tones. "Should we collect flowers? Should we play tag? Should we go for a nice swim? Catch some fish?" Rue listed different things that they could do but she was open to ideas.